I got up at 4:25a to scale The Rock and was disappointed to see it pissing down rain. That's pretty amazing in the middle of The Outback in the middle of a drought. I met up with my Yank driver again and Tracey was very good to refund my money for the drive. I walked back to the dorms happy to go to bed $40 richer and sad not to scale The Rock. Oh well, at least I have an excuse to go back. I really enjoyed the Northern Territory and barely scratched its surf...

Today is mostly a travel day.  Wait for the 2-hour train to Sydney, and wait for the 4-hour train to Canberra.  I spent the morning studying, so there just isn't anything noteworthy about the day, but the hostel I have stayed at for the last 3 nights is amazing.  It was a caberet club at some time in the past, so there is a small stage in the general room.  They have TVs in the old storage rooms and I reckon what used to be a bar.  Th...

Today was just a relaxing day to rest the footsies and catch up on studies.  I spent the morning at the gym.  First time I've lifted weights in 2 weeks and it was a little stressful.  I have certain routines for certain body groups that take hours and I couldn't figure out what to do in the time I had.  I the kid at the carnival that can't ride everything, so he sits there to pout and doesn't ride anything.  I had a little...

The last two days in Katoomba have been full of great hiking.  Katoomba is in the Blue Moutains.  It is pretty amazing when you look over the  moutains as there is a blue haze, thus the name.  I am told it has to do with all the eucalyptus.  The hikes in the Jameson Valley are really peaceful.  The trees are really high and protect the valley, so it is cool and moist.  There are ferns everywhere.   I haven't seen a...

The last couple of days have been relaxing!  The surf has been good, so we have been up at 7:00 A.  I'm not really surfing yet, but having long periods of frustration interspersed with 10-20 seconds up on the board!  Its getting better, but I may invest in a lesson when I get back to Sydney.  The afternoons have been spent reading, walking into town,sleeping.  Shultzie has continued with wonderful meals for dinner and t...