EricSheenaScott

This one is for Mike. So I needed to write this blog to get something out of my system. On the way to Whistler we lost our luggage - scratch that - United Airlines and LAX lost our luggage. Which we’re told happens a lot. But my problem is that they shouldn't have. We flew from Sydney to LAX via QANTAS (great flight on a brand new plane) and had to get our checked baggage in LAX to clear customs - standard Homeland Security procedure. On our way to our connecting terminal, we had to re-check our bags and drop them in a connecting baggage spot - which of course as everything in LAX is under constant construction was a closet behind dividers where some guy was just taking bags and throwing them into a room ... read more

Arriving in Melbourne we picked up our rental car with GPS (which was HIGHLY recommended by our hosts, Mark & Leanne - and we soon found out why) and started to make the drive into the city and to Southbank where we’d be staying for the next four days. Starting off easy, we soon found out the craziness that is Melbourne navigation: intersections with multiple directions, roundabouts that aren’t quite round, tram tracks which crisscross everywhere, and not to mention the famous “hook turn” (to make a right-hand turn you have to be in the furthest left lane, inch into the intersection, and wait for the light to turn red). However, with Sheena providing her patented side-driver navigation help (“ERIC! WHAT ARE YOU DOING? USE YOUR SIGNAL!”) we finally arrived at our home for the ... read more

What a week! It was tough to say our goodbyes to Perth, but with a ride and a high-five from Mike & Rita at the airport, we were officially out of Perth and looking forward to the last 6 weeks of our trip! First stop...Ayers Rock in a somewhat unconventional way. For some reason Quantas (Australia's major airline) doesn't fly direct from Perth to Cairns, so we had to have a quick stop-over in Ayers Rock - which was great because we got some incredible fly-over pictures of Uluru (Ayers Rock)! It would have been amazing to be there for sunrise/sunset, and even climb it, but at least we can say that we've "been there, done that." Cairns Landing in Cairns we were immediately hit with the weather change - after 6 months of hot & ... read more

One car, 4 adults + camping gear for four people = one very tight ride! After Christmas morning breakfast (banana pancakes courtesy of Rita) we packed the car and headed to the South coast of Western Australia in search of fantastic beaches and breathtaking scenery....needless to say we were not disappointed. Though we had a rough idea of what we wanted to see/do, general consensus was that we would all go with the flow and see where the road took us. First stop was Walpole, a town so small it would be missed in the blink of an eye. We had hoped to make it to Albany on our first night but didn't anticipate the fact that EVERY gas station outside of Perth city limits would be closed. Nervous that the gas tank would soon hit ... read more

After making our decision to head home both Sheena and I started to count down the weeks (days!) left that we would have to soak up all that Perth had to offer. So in true 'Scott' fashion, we made a list (Eric did..not Sheena) of things we had to see/do before leaving Perth. Time is definitely moving quick and starting to run out! First thing's first: Java Juice had to go. As much fun as it was to make smoothies all day and drink a ridiculous amount of freshly squeezed juices on my break, it was taking up our available time on weekends. Alas, I bid them a fond farewell (but still am on payroll to ensure that I get that sweet employee discount ;) and now Sheena and I both have our weekends free to ... read more