no worries...just give it a go, mate!

yeah! i’ve made it Down Under where i met up with Jenn (“partner in crime” from my BBRI days) for our roadtrip extragavanza. we spent a few days in sydney, which is a wonderful city and very similar to san francisco. we even climbed up the harbor bridge to get a great view of the city and the “in”famous opera house. of course, we ventured to bondi beach which was a nice way to start our tour of australia’s eastern beaches. i’m waiting to get “beached” out as i got “templed” out in asia.

we then picked up our campervan or our new home for the next couple of weeks and set off on the road. i give all the driving props to jenn for quickly mastering a stickshift on the other side and parallel parking our big sucker, "jeeves". i did manage a few kilometers on the stick so keep your fingers crossed that i can learn (finally) how to drive the real way.

australia’s awesome and the aussies are great...even the redneck ones. driving along the eastern coast, you wouldn’t even think you were in australia what with the plethora of Targets, KMarts, Woolworths, and McDonalds. one minute you’re in hawaii, the next you’re in suburban USA. so far, we’re having a blast and getting pretty resourceful at finding free campervan overnight parking. in fact, i think that should be the next type of travel book to be published. i don’t know if i can do it, but i can offer these hints if you ever find yourself campervanning in australia...

1. Nelson Bay – go to the Inner Light road off of Shoal Bay Road
2. Emerald Beach (Coffs Harbour) – go to the end of Fiddaman Road where there’s a cul-de-sac by the ocean
3. Nudgee Beach (Brisbane) – go to the Nudgee Beach boat harbor
4. Glasshouse Mountain lookout so you can wake up to see the sunrise then head off to Steve Irwin’s Australia Zoo
5. Moore Park (19km north of Bundaberg) after watching loggerhead turtle hatchlings
6. Noosa Yacht and Rowing Club - HOWEVER, there is technically no free overnight camping in Noosa...we just got wicked lucky.

we’ve made it past brisbane and are now in noosa where we’ll try some surf lessons and kayaking before heading to Fraser Island and the Whitsundays. let's hope we don't get cycloned out of the Whitsundays!