Adelaide to Sydney - Part I

Shortly before Christmas my husband and sil hatched a plan to visit Sydney for the NYE fireworks. This being their last NYE in Australia before heading off to Texas for 4 years, combined with the fact that her sister lives in Sydney laid the foundation for this somewhat crazy venture.Christmas was over and Boxing day was spent packing and organizing ready to leave early Sunday am. Organizing included the usual but also the extra bonus of readying our new 'old' car, the Patrol (commonly referred to as 'the beast'). Sorting out the stereo 'cos we can't drive all that way in silence and tinting the windows..... ourselves. This job will never be attempted again! it was worse than covering school books with contact. Note - this job began the day before Christmas, in between preparing the vegetables and everything else that needed to be done:) An awesome oppurtunity for patience and service. Praise God His grace is available even the day before Christmas! We packed our tents and sleeping bags as this was to be an 'on the cheap' holiday and next morning the adventure began.

As we sat in the driveway my husband's comment went something like

"So, which way do you want to go, the long way or the short way?"

NYE was 5 days away so we decided on the 'long way'...

Day 1 - Adelaide to Port Campbell... we stopped in Mt Gambier where I managed to take about 14 photos of the sinkholes before realizing I had no film in the camera (yes it is an old one!). Showed the boys the Blue Lake and they wanted to swim in it:) Headed along the coast and then arrived in Port Campbell to find that this little seaside village is very popular and very full. We found ourselved above the local oval on a makeshift overflow camping ground with a few others and set up tent to the bizarre sounds of some unseen bird. After a shower at the Rec Centre we were off again...

Day 2 - Port Campbell to Leongatha... In and out of the car to see the sights of the Great Ocean Road. Wow, have they changed since we were there 20 years ago. London Bridge is no more and so many place that we just walked up to last time, were fenced and have great tourist centres surrounding them. More photos (with the film in!) The boys continued with their DVD watching, SG1 series...I don't know. Another snap decision and we were aboard the ferry from Queenscliff to Sorrento. We got a little lost on the Mornington Peninsular and more than a little waylaid in the coastal traffic down there but eventually wound our way through to a little spot called Leongatha. Here we managed to find another cheap overnight tent site...thankfully with showers of a higher quality...and set up camp again. That evening we went to see 'Avatar' which we thought was intruiging but a little too close to Pocohontas story line for me. But I was tired...

Day 3 - More driving but this time we detoured inland and somewhere around Lakes Entrance we headed up to the Snowy River National Park. Buchan, Mackillop Bridge to Delegate River. Sounds simple... you must be joking! It was awesome! We scaled mountains, crossed bridges, saw breathtaking views, hiked to nonexistent falls and swam in the Snowy River. We saw deer, nearly ran over roos, wallabies, foxes, rabbits and an incredibly fast moving wombat. My camera broke.. and then we fixed it. We almost set up camp along the river but our boys were too spooked to stay 'in the wild'. We eventually camped at a camping ground in Delegate River at about 10pm. We woke to a mist over the small creek beside where we had stayed and then it was...

Christmas is Over

Yes! All that planning and excitement is all over,

but what a day it was. Christmas Eve was spent with friends for tea and then with church family for a Christmas Eve service. This year my oldest son played the role of Joseph... no mean feat when you think that he is 15 (almost 16) and I'm sure it was not the 'coolest' thing to do - following a singing, Mary around the church, carrying a lantern. I was having a 'proud mummy' moment. He had said yes to a request from a friend, who was to give Glory to God with her voice, in spite of the possible embarrassment.

When we returned home my husband gathered us together and committed us and the new day to the Lord. I would have been satisfied with these two gifts.

Christmas day began with our traditional 'opening of the stockings'. These seem to grow each year. Then breakfast and the last minute preparations. This year I was determined to enjoy the day, not waste it in whining (under my breath) about the lack of help etc. Both boys had been happy to help peel and cut veges the day before so all that was left was to pop the veges in the oven and arrange some platters to share with my husband's side of the family. Time even to calmly shower and dress, then off to enjoy lunch with family, some of whom I also count as my closest friends. Plenty of food and gifts to share, then home again.

The turkey and more veges in the oven, time to relax, then around the corner to my brother's home to celebrate with my side of the family. Plenty more gifts and food and a puppet performance from my nieces and nephew which left us doubled over in laughter.

Home to bed, abundantly blessed, eternally thankful.

I wonder how we will celebrate next year?