Thursday, November 6, 2008

Barack Obama is a hero here more than I would have ever believed. It is all any one can talk about and god bless the Ozzies, b/c they don't blame us for George W. Bush. they blame all of the mistakes squarely on that disaster of a president, and share our hope for better days. We did not lose the international community. They're ready to give us another chance.

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anyway, I Got my ass out of Dodge this a.m. and headed for the South Coast. Seeing as they don't have anything resembling a state or federal highway system (and no straight roads, I might add), it's like a fucking maze getting out of town...but I found my way to Princes Hwy, and then I saw something scary: The Bush.

I've seen a lot of different natural environmenments, and always believed the most difficult to move through would be the low chaparral that you get in the California coast range (super-dense, tough, scratchy, etc.). But the "forest', if you could call it that, that you see on the side of the road here looks basically impassable without a bulldozer. It's super-dense and viney and about 10-12 feet of seemingly impenetrable growth...with no real breaks for ridgelines,or meadows,or what have you. I assume it's second growth. Whatever it is, I'll follow the advice of the gelato lady today, "yeah, there's a few tracks in there, but I reckon you wouldn't want to have a go at it otherwise."

Got my first view of Big Blue today and goddammn, it's magnificent. The area I'm in is between Sydney and Wollongong and is kinda like Kaneoke on Oahu...Chill, suburban, green, and blessed with Monterey-quality coastline.

And I'm finally sleeping in my tent tonight, and I couldn't be happier. got a great spot on the edge of a rock wall on Coledale Beach, just a few steps from the waves...When there's a big set, I get a little spray coming in the tent. Fine white sand, clear blue water, and cool pine trees for shade. and no drunk-ass speed-freak bikers blaring Whitesnake. people are way too mellow for all that noise down here.