I've been to a couple of rock concerts, climbed an 18 meter (50ft.) wall at The Edge Adventure Sports Rock Gym, and watched independent films in the park with thousands of picnickers at Tropfest. I finally went to the Koala Park the other day, and got to cuddle with Koalas and Kangaroos. I fell in love with a koala named Tonka, a wombat named Nugget, and a baby kangaroo that I un cleverly named Joey. On a two hour Sydney Harbor Cruise, I also fell in love, not only with the harbor, but with an Aussie (my Brad!!).

Being nearly an hour from the coast (here in the west suburbs), and considering that it's Autumn here, I didn't get to the beach much in Sydney, but the best time I had was spending a week in the coastal paradise of Byron Bay. Seven of us drove 10 hours up the coast to attend the four-day Blues and Roots Music Festival, and stayed in a huge condo near the beach for the whole week. I heard the most amazing music, swam and surfed at gorgeous beaches every day, learned to play the guitar, and traveled the coastline a bit ... enjoying Australia's stunning natural beauty. I tell ya, I just can't get enough of that ocean, and the seafood here is cheap and tasty.

I've been getting excited to see the rest of this amazing country, and then Brad and I randomly found an ad in the local newspaper in April...

"Lift available: 3 people. Sydney, Uluru, Broome, Kimberleys, Darwin. 2 months travel, 4WD camping adventure".

It was like fate...we never read the travel classifieds, and these were places we only dreamed of going, but didn't have the right vehicle or know-how! Turns out, the guy also is a mechanic, a former trucker, has done the route before, and has an amazingly intelligent and organized plan! Nearly two months later, we all know each other now, and are leaving tomorrow for the adventure of the year!

I know most of you don't know where these places are, so I'll send you an outlined map in another email. I also know many of you are wondering who Brad is ... shall I just say that maybe I DO believe in magic?

Talk to ya from the outback!! (It's 2001, I'm sure we'll find a computer somewhere!)
Miss and love you all always, Rebecca "The Bexican"