Yap yap yap

So I bought plane tickets to Hobart yesterday, meaning that “Dee’s Mad Bad Dash & Splash” is locked in for the first weekend of February next year. Kat, the harbinger of this challenge, has decreed that Ben is not allowed to come (sorry Ben). This is an adventure for three ladies, and three ladies alone: best friends since leaving their respective regional towns and converging in the university housing of the ‘big city’ back in 2000. In our ten years together, when was the last time we had a road trip, just the three of us? Well, frankly, never. And that’s just ridiculous.

So, we’ll be landing in Tasmania on a Friday morning, travelling to the gloriousness that is sure to be the Dee River, and following it to the wondrous Dee Lagoon. We hope. For all we know, it could be a swamp. Oh, no it’s ok, I just googled it. Apparently a lot of trout fishing goes on there. Sustainable life! High five!

I spoke to Mel on the phone last night and she was all:
“Wow, so we’re really going to Tasmania! It’s actually happening!”
“Of course it’s actually happening,” I said, “Were you not expecting it to?”
“Well… no. You know how we say we’re going to do things, and then they never happen?”
I thought about it. “No. Other people say they’re going to do things, and then they never happen. I actually do things.”

Fortunately, she had to concur this was true. But it was enough to give me steel. I pride myself on the follow through. If my own best friend wasn’t expecting this to come to fruition, does that mean that people aren’t taking me seriously? Because that would kind of explain a few things. I felt resentful. I put my ‘tough little dog’ face on and mentally yapped. I will complete 29 challenges! I WILL! Yap yap yap! Grrrr! Yap yap!

To illustrate this, here is a picture I drew of myself as a tough little dog. I also drew myself as a placid, slightly uncertain dog (above) for the fun of contrast.

Fact of the day

Most Sydneysiders probably already knew this, but I just learnt that Sydney Harbour is actually called Port Jackson. We just call it Sydney Harbour because we’re lazy, which is ironic because it has a whole extra syllable in it. How about that, eh?

As per Mel’s challenge, I am trying to grasp exactly how far it is from the North Head in Manly to Watsons Bay. It looks kind of like this:

(sorry I don't know how to make the picture bigger)

Since there is not one route that seems to go the whole length around, the best I can muster is that the whole thing is probably around 100kms, dependant on where you count Parramatta River as starting from. Mel’s original request states that I start at Watsons Bay and work my way around, but I think I might do it backwards and start from the furthest away point. As long as I resume my travels from the same place as I finished previously, it all still counts. I’ve never actually walked the Manly to Spit Bridge route and I know that it is stunning, so I’m keen to try it out. Watsons Bay is glorious as well – Ben and I spent the day after our wedding there scoffing ourselves stupid on seafood paella - so it will make a fine finish line. I’d like to find out what parts of the coastline are able to be navigated by bike, so that I can cycle as much as possible. I have already established that Manly to The Spit is not one of those parts. So! A leisurely Sunday walk will see the initiation of this particular challenge. I’m planning a ferry ride across, walk up to the North Head, walk back and have lunch, then the rest of the track round to the Bridge, bus home. Any takers?

Of course, I may just sleep all weekend instead. That seems incredibly appealing just now...

Oh and my band is playing at the Lansdowne on City Road tonight, in case anyone reads this at the last minute and is in the area. We're on at 8pm.

Halfway mark

We're moving to Summer Hill in 2 weeks! I'm so excited! It's a sweet little unit with polished floorboards and a lovely little sunroom and enough size for one Me and one Husband. Awesomeness abounds.

Meanwhile, time is slipping away on the postcard front... but I'm halfway there! Here's five more to get us to the Fifteen mark.

MELANIE...


KATIE...


CRAIG...


ROSALIND...


REBECCA...