February 17th, 2012

So this post clearly took place before some of the posts that are up. But I know Kyle will want to see these pictures, so better late than never. Credit goes out to Ry for the pictures. We were lucky enough to go over to Manly Beach and see the Australian surf open. Beautiful day, so we enjoyed the beach and swimming as well.

Adelaide Fringe

Well, I arrived safely in Adelaide (not that anyone was worried) for Fringe. A quick stop over on my way to Perth to work, I figure it's about time to give it a second go here. So, here for fringe. As per some wise advice from my brother 'say yes to things, even things you wouldn't normally do.' so when a street performer sat down and started talking to me at breakfast and asked if I wanted to go to some fringe, I said yes. This lead to meeting and talking to several street performers. The best of the lot was probably the 9 year old escape artist and with a line like 'I am nine years old, single and I have a job...that's better than most guys' how could you not stop and watch!!! He was quite talented. I also went and saw the fringe variety and walked around the gardens, both the garden of unearthly delights and the garden of gluttony. Even went into the artists bar!! That's what happens when you say yes Kyle!!

Canberra

After Ryan left, I headed inland for a bit to enjoy Canberra. I was able to accomplish a lot here, including learning to make money. Okay, what I actually mean is how coins are made... Sigh, if only it was so easy as to show up in the Australian capital and learn how to make money. I was also able to tour the parliament buildings, take in a couple of museums and catch up with the Martins before making my way to Adelaide. It was lovely to see them and catch up.

Cradle Mountain

Okay, so in one of twenty days a year, Ryan and I hiked, climbed and bouldered to the summit of Cradle Mountain. The skies were blue bird blue, there was not a cloud in sight and besides a very gentle breeze at the top, there was no wind. We could not have asked for a better day. We completed the whole journey in about 5 hours, with our first picnic at Marion's Lookout and the second picnic right at the top. At the summit, on the top of the world.

Probably only Amy sympathizes

In what would be the third mountain we climbed (the first being the Nut in Stanley,the second of course Cradle Mountain) we climbed yet another to go to the look out at Wineglass bay before climbing down to go play in the water. Of course for those of you that have put two and two together, that meant we had to climb back up and down to get to the car. I think Amy feels for Ryan as my motto in Vegas was if we can see it, we can walk to it. Not always the best motto in a Vegas heat wave. I would like it to go on the official record that Ryan never complained. Can you see the kookaburra eating the lizard??

Ryan and Ashley Climb a Bridge

For those of you that live under a rock, Sydney has this very famous bridge. The bridge is the heaviest in the world, though there is one 63cm (that number may be off) longer than it. The bridge is also designed to move (as the heat contracts and expands it) up to 18cm. It was built during the depression to generate work. The four pylons are there merely for decoration and at some point in the 1970s there was a cattery atop one of them. Okay, enough talk I know. You want pictures and no more history lessons.

Let's hear those guesses!!

First person to correctly identify what this is a picture of will win a prize to be mailed to them directly from Australia. Remember... It's art. As seen in the MONA. Ryan will confirm this.

Ashley and Ryan get a camper can man!!

Ryan and I's next adventure took us down to Tasmania, where we got a camper van man!! (this must be said in a hippie voice) I would highly recommend this form of travel around Tasmania. Our adventure lead us to Launceston to start, then we drove to Devonport where we cooked dinner, before spending the night in Sheffield. Then to Cradle Mountain to see the devils at cradle, up to Stanley to climb the night and spend the night. Next to Cradle Mountain to climb to the summit before driving to Queenstown and camping in Hamilton for the night. This lead to an adventure is Hobart and Seven Mile Beach and Old Beach (which, for the record, is not a beach) to Port Arthur and the Tasman Pennisula to see the blow hole and devil's kitchen and up to Coles bay. Next was Freycinet National Park where we hiked to Wineglass Bay and then onto Bay of Fires. Our journey in Tasmania wrapped up in Tamar Valley in the vineyards. No slacking on vacation!!!

The Blue Mountains

So there should be a post before this one, but some pictures need to be exchanged before that can happen. After a few days in Sydney, Ryan and headed out to the blue mountains. We ended up camping and staying dry one night in the tent despite what felt like hurricane rains. Also, survived a lizard in the tent. Okay, I survived, Ryan was brave and dealt with it. No, it was not that big, yes I was a total girl. We did some hiking in the mountains and road the worlds steepest train at 52 degrees. We even hiked the three sisters. We enjoyed rain in the rainforest while hiking and for the record, the blue mountains really do appear blue. You can tell how humid it is by my hair.

Just some more pictures