The Mother of All Road Trips

So, after almost a year of planning, this is actually happening. Next week, in fact. I'm pretty much beside myself with fear/excitement. The idea of going on a big road trip has always appealed to me, but I always thought it'd be down the East Coast of Australia, not the Southern States of America. 


Highlights:

• After driving across Texas, we're spending three days in Austin, the live music capital of the world. Even better, we're staying in an ultra kitschy motel on South Congress Avenue (the mecca of all things yummy and weird - think doughnuts the size of your face topped with bacon and maple syrup. Aw yeah).


• Next stop is New Orleans, one of my favourite places in the world. Last time I was there I basically experienced every cliche in the book and it was awesome.


• Panama City Beach 2012! Spring Break! Party! (Not really).


• Orlando, aka The Happiest Place on Earth. There will be tears of joy. 


• After spending a week at Disney World and Universal, we're heading north to Atlanta, with lots of stops along the way, including St Augustine (the oldest European settlement in the United States).


• Jack Daniels Distillery, Shelbyville, BBBQ, Nashville and the Grand Ole Opry. 


• Memphis. Nuff said really.

States covered: Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Arkansas.

I can't wait to see Will again. Eight weeks is too long.

Cultural Centre

I've had this post sitting in my drafts for ages, but for some reason or another I never got around to posting it. A few weeks back, Will and I snuck in one last date before he headed off to America for three months to learn how to build and repair guitars. We went to the Cultural Centre for two reasons: 1. My mother was taking a school group to the Mummy exhibit at the museum and had spare tickets, and 2. We went to GOMA on our very first date, back in January 2006.

MUSEUM 

GOMA 

CITY 

After visiting the museum and GOMA, we walked across the bridge to buy ice cream and watch free cartoons and a documentary at Tribal Theatre. It was a really nice day and I can't wait until Will and I meet up in the States for more adventures in August.

Mount Coot-tha

Will and I went to Mount Coot-tha last week on one of our rare days off together. In the past we've been guilty of spending way too much time indoors watching movies, playing video games, etc., so we made plans to actually venture outside and get some exercise. We were originally going to hike up to Camp Mountain lookout for sunrise, but that was really pushing it for us, so at around two in the afternoon we decided to go to Mount Coot-tha for sunset instead. 



We didn't have much time, so we had to choose between a walk around the Botanic Gardens or a visit to the Planetarium. Keeping the exercise part of the plan in mind, we opted for a walk around the Gardens. The Japanese Garden and Arid Region Plants were our favourite areas in the park. Next time I'd like to pack a picnic and walk around the Australian Plant Communities Trail. 




After we finished the White Arrow Trail, we drove up to the top of the mountain to Mount Coot-tha Lookout, where we had burgers and hot apple pie at Kuta Cafe. The lookout is one of my favourite places in Brisbane, I wish pictures could do it more justice. 

Afternoon

Evening

Night

Samford

I feel so much better about living in the country now that I’m actually home to enjoy it during the day. Night time is just an ongoing battle with mosquitoes and possums, but the days are so bright and clear. As much as a complain about living in Samford, I don’t think I could be as content living anywhere else.