Last week here

It's been a fast last week here, loads of training and good times out with friends. I think I've squeezed every last drop of sunshine out of Perth I could and I've seen so many wonderful places along the way. I love going out to eat and seeing new things, trying new foods and I did a lot of that here.

I fly to team camp tomorrow morning and will gain my day back that I lost on the way here;) It's time to start the season and get things rolling.

I finished off my time here with finally making it to the beach and into the ocean for a swim - lovely!!!! We had a small picnic and some ciders with friends before heading to dinner to watch the sunset. Today is the day of washing, packing, organizing, thanking. See you all stateside!

Dinner with friends of friends from Vicksburg - yup, small world!
Dinner in the air conditioning - not! But the occasional breeze from the fan was nice....
MOM and DAD!! Davina and Luke created a 'family' environment at the house - love these guys!
Amber and Davina...
Way too much sea shell and not enough scallop, but still good....just needed more food...
Davina, Amber, myself and Leanne...
Big poppa Luke!
Saturday night Luke....
The view from our picnic...
Picture before we go in...
I'm so proud of these lines!! I want to perfect them!
We've had a ton of 'training brain' and I think this picture captures those moments....
Walking to dinner....
End of another day...my last sunset...
The ships are headed to the Freo(Fremantle) harbor...

Reading: flight details home

Listening: Tonight is the night - Outasight

Watching: the clock, not ready to leave

Eating: yummy seafood

Looking forward to camp!!!!

Australia Day

So yesterday was Australia Day, it is a national holiday and everyone was off work and having fun. We did an early ride(6am) and on the way to the start, saw a couple of people still having fun from the night before - ewww - we've all been there. So after the ride and some rest in the air conditioning(it's so hot here - 107) we waited till the afternoon to get back out and enjoy the holiday.

We went to dinner close to the Swan River, so we could walk down afterwards and catch the fireworks show. I'm so glad we did this!! It was a blast and a pretty amazing moment - watching the fireworks with EVERYONE else! People set up tents early in the morning just to get a spot on the river to watch the show, which lasts about an hour. They have music that plays along with the fireworks and you can tune in with your radio and they will also give a bit of history in between songs. It really was cool! Then the rain started to roll in and there was thunder and lightening behind us and fireworks in front - so crazy!!

Only a couple of days left now, I'm really sad to be leaving but looking forward to seeing my new teammates in California. I hope I can come back again, truly a great experience.

Bec and Amber at dinner...
Kangaroo! YUMMMM....
Pretty good stuff!!!
Adrian(another housemate from Holland, he is here on vacation and staying w/ Davina as well)and I sharing a laugh...
Tha girls having some fun...
What is he looking at?
Getting ready for the show...what a beautiful sunset too!
For an hour, it was huge fireworks!

Random photos

Since the weekend of the Fremantle tour, the week has flown by and time is almost up here in Perth....can I go ahead and book my ticket for next year????

I've checked things off the 'to do' list and some pictures follow show the happenings.....enjoy!

Learning the game of cricket! There was a wall of bats!! Then another wall of padding, so cool!!! Here I am trying to perfect my swing.....I'm still working on it.
This is Little Creatures brewery in Fremantle. Amber was told that this was good place to go! They were right! Cool atmosphere and packed!! Perfect for a hot day:)
Sit wherever you can find a spot....
I bet these guys were melting!!! It was sooo hot back there! No air conditioning in the entire place...
The bar area...
Hanging out at a friend's BBQ...
Fishy face!

Reading: Cycling news, world cups and racing...

Listening: Horse Feathers

Watching: Tour Down Under was on this past weekend and tennis

Eating: fresh fruit salad! It's summer here people!

Feeling: reflective on my time here....

Excited: for a hard training week!

Maybe I can get in another blog after Australia Day(Thursday). We will see if I have anything to write about:) I fly on Tuesday morning and will be back in the states for camp, so I'm sure I will be blogging from camp. Stay safe!

Fremantle Prison

On Sunday, Meg(roommate at Davina's place) set up the Fremantle Prison Tunnel tour, a 2hr tour through the tunnels underneath the prison that were hand dug by the prisoners to reach the aquifers for water to the above world. Eventually they also supplied the surrounding settlement as well. First they pumped the water by hand but over time installed a steam engine pumping station.

Once the aquifers ran dry, they found other means for water sources and in 1989 there was an oil spill through the tunnels. This part is interesting so pay attention: the solution they came up with was to put a type of mold in the tunnels that would eat the diesel oil and leave no bi-product. So once all the spill was 'eaten' they sealed the tunnels until the government decided to make it a historical landmark and a place for visitors. HOW cool!!!

Before we went to the prison we cruised the streets and markets and found a place to eat lunch and take advantage of a couple of shopping opportunities. Great food, great environment! It reminded me of the French Quarter in New Orleans but with a nice breeze:)!

It was such a great experience and a lot of locals expressed their own interest in seeing the prison tunnels and just haven't gotten to it.....well get to it folks, that was a great tour!

It was blazing hot in our 'outfits' above ground but once you climbed 20meters down, it was at least 20 degrees cooler. Hope you enjoy the pictures!

From the parking lot, looking at the main entrance....
Meghan and Carlos....
Walking the streets of Fremantle and about to enter the markets...
Once inside the markets, it was a mix of a flea market and a farmers market, so much fun!...
Vendors and people everywhere!
The streets of Fremantle....
Street performers...
More vendors on the street....
Walking to the entrance of the prison....
INSIDE the walls, looking left...
then looking right....
Photo opportunity INSIDE:) Meg, Amber, me and Davina....
Our tour guide - Richard...
All in, gates closed:(....
Walking to the tunnel entrance...
This is the amount of limestone they pulled out of one tunnel...could you imagine do that by hand?
About the size of the tunnels....
We had to watch a video first for history and safety....
Then they had to make sure we were all sober - Amber doing a breathalyzer test...
Gearing up, it was so hot!!!
Post tour with all our GEAR on....safety harness for not falling down the ladders, life vest so we don't drown in the 3 ft of water and the hard hat and light for the ole noggin and to see....
Our sexy boot shot....not really though...
Amber loosing her overalls....
Hey! They are letting us out!!!
To the right of the prison, not sure what, but they were cool buildings....

After the tour, we came home, showered and went to Luke's mom and dad's house for Sunday dinner and met Luke's sister and her kids and had a great dinner! I had 2 helpings of everything! YUMMY! And that was the off day! We are planning to go back and do more shopping this weekend, just wasn't enough time!

Reading: my book again, finally having some energy to read before bed

Watching: Tennis on TV

Eating: Vegemite, gotta try it!

Drinking: lots of water and the occasional Coke Zero

Listening: tennis on TV