Himba village, Nambia, October 2021
I made it out early to catch one last Aussie sunrise over Coogee Beach, Coogee NSW before leaving Australia today. I am going to miss this beautiful country. I cannot thank you all enough for your gracious hospitality. It's probably the lack of sleep that's making me a bit maudlin/emotional, but it is with a heavy heart that I must depart and begin the long flight home.
Much love,
Colin
PS - Good thing I picked up this new waterproof tripod from Sirui USA before I left...
"Can't you hear, can't you hear that thunder?
You better run, you better take cover, yeah."
Shortly after arriving to Kangaroo Island Australia today, I was greeted by one of the most brilliant and powerful storms I have ever experienced. Skies like these are rare in Alaska, so I fired off as many frames as I could before my gear was being pelted by beach sand and salt spray.
I made it back to the van just before the heavy bombardment of hail began.
I should have arrived at my campsite by now, I am still in the town of Penneshaw and have a couple hours of driving ahead of me to reach the west end of the island, but the purpose is to share my experiences, and this was a beautiful moment. Once again it is the journey, not the destination, that tells the story.
Colin
G'day all! Currently aboard the ferry out to Kangaroo Island. Yesterday was a long day of driving and I am looking forward to being on the island for the next 3 days. I don't have much down time to edit or write but I have a lot to share. Wifi is spotty here, I usually have to find a cafe that offers wifi with a purchase to update my Facebook page, website, and Instagram, check emails and map out my next driving route. After my time on the island, I will drive up to Adelaide for a couple days to visit a friend and take a break from being on the road. From there, I will either head north into the Flinders Ranges to get a taste of the outback or, depending on the weather forecast and what my intuition tells me, I may venture back down to the Great Ocean Road for the remainder of my journey. Right now, the ocean is calling me back...
Cheers!
Colin
Sunset, Great Ocean Road, 12 Apostles. This place is beyond words. I must travel on now but I have a feeling I will be back here someday, sooner than later.
Colin
Daybreak comes early in this part of the world, and the days are getting longer. As exhausting as it is, I just can't pass up beautiful light and opportunities like this. I was out to catch the sunrise, now it's time for a rest, a good stretch, and then get ready to explore the Twelve Apostles later today. I have one more day on the Great Ocean Road, 12 Apostles before heading north to Deep Creek National Park and out to Kangaroo Island on Friday (Thursday for those of you in the US). As always, thank you for following along.
Colin
Lock Ard Gorge , Great Ocean Road, Australia. The sun set on another spectacular day here. To call the scenery here stunning is vastly understated, it is otherworldly. Goodnight from Port Campbell, Victoria.
Image taken using LEE Filters.
No great story comes without some bit of adversity, this I know. Today was a classic example. I arrived in Australia just four days ago, early in the morning of November 3. I could have easily slept when I got to my hostel, I was exhausted, but it was a beautiful day and I was staying a mere five minutes from the beach, I wanted to get out and soak up the vibe.
That night I got decent rest and was up early to catch the sunrise the following day. Soon afterward, I picked up my camper van, grabbed some groceries and somehow found my way out of Sydney in heavy traffic while adjusting to driving on the other side of the road. I drove to Jervis Bay and met up with a mate I crossed paths with in India three years ago. We camped and went for a good hike the next morning and had a swim in the ocean before I was on my way to the next destination. Since then, I’ve covered well over 1,000 km’s with the van. I was up at 5 am today to make use of all the available light I had at Wilson’s Promontory. The images I captured certainly made the drive down there worthwhile, and I will likely return someday and spend more time, it was spectacular.
In my haste to edit photos, pack up and hit the road today, I left my AC power adaptor, extension cord, camera battery charger and a battery plugged in at my site in the Tidal River Campground, all of which I desperately need. I realized this when I was nearing Melbourne, three hours later. In a state of semi-panic, I found a shopping center and located an electronics store, who then put me in touch with a camera store in the next town who had a charger that isn’t the same as the one I’d brought, but it would will for now. I also called the visitor center back at Wilson’s Promontory and thankfully, they’d found everything I left behind and are going to mail it to my friend in Adelaide, whom I will be visiting next week. After a while, I was able to look back and laugh it off. It cost me a few hours, a little extra money and some frustration, but it’s going to be fine. In the end, there is always a lesson. I need to slow down, I need to breathe, I need to rest.
The next few days will be spent covering a much smaller area and should give me a chance to slow my pace a bit. Tonight, I am going to rest, my body is telling me I need it. Goodnight from the Great Ocean Road, Victoria, Australia. This place is powerful, and humbling.
Coli
The sun rises over Coogee Beach this morning; this is the dawn of my Australian journey. Locals greeted the day by getting their morning exercise with a variety of activities - jogging, swimming, beach yoga, tai chi, even kickboxing classes. I haven't been here 24 hours and already, I have a soft spot for this little corner of Sydney. I may return before I depart later this month.
I'll be getting my camper van today and driving to Jervis Bay. Stay tuned for more and, as always, thank you for following along.
Cheers, mates!
Colin
Thinking back to the last time I stood in the Tasman Sea - New Zealand 2014. I am about to embark on my first journey to Australia, which will find me looking across this same body of water from the other shore. I should arrive in Sydney tomorrow, which, after crossing the International Date Line, will be November 3 in Oz. What lies ahead remains a mystery, as it should. Please stay tuned...
"There is no security on this earth, there is only opportunity." (Douglas MacArthur)
Colin
