Yup. I did make it back to Australia. I managed to take two Air China pillows with me (great for 'luxurious' camping), and succeeded in bringing some Chinese tea and some wooden items back into the country. They were probably all safe enough to get through customs, but I always prefer to employ the 'decoy' method when going through.
Once I was back in Aus, I was more or less down to two options. One: go about finding work in Sydney, and thus not know when I may next have an extended period of time free. Two: continue my 'binge' (of unemployment and climbing) and head to New Zealand for a couple of months. Money would be the issue: NZ is a considerably more expensive country to bum around in than, say, China. Once I deemed that my funds would just allow for a (cheap as bro) trip, all it took was for a catch up with Jimmy to flick the switch in my mind to firmly YES (catching up with Jimmy can be very empowering, or dangerous, in that way - we seem to bounce ideas off each other in a way that makes anything seem possible).
And so, exactly one week after arriving back in Sydney, I booked return flights to Christchurch, NZ, departing about three weeks later.
The time that I did spend back in Aus, about a month, felt considerably busy, especially given my unemployed status.
Initially there was an enormous satisfaction in enjoying things like good sourdough bread, cheese, wine, good, craft beer, black pudding, pasta, etc etc, after a couple of months in China. That list could well go on.
I really do enjoy cooking, and so I was surprised at how long it took me to find the motivation to do some. Really, it was another installment of Kim & Lyndal's Epic BBQ that got me going. I got carried away by preparing/cooking three different things, but my Dulce do Leche cheese cake was the only thing I was reasonably happy with.
Eddie and Jo's wedding was the reason I came back when I did, and a lovely evening it was. I hate to focus so much on one theme, food, but the food at the wedding was fantastic! Usually 'function' food served out in quantity is merely acceptable; but this stuff was exceptional. Sumo wrestling at the Buck's party was also a hoot.
Within a week of my return, as Adam and I had discussed whilst in Croatia, we got together to put down a brew. We cooked up, more or less, an American style pale ale. Some Chinook hops went in for bittering, but all the rest were Cascade flower hops (grown in Aus - it is not possible to import hops in their flower form). We bottled it just before I left for NZ, and I can't wait to get back and try some. Christmas will be prime time.
Despite hypochondriac-esque fears of injury, I did get out rock climbing a couple of times. I spent the October long weekend down at Point Perpendicular with some old as well as new, well met friends. I really love Pt Perp. The climbing is in such a spectacular position, that even if the climbs were horrible it could still be worth it. They're not, though, there are a plethora of fantastic routes. Perhaps one of the drawbacks is the local cuisine - 'Chinese' at a local bowlo was a rude reminder as to what is going on in large parts of Australia.
One week I tee'd up some climbing at the Warrumbungles. I love that place! Hey, wait a minute.... Well, who cares if I've just repeated myself, I love the Bungles as well as Pt Perp, and many other places to boot! Monday morning saw me on a cityrail train to Lithgow. From there I hitched with a fascinating couple in their 70's. Who'd expect to be talking all about le tour on a hitch between Lithgow and Bathurst! From Bathurst I hitched with an expat Pole to Orange, where I dropped by my fave, Bills, for an awesome espresso. Not so awesome was the price, $3.50. Honestly, I am so sick of paying the same price for an espresso as a milky coffee. I got a ride to Dubbo in a B-double; 'twas a new experience travelling in one of them.
In Dubbo I met up with Heath, and we drove straight out to the Bungles for the walk up the yellow brick road to Balor Hut. What followed were three days (2.5 really) of great weather and fantastic climbing. Day one we climbed Flight of the Phoenix (300m 18) on Bluff Mountain, one of the classics of the area, if not Australia. The rock, largely, was surprisingly good (the Bungles has a well earnt reputation for loose rock and route-finding difficulties). The traverse out the 'wing' was magic.
Day two we jumped on Lieben (200m 17), another classic of the area. Put up by Bryden Allen and Ted Batty in 1962, it was for a time the hardest graded climb in Australia. The route ascends the west face of Crater Bluff, which is one of the most intimidating faces I have seen, and despite it being a grade lower than Flight, the thought of it always gave me more heebie jeebies than Flight. In climbing it, I did find the crux pitch as difficult as anything encountered on Flight. It was another great climb, and not quite as intimidating in practice as it looks from the ground.
Our final day, after much deliberation, we set out for Out and Beyond on Belougery Spire, typically did not find it, but did find Caucusus Corner (325m 17) - so started up it. We climbed four pitches up to the half way ledge. I was taken by surprise - they were fantastic, as enjoyable as anything on Flight or Lieben. From the ledge I commenced a traverse out; the exposure was exhilarating, fingers and toes keeping me on the rock above the void, protection just sufficient. It was, however, off-route, and I eventually climbed back in towards the ledge. We made a call to bail after that, and good thing we did as it started pelting down an hour later!
The trip to the Bungles all but concluded what had been an excellent month back in Aus. I was even at times questioning whether I really wanted to be leaving at all, but when else in life do we get a chance to do these things? I look forward to returning home, but it will be different this time, I will be faced with the realities of work and all that is involved with life in Sydney.
Once I was back in Aus, I was more or less down to two options. One: go about finding work in Sydney, and thus not know when I may next have an extended period of time free. Two: continue my 'binge' (of unemployment and climbing) and head to New Zealand for a couple of months. Money would be the issue: NZ is a considerably more expensive country to bum around in than, say, China. Once I deemed that my funds would just allow for a (cheap as bro) trip, all it took was for a catch up with Jimmy to flick the switch in my mind to firmly YES (catching up with Jimmy can be very empowering, or dangerous, in that way - we seem to bounce ideas off each other in a way that makes anything seem possible).
And so, exactly one week after arriving back in Sydney, I booked return flights to Christchurch, NZ, departing about three weeks later.
The time that I did spend back in Aus, about a month, felt considerably busy, especially given my unemployed status.
Initially there was an enormous satisfaction in enjoying things like good sourdough bread, cheese, wine, good, craft beer, black pudding, pasta, etc etc, after a couple of months in China. That list could well go on.
I really do enjoy cooking, and so I was surprised at how long it took me to find the motivation to do some. Really, it was another installment of Kim & Lyndal's Epic BBQ that got me going. I got carried away by preparing/cooking three different things, but my Dulce do Leche cheese cake was the only thing I was reasonably happy with.
Eddie and Jo's wedding was the reason I came back when I did, and a lovely evening it was. I hate to focus so much on one theme, food, but the food at the wedding was fantastic! Usually 'function' food served out in quantity is merely acceptable; but this stuff was exceptional. Sumo wrestling at the Buck's party was also a hoot.
Within a week of my return, as Adam and I had discussed whilst in Croatia, we got together to put down a brew. We cooked up, more or less, an American style pale ale. Some Chinook hops went in for bittering, but all the rest were Cascade flower hops (grown in Aus - it is not possible to import hops in their flower form). We bottled it just before I left for NZ, and I can't wait to get back and try some. Christmas will be prime time.
Despite hypochondriac-esque fears of injury, I did get out rock climbing a couple of times. I spent the October long weekend down at Point Perpendicular with some old as well as new, well met friends. I really love Pt Perp. The climbing is in such a spectacular position, that even if the climbs were horrible it could still be worth it. They're not, though, there are a plethora of fantastic routes. Perhaps one of the drawbacks is the local cuisine - 'Chinese' at a local bowlo was a rude reminder as to what is going on in large parts of Australia.
One week I tee'd up some climbing at the Warrumbungles. I love that place! Hey, wait a minute.... Well, who cares if I've just repeated myself, I love the Bungles as well as Pt Perp, and many other places to boot! Monday morning saw me on a cityrail train to Lithgow. From there I hitched with a fascinating couple in their 70's. Who'd expect to be talking all about le tour on a hitch between Lithgow and Bathurst! From Bathurst I hitched with an expat Pole to Orange, where I dropped by my fave, Bills, for an awesome espresso. Not so awesome was the price, $3.50. Honestly, I am so sick of paying the same price for an espresso as a milky coffee. I got a ride to Dubbo in a B-double; 'twas a new experience travelling in one of them.
In Dubbo I met up with Heath, and we drove straight out to the Bungles for the walk up the yellow brick road to Balor Hut. What followed were three days (2.5 really) of great weather and fantastic climbing. Day one we climbed Flight of the Phoenix (300m 18) on Bluff Mountain, one of the classics of the area, if not Australia. The rock, largely, was surprisingly good (the Bungles has a well earnt reputation for loose rock and route-finding difficulties). The traverse out the 'wing' was magic.
Day two we jumped on Lieben (200m 17), another classic of the area. Put up by Bryden Allen and Ted Batty in 1962, it was for a time the hardest graded climb in Australia. The route ascends the west face of Crater Bluff, which is one of the most intimidating faces I have seen, and despite it being a grade lower than Flight, the thought of it always gave me more heebie jeebies than Flight. In climbing it, I did find the crux pitch as difficult as anything encountered on Flight. It was another great climb, and not quite as intimidating in practice as it looks from the ground.
Our final day, after much deliberation, we set out for Out and Beyond on Belougery Spire, typically did not find it, but did find Caucusus Corner (325m 17) - so started up it. We climbed four pitches up to the half way ledge. I was taken by surprise - they were fantastic, as enjoyable as anything on Flight or Lieben. From the ledge I commenced a traverse out; the exposure was exhilarating, fingers and toes keeping me on the rock above the void, protection just sufficient. It was, however, off-route, and I eventually climbed back in towards the ledge. We made a call to bail after that, and good thing we did as it started pelting down an hour later!
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