Rain, Rain, Rain

First off....thanks mom for posting the pics!!!!!!

Yep, it doesn't stop and it seems to follow us everywhere we go. We're currently in Bondi Beach in Sydney. We got in yesterday after a drive down the coast from Brisbane. At least we were able to hit the beach for a couple of hours yesterday before the crazy wind and rain. In fact, on my way over to the internet cafe, I read a head line that Coogee, just south of us, where we tried to get accomdations but couldn't, had flash floods and two people died. Glad we're here instead. Crazy weather! Let's see, what else...oh after hanging out with some lovely British folks, who later complained of a sore throat, Chris is feeling a bit under the weather, no pun intended...or was there?

So let me go back in time a bit. We went to one of the Australian wine areas of Hunter Valley. It's mostly know for it's Shiraz's but has a mix of others as well. On our way down we were listening to the radio and one of the wineries had a tragic accident that morning where there was a sudden explosion and 2 people died and one person was burned extremely badly. It was at one of the very well known wineries that the family has been there for several generations, so not a happy time. Also, of course, as soon as we arrived, it was pissing rain.

When we got to the camp ground it was fairly empty. The lady at the front told us alot of the sights were pretty flooded out but she let us have a look around to see if we could make do with any of it. She also told us, "Oh, the sites where the vines are, are where the 'grape pickers' are"...very much implying we don't want to be there. Chris and I both thought, "What's wrong with Mexicans"? We may be going to hell for thinking that, and then saying it out loud, but it's what we have in California. We did find a lovely spot with two trees to tie our blue tarp to and we even got our own bathroom!!!! Since it was pouring rain we decided to go wine tasting instead of setting up in the rain. When we drove by the kitchen on the way out, we realized it looked more like a hostel kitchen than the campsite kitchen's we're used to. Younger folk hanging out, playing music, guitar and drinking beer. So we went to about 3 wineries and heard a story about the recent tradegy from one of the other owners. One thing is that tastings are absolutely free, everywhere, there, but that seems like it'll end soon. Even in New Zealand we had to pay for a couple. The wines are good but they prefer more subtle flavors than us Californians. I think I may like them better than the New Zealand wines, but we didn't really explore there in as much depth as AU. Anywhoo...we get a bottle of sparkling Shiraz, surprizingly yummy and head back to the campsite. It's dinner.

We go to the kitchen and there are the group of Brits...3 girls 4 boys and loads of fun. They are the "grape pickers" who have been stuck there because the weather has not allowed them to start picking. Three of them had been flooded out of their tent the night before and were drying out all day. They were the noisy kids the reception lady "warned" us about. So what do we do? Become friends with the "bad kids", yet still appear good. What do I mean by this? We stayed up with them, drank, listened to music and laughed and then went to bed (because that's what older married people do). Just as we went to bed, the lady came out and told them to be quiet...she never even knew we associated with them.

Well, apparently their tent wasn't dry by then, so they slept in the laundry room. At 7 a.m. the next day, the lady came in, "Guys, I'm already not happy with you. You can't sleep here. From now on the laundry room will be locked at night." It's nice when you can be the one that starts new rules. Once they got up they realized their tent was missing. They had hung it up to dry and now it was gone. In come Chris, Heather, and the trusty tent and tarp. We'd been worried for a while about our tent. The poles weren't really staying together and they were kinda bent. We had to buy a sewing kit to sew up the a few holes, but had managed to keep it going and with the tarp we stayed dry. But these poor guys needed something and we only needed it one more night, then to the trash it was to go. Nope. We offered it to them and they took it right quick. We even threw in the tarp and two umbrellas. They wanted us to leave it where we set it up and would take it up with the lady if they could leave it there or had to move to the "picker" field. Chris and I spent another day wine tasting and a shorter evening with the Brits. Then it was up and off to Sydney...which is where we are now.

Yesterday we checked into our hostel. Cool old, old building with detailed ceilings, grates, picture molding, etc... but very much a hostel. Chris is sick now, but after cooking in the kitchen there, it might be my turn...naw. People are pigs though.

Today we did alot of walking and went to the Circle Quay, which is where the Harbor Bridge is, an area called The Rocks and yes....dah, dah...the Opera House. It is very cool in person but with the crazy wind and rain flurries, not exactly how I pictured it. I want to go back when the weather is a bit better, but we toughed it out and walked all around it. Maybe we'll do the tour, but it's kinda spendy. We also want to climb the Harbor Bridge but that costs even more than glacier climbing!!! We were warned by the Brits that Syndey will try to suck your money out of your pocket and yes, it can be a very expensive place, but I think I really like it. Like, SF, but more mellow and warmer. We've got a few more days and then to Thailand on Friday. Send us warm weather vibes...please!!

Miss you back at home.