The End

 

Our Australian adventured ended on August 31st, 2009, 361 days after it started. On our last weekend we attended the highly-anticipated yabby-fest. Back in Canada now, we're getting used to working full-time again.

We had so much fun at the yabby-fest that we forgot to take pictures. Here a few pictures anyhow with a couple from the Landfeldt's back yard and our first two dives back in Canada at The Rothesay and Lock 21

New Zealand Redux

 

Last weekend was our last trip in the southern hemisphere before returning home. We spent six days in Northern New Zealand, where we saw Cirque du Soleil's Dralion, walked in the giant kauri forest, dived the Poor Knights Islands, and bathed in thermal pools.

Here are a few pictures.

Avenue Q

The Internet is for Porn
by bloodreddeath

Tonight, Tanya and I went to see Avenue Q at the Theatre Royal. It was a great show. Sort of a cross between Sesame Street, the Muppet Show, and a Chris Rock routine. The video above contains music from the show. Here are some other versions.

Jervis Bay Photos

Here are the pictures from my birthday weekend in Jervis Bay.

Happy Birthday Pat!

 

As most of you know, this past Sunday was Pat's Birthday. To celebrate we spent the weekend diving with our friends in Jervis Bay. On Friday morning, we went seal diving and on Friday evening we boarded the Ocean Trek liveaboard. The weather was unseasonably warm for winter and the seas were relatively flat so we were able to do most of our diving just outside the bay - we're told this is an extremely rare occurance. Over the weekend, we dove with seals, Port Jackson sharks in the hundreads and even managed to do a spot of whale watching. Orca whales no less! Pictures and possibly some video will follow.

Wrapping things up

As our time in Sydney nears its end, we're frantically trying to take advantage of everything we have here. Last weekend was surfing. This weekend we went for two dives, one at Shiprock with members of Saint George Scuba Club, and one at Kurnell with the people I work with. Over the next few weekend's we'll be in Jervis Bay, Northern New Zealand, and attending a Swedish Yabbie-Fest.

Here are the pictures from Shiprock and Kurnell.

For my Mom and Dad

Dear Mom and Dad,

Pat wanted to make sure you didn't show up a the airport with your computer in hand, so he made me post these for you.

Love Tanya
xoxo

Mom and Dad's Vacation from Pat Morin on Vimeo.

Tjapukai Dance Show from Pat Morin on Vimeo.

Darwin to Alice Springs Trip Video

Darwin to Alice Springs Trip Video from Pat Morin on Vimeo.

As promised, here is our trip video.

The Red Centre

We're back from our trip to the wet North End and the dry Red Centre. Our 12 day 4076 km journey took us to Darwin, Kakadu National Park, the Moscow Circus, Nitmiluk Gorge, Devil's Marbles, the West Macdonnell Ranges, Finke Gorge National Park, King's Canyon, Uluru, Kata Tjuta, and finally to Alice Springs where we caught our flight home. With the exception of a near-miss with some horses and a small forest fire blocking our route, the trip was relatively drama free. Our camper van was cozy and we actually enjoyed living out of it for the duration of the trip. Sleeping 9 hours a night was nice too.

Here are a selection of pictures from the trip. A video will follow soon.

Our Great Northern Adventure

 

For the last two days, Tanya and I have been touring around Darwin and Kakadu National Park, sleeping in our Wicked Outback 4x4 Campervan. Today, after checking out the boats at the Beer Can Regatta, we'll start our 2000km 3076km journey, going down to Katherine Gorge, Devil's Marbles, the MacDonnell Ranges, King's Canyon, and Uluru before heading to Alice Springs for our flight home.

It's been great so far, though some of our off-roading in the park was turned back by a forest fire (above).

Dwarf Minke Whales

Dwarf Minke Whales from Pat Morin on Vimeo.

As promised, here is the video from our dive trip with the Dwarf Minke Whales that the onboard video pro made. Its a bit long (30+ minutes) so if you want to see the whales they start around 9 minutes.

The Day the Music Died

I'll always remember where I was when I heard Michael Jackson died; snorkelling and diving with Minke Whales on the Great Barrier Reef. Last weekend Tanya and I flew north to Cairns where we hopped on board the Spoilsport for 3 days of diving and snorkelling with Minke whales. The trip finished off with a low-level flight back to Cairns in an 8-seater Cessna operated by Hinterland Aviation.

Here are some pictures. There will probably be a video later.

Sydney Winter Festival

Tonight we went to the Sydney Winter Festival. They have an outdoor ice rink that costs only $20 to skate on, but tickets were sold out weeks ago. They also have a range of traditional winter foods from all over the world. I was promised poutine, but couldn't find any.

Here are a handful of pictures.

Taronga Zoo

This weekend we went to the Taronga Zoo where we had a chance to see the world's only captive (rescued) leopard seals, a red panda, a pygmy hippo, and giraffes against the Sydney Harbour skyline. We also went for a dive at Shark Point where a cuttlefish tried to mate with me.

Here are some pictures at the zoo and diving.

South Australia

We've recently returned from our trip to South Australia. While there, we cage dove with great white sharks, snorkelled with sea lions, dove with leafy sea dragons and watched the mating rituals of the giant Australian cuttlefish and that was just in the first four days! After that we headed to the Flinders Ranges for some hiking where we climbed to St. Mary's peak - the highest peak in the ranges. After a few days of hiking we headed south to Kangaroo Island where we did a bit of diving and watched the New Zealand fur seals and sea lions.

Here are some pictures.

Cape Solander to Cronulla

Last Sunday we decided to take a hike from Cape Solander to Cronulla. It's a nice hike with some good views of the ocean. On the way back 5 or 6 humpback whales were passing Cape Solander, but they were hard to make out without binoculars.

Here are a few pictures.

North of Sydney

Last weekend we drove north from Sydney to South West Rocks. On the way we stopped in Nelson Bay for a high-tide dive at Fly Point. We spent two days doing, er, character-building dives at Fishrock Cave. On the way back we spent a day diving The Pinnacle in Forster.

Here are a few pictures.

Diving and Fireworks

Yesterday we braved the rough seas and made two boat dives with St. George Scuba Club, at Minmi Trench and The Leap, in less than ideal conditions. To celebrate our safe return, Darling Harbour city council put on a sound and light show. Fireworks and jetskis, what could go wrong?

Here are a few pictures.

Busted!

I received my first Australian speeding ticket yesterday, for doing 71kph in a 60kph zone on Sunday April 26, at 7:08am. Cost: $81.

Ulladulla

Last weekend we made the 220km drive south from Sydney to Ulladulla for a weekend of diving off an RIB with some of the members of St. George Scuba Club. The weather cooperated nicely and it was some of the best diving we've done in New South Wales.

Here are some pictures.