Traveling Archives - INSPIRING MAX

F: Flooding

April 8, 2024April 8, 2024 inspiringmax

Australian weather is changeable. Floods can and do happen very quickly, sometimes without notice. On more than one occasions we have been traveling and have had to change our plans because of floods. I find it fascinating that a road that you could drive easily on one day, the next is totally cut off by flood waters.

It is also weird to me that as I wrote this blog post last weekend, New South Wales had a significant weather event and many parts of the state are again in flood. Watching the football on Friday night which was playing in my home town was very funny. It was pouring with rain and the players were tackling like they were on a slip and slide. the field was covered in water. Our team won as they held on very tightly to the ball and fortunately no-one was injured.

The excess amount of rain everywhere leads to the serious risk of life threatening flash flooding. The secret to dealing with flooding is always to

Be Prepared and Be Alert and Never Drive Through Flood waters.

The following photos are of Wannon Falls during floods. The water was very brown and smelt very earthy. The water was also flowing very hard and fast.

The other major problem that Truby ( our Iveco truck and slide on camper) has in the wet is that she is heavy. This means that the places we can stop are limited. We need either gravel or a hard surface so she doesn’t get stuck in the mud.

The following photos are of the Murray River in full flood. It is the longest river in Australia. We had been there six months before this and the river was several metres lower.

Let’s Travel Australia- 2024#AtoZChallenge

March 31, 2024March 31, 2024 inspiringmax

For anyone who is not aware the #AtoZChallenge is held every year in April. Bloggers are challenged to chose a theme and write a post everyday except Sunday. The posts start at A and go through until Z. The other fun part is also blog hopping and visiting new and friends blogs.

During this years #AtoZChallenge I will share with you some of the interesting things, places and people I have discovered as I travel the states of New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia.

I hope that you find my theme interesting. Australia is a very unique and varied country that can be very different. It is not unusual to hear the phrase “only in Australia.” On our travels in Truby (our blue Iveco truck and her red slide on camper) we mostly visit small towns. Nearly all are filled with history and have found some way to reinvent themselves using creativity. At the beginning of the day it is not unusual for us to have no idea what we will find on our journey. I love it. I hope that you find my selections interesting and that they give you an insight into our Australian culture.

For any of my #weekendcoffeeshare friends who are also joining in the fun I will attempt to keep up with your posts. Thanks for hosting Natalie.

CMMC: Australia loves V

January 27, 2022January 27, 2022 inspiringmax

This year I have just discovered a new and exciting weekly challenge, Cee’s Midweek Madness Challenge. (CMMC) The theme of this week is words that contain the letter V. So in recognition of Australia Day yesterday, I decided to base my post around things important to Australia and Australians.

My first choice is the superfood of our nation, Vegemite. Full of vitamin B it is a unique taste. One fun thing we like to do is give taste tests to our international guests. Often the looks on their faces are priceless. Most Australians also don’t leave Australia without a jar packed in their suitcase. I love my larger size Vegemite from Costco.

Our country is an island so lifesavers are an essential part of our daily life. They do an amazing job saving many people from drowning and keeping our beaches, pools and rivers safe. While some are paid positions, many are volunteers supporting their communities.

The waves on our beaches are constantly changing. I love going to the beach during all seasons just to watch the waves. It is a peaceful exercise that helps to ground me. Unfortunately, it is not always safe to swim in the waves. Mother nature definitely rules. This summer every time I’ve had a day off the beaches have been closed so I haven’t had a swim yet.

Australians love their sport and one of our favourites is diving.

Rivers are another waterway Australia has a lot of. They can be coastal or inland and are reliant on the rainfall. This photo was taken at the end of last year when the rivers suddenly burst into major floods cut ting off towns and communities in a few hours. Drought is also a problem when the rivers dry up.

Sydney’s Vivid Festival is amazing. It is very creative and celebrates light, music and ideas. Every year it gets bigger and brighter with more displays over different parts of Sydney.

I love the Australian humour in this Lavatree outside a waste disposal centre in rural NSW.

On our travels we found amazing sculptures carved into the walls of an underground opal mine at Lightning Ridge.

Finally the last thing Australians love it traveling. For us this gaining a new momentum as we have just bought ourselves a new Iveco to carry our slide on camper. Vacationing in the Iveco a very fun way to visit.

Thanks to Cee for hosting her CMMC January V

Share Your World – 2016 Week 46

November 16, 2016 inspiringmax

Are you a traveler or a homebody?

I love travelling. I find exploring new places, their history and culture fascinating. Unfortunately, the longest time I have traveled is 6 weeks. However, I look forward to spending my long service leave travelling to far off lands in the next few years.

PS. Most of the world is far off when you live in Australia.

What kind of TV commercial would you like to make? Describe it.

I don’t think I would want to make a TV commercial, although I have been in two and not actually paid for either. The first was planned and I was shopping for baby goods in my friends’ parents baby shop. I was young and it was fun making it.

The second commercial I was in was for the first season of The Voice in Australia. I had seen the battles being taped live and as we were leaving they asked for our opinions. I must have done a great job as suddenly people were telling me I was on TV advertising The Voice. Personally, I was never lucky enough to see me on TV but it had my family, friends, colleagues and patients talking for weeks. Fortunately, one of my friends sent me a photo of it on her TV. Gotta love technology these days. I think that I look okay for midnight.

Describe yourself in a word that starts with the first letter of your name.

Maternal, mindful, motivated

List some fun things for a rainy day.

Skipping in the rain
Jumping in puddles
Sitting by an open fire reading a book
Playing board or card games with the family
Sleeping especially under a metal roof
Baking
Planning my next holiday
Mindful colouring-in
Art and craft work
Spending the day in a museum
Blogging
Writing
Playing Wi games with the family
Swimming but only if there is no lightening

Bonus question: What are you grateful for from last week, and what are you looking forward to in the week coming up?

Last week I was grateful for family time celebrating my son’s birthday. Even though he was overseas, my husband, daughter and I went out and enjoyed his favourite food.

This week I hope to finish painting my kitchen cupboards and finally decide where things will belong permanently in my new home.

Share Your World – 2016 Week 46

Pacific to Atlantic

March 11, 2015March 14, 2015 inspiringmax

Tell us about something you would attempt if you were guaranteed not to fail (and tell us why you haven’t tried it yet).

My next medium term goal is to spend six months living in St John’s Newfoundland—Canada’s 10th province. I plan spend my days writing my second and traveling to explore the surrounding unique parts of Canada. My husband and I visited the city for 8 glorious days last November. During my stay I decided I would love to live there and become more intimate the city, its people and its British history. As an Australian who never studied history, I knew nothing about this side of British history and found it fascinating.

St John’s is a welcoming city and whilst there we participated in their screeching-in ceremony so I am already an honorary Newfoundlander—see post here. I would love to live through the changes in scenery and dramatic weather and how life adapts to what nature provides. I would also like to understand the differences between living on the Atlantic rather than Pacific Ocean.

Interestingly, last weekend I began exploring my dream and realised it is doable. A month’s rent in St John’s is equal to a weeks in Sydney—approximately $800. I can stay for 182 days without a visa and this can be extended during my stay if I wish. However, before any of this becomes a reality I must publish my first book. This will allow me to be in a situation to either be able to leave work or take 6 months leave and focus on my writing in a foreign country. At present I am unsure of the type of book I want to write when I am living in St John’s—I’m thinking novel but time will tell. As much as I would like it to be—this dream cannot be rushed—but one day I will make it happen in time to see the floating icebergs.