Perth (Western Australia)

Im Alive! I just called my Dad and he was going to start going through my Credit Card statements to see that I am still alive. It took a bit but rest assured Im alive.

Our Ford Station wagon rolled into Perth midday yesterday barely holding it together, ending our very physically and financially exhausting three-week road trip. I dont think I ever want to set eyes on that car again.

About 5 days ago, the car broke down in the middle of Bush about 400 k outside of Perth. I was driving and noticed some smoke coming out of the back of the car, so we pulled over to give the car a break and make sure everything was OK. The temperature gauge said it was OK and the car didnt feel too hot so we kept going. Then we got maybe 5k and it started to smoke again, and this time when I went to pull over the car disengaged from drive and wouldnt start up again. The car was dead.

We were off to the side of the road so we were in no immediate danger and the car was a rental so we werent too upset about having killed this car (which was dead to begin with considering it had 387 k on it). But we didnt have any phone reception so we had to flag down a couple of people to get into town. The first bunch of people we flagged down had a full car so we just asked them to phone ahead for us, but the second person to stop had an empty car so two of us were able to get a ride into town and get help.

The car and the other girl waiting with me in the car were taken to this small town called Southern Cross. It had maybe 500 people in it. One main street and thats about it. We just hung around a hotel there for two days and night until it was fixed and mingled with some of the local people.

We would pop into the garage occasionally to check on the car. Every time we came in, the mechanic had a beer or cigarette in his hand and after 4 o'clock it was always both. He was a nice guy. He ended up having to put in a whole new transmission from his junk pile. He walked us through it over a couple of beers. But in the end it all worked out and we were able to complete the 8,400 kilometer journey.

Three days ago we were driving along and one of the girls was driving. She got stopped by a cop on the highway who was going the other direction on the same road and got pulled over while doing 141 k/hour in a 110 k/hour zone. We were issued a whopping $700 ticket. They said if she had been going 10 k faster the car would have been confiscated and she would have been thrown in jail. I look forward to paying that.

It is hot here. It is maybe in the upper 90s. On the road trip the hottest we experienced was 49 degrees Celsius in Coober Pedy (the middle of the Outback). That is 120 degrees American. And the car, Sweat Box as it was called, has no Air Conditioner. We had to put the windows down while driving. But that really only felt like a Hair Dryer being blown in your face.

Besides that we got to go on a wine tour in Margaret River, celebrate Australia Day in Port Lincoln, camp in the Nullarbor, and drive till I didnt want to drive no more.

I missed the Super Bowl the other day. I woke up early and strolled into a local sports bar but they didnt get the right channel, so I ended up watching some rugby instead.

. . . . .

Right now, I am job focused I am not going to move until I get some work. I need the money so that is my number one objective. I am meeting a lot of people who are trying to do the same and havent had much luck, so that is a bit daunting, but the college kids here are going to back to school this week so that should open up some positions. Im sure Ill be fine, but just in case wish me luck.