All Done...

Yesterday was the last day of work for both Kerri and I.  My two grade 6 classes got together and gave me a going away party.  It was a lot of fun - the students had cut out a bunch of pictures of a face I had made for a jib-jab presentation at school and lined the hall with them.  When I entered the other grade 6 class (not my homeroom), all the students had a cut out they were holding to their face.  It was pretty funny (almost looked creepy).  The students got me my own personal t-shirt that said "Captain Awesome", which is a nickname I got a few years ago (I may have given it to myself really).  Regardless, it was a lot of fun and I now have ample jelly beans to eat in the upcoming days, and blue gummy sharks.  Although we are going on this amazing trip, it was hard to see the students off, those from this year and the last few years - I've been lucky to have so many great students at St. Anthony as I've been planning for this.  Also, some great co-workers (and  principal - I had to include that in case he reads this and remains my boss next year) will be missed who have been so excited for me all year.

For the most part, Kerri have wrapped up everything from work - a few odds and ends in the days ahead. But, the real last minute stuff starts today.  Packing will take center stage.  Trying to figure out how to get 11 weeks worth of stuff into two suitcases and four carry-ons will occupy a chunk of our next week, as well as figuring out how to manage all our electronics, places to stay, house things, etc.  The boys will be at school all week, they're both getting pretty excited to say the least.

That's all for now, stay tune for next time when I about the every exciting "Preparations" or whatever else I feel the need to discuss.

Derek

Figuring out how to blog

This Blogging stuff is new to me, so don't be surprised if Derek reports on most of our travels.  As of now, we both have one week left at work.  The boys seem to think they should also be finished school at the same time.  However, we have a few last minute things to get ready.  It's safe to say that all of us are super excited, some a tad more anxious than others, but needless to say looking forward to what this adventure holds.  As we each have our own must see/do lists made, the top of my list is to see those amazing animals in the wild, not in a zoo or in captivity, but seeing a koala just hanging out in an eucalyptus tree or a kangaroo and its' joey hopping by on the beach.  How fun!!! I'll pass on the sharks and the bungy zone but everything else is a go. Not to much longer before we are packed and on the plane.  Until then....     

Our Route

As mentioned, we'll be leaving Toronto on February 11th, with a short layover in Vancouver where we'll meet up with my sister, my nephew, and hopefully our friend Steve, who has been a great help in the planning of our trip.  We land in Queenstown, South Island New Zealand (via Auckland) on February 13th where we will do a one month loop, sticking mostly to the coastline.  Around March 12th, we'll fly to Auckland for a 1.5 week trip through the Coromandel and Rotorua before we fly to either Adelaide or Melbourne.

In Australia, we'll drive between the two cities mentioned above via the Great Ocean Road before flying to Sydney or Brisbane.  We'll spend a week in Byron Bay (eastern most point in Australia), then head up toward Noosa/Hervey Bay/Bundaberg/Fraser Island over the course of about a week.   Afterwards, we'll fly north to Airlie Beach (near Townsville) for a week on the Great Barrier Reef before returning to Brisbane for a few days before returning home May 3rd.

Regardless of what we do, we're going to miss a lot - it's just not all possible in 11 weeks.  Two times we will be quite busy on the road, spending one to two days in a location before moving on, and at others, we are hoping to find a place to bunker down for three to seven days at a time.  Plus, there is the unpredictable.  I think if Kerri sees a kangaroo and koala bear in the wild, she'll be happy.  Sharks/spiders, and snakes will equal unhappiness.

Welome...

For over 30 years I've wanted to travel to New Zealand and Australia - and now we're less than three weeks away.  When I was in Elementary School in Grafton we had an exchange student come and talk to our class.  Immediately, I was hooked.  I thought in 2001 I had a chance when Kerri wanted to go to Teacher's College, but instead of the University of Western Brisbane, she chose Queens.  There are way better beaches and wildlife in Queensland than Kingston - I'm sure of it (wildlife in the Kingston ghetto doesn't count).

But, ten years and two children later, our plan (translation - my plan) to goDown Under was hatched.  My School Board approved a self-funded leave and a year later, Kerri's Board agreed they would grant her a personal leave as well.  Last summer, I started seriously researching and into the Fall when Kerri's leave was finalized, we booked out flights.  It was official - starting February 11, we would be off to NZ/Australia for almost three months (of note is the negotiations of how long we would stay - probably touch on that later).  

With such a big endeavour comes much preparation and planning (see in future post).    Maybe I've been planning/ researching too long - maybe there's something to say for just picking up and going.  You can lose yourself on the internet reading information, reviews, etc.  However, that's where I found myself during any spare moment I had.  I feel as though there can't possibly be situations that I haven't thought of, although I'm pretty sure there are.  Between hotels, driving routes, internal flights, car rentals, excursions, there's tons to do.  This doesn't even include the things we have to do before leaving.  So, we've booked nothing but a flight into Queenstown where we will start our adventures, and out of Brisbane when we return home.  

Please follow our blog if you'd like, we'll be posting things throughout the weeks leading up and then once again on the road.  I've included the boys' blog addresses below if you'd like to look into the mind of an eight or ten year old boy.  Enjoy and post comments as you'd like.

Derek

carterdownunder.blogspot.com

bradendownunder.blogspot.com