Cherney’s Life Story

Good morning, to all my dedicated readers.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I hope everyone had a good time and got home safely from your various social get togethers.

My luck in Perth with public transit isn’t much better than it is in Eugene.  I managed to miss the train into downtown 2 twice last night.  It only comes by every  hour after a certain time of the day.  I missed it once by only 4 minutes, and the second time I missed it by 1 minute.  Talk about bad luck.  I was going to go to the beach to check out the night life, but instead I came back to Simons’ and went to bed.  Got to love it.

I woke up pretty early this morning and called some people back home. .  One of the few nice things about going to be early, you get up early.  I ordered a new cell phone, and got some other stuff in order back home.  It sounds like my voice mail will not be working until I activate my new phone, so don’t try and call me.

It is hard to believe, especially for myself, but I miss home.  I am actually ready to head back to my place and relax a bit.  I think it has something to do with the fact that when I land in town, it will be all systems go.  Back to work, off to class, start school work, deal with things that need to be dealt with.  I know the first week back is going to be busy busy.  Knowing this, is probably why I am ready to get home.

I also miss my friends and family.  Going on a big trip isn’t as much fun when you are not able to share it with someone.

I called Qantas today to see if I could get home a little sooner, but they denied me.  Well, it would have cost several thousand dollars. . and I am not that eager to get home!

You gotta love the internet.  You can still keep in touch with everyone, even when you are not near them.

Today I took a morning swim on the beach, and I plan on going into town on the next train.  I will do some reading, and get started on my school work for the upcoming term.  Thankfully, I didn’t lose all my school stuff from my bag.  I will try to find an open coffee shop, and get to the books.  Who knows, maybe I will find some inspiration watching the people go by.  The hard part might be finding an open store, it is New Years Day today.

Perth has this really crazy horse race on Jan 1st.  It is a lot like the Kentucky Derby.  Wild hats, and lots of booze.  I thought about going, but tickets were a little rich for my blood.  I know it would have been a cultural experience, but I will save some dough and pass.

So, do you have any New Years resolutions?  I didn’t really think of one last night, nor do I really ever think of one.  :)  I guess if I were hard pressed, my resolution for this year would be to push myself in school harder than ever.  We will see how long this lasts!
Time to sign off for today.

More stories to come tomorrow.

I am back, and I am still a live.

Yes folks. .  I am back in Perth, and I still have 10 toes.

This trip has been one that I will remember for a very long time.  The people I have meet and the experiences I have had the opportunity to have are just amazing.  I have 7 new friends, and a new perspective on life.

I went into the this camping trip not knowing what to expect, and I left enjoying almost every minute of it.  We did so many fun things, I can’t even start to write about.  The ocean was awesome, the mountains were pretty, the camp dinner was yummy, and the stories will be very memoriable.  I know that I watched the sunset every night from a different location.  I saw the whitest and crispest sand I will ever see.  Some amazing blues in the ocean, kangaroos, lizards. .  I got to paddle to the mouth of a river where it meets the ocean.  Looking up at the ocean is a very powerful feeling. . you are SO small compared the the surf and the big blue abyss.  Some of the rock formations were just breathe taking, like you were in the movie Lord of the Rings.

I got to do some hiking, and some really long paddles.  The only downside to this whole trip was my knee.  I feel when I was hiking and my knee hasn’t felt the same.  I am looking forward to getting back to the states to have someone take a look at it.

I got to talk to people from all walks of life.  One person in our camp was from the States, he moved to Australia 16 years ago.  Other campers were from Perth. .  Some work internationally, others were students in town.  We even added poeple to our little party for a couple of days.  Simon ran into some friends he didn’t know would be out.

The food we ate was crazy.  I don’t know if I would eat so good in the States.  We had this HUGE meals planned, and it would be gone before you knew it.  8 hungry mouths can get through a lot of meet and potatoes.

The weather for the most part was sunny and warm. .  the only sucky thing were the flies and the misquotes.  The flies were SO bad. . if you ever come to Australia, be prepared for a lot of flies. .  in the city and in the woods.

Some of the beaches we went to were SO white.  They didn’t even feel like sand when you walked on them.  The grains were super fine.  Other beaches were crazy long. .  (and just as white, same national park).  There was one where you could drive 22 km before you had to get off.  With a beach that long, it wasn’t hard to find a place with no cars no people.  Yeah, you could drive that 22 km on the beach.  Nothing like driving through the surf.

One night when went into this town where they were having a beach party.  I was the none drinker, so I got to drive us home.  They drive on the other side of the road here, and the steering wheel as well as everything else is opposite.  It was a little tough driving at night, watching out for roo, having the cops out in full force, dealing with a strange car, and driving on dirt windy roads.

I hadn’t had a shower in several days, and they had one for public use in the public restroom.  It was late at night, but who am I to say no.  The only catch, cold water. .  at night (it was a little cool) and an ocean breeze.  Let’s just say that I had the quickest shower ever.

That is one the strangest things here, you can find showers everywhere.  In public restrooms, the train station, airport, probably even the mall if I looked.

There was a moment when the whole camping thing got a little overwhelming.  On day two, in the morning. . you realize you can’t get home (perth) because you have no car.  You are going to be doing this for a week still, you are at the mercy of the weather (though it was good), you can only eat and drink what you bring in, you are surrounded by strangers (at the moment), and no showers, soft bed, or lights. No fires either, which is kind of nice. . you don’t smell like smoke.

At the end, I had new friends. .  new respect for myself..  new found fondness of my life. .  new appreciation for things. . and a new way of thinking.  It was eye opening, for sure.  I am not really a camper, but I was one for a week.  I survived.  And now I am back to write about it.

That is the end of this post, more to come soon.

Hey Everyone. .

I actually got a moment away from the camp ground, and got a laptop computer with cell service which allows for internet in this small town in the middle of nowhere.  With that in mind, this post will be really short. I am still a live and ticking, though sometimes I wonder.  The campground we are staying at is pretty cool all things considered, and the company is very awesome. I am eating well, swimming lots, paddling, hiking, and eating.  The most important part, eating. We are not short on food by any stretch of the imagination.  The bugs are probably the hardest part.  There are flies and other bugs everywhere.  The only way to get away from them is on the water. 

The toughest part has been my knee. It has prevented me from doing many of the things the others have been doing.  I feel doing this one hike up a mountain, and that pretty much changed the game for the rest of the trip.  Will tell more later, but let’s just say it doesn’t feel the same. : )

I will heading   back into town in three days, at that point I will back in the full swing of things, head into town and enjoy the city life.  I’m not sure what the rest of the gang is going to be doing, I am heading back in the first car. 

The weather has been awesome, warm warm warm.  No sunburn yet, and don’t expect one either. 

Okay, I could write for a long time. . I have stories to share. .  I guess you will have to wait to hear them. . . .sorry.

Today was another day for the books.  I took off to the City and shopped until I dropped.

It was pretty cool to see a whole mall located in the heart of the city.  People were doing their Christmas shopping, and the street entertainers were out to keep them happy.  There was the out door mall, the underground mall, the hall (or arcades) had shops, and there were even stores upstairs.  Yeah, above other stores. .

Some parts of the mall had a old world class. There was one area that was designed to look like old town London.  There was another part that was managed by a Church, so it had a Catholic look to it all.

There were so many stores that I had never seen before, I had to go into as many as I could.  I think I spent more on goods today, than I probably should.

I even managed to get a chance to go to the Perth Mint, talk to the small business bureau, the post office, and many other off the beaten path kind of things.

The train took me into and back from town.  It took about 15 minutes to get to the city, and the best part was. .  no traffic, no parking, and it dropped you off in the heart of downtown.

I had so much fun downtown today, that I managed to get lost when I was trying to find my way back to the train station. I should have left breadcrumbs as I walked around.  I managed to find everything I wanted, expect for my way home.

When I finally did get back, I took off to the beach.  More sun, more fun.

Tomorrow is looking like another day for the books too.  A morning swim in the ocean, a workout in the gym, and then heading to a town called Fremantle.  Do a couple of tours (cultural stuff), and look around at the shops.  The evening will be even better; we are going to an outdoor movie in the park.

Yesterday we took off north of town, about an hour and had some fun on the beach.  Sure, we could have done that around town, but where is the adventure in that?

The water was SO warm, as was the weather.  We ‘hired’ some boards and took off into the water.  Just before we did that, we had lunch. . meat pies.  Meat pies are a staple of the Aussie diet.  They bakeries everywhere.  A bakery sells meet pies and other yummy foods.  My goal is to take a photo of every baker I visit while I am here.  I can’t explain how good they taste.  They have a pie like crust with meat and such on the inside.

None of in the group had ever really surfed before, but by the end of they day started to figure out how it works.  Simon managed to stay up the longest, I managed to have the biggest wipe out.  I tried to ride a wave bigger than I should.  My tip went under and I went over the top and had a ‘cycle’ wash.  Yeah, it was exactly like I the verb I just used.  I was twisting and turning under the ocean until I popped up.

After we left the beach we did another meet pie run, (I held back, I had two earlier).  Then we went to these massive sand dunes.  I took a few photos, but nothing really that shows the impressiveness of them.  The gang took out some cardboard and tried sliding down.  Zoe kicked our buts, and slid furthest.

The evening included a little time at a nicer pub.

Today I am home alone. .  in a sense.  Everyone has to go to work, so I am going to get to do the tourist thing.  One of their roommates needs to do some yard work at their parents, setting some ground stones.  The idea of doing hard work doesn’t sound all that fun, but the idea of meeting some new people and seeing a different part of town does.  There are plenty of things to do around town, so I’m torn.  I have the day to myself tomorrow too, so I have two days worth of stuff planned for myself.  I know I could head to the beach anytime I want, bike ride, and head to several different towns around here.

Simon lives pretty close to the beach, and the public transportation system rocks.  The city train isn’t to far from here.  I could ride it just about anywhere.

Tonight will be a bike ride, dinner with his parents. . and who knows what else.

I will try to finds some good photos from so far, and post them online. (having some issues with it at this point, will try later)

Perth, I am here.

I just woke up from a good night of sleep, after a evening of laughing until my side hurt.

We went to bed rather late considering I hadn’t slept much since I left Thursday moring.  There is something to be said about sleeping in a bed again. Beds are good.

I noticed that my friends here laugh when I say certain words, and I have no idea why.  Well, I do.  I probably sound funny, but so do they.  I have to keep my ears open when they talk, because they too have funny sounding words, and vocabulary.  I think I learned several new things last night.  Like a ‘chock’ is a chicken.  How does that work?  Oh, I am also learning that they don’t have certain types food here.. . like canned pumpkin for pumpkin pie!

The sun hasn’t shown it head yet, but that doesn’t meen it isn’t warm.  I was sweating when I woke up this morning.   The next few days should be getting better.  I will post photos as I see fit.

I ate kangaroo last night. . it was way good. . But, Simon says. . “we need to go. “  so I am signing off for now.

Okay, at this point I am not in Australia.  Sitting in the Brisbane airport, having a coffee and enjoying life.

Was a little scared when I took of the other day.  I had no idea of what to expect, I didn’t know what was going to happen.  I left on the first flight in the morning, and I haven’t been happier.  I got to LAX and found my groove.  Well, once I was able to get into the Qantas club.  Things just stared to fall into place.

The plane ride as long, but not as long as I thought, it was only 13 hours.  Granted, this is a long ride, but shorter than 15 like I had in my mind.  They had some good movies to watch, but I never actually watch any.  I spent most of my time either trying to sleep, or talking to those people around me.

The person sitting next to me was inspirational.  They gave my some good advice, and threw some ideas my way that I hadn’t thought of.  It was really strange, we just started talking when they got to their seat and talked throughout the flight.

There really are some pretty cool people out this world.

I have to admit, at this point I am looking forward to a shower.  I took one in LA, but it isn’t the same as taking one with fresh clothes.  I washed my hair this morning in the Brisbane airport, what an odd feeling that was.  I don’t feel like a bum, as I see others doing the same thing.  Kind of like a brotherhood in the bathroom.

As soon as I stepped off the plane I was sweating up a storm.  It is humid and hot her.  Perth shouldn’t be so bad. .  actually, it should be pretty nice.

Oh,  I ran into an University of Oregon volleyball player at the domestic terminal down here.  She was wearing big ‘O,’ and I was like. . I recognize that.  We started to talk, and then the couple behind us joined the conversation. They are on their way to Oregon.  Talk about a small world.

I am going to let life happen around me, and enjoy every moment of it.  This trip was something I needed. I had said it before, but now I can really feel it.

I am living it.