It’s true - we made it! After travelling for a total of 30 hours, we have arrived safely in Perth and are staying with Whit’s sixth cousin on his mom’s side. James, and his wife Lisa, along with their three daughters (Elizabeth, Georgina, and Charlotte), and their three pets (dogs Darcy and Lola, cat Audrey) who have opened their home to us.
However, getting here was not as easy as it could have been and thus is our first adventure. When we left San Francisco, Lisa had offered to pick us up from the airport. She sent a family photo so we would know what to expect, and we did the same when providing our flight information. On our flight from Sydney to Perth we could not get over how much of a blessing it was to have that arranged and to be able to relax upon arrival. It all seemed too easy, and of course, that was the case.
Our flight arrived slightly early, but when the captain announced the local time it was realized that we had told Lisa that our flight arrived an hour later. Oh well, no harm done, right? They just won’t have to wait. So we deplaned, got our bags, and found a place to sit and wait for her.
Two hours later, we were still there. We took turns approaching women we thought might be her with no avail. We even looked up their last name in the phone book and called two numbers. Finally, we decided to head to the hotel we are staying at starting on Friday because we knew it had an internet connection. What should have been a 20 minute shuttle ride took over an hour, but within five minutes of arriving there we had made arrangements with James to pick us up.
Since then, we’ve just been hanging out with the family and there is always something going on. We went along to drop the girls off at school, saw the beach at Cottlesloe, and then went back to the airport to greet our friends Mike, Cara, and Ross who were coming in from Austin, Texas. Last night Mike and Cara joined us for dinner with the Rides, which was really nice. Whit showed some of his magic tricks to the girls, who have been ruthless about learning and mastering them since then.
Today we are heading back to our hotel to meet up and stay with our team for World’s (the World Ultimate Club Championships tournament - www.wucc2006.org). We’re playing with Brass Monkey, a coed team from the Bay Area who won the U.S. Championships in 2005. The tournament last 6 days - and we’re really looking forward to it.
SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO SWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEET!
Not sure if I am refering to the video or
the ability to stay with ones 6th cousin half way across the world!
Love you guys!
Awesome start to an amazing trip I’m sure, and you’re already setting a high standard with the first video. Very cool. The scene in the bus where you’re looking at eachother and claire goes to fall asleep is the most adorable thing in the world. I’ll miss you both, have fun!
Superb.
The sand looks nice, but how is it to layout on? Can those Aussies handle a couple of hot Love Pumpers on their beach?
Looking forward to some vicarious travels with the you two.
Much love,
Mark
hey- whit, great job turning what could have been a boring plane ride video (I can only imagine!) into a terrific expose of Google Earth and your fashion sense:) … More than ever I look forward to see what adventures you two get yourselves into…. I’m exited for you guys….
have you tried vegemite yet?
take care,
Forrest
Yes! it begins!
Great vid. what is that song? i predict it will be stuck in my head for some time to come now. love it!
claire did an amazing job maintaining the same pose for the wardrobe modeling.
ya know, batman and i once wanted to start a company called Vicarious Vacations, where we would travel, and put other people’s pictures in our photos, and give them “memories”… Can we send you photos of ourselves to get put into the videos with you? we are “virtually” traveling with you here, right?
kick some ulti-booty in that tourney!
Hi Guys! It’s almost like being there (but without the jetlag). Great video. Glad you’re connecting with family & best at the tourney.
Becky and I are going slime shopping in Alabama. We miss you…
Love,
Mom
Ms.Debbie Downunder Downer reports that the venomous blue ring octopus resides under the boat docks in Perth. They do not eat humans but, like other smaller creatures, will bite you (and in their case, kill you, in just over a minute) if you disturb them. After reading Debbie’s “Perils of Perth” newsletter our one piece of unsolicited advice for your trip is now revised from “have a good time” to “don’t bug the blue rings.”
Merci is now getting around on just three legs: hips getting old and such. Still, she has a chipper demeanor and would chase popcorn kernels, but we are discontinuing that tradition in favor of a bowl full of the poofy popules, post popping. She moves extremely gingerly while trying to get into a lying position.
Speaking of popcorn we’re spray painting the ceiling in the family room today, our first day off of work for the next three weeks.
Tally Ho! And Gooday mate.
LOVEDAD AND CHERYL
So excited for you guys! Great video - did you really try on all of the clothes you packed? Whit, I hope you work on tanning your belly - that shot of you in a sarong was a little shocking! : )
I’m enjoying Veteran’s Day without students today! This last half of the semester is going to be great with so many holidays to break it up!
Can’t wait for the next page of your journey! Stay safe!!
Great video! Can’t wait to see more and your time there progresses.
Love you
Jeny and Nick
Great video! Im excited to see more of your adventures like that.
Im in Claremont right now, just visiting a few friends, and having HOME MADE meals with our family! Katie, Carolyn, Dad and Cheryl will be here tonight, carl has been doing alot of weekend performances so he wont be joining us, but him and I are going to the Apple Farm with dad and Cheryl tomarrow.
Love you both, cait
Great video!! Good to hear the trip began reasonably well — and your feet are on the ground. Dyane will be scuba diving in the Solomon Islands in a couple weeks — she’ll be watching out for those blue ring octupi. Go Brass Monkey! xox, Sue
sounds wonderful. arriving on the other side of the planet shouldn’t be easy anyway. we miss you both. i sure enjoyed this first video, i like the song too. i am looking forward to videos to follow. what fun! i hope you guys are both smiling. when is the tourny? good luck.
mucho amor y suerte,
g
You two are just lovely. I am made entirely of jealousy. I’m looking forward to enjoying your adventures from my couch and hoping that someday I can do something as fun and free.
Good luck at the tournament and love to you both,
Sasha
Good times…Looking forward to watching your adventures until we meet again in Italy! You could come up with your own brand of Garanimals with all that co-ordinating of clothes. I am sure you packed just the right amount.
Have fun!
Harper
I’m blown away. What a cool video. I’m so impressed you find the time to do that in the midst of your travels. You must never sleep. Of course that is your “medium” of choice. And definitely your calling.
We miss you guys, but I have to tell you I really enjoy hearing about your travels, and I look forward to more.
Have a blast in your first tournament. GO BRASS MONKEY!!!
Love and Hugs,
Ariel, Scott and Tyler
Super cool. Get ready for the UK.