First batch of photos has arrived.

Hey everyone, Cindy here again. I just got the first batch of photos from Tracy, hand delivered by Jen. There's a little slide show here for you, or you can go to the link to view them a bit bigger. (It might take a minute or two to load the slide show.) Unfortunately, these are all from before the gypsies so there aren't any of them yet. I know everyone is waiting with bated breath to see some of those. Tracy said she may be able to get a picture or two of them to me soon. In the meantime, think back to a couple of weeks ago when that picture of the map was up and we didn't really know where Tracy was. This is where she was and what she was seeing. http://picasaweb.google.com/ceeblet/AustraliaXPDRaceSupportAug2007

I'm living at a rest area... with gypsies.

Okay picture this. An old fashioned rest stop with a circular drive and shelters with picnic tables. Now add about 11 cars, station wagons and vans in varying degrees of disrepair ( these vehicles are homes). Sprinkle about 20 people around but imagine them using 3 distinct languages and give them about 100 tatoos and piercings. Oh yeah and dread locks. Be aware that they have all been working on the same farm for months and are now on holiday. Next add music (gypsie music) and alcohol. All of them smoke but they roll their own cigarettes. It is night and it is raining. They have two vans backed up together with a tarp over them and they are cooking out of the "kitchen" of each van. And they are not just cooking. These people who are cooking are french. They have started out with coffees and chocolate and have moved onto true French cuisine (crepes) and wine. People are dancing, laughing and singing. Now before you go back in time to the old gypsie ways; add a few computers, digital cameras and of course, the music comes from an ipod. This is the life I am experiencing. It is amazing. Now don't think I am stuck at this rest area. These people know the best beaches ( and I mean beautiful), free laundry (I'm not telling) and free international telephone calls ( I'm not telling). Free hot showers and free electric is available at all state parks. Everything we need. I can travel with them for the next week then our paths will seperate. Who needs socks?

Kara told me that I would lose everything I had... at least once.

I forgot to tell you guys this story. So here goes. I am in Australia all of one day and already I had lost 25% of my socks. While I was on the boat being whisked away to a deserted island, one of my socks was jumping ship. I got out my rain jacket to ward off the wind and apparently one of my four socks fell out of my bag unnoticed, well at least until I was cold later that day. "Chit" only one sock. Damn 25% of them gone. And the boat is long gone. Long gone. So okay Kara comes into mind, she said this would happen. So I spend a couple nights with one cold foot and then... I jump into the owner of the race's car to go to another check point. He loses his wallet in the car, we are tearing apart the car looking for his wallet and there it is... my sock! "Chit" the bed! My sock. Turns out the owner of the boat gave the sock to a volunteer who gave it to the head guys, they put ot their car and forgot completely about the sock until I got in their car just by chance. Wow! I'm back on track. Until I take a shower after the race 4 days later. I take 100% of my clothes into the shower. One dirty outfit off, one clean one on. Later that day I go to put my second pair of socks on (cold feet) and I'll be damn; now I 've lost 50% of my clothes. "Chit" I look everywhere, I ask at the campground office, I tell people at the race HQ just in case I left them somewhere at the race CP's, because of course, I can't remember where I had them last. The next day at the awards ceremony Nev, a race volunteer, comes over to me and says " I've got your clothes" . Whooo Hooo! How the hell? She said she had asked after I had at the campground office and they had indeed found them; on the back of the shower door. She took them thinking I would not return to the campground but knowing she would see me at the ceremony. Turns out all of the three times I checked the shower my clothes were swinging on the back of the door. The cleaning people found the clothes after my looking for them. I'm back to 100% of my clothing! Well not quite. I lost my beautiful purple shirt, and this time it did not return. I think I left it in a car I hitched in. Oh well. Kara told me this would happen.

"ies"

Have I told you that the Aussie's like to use "ies" on the end of words? For example: " I want to make sure to bring my sunnies and my runnies with me on the tinnie when I go fishing for the barbie tonight". Kid you not they talk like that. Crazy . Anyway I am not very busy today. Well I am very busy learning to not be busy. Very difficult lesson. I hope you all are well. Just so you know. I messed up my iron key the first day I was in Australia therefore I do not have anyone's mailing address or email. I sent the ironkey ( the thing you plug into a computer that contains any info you want to have with you) home with Jen. Cindy is going to look at it. An answer for you Louise, I did not snuggle with a croc though I could clearly see tracks in the low tide mud. I was glad I had enough sense to not go down by the river the first night. Talk to you all soon.

Learning a new skill

Well I am still here at Myrtle Beach aka Airlie Beach Australia. I was walking to my campsite after booking a bus to Bowen when I bumped into my new found friend Bhavesh. Wow .I was a bit lonely so Yippee! Well he was hanging with a French guy named Stephen. We all ended up talking and listening to music at an outdoor venue for 7 hours. ( That's part of my new skill, staying still that long.) It was fun listening to Stephen, his English is pretty good but when he is at a loss for words his uses "chit". For example , he was showing Bhavesh and me his van that he has been traveling in for a year. He was trying to explain his set up and it sounded like this: " Yes this is my sleeping uuh ... umm.. "chit " and here is my cooking place with all the .. uhh... "chit" and I have my uhhh music and "chit" here in this box, Fuck yes this is good "chit", beautiful man,all that I need and "chit". Later he was trying to explain a brush turkey to me and it sounded like this. " They are a black bird and they have this uhh "chit" hanging from their chin and they walk around the forest and eat ummm , mmm , "chit" off the ground, fuck yeah they are amazing "chit". He is funny to listen to. It was an interesting night as we talked politics and they both have much in depth information about world politics ...and "chit". I ended up driving with Stephen later that night and sleeping in a National Park parking area because the night had gone on so long I had not arranged a place to sleep. Earlier that day I had taken a rain forest tour and learned about all the plants that are so poisonous that just a brush is enough to kill you ,some within 20 minutes. There I am, in the middle of the night walking around the bush looking for a place to put my tent and hoping like hell I don't "brush" up against any of those plants.I didn't , but I did wake up next to estuary with salt crocs in the waters. Australia is a dangerous place, I don't know how people live here. Anyway today we all hung out together, made lunch together and did virtually ... nothing. New skill number two. Australia could be a very dangerous place.

Rainforest

Today I tried to get work and found out that because I am over forty I cannot get a working Visa. Hmmm They don't know I can out work any 20 year old. Shit this has put a stymie in my plans. Well plan B I guess. I don't know what that is but I will make one up. Went to the rainforest today. Interesting environment. It is rob Peter to pay Paul all over the place. This plant lives off this plant which gives to this plant that feeds that animal which then poops to feed that plant that ferments to feed that bird which transfers that seed to that area where this plant can grow; WOW. And EVERYTHING is poisonous. DON'T TOUCH ANYTHING! I felt like I was three and entering the toy store. Heard some cool bird sounds and saw some cool birds. Wouldn't want to live in a rainforest with my propensity to touch things. I wouldn't last an hour! Well I'm off. Miss you all!

Hello Again!

Hey guys! Sorry I haven't written but I will explain. I got to Sydney and had a good day but could not get on the blog to blog because of my excellent computer skills. Anyway next morning I made my way to Airlie beach,met Jen and the gang. They got ready for the race while I hung out. No computer availability that day. THEN, the next morning I offered to volunteer for the race and within ten minutes I was on a boat to a deserted tropical island in the Pacific ocean and left there for the day. I was there to check in racers but while waiting for the racers a couple came out of the bush ( I guess it wasn't deserted) they had been camping as part of a 5 week ocean kayak trip. We had tea they showed me bush turkey nests, sea eagles alll the ocean dwellers on the beach and then... offered to take me snorkeling until the racers came. Oh My GAWD! Snorkeling was fantastic, wild , out of this world. Later I was taken off the island whisked over to HQ fo the race, did Admin stuff all night then next morning taken to yet another deserted island ( this time for real deserted). I poached eggs in sea water while waiting for the racers. I had a ball. Next I was taken to the Australian outback to a check point and stayed there for three days. In the Australian Outback! I was able to see Jen, Sara and the guys on a daily basis. Next I was put on the Search and Rescue team, and did a 4wheel drive trek through the bush at 4 am to pick up a racer that had broken her collar bone. The next morning I helped to pull the port-a-potties behind the search and rescue vehicle to the dump. FUN. WE then did a sweep on the long bike so I got to see the guys again and see the beautiful bike ride they did. Later I moved to the end of the kayak leg in a small town and got to see the gang again at 4 AM. Day 7 I got to camp at an outback "station" (farm/ranch) for three days while waiting for the gang to come in for their last leg of the race. What a ball! It was great. However there was no phone,nocomputer, no nothing in the bush. Now I might as well be at Myrtle beach. I am in the town of Airlie beach. Very touristy. I am headed north though I may head south on a sailing boat as part 0f the crew. I have met so many people that are traveling. All of them half my age; apparently I am a late bloomer. Jen and Sara left this morning. :( :( I miss all of you.

Tracy sighting!

Found this gem on the XPD website gallery. Tracy is working hard as usual. (In case you can't tell she's the one with the bike box on her shoulder). She must be tired because she's walking and not doing her usual trot. The race is almost over. Probably another day or two before Tracy will get a chance to post. When she's not lugging bike boxes she's 4 wheelin' in the outback. Hang in there and check back often. : ) To see a larger version of this photo click here: larger photo .

map of where tracy is now

I just got word from Tracy, she is indeed in the outback. She was able to volunteer to support the race and was working with the search and rescue team out on the course. She's having one hell of a good time! Needless to say, she's in her element. When she called she was at "Mid Camp" (see map at left) and was on her way to the Pioneer River for paddle support (blue line after mid camp on the map). Again, I'll save details for her to post when she gets a chance. She did want me to tell you all that she loves you and misses you and is thinking about you all. She can't wait to be able to tell you all the details.

She probably won't be able to post at least for another 4 days or so. She said, "tell them to leave their email addresses and comments and stay tuned!

you can see a larger version of the map here: http://www.xpd.com.au/race07/live07/images/M3.JPG

Send a message to the yogoslackers

Hey (Cindy here again...), you guys can leave a message for the team (yogaslackers) and they will deliver it to them on the course. Go to this link, select the team from the pulldown menu and type in your message.

http://www.sleepmonsters.com.au/racereport.php?page_action=mes&race_id=3664

I'm sure they'd be psyched to get messages from back home.

Ta...