Stepping on Red, White and Blue soil soon

Well, it's official. I'll be leaving this beautiful country on May 9th to fly home to California. I have very mixed emotions about it. We really have had a great time here in Australia. This country is full of amazing people that I am really sad to leave behind. One comfort is that some will eventually come to visit us at some point in the near future.

Lora will be staying behind for a few months to finalize some data analysis. It's much simpler for her to deal with insects and plant material here than to try and get all the necessary permits for importing them to the states. We are both not looking forward to being apart for three or four months. With my work schedule here I have been able to turn down work to travel up to her field sites every few weeks. That has meant we haven't really spent more than two or three weeks apart the entire time we've been here. This one will be hard but doable.

If anyone would be willing to pick me up from the airport (SFO) at 10:15am on Friday the 9th of May I could really use a ride. I will have some luggage but will not be bringing a bike or kayak home so I should fit in a standard car... maybe. I'll be looking to get up to Sacramento or even better up to Weaverville where my car is currently being stored.

See you all really soon.

Lastly, I thought I'd tack on a few photos of just some of our good friends over here. I don't know... I'm feeling a tad sentimental.


Swarz. A great boater and a strong mtn biker. He's scarier looking than he really is.


Sammy, one of our friends that will be in California this summer. Hopefully you'll get a chance to meet her. A real sweetheart.


Nick, Scottie, and Steve. Just some of the closest of my friends. They were always up for an adventure of some sort.


A pic of Nick running one of our favorite rivers, the Leven.


Raulf and Mark. Some paragliding friends. Mark and I have spent a lot of time up in the air together.

Bugga. Another great person and a phenomenal c-boater. That means he sits on his knees and uses a canoe paddle with one blade.


Another of Nick and I on the Overland track.

Will, Thorpie, and Tom. Some Tassie boys we went boating with while in New Zealand.