seeing Australia through new eyes

In 2005 we started planning a long journey from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego. In March 2006 we embarked. In May 2009 we began the process of coming home - and it's not over yet!
We arrived in Sydney 2 weeks ago, and then left last Friday to drive to South Australia to visit family and friends. I observed some interesting reactions in myself during this drive

• I am so in love with my country that it makes my heart pound
• Gum trees really do look much better here - even though one can find them in almost every country we visited
• Pink and Grey Galas and Sulphur-Crested Cockatoos are magnificent creatures, and their rather loud squawking can sometimes sound like a song of welcome
• I will still want to leave again