That's AusZim!

I was born on a farm in WI. Well actually in a hospital, and it wasn’t a working farm, and my parents had actually bought their parcel of land from my grandparents, but we always did call it the farm. I lived there for the first 5 years of my life and most summers of my childhood. A rope swing in the hayloft of the barn, rhubarb forts in the garden, canoning in the swap, trail rides in the summer, sleigh rides in the winter, chasing after escaped goats, & rolling down hills with my cousins. As happen’s we get old and things slip away. I hadn’t seen my grandparent’s farm in close to a decade. I never got a chance to show it to Erin. I didn’t want this place of such childhood magic to slip away without sharing it with my best friend. Every family has a safe place. When you have a big family, you need a big space. So, my grandparents bought a farm in the early 70s and it’s always been there for us.

Leaf shadows dance in the wind to a woodland bird song. Hiking in Northern New Jersey.

The explosive conclusion to a culinary tradition - the fish boil at the White Gull Inn, Fish Creek Wisconsin. 

The night descending, a choir of spring peepers call out from the marshes down by the pond.

Erin’s thoughts on Door Co.

Sweet simplicity of a country life, where the way things were has gone to hide.  I rejuvenate in blissful silence or the sounds of sticks crackling beneath my steps. I paddle into fallen trees because I forgot how to J-stroke. I breathe in fresh air, cleansing my lungs of pollution - of modernity and the pits where condos grow.  

My thoughts soar back to summers at my aunts near Woodstock, running through the woods, dirty fingernails, caking my shoes in mud - drinking black cherry soda until we all had little red Dali mustaches. 

At night, the stars dazzle you. People are not meant to live day-to-day without stars. The simple night, the charcoal grill, the bonfires and creaky floorboards. I need this homecoming to the woods, like I need the sea and the sun and the mountains.

My home is with Sam, and this was Sam’s home. I’m grateful that we could have an adventure there.

In case you were curious, our honey-many-moons:

1. Lasted as predicted, 122 days

2. During which time there were 4.75 complete moon cycles and 16 phases. 

3. We covered approximately 49,000 latitudinal miles, and experienced approximately 5,500 pole-to-pole miles.

4. Our highest vertical was 10,023ft at the top of Mount Haleakala, and our lowest descent was 65ft below sealevel off the coast of Gili Trawangan.

5. We were issued 48 airplane tickets and Erin was physically searched approximately 20 times. 

6. Eight spiritual cultures gave our marriage mojo in either complete or partial ceremonies

7. We heard approximately 37 languages spoken

8. Country where we saw NO CATS - India (meow?)

9. Island where we saw NO DOGS - Gili Trawangan (that’s rough)

10. Only country where there was never free airport WiFi - the USA

Our final week: Hanalei Bay, Kauai

Perhaps sensing an end to our trip approaching, four birds on the beach in Kauai get into a wicked Christmas brawl.

Five Things Gathered in our Pail from Hawaii:

1. Kauai was by far the best island and the North Shore was the most civilized place to be. That said it cost us 5 weeks of budget to spend one week there, and we ate a lot of PB&J.

2. Accusations of Barack Obama not being Christian or American are completely absurd. You cannot take two steps backward on any island without tripping and falling into a pile of Jesus. On said topic, while eagerly awaiting Rapture, Jehovah Witnesses are not at all opposed to participating in the adopt a highway program.

3. Hawaii has a symptomatic winter. I also had no idea about Hawaiian geography so our hopping wasn’t very efficient. I am slightly encouraged by the bound-for-an-Oscar-or-two, “Descendents” really bungling it up too. Even with all those on-site logisticians they still managed to film an inter-island red-eye with people sleeping. Hmm.

4. People are really kind to one another when they live in Nature’s splendor. We borrowed a set of jumper cables from lifeguards to pep up the flagging “Greatest Hits,” (our rental truck: see next photo set) and were invited to a lovely Christmas feast put together by our landlord, which was sorely needed to pluck up our spirits. A Security Guard taught us the mechanics of freedive spearfishing while we awaited our flight, and we (specifically Sam) made many a “hop-ons” day by treating the bed of “The Greatest Hits” as a hitchhiker’s bus.

5. Finally, it was a good idea to ease back into American living while chasing the winter sun in Hawaii. We are very much looking forward to piecing our lives in NYC back together. Thank you to all our followers for keeping an eye on us. There will be a bit more coming in the next couple days/weeks while we dig out, but I hope we haven’t been too boring :)

The views from our Haiku home on Maui.

Four nights on the North Shore of Oahu in chilly December.

Oh Australia, I never thought you would be so friendly. I expected many welcome western conveniences, ample toilet paper, and potable water. But the enthusiastic interest in engaging in good old fashioned, analog conversation was astounding. Some may think it is provincial, out-dated or invasive to have genuine interest in others. But, despite how trendy it has recently become to be rude, apathetic, or disinterested towards that horrible lot of undeserving cretins that dare to ask for goods or services in exchange for money, you seem to have kept that Victorian charm of politeness and conversation. I feel it necessary to add a disclaimer that on two separate occasions your countrymen have informed me that you really only clean up and act nice for guests.

Victoria was lovely and breathtaking. A landscape the impresses with the simplicity of stone, sky, and the mighty ocean. The “free koalas” were exactly where advertised, the emu’s were even more convenient. Your roadways were impressivly equipped with signage. I only regret that I didn’t know traveling by campervan was such an acceptable way to tour your vast majesty. Please continue the good work. I know you feel economically handicapped by your small population, but there are more of you than the Dutch.

See you again soon. 

Aussie James was entertaining for a bit with his “sunnies” and “chips.” Kiwi Ben bored us to tears (Sorry Ben!); but oh boy, did we have fun with “phone sex” Irish Naoimh and her breathy “hhhexits” for our SatNav system in Australia.

The second leg of our Australian driving tour of Victoria - mostly along and off the Great Ocean Road back to Melbourne.