The Great Ocean Road

I took a 2 day tour of the Great Ocean Road with a company called Natural Treasures. They are geared more towards a slightly older crowd with a bit more money to spend who are a bit more concerned about what they eat and where they sleep. While it was about twice the price as most of the other tour options (three times as much without the discount I got) I decided after what I had just finished dealing with I figured I deserved to treat myself.

There were 5 of us touring (I was younger than the next youngest by at least 30 years) and 2 tour guides (1 was the owner of the company and main tour guide the other was being trained). Touring with such a small group means it costs more, but it is definitely worth it. The van was comfortable, the conversation was so good, and the guides were outstanding.

We made our way towards the Great Ocean Road and were greeted with the worst fog the locals have ever seen. Never in my life have I seen such intense, dense fog. It was to the point where you'd be talking with someone and you'd see the fog slowly, quietly make its way between the two of you. You couldn't see past the waves breaking. Unfortunately, this meant we couldn't see the beautiful coast that is the highlight of this part of the drive and we couldn't see Bells Beach either (a major surfing beach and the home of brands like Rip Curl and Quicksilver). We stopped to see it, but everything was so gray and the fog was so dense you couldn't see much at all. The sun managed to show itself for just a quick second and our guide pulled over right away so we could get at least one photo with the sun. We didn't let the fog get us down though. We enjoyed seeing the wild kangaroos, koalas, and birds. The birds were so crazy - landing on our arms, backs, heads, climbing up our sweatshirts, and other crazy stuff.

We drove into the forest for a walk, but the walk was closed unexpectedly because a tree had fallen, so the guide decided we would go check out a light house he knew of instead and we would do a different forest walk in the morning. This is one of the other benefits to a small group - being able to alter the itinerary as needed. Where the lighthouse was was perfectly clear. Turns out they didn't get the fog that the rest of the coast got so we got a nice view from the top. We also got to check out an Aboriginal hut and tools and learn about different cultural things from an Aboriginal man.

After dinner it was time to turn in for the night to our villas. It was amazing. I had a unit entirely to myself - full kitchen (with provided biscuits), full bathroom, laundry facilities, living room, and bedroom. There was a fire place, heater, and electric blankets. Going to bed I still couldn't get an idea of the view because of the fog, but falling asleep to the sound of the water was enough for me. In the morning I woke to the sound of the water and the songs of the local birds. As soon as I woke I jumped out of bed and yanked back the curtains all while hoping the fog was finally cleared up... AND IT WAS!!! The view was just beautiful. My bedroom window and back patio doors opened up to look out over the edge of the cliff to the water. I got to watch the sun rise over the water as I got ready for my day and I made friends with the birds who were pretty certain they were going to come inside. The sky could have been clearer, it was still a pretty cloudy day, but I'll take anything over that awful fog.

After a yummy breakfast we did a cool walk through the forest and then headed out to the 12 Apostles. I treated myself again and paid extra to do a short helicopter tour over the 12 Apostles - definitely a cool way to see it all. We also checked out Loch Ard Gorge, which has an amazing story behind it, and London Bridge, which also has a pretty interesting story. We checked out a few other places like Bay of Martyrs and Bay of Islands and then headed to Cheese World for a cheese tasting. I've never done a cheese tasting before and have never really been into the flavored or fancy cheeses, but the garlic and black pepper cheese was too good. After Cheese World and an yummy strawberry milkshake we headed to Logan Beach to check out the whales. There were quite a few, but unfortunately they were taking it easy and wouldn't show us anymore than a flipper or two. Then it was time for the long ride back to Melbourne and then a relatively long tram ride to where I'm staying.

Loch Ard Gorge

London Bridge

Whale Flipper

This was such an unexpected trip considering I thought at this time of this week I'd still be working, but things really worked out. I had such a great time with the tour guides and the other people on the tour. I got to see and do things I hadn't seen or done yet. I got to get out of Melbourne and just enter a different space physically and mentally. Seriously, at times I completely forgot I was still only a couple hours away from the city. It was so refreshing and just what I needed. I'm so glad I got to do this before I went home and I'm so glad I spent a little extra money to treat myself. The people who live here are so lucky to have something like the Great Ocean Road so close to home.

The Change

My time in Oz has been unexpectedly cut short. Rather than leaving in early December I will now be leaving in early October. Since my time is limited, I'm using my last 6 weeks in this fabulous country to travel and explore as much as possible. In this last week alone I've done the Great Ocean Road and Wilson's Prom. Later this week I'm leaving for Alice Springs and Darwin. And during my last couple of weeks I hope to check off some more local locations and day trips.

The first few days after I found out about this massive change, I'll admit, I was a wreck. My brain had little to no time to process what took place and what it meant for my immediate future plans and my plans over the next few months. It all happened so quickly. I used those first few days to work through my thoughts and emotions and try to process everything. I used the next couple of days after that to spend extra time in quiet conversation with God asking lots of questions and working on handing the whole situation over to him.

By early to mid week I made the choice to take the first step forward - decide when I'd be going home. I couldn't change what happened, so it was time to make the best of the cards I'd been dealt. I had choices to make about how to play my cards. My dates were limited because I wanted to use points to fly home so I only had a few options:

• Leave ASAP - I would have been home with family, which would make dealing with all of this much easier, but it felt like running away from the situation rather than dealing with it and I think in the end I would have regretted this decision. 
• Leave Right After My Big Trip - This would have allowed me time to work through the situation, go on a few short trips and go on my big trip that I had already booked and paid for, however, it would have been hectic leaving just after the big trip and I didn't want my last few days to be spent on a tour with people I didn't know, I wanted to end it with the people who have supported me and encouraged me during my time here - my Compass family.
• Leave October 8th - This date was a couple weeks after my big trip, but a few days before my Aussie family got back from their trips. It would allow me to go on my trip and have a couple weeks to spend time with my friends, but I wouldn't get the chance to say goodbye to my Aussie family.
• Leave October 22nd - This date would have allowed me to do all of the above as well as see my Aussie family one last time, but it is a long time to bounce around to different people's houses and it would just be unnecessarily delaying me going home. Not to mention that's a long time to have no income.

Before I even knew about these date options, I couldn't get "the 8th" off my mind. I didn't know why it was there or what it meant or anything like that. After a lot of pros and cons and talking it over with people and praying about it, October 8th was decided on as the day I'd leave this beautiful country and these marvelous people and head home to family. I've come to terms with what has happened and realize that sooner or later this was going to happen anyways, it's just happening 2 months earlier than originally planned. I'm actually very excited about going home. I'll be home in time for my niece's first birthday, apple picking, corn mazes, bridesmaid dress fittings, Thanksgiving, my sister's 19th birthday, and so much more. I've missed out on a lot of stuff back home over the last 15 months and I'm ready to be back. With that being said, leaving so early doesn't come without its difficulties. I'll be saying goodbye to Joan and Ian (my mom and dad away from my mom and dad) later this week when they leave for a massive month long trip and I will be leaving before Nikki returns from Europe. I also only have 2 Sundays left at Compass and very limited time with my friends. I'm just using this as a reason to have to come back though, which isn't a problem with me, because I love this place and I love these people.

In addition to my friends and family back home (particularly my parents who had way to many early morning and late night phone calls from me), my Compass family has been amazing since this all happened. They have supported me emotionally, physically, mentally, and spiritually and they continue to do so. If it weren't for my Compass family I would have had to leave right away and I would have missed out on all the adventures and memories that were still waiting for me. And I would have left Australia with an extremely low note, souring all my experiences and memories.

As for how I'm doing now and the head space I'm in - I don't believe the way this happened and everything went down was part of God's plan, but I do believe that He can take what seems like an awful, sucky, messy, draining situation and turn it around to work for my (and His) good. And let me tell you, I have already seen Him orchestrate things in my favor in the past couple of weeks. I've been on 2 great trips, I've made an amazing new friend, I've spent lots of extra time with my Aussie family that I never would have gotten, I am also getting lots of extra time with other friends/families from my church, I've been able to use what I just went through to help a friend of mine deal with something she's going through, and for the first time in quite some time I am focusing on me and I am in a much happier and healthier state of mind.

Where to from here? I'm going to continue catching up with friends, going on trips, exploring, and doing whatever I possibly can to make the most out of my last 4 weeks here. I'll be home the night of October 8th. For the first couple of weeks I plan to take it easy and focus on myself, my family, my friends, and of course my Munkie. I'm not sure what I'll end up doing work wise, but what I'd like to do is be a full-time live-out nanny in the general area so I can stay at home. I've been looking and will continue looking until I find something or until a different opportunity arises. Part of me wishes things here didn't have to end so quickly, so soon, or the way they ended, but another part of me is extremely excited about what is coming next for me. As my wise, dear, old dad recently advised me to - I'll just enjoy the rest of this season while God prepares the next one for me.