Adventuresam

Right now – and for more than a month – we have been sitting tight, with not much to do. The current status of this pandemic requires a forced release of control and some people are, understandably, struggling.  There is so much discomfort in not knowing what the future holds.  Although, heads-up, I do think that coming out of this is going to be much tougher than coming in; like reverse culture shock.   Looking for things to remain the same, I have a feeling that people might wind up a bit crestfallen.  We can’t anticipate all the ways that this global pandemic is going to change the way that we travel, communicate, learn, do, buy, dress, go out, teach, work, and date  Although, goodness knows, the internet is certainly giving guessing a go.

On my end, I don’t mind giving up control.  I don’t mind things changing.  My experience backpacking has been full of things not going the way I expected, flights getting canceled, entire itineraries changing, a new country being thrown into the mix, cars breaking down, hitchhiking, rain delays, and seeing the world in all of its mess and glory.  AKA, I have spent a decade developing the “go with the flow” side of my personality.  So, a sudden change in plans – especially when a month doesn’t turn out like I had expected – is already in my repertoire.

Yes, I had some travel plans get canceled (Mystery Trip 2.0, for example) but I’m doing my part to fight Covid-19, I’m staying home. Actually, on the whole I’ve been craving less travel.  And so, this past month of self-isolation and stationary lifestyle has suited me.  Recently, I wrote about how my time in the Peace Corps was eerily reminiscent of parts of my time in quarentine.  I feel very well-versed at doing nothing and being happy.

My favorite analogy between quarantine and travel that I’ve come up with so far is to draw a parallel between self-isolation and a road trip (remember those?) because the day to day decisions involved in both are so banal; Should we stop for gas now or in a little bit? Sun chips or Sweedish fish as a snack?

During quarantine, I’ve kept a calendar of events which includes gems like “Trash AND recycling day” because that’s an actual bullet point on my agenda tonight.  So, without further ado, my quarantine calendar:

Madness at Trade Joe’s

March 13th
– I had a tailgate with Em, pre-Costco.  With lines the size of amusement parks.  THANK GOODNESS for that extra freezer space those girls lent me.
– “The only time getting tested and finding out you have influenza A is positive.”–mom
– Hellooooooo, Collin!

March 14th
– Entertained ourselves with outdoor PAC man.
– St Patrick’s day party with “dare Jenga.”
– Farewell to live comedy — for now — at the St Mary Fire hall show.

March 15th
The world is closing its borders and seemingly shutting down.
– Hotel breakfast; whipped cream and Kashi cereal; I absolutely love being a grownup.
– Party for the Health of It and the musical discovery: “Still of the Night.”

March 16th
Pittsburgh is closing all bars for 2 weeks.

Collin, literally every day: I just wanna Netflix and Chill.
The week everyone needs to stay inside: I MUST go outside, run around, and burn off all of this energy.

A fairly empty schedule, in direct contrast to how long this blog is.

March 17th
Quarantine and ch(elp)ill
West Virginia, the last state to report a case of Covid-19.
– A unique St Patrick’s day celebration with Aunt Marjean, Cousin Dwayne, and a fantastic, new, pop tab obsession.

March 18th
Happy birthday, Colleen!
– Apple bread, filming funny videos with Collin, Photosynthesis, and a Bitcoin purchase.

After getting grapes thrown at me I retreated and, while screaming, laughing, crying yelled “there are no grapes in my pants!”

“Goodnight, baby doll.”
“Goodnight! You made me scream so many times today, it was so fun.”

That bed is heaven.

March 19th
One week since Collin arrived.
– Read an article titled “Freezers sell out as consumers stock up,” and I get it.
– From now on, when we say “sprinkler kisses”, you know what to do.
– My face brushed is the best part of shower day.

March 20th – Friday
It’s hard to know what day it is.
– Finished my taxes and subscribed to the Pittsburgh Post Gazette.

March 21st…

I’ve been eating well.

March 22nd
Sunday morning bliss: We watched Ex Machina and played Monopoly.

“This pasta is done perfectly. Which is crazy ’cause it was frozen and made in the microwave.” – Collin

March 23rd
“Shelter in place”, officially.
– THIS MORNING I HAD COFFEE. (and now I can’t sleep).
– Our new set up for work = looking at each other.
– (Obviously) this quarantine has been great for my blog life.
– Lunch time discovery: We need two microwaves.
– Fleabag, Season 2

March 24th
Every day’s the same:
9am Wake-up / 9:30 Out of bed / 9:45 Start work
11:45 Change / 12 Workout / 1:15 Stretch
1:30 LUNCH / Free time / 5pm Dance
9pm Make (the same) schedule for tomorrow

March 24th

“I could tell you so many Assembly of Gods.”  – Getting to know Kendyll better, and loving it 😂

March 25th
It was a no schedule day!
–  Zoom Yoga taught by mumzy.
– I like it the best when I’m lounging all-up-in Collin’s space.

BBQ frozen pizza, add broccoli and corn

March 26th
– Cardio day in the park
– Read a Michelin Star chef article about gnocchi… and then I got gnocchi!

“This is the worst experience of my life. I’m not kidding.” – Collin making fudge, after the wax paper ripped for the second time.

Live hard, laugh hard; the Sammi Travis story.

March 27th

Comedy in my living room.

March 29th
– Egg salad for breakfast because I live with the BEST chef!

March 30th
– A concert hosted by Elton John (our first).

Family Zoom.

An evening porch hang.

March 30th
Woken-up abruptly….they were towing cars out front

Thanking workers at Allegheny General Hospital.

– Surprise, a quarantine present which makes me into a human toddle!
– A phone call with Rebekah, my expensive friend. I felt sparkly after.
WHAT A WONDERFUL DAY I AM HAVING!
– In my own living room, the Banff Mountain Film Festival.

Actually, I don’t have too much to complain about.

March 31st
Food shopping day!
– “This is wild, this is so fun!” – me, at our Doce Taqueria car picnic.

Ever seen McKnight Road this empty?

 
– A Scale bug attacked all my houseplants.  “A pandemic of a different scale,” Dad said.
– A pandepic hang with Molly 🙂  This is just, like, available to us.

April 1st
– A new April Fool’s Day tradition = Michigan roast
– Played Cards Against Humanity with Emily and Laura!  One quick note for the makers of this online game, taking all the cards (by accident) shouldn’t.be.allowed.

April 2nd
– Tennis while we still could.

April 3rd
– Those “famous nachos”.

April 4th
– A hunt for the ages!

April 5th
It’s both trash AND recycling day, a big night in our household.
– Chatted with foreign friends; Paula on the cruise ship!; Katie K.; Ira.
– Pork chops for dinner and a lemon poppy seed cake (sans poppy seeds) for dessert.

April 6th
– American Dreamer, the stressful movie thriller with Jim Gaffigan that we liked.
– Clapping in gratitude for the health care workers and a short walk to see the full, maybe pink moon.
– Beto’s reheated…but we kept the cheese cold.
– A “Hoseparty” hang and game night with my parents 🙂

If you can’t handle me at my worst than you don’t deserve me at my best

April 7th
A new low: I didn’t leave the house once today.

April 8th
Samantha Traverstein (I’m Jewish now.)
– Chag Pesach!  A sedar through Temple Sinai with homemade matzoh anointed with olive oil. The best I’ve ever eaten, even with the wax paper.
– Two Guvners, National Theater of London, a play.  [2012. James Cordon (pre talk-show).  And Christine Patterson, an underrated actor.]

Q: “What are you looking forward to tomorrow?”
A: “Waking up and being happy.”

Spoiled.

April 9th
– A package from Sam Dorky! Pittsburgh, like I suspected, has really fast mail service.  It’s so fun to have the same exact flavored items in two different states.
– A scallop pasta dinner and then, the funnest Molly hang!  Lesson number one:  Let’s do this again.

April 10th

Spring has sprung.

In the middle of the night: Does it sound like someone’s here?
Don’t you dare kill my roommate.

April 11th
First time filling up the car with petrol since March 13th.
– Homemade, to-die-for brookies.
– Hi, Trisha and Joe!
– The Amazing chicken lunch special at the Sesame Inn by a gorgeous, flowering tree.
– A second sedar, hosted by Aaron.
– Helen’s Instagram live comedy show!
– Forbidden Island, the board game.

“Are you busy?” – Collin
“No, why, what’s up?” – me
“Could you, like, maybe google how to get gorilla glue off of your skin?’” – Collin, after fixing a wooden spoon in the kitchen

April 12th
– Tonya contacted me ❤

Googled “big bunny”, was not disappointed.

There goes the cat. – Wendy
I wanna see the cat. – Betsy
I don’t believe they have a cat – Marvin

April 13th
– Started Schitts Creek and, unrelated, we froze Little Debbie’s Swiss Rolls.

It’s only Quarantine if it’s in the Quarante province of France. Otherwise, it’s just Sparkling Isolation.

I’m not taking this Sparkling Isolation for granted.
Sparkle sparkel,
‘mi

“Ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country.”
— John F. Kennedy.

From March 2010 – May 2012 I served in the United States Peace Corps, stationed in Jamaica for over 2 years.  Now, April 2020, 8 years later, I find myself sitting on my white couch in self-isolation, thinking back to those years and feeling totally prepared to fill each hour, which, after a decade, turns into a day, after an eternity, a week, and, after an eon, will turn into the month of April.

“Travel teaches us new ways to measure the quality of life”. – Rick Steves

I’m including links to past Peace Corps posts which I HIGHLY recommend reading because, 1. honestly, what else do you have to do, and 2. I was a way better writer back then (probably because I was reading so many books).

Here’s a time I almost. ate a bug.
Here’s one about being a single woman in Jamaica
Here’s my day to day.
A favorite called “Excess vs. Not quite enough.”
This one’s a quick one: It was SO HOT where I lived that…
And finally, while there, I updated my resume

Below is an excerpt to show you just how little I actually did while in my 2012 quarantine, I mean, in the Peace Corps:

“I’ve been in Jamaica for 14 months and here’s what I have to show for it:
My community knows who I am.
I am a proud dog owner.
I can pretty much speak and understand patois.
I have re-discovered a love for reading.
I am the walrus coo-coo-ka-choo (?)”

TBH, there are some marked differences that make this 2020 quarantine much easier.

A.   I have a boyfriend living with me! (WAHOO!!! Peace Corps couples, hot dang did you guys have it good).
B.  I have running, hot water and air conditioning.
C.  This pandemic will not last 27 months. (RIGHT?!)
D.  Netflix, duh.

But, here are TEN ways my Peace Corps experience is just like my quarantine:

1. There’s an emphasis on home cooked meals and harder to make recipes.
   

   Pizza with whatever ingredients us Peace Corps volunteers could find.  (I think that’s ketchup.)

    

2. The temptation to adopt an animal(s) to keep you company.
   

   A photo of actual dogs I adopted.

    

3. Sharpening of weapon skills for either agriculture or civil unrest.
4.  At home workouts with whatever water bottles, cans, and bags of sand you have available.
   

   Dance party; party of one.

    

5. Crossing boarders…in our own minds. Dreaming of where in the world we might have been or are planning to go.
6. Projects (like arts & crafts or home improvements).
   

   Andy, Angie, and is that Valina? Repurposing old tires into garden beds.

    

7. Grocery shopping is an activity to get excited about!!
   
   

   Looks like she’s going to bake  “bammy” (out of cassava root) for dinner

    

8. Laundry
   

   This laundry is “hand-washed”.  (Hand washed means something else in this climate.)

    

9. Making friends as you can. In Jamaica, it was cockroaches who laughed at insecticides; you sprayed them and they got bigger.
   

   A parade of ants.  I mean, new friends.

    

10. Taking time to intentionally go outside and notice the sunsets.

This quarantine will end; you will look BACK on this period of time and, my instincts say, due to what memory does to your brain, you’re going to remember it fondly.

“Di ting sort out.”

On an unrelated and completely lighthearted note, I wanted to share some fun sports facts for a much needed diversion:  The New Zealand rugby team is called The All Blacks. The New Zealand basketball team is called The Tall Blacks (take a minute here). And, there’s one more — they have a badminton team — The Black Cocks.  That’s for real.  And, the very first article that comes up when you Google it is: “Black cocks hard for New Zealand to swallow”.

Doesn’t that country seem like it has a really good sense of humor??  Probably the best way to handle all of the pain in the world.  I mean, not necessarily for all of the people who are actually having a difficult time but definitely for those of us who are required to sit on the couch.

Three goals. Two years. One love.

In solidarity,
‘mi

I had a brief layover in Seattle AND I’M SO GLAD I DID! (what uncertain times we live in now). Not only was I thrilled to be onto the mainland (and off of all islands for awhile) but the best reason is (and always will be)… FRIENDSHIP!!!  HELEN AND PATRICK LIVE IN SEATTLE 🙂

The bomb dot com

Bel picked me up in a big white truck and impressed the heck out of me with her ability to park it in a compact spot.  (Later, Patrick ALSO impressed me with that same skill. Conclusion: My best friends in Seattle are really good at parking big vehicles into small spaces.)  

I slept so well (in an actual bed!) and had a real bathroom to use; (Thank you!) an incredible space, generosity, and forever best friendship!  On this trip, the only downside was that it was SUCH a bummer that I missed Victoria ❤  

Kitty kisses.

The very next day I visited Bella at her temp job which, ironically, was difficult to find.

A place of work or, my next obsession?

Helen, it must be said, got me into Geocaching.  She took me to find my first (and second and third) cache.  Good job, and I mean that literally.  🙂

We met up with Patrick and I got to enjoy Helen enjoying some drinks (that dry period is over!)  “What do you guys wanna do?”
“I think we should go Geocaching”. -Sammi
Question:  How do you go from one restaurant to another with adventure in between?
Answer:   Same way you turn 120 feet into a mile. Geocaching!

Success!

We laughed, longed for Barrel Thief burrata, listed all the provinces and territories in Canada (“Newfoundland and Labrador?  Oh, that’s the ‘and Herzegovina’ of Canada” – Helen) and ate some really incredible Thai food.

The next day I visited Bel’s private, residential gym, showered, and had some quality best friend time on the Instagram famous rooftop coupled with a fire pit and some wine 🙂

It’s even better than it looks.

For dinner, Patrick joined us and took us to a DELICIOUS Jamaican restaurant with festival, Ting, ackee, callaloo, and no salt fish.

After, Bella did my hair (THANK YOU!) while Patrick helped me brainstorm and create the puzzle that is: “Walter you doing for Collin’s birthday?” (THANK YOU!).  All the while, “Reputation” played in the background.

The next day, Helen and I both devoured and renamed a yummy kale-sadilla. And, I got to see Patrick’s great new apartment!!  We had lounge access and a fun, fast-paced, secret trip-planning session — which now we know was all for naught.  

Before, drumroll please….

One of the best documentaries I’ve ever seen.

…Cozying up to watch the new TAYLOR SWIFT NETFLIX DOCUMENTARY!

As we designed our perfect space, Patrick and I walked to get some cookies for the team, despite the rain.  Chip had 12 kinds of cookies…and we wanted one of each, please.  Plus ice cream.  

Dessert distribution.

 
Despite wanting more time to sleepover at Patricks, hug VB, eat Helen’s breakfast (she was going to cook), meet Ashely, watch comedy, and a longing for that upstairs remote to work on that downstairs television, this Seattle trip was darn near perfect.  Obviously.

When P-Mart dropped us off, Bel and I stayed up as late as possible, with best friend chatter, not wanting to miss out on a moment of soaking each other up.  I was VERY grateful for the early morning (does it count as morning if it’s still dark outside?) ride to the airport.

And then, I slept for a full 3 hours on the tray table.

Zero wake-ups,
‘mi

A very clear sign indicating that we have, indeed, landed at the airport we meant to.

There are 8 main islands in Hawaii.  

We were on Oahu, the most populated Hawaiian island aka WE WERE BACK IN AMERICA!!!!!!  Rachel and I had traveled back in time, repeated January 26th (because time is just a construct) and were more bedraggled than ever.  
We flew on Jet Star (which is not as nice as Jet Blue).  Once in Hawaii, our initial car rental fell through.  So, at 7am we walked to another rental spot, waited an hour (where I talked to Molly who was JAZZED; should I become a landlord in New York?!), picked up our rental car (with an adorable Hawaiian license plate), and promptly slept in the airport parking garage for 3 full hours. We were WIPED.

Rae and I woke up feeling slightly refreshed and, using miles instead of kilometers, drove on the right side (right side, right side) of the road to see important WWII history.

Part of the Pearl Harbor war memorial.

After a fish dinner at Zipped, the Hawaiian Eat ‘n Park, and shaved ice that was just okay, we slept – in the car, in a safe neighborhood – for 10 straight hours.

January 27th

Rise and shine!

Breakfast and lunch were from the grocery store and included gummy bears rolled around in dried plums.  Later, we tried poi (food) and didn’t love it. 

Describes how we felt about most things in Hawaii.

 A beach from above.

Eye candy all DAY

The whole island is small (and we were used to driving), so Rachel and I decided to see everything.

The temperature here made us think of Goldilock’s porridge:
New Zealand, south island:    Too cold
Australia:                                    Too hot
Hawaii:                                        Just right

“Well this is nice, driving around Hawaii with sand on our feet, listening to Jack Johnson.” – Rae

Side note: Turns out, I love upbeat, Hawaiian music.  (“Is that a ukulele?!”)

Location of a world class surfing competition.

Banzai pipeline, preliminary competition.  At noon (on a Monday) we witnessed some “Epic conditions for finals day.”  It was really cool!  There were HUGE waves that were mega intimidating and talented, strong surfers, each with their own special ritual before they went into the water i.e. praying on the sand, kissing the water, ect.  There was even a  professional surfer (who I had to google) named Billy Kemper. 

“Should we add surf competitions to things we don’t understand?” – I whispered to Rachel. 

Leaving no nook, cranny, or road undiscovered.

Dole plantation.  Featuring, delicious pineapple ice cream.

As we wrapped up our tour across the entire island, Rachel and I used a McDonald’s bathroom for all it was worth before spending the night, sleeping in our car, in a new neighborhood.  We found our DREAM spot to park/sleep but, two hours later, another car pulled up behind us with a VERY loud engine that they would’t turn off.  “Go away!” Rachel frantically whispers, “You’re blowing up our spot!”  After 30 minutes, with still no signs of them leaving, we found another (almost perfect) spot.  Unrelated to that car (but very related to sleeping in one), I’m fairly certain that I will never again take for granted getting up to pee in the middle of the night AND THERE BEING A TOILET (vs. holding it all night/exploding due to being in a LITERAL neighborhood with no bush for cover).  That night, I slept with some pee in my pants.

January 28th

We drove to the airport before the sun rose and we lived that lounge life.   Rachel left. (Tears emoji!) We had been counting the days until this trip was over and yet, I still felt a huge pit in my stomach when we separated.  She and I started texting almost immediatly.  

My flight was boarding in one hour.  I was that much closer to “cashing in on one months worth of snuggles.” Collin was so patient while I was off, tramping the world.  

During the 5.5 hours to Seattle (here I come!!!) I reflected on this past excursion.  I knew that I would never again take a journey for this long, away from home. [Even though, yes, I’ve been on (way) longer trips before.]  — that chapter of my life was coming to a close.  I felt SO grateful for my experiences AND for the acute awareness of its finality.

In a lighter vein, I did the math; I had deleted over 8,000 photos on my phone…making the grand total of pictures I had less than 10,000, a number I felt proud of (and, of course, has since risen).

“Travel is glamorous only in retrospect”      – Paul Theroux

To the mainland I go…

In retrospect,
‘mi

January 22nd

We woke up NEEDING Vietnamese food.  We walked to this:

We over ordered.

Full, we headed to the Sydney Aquarium.

Here, we finally saw some penguins.

And, a dugong!

There are only TWO dugongs in captivity in the whole world.  This one, a male, eats lettuce all day every day (’cause sea grass grows too slowly) and he receives bean sprouts as a reward. It was extra fun to watch him eat because, earlier, we had received bean sprouts with our Vietnamese food (see above).

After the aquarium, Rachel and I kept walking.  We tried to visit an Instagram cafe, but it was closing; Rae bench bartended, we popped by the casino, and then?! Met Rusty for dinner.  It was luxuries to hangout with him!  SO wonderful to catch up! AND SO MUCH FUN 🙂

Everyone say: Juan Pablo Montoya 

January 23rd
100 degrees Fahrenheit.
Raman for lunch, Jojo the Rabbit at an adorable movie theatre; I closed my West Pac bank account, it was the end of a era era era. Matt, darling Matt, picked us up and gave us a tour of his gorgeous new home.

“Say knife” – Rachel
“Knoife” — Matt

Forever friends.

There was a warehouse brewery tour, koozies from The Grifter, talk about sports, a night train to Newcastle, bench bartending on the train platform, and the hottest train ever…with not enough water.

Pour me another one, please.

When we arrived, Kelsey and Travis had a bed set up for us ❤  Never mind that it deflated a few hours later and we had to move to couch because the next night, Travis let us sleep in his air con.  Thank you, Travis!

New Castle
{Did you know that New Castle, Australia is also referred to as “The steel city”?}

January 24th

Australian Aldi (Al-dee), a chat with Collin — Kate, in Rochester, made our day better with an upgrade, a walk for Rae and I down Darby street, a complicated cold coffee that did me good, and our first introduction to LOLA, the french Bulldog.

G’day Lola!

For lunch we ate gnocchi (emphasis on the g) at the Cranker (thanks Kelsey!), followed by Bloody Mary’s, and the Beach Burrito Company for dinner. Unrelated, you wouldn’t believe how big the bats are here — they look like crows.  At dinner, there was an offer to burn incense and we couldn’t help but notice that there was an appreciation for our accents outside of major cities; “Lets trade accents when you get back from the bathroom!” – Ellie

Cheers ❤

Above: A brewery on the water hang. 

Below: The brand new/free subway with exactly 5 stops

Not pictured: Watching Hughy warm up for karaoke and a good night’s sleep with air con.

Riding the subway to no where.

January 25th
Brekkie with charcoal activated DELICIOUSNESS.

A morning beverage that was so tasty I don’t ever want to forget it.

Goodbyes to Travis, emphasis on “THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING!!” 🙂

A (better) train ride back to Sydney with an airport hang…that included Matt and Priority Pass 🙂

Hanging out anywhere that will have us.

Melbourne

TRIPLE J HOTTEST 100: Sitting on a Melbourne bench, with all of our earthly possessions, eating, listening to the top 10, loving on most of them, hating on number 5, and jamming out to number one; Bad Guy, by Billie Eilish. 

Possoms in the park; a possy.

That night, we slept in an expensive hostel where weren’t allowed to use the stairs, and had the worst nights sleep.

January 26th

Australia Day
Invasion Day
Send Scott an email Day (!)

We skipped the Australian Open, visited a lovely market, and headed to the airport…where we put on all of our clothes and were hot (in temperature) hunchbacks. ‘Nothing suspicious going on here, customs officer’, we were just wearing all of our clothes to avoid extra airport fees.

In Melbourne, we LIVED THAT LOUNGE LIFE!  One of the best airport lounges either of us had ever been to; including +216 worth of bonus bucks to spend (which we DID!)

And, yes, after that, we were on the plane back to America (thank god).

In road dogs we trust,
‘mi

It’s not often that I go back to a country for a second time 🙂  But, in Australia, I had some unfinished business…

Sydney, New South Wales

In keeping with my resolutions, this post was FUN and EASY for me to write, which means it lacks details.  These are memories of this blog down under are for me, for Rachel, for Travis, for Melina, for Kim and for anyone else who would like to join.  They start on:

January 20th
8am
Operation Rescue the Money

Travis, THE SAINT AND GOOD FRIEND THAT HE IS, picked us up from the airport at the crack of dawn.

Pittsburgh down under, yinz.

A hidden key.

Through the help of Melina, Mark, Mark’s mom, and again, TRAVIS, we safely retrieved the second safety security box key.

Downtown, we parked in the Queen Victoria parking garage, saw a black huntsman spider scurry across the ground, headed to Gringotts Bank complete with a goblin who was working security, had my signature scrutinized, retrieved all the money AND a letter to my 29 year old self (only 3 years later than I’d anticipated, well done), went to the post office across the street, insured the package for $30 (GULP), bought SIM cards half a block away — 30 gigs of data for less than a week — I’ve never had so much data in my life, I’m rich!

“Operation Retrieve the Money” was a TOTAL success!

My heroes.

After a slight walking tour, Rachel, Travis, and I realized we were starving, and found the PERFECT, fancy place to eat in The Rocks; an outdoor space serving kangaroo, crocodile tail, and pony espresso martinis.  We ate and drank our fill before heading to Beach Road Hotel, which served us well, and was located near the famous Bondi Beach.

Things we talked about that day:
How bummed I was that I didn’t get to see Melina, Mark, and Tilly
“This is such good music!”
THANK YOU TRAVIS, you’re a true mate!
“How great is it that we’re not driving?!” (Said multiple times by Rachel AND Sammi)
I need to get my Burks tightned.
Let’s stop at Ice bergs for a drink.
Celebrate:  A person who marries people and HOPEFULLY MY FUTURE JOB 

Back at the Beach Road Hotel, we rearranged all the beds so that they were laying on the floor.  Travis used his connections.  And Kim met us for some soda water, a chat about the horrible fires, a different key (THANK YOU!), and a bought of friendship.

Real queens fix each other’s crowns.

Throwing a perfectly curated party.

At night, we took hotel room blankets onto the sand, a park bench, and a beach shelter, and the three of us bonded on Bondi ❤ ❤ ❤

January 21st
We slept a little but the next day was a VERY hot day.  Since business from yesterday was already taken care of, the three of us decided to walk around, see the sights, and explore Sydney’s free, Royal Botanical Gardens.  

The entrance. Or, one entrance.  This place is HUGE.

My lizard brain, telling me over and over how hot it was outside.

When we got to the succulent garden, with no shade or respite, I thought ‘Maybe it was the wrong idea to come to these gardens today…’  When the Herbarium was closed? I was pretty sure we had made a mistake.  But then? The Fern Garden changed my mind.  It was nice in there.  And the Carnivorous plant exhibit aka ‘Plants That Bite’, with all the mist, totally won me over.

A room full of Seymour.

Travis, Rachel, and I continued our walk to the Sydney Opera House, drank hair of the dog, used Trav as our GPS, continued on to Darling Harbor, bought discounted ticket to the aquarium, paid homage to Brendan, ate $10 Fish and chips on Tuesday — with every free dip, and said “see you in a few days! We love you!” to our dear friend Travis.

Rachel, me, and all of our stuff, were on our own again.  With our backpacks on, we headed back to the Royal Botanical Gardens, drank wine in The Fernery, and learned that our second favorite tree is called the Silver Fern.  It had been my Facebook banner photo for over a year, but it took coming to Australia to learn that it was the national symbol of New Zealand. Better late than never.

She and I continued walking, past the bin chickens (Ibis); past the sweetest, softest, pinkest, loveliest frangipanis we had ever smelt; back to the Sydney Opera House for AN ACTUAL OPERA, La Boheme (which first aired in 1896).  We went through security, stored our backpacks at the coat rack, and arrived bedraggled, sweaty, and with one minute to spare. But, like always, WE HAD MADE IT!

The iconic Sydney Opera House where we were heading to see an ACTUAL OPERA!

Dressed in our best.

It was so good.

There were 4 acts and I cried during all but one of them.  The 4th act had us both sobbing.  We sat in red, cushy seats, and enjoyed ourselves immensely.  It was a fantastic night out.

That night, Kim graciously let us sleep at her apartment while she was spending time in Asia. (Thank you again, Kim!)

All these years later, I had come back to Australia.  My mission was accomplished.  Friendship abounded.  We had come down with a bad case of the good times.
In Travis we trust,
‘mi

As loyal New Zealand blog readers of AdventureSam, you will know, Scott Cook, author of the incredible guidebook series called New Zealand frenzy, is someone that Rachel and I adore.  Sure, we’e never met him.  But, for two months we carried him by our side, referencing his knowledge, laughing at his humor, and strictly following his advice.  At the end of our trip, we decided to write him an email.

Here is that exchange:

Scott! Hello! 🙂 🙂

You don’t know us but we feel like we know you. Attached are some photos, I’ll explain. I’m gunna start with, what you might think, is the best one, that’s Rachel and I kissing. 🙂

In February 2019, we had NZ frenzy as a companion for one VERY FULL/EXCITING/BEAUTIFUL SQUARED month. Which was spent entirely on the northern island.

Fast forward to this year: January 2020. The South Island! — where we also had NZ frenzy for our EPIC one month stay in the southern part of STUNNING NZ. You have made such a positive impact on both of our trips.

So, back to the kissing picture. This pic was the first waterfall we went to on your recommendation. Piroa falls.  We couldn’t go into the pool because, well, see the sign. But we followed your instructions as best as we were could…

…Including heading to Tui Brewry after Tongariro crossing — where we drank and took a different photo.

Because you know what? We looked for you everywhere. Those times you said “see ya there!” At the end of your posts… we really did try to see you there.  “Are you Scott?” Was an anthem for our trip. “What would Scott do?” Was a question that came up often.

We boiled eggs in hot springs (and then brought those delicious eggs on our hikes), explored New Zealand’s cracks and crevices, and tramped our little American hearts out.

Rachel and I referenced you. Talked about you. And recommended you. We passed your books on to locals who assured us they would follow your advice with them same zeal and vigor as we had.

Thank you for all of the work you put into your books. For the GPS coordinates, the special details such as bringing magnets to the black sand beach, and for all the places you suggested we should have a drink. I promise you, we did.

Rachel and I feel proud to be part of the NZ frenzy gang and even prouder to call you our friend.

Lots of love, endless gratitude, and all sorts of adventures,

Sammi and Rachel

And then, 4 days later….WE GOT A REPLY!!!!!!

Yo Frenzied ladies… whoop whoop from Timaru!!

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January 17th
7:45am

Driving the getaway car.

“I wouldn’t change a thing” – Rachel.  “It was a flipping good time”.

For whatever reason, the gravel road out felt shorter than on the way in.  And, we noticed, all the animas got out of their pens last night.  “Is the heat on? Is the heat working? What’s going on with the heat?”

We ate the Eggs Benedict we were dreaming of — disguised as tuna and canned vegetables — as we headed to the northern most point on the south island.  We were checking off: The southern most point on the northern island, the northern most point on the southern island, and New Zealand’s geographical center.

We were on track to finish all our food stuffs!!  No one left behind. All the cans are currently gone.

A morning highlight?  A new level of closeness was reached: We pooped at the exact same time. Outdoors. In a field. Within visibility of each other.

Cape farewell.   How fitting.

Seals, looking like dots on the rock.

Robotic voice. Slight right. Slight right. Slight right.   Carla (and Carla’s slow cousin). Another roundabout.  Heading towards the tame eels cause “I only want tame things right now.”

We washed our hands both before and after feeding this thing.

We fed them salmon, even though they lived in a salmon pond.  And caught our own fish lunch.  1.94 kilos!!!! (4.27 lbs).  It took us 45 minutes, and we had an excellent strategy.

Rachel is not bad luck.

Please, be a tidy kiwi.

We ate as much smoked and raw fish as we could, and left feeling immensely better.  We chose to skip the Tasman hike, skip a different cave, said goodbye to Scott at a dairy, and saw two congruent movies at the same time (Bombshell and 1917).

At the campground, we got stuck in the sand but fellow kiwi campers helped us within minutes because KIWIS ARE SO NICE.

Resting bach face.

January 18th

3rd and final shower in NZ. (21 day span) 

“Still wouldn’t change a thing” – Rae   

The craft market in Nelson for free samples, Alex Cameron, Far From Born Again, our final hike of New Zealand, the geographical center of this country, merge like a zip, 

Pics peanut butter, made with Australian peanuts.

The kite flying festival we HAD TO STOP AT on the way out of town.

BYOK: I bought one we named Shelia.  She brought me SO much joy.
Are you ready for the jelly??

We left the sandflies.  Saw fur seal pups on the drive to Christchurch, finished The One and Only Ivan (book), 3 weeks and the two of us didn’t wash our dishes with soap once, traveled many kiwilometres, and counted wake ups instead of sheep

On the final night in the imposter bach: We never loved you. 

Sleeping next to a field.

January 19th

We ate double coated Tim Tams – which are never disappointing — and a lack-luster sushi train — which was, our last van lyfe hang, how nice is it to not have piddle in our panties? Airport sleep, and one final shock when it came to our (lack of) Australian visa.

In fresh kiwis we trust,
‘mi

“‘That’s SO pretty!’ – How many times do you think we say that a day here?  20?” – Rae

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The mossomeness continues….

January 13th

8:30am
TODAY WAS THE COOLEST THING WE DID ON THE SOUTH ISLAND: Glacier Country Helicopter Flights!!!

“How incredible to still be topping that list! And knowing straight away.” – Bel

It was THE most perfect day.  And we were heading to see the Franz Josef receding glacier.

Same page rebels.

Our ride.

HOW EPIC IS THIS GLACIER FROM ABOVE?!

Pure pleasure.

We noticed the toll that the bush fires in Australia had taken on the snow (made it dirty, even all the way out here in New Zealand). And debriefed about our trip / let the helicopter ride settle in during a YUMMY chai tea indulgence.   And then applauded when the Department of Conservation pulled up, ’cause we fan girls.

A disappointing color at Hokitika Gorge.  Headlamps purchased. Much needed eggs Benedict. Real fruit ice cream.  A phone chat with the love of my life.  Always different weather in Arthur’s Pass (this time rain). Back for Devils Punch Bowl waterfall. Or should I call it ‘jaded falls’.  Filled up our water at the river spot. Wrong side of the road.  About an accident: Well, we know they wrapped police tape around the car and just left it there.  Klondyke Corner to sleep. Cloudy night sky.  Started, finished, and loved the Netflix show Unbelievable.  

January 14th

Bealy Spur track. Finally, we were tackling this hike. And would you believe we nailed it with the weather?  It was a GORGEOUS day.  

Does it make you a tramp if you’re tramping on a hike in New Zealand?  

And then…

Caving!

It was fun to feel slight fear, hiking down to this cave. 

That water was so COLD it took my breath away.

We were prepared.  Headlamps on.  Higher water then we thought. Freezing cold water. Up to our chests. Turn around. Back to the entrance. Try again. Same result. Heads hung low. Back to the car? A little bit of heart break.  That feeling of disappointment. Wanna eat?

In the evening, we left Arthurs Pass, never to return again.  Barefoot in the grocery store. Picking up some pull tab Watties. And heading to the movies.  Peanut Butter Falcon, WHICH WE LOVED!! 

Finished before the movie even started: Popcorn & a Unicorn Rainbow Cornetto

January 15th
6:30am

Low tide. Nailed it! 

A Motukiekie beach walk (means bush island in the Maori language).

Wildlife

Looks like the west coast of Seattle 🙂

On this walk we were the closest to seeing Scott that we’ve ever been.

Waited for high tide at the blow holes.  Talked to Travis   Re-evaluated our Australia trip.  

“Did I tell you I have a library in my van?! It’s next to the kitchen.”

Pancake rocks; we were destined to be unimpressed.

New world refuel.  Changed our Australia trip, lost money, ate our feelings. The doc lady came around and startled us.   Of course we were always going to pay $16 for the night.  Grateful to the imposter Bach for keeping away the sandflies 

January 16th

Rae used a can opener in a non traditional way but for a traditional purpose.  I talked to Helen about my impending visit (!) and our deleting pictures obsession — 12 wakeups!!

Mt Robert loop, 2.5 hours.

We beat Scott’s time by 30 minutes. A goal I didn’t even know I had.

On the road, again.

30 kilometers of winding gravel prettiness.

Paturau beach, we Deeted UP.  Wine and a beach walk “with big brains, not just any brains, smart ones who bought Scott’s book”.

Attacked by Oyster Catcher Birds. 

Searching for adventure…

A swamp person named Gram.  Quads. Leaning to the left.  Beers.  Carbonation.   A river crossing.  Gravel road.  Everyone’s okay.  Rachel always had my back.  “Get on the quad again”. Honking from behind.  We thought this van was a POS but THAT van 🤢  

Well, we had picked out a spot where we were going to sleep but it turns out? Parking the car anywhere was fine. Stars; that big night sky we wanted.  Actually, we got a lot of what we wanted tonight.  Too much. We need to run from this place. No feeling sorry for ourselves, said Rachel, We’re not the first girls and we won’t be the last.

Road dogs FOR LIFE, and in Rachel we trust,
‘mi

If you’ve missed the first installment, here it is
A link to the second.
And I’m just going to jump right in:

January 11th

Kathleen, the kiwi hitchhiker in front of a “famous” scene.

Followed (quickly) by Benedict, the french hitchhiker, who was boring.
And a Shot Over River jet boat, which was anticlimactic. Modern day gold miners, who we appreciated.  And Bungee jumpers, who were mesmorizing.  No ghost town for us, we needed a 4 wheel drive to get there.

And then, THE LAVENDER FARM.  Does this stop deserve it’s own post? Yes.  Will it get one? Nope. Resolutions, remember?  Here are some photos.

Not pictured: Lavender ice cream!

Knocking on heaven’s door.

The best my feet smelled all month.

I must pet you.

I was absolutely taken with this farm; it was the most beautiful one I’ve ever been on (that’s a note for myself, for the superlative blog).  There were farm animals, an al-blacka, bees to make honey, bees to accidentally step on, a shop with good smells, and a gorgeous lavender tractor. 

This farm was the GOAT.

After that, we headed to…

#thatwanakatree

Cinema Paradiso, which was sold out.  Thus, we went…

camping nearby.

January 12th

Pesky duck, but I do need friends.

Puzzle world, bringing us optical illusions, a maze, and this AWESOME challenge:  

Psychics — We challenge you to find two halves of a promissory note hidden within 100 meters of this point.  Follow the rules, find the two halves, and the $100,000 is yours! Since 1994 seven challengers (5 psychics, 1 Diviner, and 1 devout Christian) have tried and failed.

The Great Maze: It took us 44 minutes to complete, including, a period of frustration by the green tower.

Followed by this long, GORGEOUS drive.  Ever seen a beach with no penguins on it?  So have we. 

Not all lunch spots are created equal.

The hike to Fox Glacier got canceled, due to global warming. And our long hike tomorrow?  Because of that? It was also canceled.  (At this point, we weren’t bummed to miss a long hike, eh Rae?).

Our chef cooks dinner with each of our favorite tuna cans. Mine: Thai spicy chili, with an actual chill to toss.

Yes, we did have a “chilly” bin, but it was weather dependent.  For dessert, I had 2 bags of seaweed and dry oats, which wasn’t the weirdest combination of the night, that award went to spoonfuls of peanut butter followed by seaweed 🙂   It was a nice campsite.  There was an option to shower that we didn’t use.  At night, I counted the wakes until I saw Collin (20).

In sheep we trust,
‘mi