Abrams Family World Travel

Vancouver: Nearing The End Of A Magical Stay

OUR time in Vancouver is almost at an end. Three months has skipped by. We arrived when it was wet, grey and cold. But for the best part of the last month we have enjoyed fabulous sunshine.

The lifestyle here for individuals as well as families is pretty amazing even if the cost of living is high. Vancouver offers everything we essentially desire from a place to live - and more. The consciousness of the people here is unique. We have made good friends and discovered a tremendous sense of community. There's a side of us that is sad to be leaving. That's for sure. But we shall endeavour to take what we have enjoyed most here and try to transfer/create that in our lives wherever we go. 

The owners of the home we rented have just returned from their own adventure - in the Far East. Their time away has enabled them to reflect on their lives. Travelling does that. It offers you a unique perspective into life and the lives of others. 

Some of us use that perspective to improve our lives and those with whom we come into contact. We find that it makes us appreciate what we have. Others just melt back into their routine and the lessons learned and experiences had are quickly forgotten. 

Getting the balance right between work and play and earning money to support a family and staying healthy and spending time with our children is often times a tricky/challenging one. Usually, a compromise or two or three is required. We are still working at it.

After three-and-a-half years of moving around the world, we are returning to the UK. We don't know how long for. We don't know what the future holds. Who really does?

But we are exploring possibilities and trying to make dreams come true. I went to Vancouver for a three-month apprenticeship as a coach at CrossFit Vancouver. The course offered me everything I desired and took me to a new level. I met some incredible people. Now I'm venturing to take all I have learned and open a gym of my own, taking the best of what I have learned and experienced (from training at CrossFit gyms around the world) and making that the cornerstone of my own practice. 

Jamie, too, has her own dreams. She is already a yoga instructor, but while in Vancouver she got to enjoy Moksha yoga, a form of hot yoga, and she wants to bring that to the UK. That's an ambition she has had for several years, long before we arrived in Canada. 

All dreams start in the imagination and then are either abandoned or manifested. We are now trying to make ours a reality. 

But Vancouver will always hold a special place in our hearts. It's a magical city with wonderful, friendly and courteous people and so much to explore. Unfortunately, we only really skimmed the surface. My commitments to my apprenticeship program and our limited budget didn't afford us as much of an opportunity to journey far afield as we would have desired.

We did get to spend an amazing weekend with friends in Salt Spring Island. That, though, only convinced us that there is so much more surrounding Vancouver worth seeing.

That's for another day and another time. 

 

 

 

World Travel: Our Favourites - Three Years On

AT the end of our first year of travel, we posted a blog about our favourite spots - places, restaurants, beaches, parks and hotels, locations we’ve travelled to (including before our journey began) and have no trouble recommending. Now that over three years have passed since we started our adventure, we thought it would be a good time for an update.

Places

1. Vancouver, Canada: This city on North America's west coast offers a bit of everything. It ticked a lot of boxes for us. Nearby there's snow and beach for starters. There's an excellent public transport system, a fantastic range of organic/healthy produce, lots to do and see socially, the people are friendly, there's a large alternative schooling community, it's relatively safe and, for Canada, the weather is on the mild side. The only downside was the cost of property and renting. Otherwise, we really loved it - a lot!

2. Napier, New Zealand: Known as the 'Art Deco Capital of the World', this town on the north island is incredibly pretty. There's ocean, stunning surrounding mountains, hiking trails, wonderful rivers, clean parks, loads to do and see, little, if any, traffic, clean air and not lacking anything that we'd want in a big city.

3. Kukljica, Croatia: This little village on the island of Ugljan, across the water by ferry from Zadar, is a magical place for us. It's where I spent much of my childhood during the hot summer months. The Adriatic Sea is gorgeously salty and blue. The village has charm and lots of beautiful, though mostly rocky, bathing spots. It's wonderful during the hot season, but can be harshly cold in the winter.

4. Edinburgh, Scotland: Nice for walking, plenty to see, close to the coast, variety of restaurants, compact.

5. Lisbon, Portugal: Amazing architecture, lovely climate, great squares, economical and efficient public transport.

 

Beaches

1. Playa Hermosa, Costa Rica: Long stretches of sand without a person in sight or litter, stunning sunsets and perfect sea temperatures

2. Whale’s Tail, Costa Rica: Set in a National Park, with impressive caves you can walk through, great sand and warm seas

3. Los Frailes, Ecuador: Clear water, secluded, perfect waves, clean sand, sea temperature consistently good. All it’s missing is some shelter from the scorching sun and somewhere for refreshments (make sure you bring your own!)

4. Englishman’s Bay, Tobago: Long, intimate stretch of beautiful sandy beach with palm trees and clear green water, just where you’d imagine Robinson Crusoe making his base. There’s a shop and café on site also (not built by Crusoe, by the way).

5. Piracanga, Bahia, Brazil: We stayed here for more than 10 months in 2011. We lived practically on the doorstep of miles of vacant sandy beach. The ocean here, while often quite strong, was nearly always the perfect temperature and the sand ideal although we did have to lookout for troublesome little flees. www.piracanga.com

 

Restaurants

1. Napfenyes Etterem, Budapest: So good we ate there every day on our short stay, sometimes twice in a day. Great menu, nice staff. Almost too many delightful dishes, making our choice so much tougher (hence the reason we kept coming back) Rózsa u 39, District VII, Budapest 1077 +36-1-3135555. http://www.napfenyesetterem.hu/

2. Pure Food & Wine, Manhattan, New York: Somewhat pricey, but worth it, if only for the scrumptious desserts. Formal vegan restaurant with raw options. Jamie can't wait to get back there. www.oneluckyduck.com 54 Irving Place New York, NY 10003-2314 Tel: (212) 477-1010

3. Terra, Lisbon, Portugal: Fabulous buffet spread when we visited over seven years ago. Food is fresh and the ginger juice, though laced with sugar, so refreshing. www.restauranteterra.pt Príncipe Real, Rua da Palmeira 15, 1200-311 LISBOA, Portugal Tel: 213 421 407

4. Tiestos, Cuenca, Ecuador: Delicious food delivered in a large tagine (tiesto). The chef can make almost whatever you like and uses his ingredients so perfectly. A hit every time. Juan Jaramillo 7-34, City Centre, Cuenca, Ecuador

5. Buenos Aires Verde, Buenos Aires, Argentina: Outstanding organic vegetarian nosh, always beautifully presented, fresh and nutritious. Plenty of vegan and raw vegan options. Lovely setting, relaxed atmosphere and genuine staff. There is a menu in English. Try the salads, pizza, deserts and smoothies. Reasonably priced as well, especially when compared to most organic raw food/vegetarian restaurants. Gorriti 5657, Buenos Aires. http://www.bsasverde.com/index_en.html. Open Monday-Saturday 9am-0.30am.

 

Parks

1. KL City Park, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: Bang on the doorstep of the Petronas Towers and an enormous shopping centre is a large fountain which backs on to a great park. Whether it's jogging, walking, kids play or splashing in water, this park has it all. It's where I infamously smashed up my shins doing box jumps on marble columns (I slipped!) We spent countless hours there with our kids in the second-to-none children's play area. 

2. El Retiro, Madrid, Spain: Outstanding and in the city centre (near Retiro subway). Has many jogging paths and exercise areas as well as a lake with boats, cycle routes and quieter, shaded areas to sit.

3. Munich Olympic Park, Germany: By the former Olympic stadium, these manicured grounds near the centre of the city were used for the 1972 Games. The park has a lake and river and is perfect for running, cycling, rollerblading or just strolling.

4. Central Park, New York: At the tip of Manhattan, the park has something for everyone in any season, Great for walking, running, playing sports, rollerblading or just to pass some time.

5. Bosques de Palermo, Buenos Aires, Argentina: We stayed just a few blocks from this park. I went running there a lot (it can get busy) and Zenchai and I hired bicycles. We also went there for days out in the sun, just to play about on the grass. It's a huge park with beautiful gardens and monuments as well as a lake in the middle where you can rent paddleboats to calmly take in the scenery and relax. 

 

Sites/Experiences

1. Iguazu Falls, Argentina: Truly breathtaking, immense natural wonder on the Brazilian and Argentine border. Well worth the ridiculously long bus journey from Buenos Aires and wait for the lashing rain to subside.

2. Milford Sounds, New Zealand: Spectacular scenery on the South Island, visions I can't imagine you'd find anywhere else all in one place - mountains, lakes, hills...every corner turned delivered something special.

3. Blue Mountains, Sydney, Australia: Down Under's answer to the Grand Canyon. Impressive views, walks and cable rides.

4. El Zapato/Cajon Dam, Capilla Del Monte, Argentina: This site took us by surprise. We were on a walk, looking for the dam and stumbled upon an immense mountainscape that looked like something from 'The Land Of The Giants'.

5. Superclassico Football - River Plate v Boca Juniors: A truly memorable occasion for any footy fan - the biggest rivalry in the Argentine league. Whether it's at the River Plate Stadium, where the 1978 World Cup final took place, or Boca's smaller, but more cauldron-like ground, this is an unmissable fixture, more so for the bristling atmosphere than the football. 

 

Hotels/Hostals

1. Villa de las Aves, Uvita, Costa Rica: Fabulous two-floor house-type buildings with private jacuzzi, kitchens and a communal pool set in grounds surrounded by trees, animals and birds. With delightful owners, too - from Australia and UK, this is a spectacular place within reach of Costa Rica's great beaches. http://www.villasdelasaves.com/

2. Bahia Principe Tulum, Playa del Carmen, Mexico: All-inclusive resort hotel close to crystal clear sea water and private white sandy beaches.

3. Mandala, Puerto Lopez, Ecuador: Immaculately decorated – has so much to offer, like a library, games room, restaurant, gardens and music room. http://www.hosteriamandala.info/

4. Hip Hotel, Maastricht, Holland: Super sleek, funky one-time apartments converted into themed hotel rooms at affordable prices. There’s secure parking also, but at a fee. http://www.st-martenslane.com/

5. Intercontinental, Chicago airport: Comfortable, tasteful and sheek. 5300 North River Road, Rosemont. Tel: (847) 544-5300

 

Children's Activities

1. Parkour, Vancouver: Of all the activities we have introduced Zenchai to, this was the best. He couldn't get enough. What kid wouldn't want to run, tumble, climb, crash, jump and generally have heaps of fun exploring movement? http://www.originsparkour.com/

2. Wall Climbing, Kuala Lumpur: We took Zenchai along to the largest indoor climbing facility in Asia - and it is huge. It's all supervised and, while a little daunting, children get the chance to scale some enormous walls and grow in confidence. 

3. River Play, Piracanga, Brazil: During our stint at an eco village, we lived close to a river, which was perfect for children. Zenchai learned both to kayak and swim here in addition to spending countless hours just playing.

4. Children's Museum, Buenos Aires: Although the cost of entry wasn't low, it was worth it. Children got to role play and dress up to their heart's content. Zenchai used to beg me to take him here. 

5. Waterfall, Chiang Mai, Thailand: This northern Thai city is surrounded by waterfalls of various sizes. We found one on a Sunday afternoon and the kids loved it so much we couldn't tear them away. 

Vancouver: Riding A Brainwave

ONE great thing about CrossFit as an activity (besides it being a strength and conditioning program) is that it's tremendously sociable and a fantastic way to meet people.

With me now doing my coaching apprenticeship at a facility with around 600 members, I get to meet lots of new faces (and also forget many names of people I am introduced to, but I'm working on that).

Slowly, I'm starting to remember them, though. Maybe my brain power isn't what it once was or I'm just meeting too many people in one swoop for my grey matter to deal with.

The brain is an interesting subject. Soon after I arrived in Vancouver one girl in a class I was helping to coach - Julie is her name -  offered me a ride home (as she lived near to where I am located). 

During conversation she told me she was a brain professor at the University of British Columbia.

Since that initial meeting, Dr. Julie has kindly driven me home several times and we always get talking about something interesting.

As she's an authority on the subject of the brain, the other day she helped me bury a few myths: 1. that we cannot produce new brain cells; 2. that we only use a small portion of our brain in a lifetime.

She said both those alleged 'facts' are baloney, explaining that from information on a new science paper she had just read we do produce new brain cells all the time and, interestingly, that whether those cells live or die is often dependent on whether we are learning new things. 

Funnily, if what we are learning is difficult and painful it helps those cells to survive, which made us both laugh considering we do CrossFit.

As for us only using a small part of our brain in our lifetime, she said all our brain is in use all the time. Who am I to argue? She is a brainy professor after all. 

Vancouver: Parkour Heaven

ZENCHAI and I were sitting in the lounge of our Laneway house one afternoon before heading to the park. I was on the computer, looking at something on Youtube. And then Parkour came into my head.

I'd seen a documentary about it on TV many years ago while in the UK. Zenchai and I then watched a few videos and suddenly Zenchai was gripped - raring to go to the park to try out what he had seen.

So off we went. He was bouncing off trees and walls, jumping off of whatever he could find. That's basically what Parkour is about - creative body movement, using agility and your surroundings to get around at speed. Others describe it as obstacle course training, but I think it is more than that. It's probably a combination of free-running with - and while going over - obstacles.

Imagine how we reacted when Jamie one day found that there was a 10,000 square foot Parkour centre in Vancouver and not too far (about 40 mins on the bus) from where we were living?

The first session for children was free. Given Zenchai's track record for trying things and not wanting to stick with it, we were reluctant to splash out without him first giving it a go. I'm not one to make him do something he doesn't enjoy. 

So one drizzly, grey Sunday morning I took him down. Zenchai is usually up early, but, typically, the one day I needed him up early he was fast asleep, completely zonked out. I had to wake him up, feed him and then help him get dressed in time to catch our bus.

Though sometimes Zenchai gets nervous in advance of classes, he was full of enthusiasm for Parkour. 

We got there early, patiently waited outside and then, once inside, Zenchai was eager to fling himself at all the apparatus. I noticed a lot of the equipment was similar to what I use at CrossFit - box jumps, kettlebells, barbells, bands, pull-up bars etc. I had to reel Zenchai in after we entered the hall, but with other kids running around, I just let him loose.

Once the class started there were around another dozen children. The coach did brilliantly to keep them in some kind of order and maintain their interest. There was no real hanging around for them. The kids were always involved in either running or jumping or climbing. This was kid heaven!

Zenchai had one moment where he lost control. He got stuck in what looked like a chimney and didn't have the confidence to climb out and jump down. He screamed for help and the coach, calmly, tried to guide him out of the sticky situation.

I thought Zenchai would walk off, dispirited. But, despite the tears and obvious anguish, he went straight back into the action and enjoyed the rest of the session. He told me he'd "never" go into the chimney again, but I have a feeling he will conquer that fear fairly soon. 

When the class was over some of the children hung around the play some more. Slowly, they disappeared. But one hour later Zenchai was still going - all by himself. He was watching the older practitioners and trying to copy them. Every time I suggested it was time to go, he replied, "No, I'm having too much fun."

His confidence was soaring after only one class. He was jumping on to boxes he at the start of the day wouldn't have attempted. He was jumping from box to box and scaling heights which would have ordinarily been too scary for him. On our way out of the building we jumped down the stairs instead of walking them!

To say it was all a success was an understatement. So we're signing him up for some more. Not only is it a fabulous place for Zenchai to get play time with other children his age, he also got to release a lot of boy energy, learn invaluable skills and grow his confidence. 

Origins Parkour And Athletic Facility is located on the 3rd floor at 2655 Main Street, Vancouver. Children get 25 per cent off class rates. 

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Vancouver: Around The World In 1,111 Days

GIVEN that we started our journey over three years ago by heading close to South America's west coast - Ecuador - we have now practically circumnavigated the globe - in 1,111 days by arriving in Vancouver, Canada from Auckland.

It means that Zenchai, our son, has more or less been travelling half his life. Whereas our daughter, Kobra, knows no other life. She is a true nomad - born on the road, in Brazil, and has rolled with the punches ever since. She transitions from one location to another more easily than any of us. 

Vancouver will be our home for the next three months. It feels strange being in a big city again, having become so used to New Zealand's open spaces and lack of frenzy. 

But we look forward to the changes - in location, climate (far cooler), economy (more expensive, at least with regards to accommodation) - and the opportunity a place like Vancouver will offer us. We've settled into our cosy Laneway Home from which we can see the snow-capped mountains in the distance.

We are here, though, primarily for CrossFit, as I am on a three-month intern program at CrossFit Vancouver, one of the top and pioneering CrossFit facilities in the world.

I have the qualifications to coach (having passed the exams), but that's just theory and coaching is all about putting the knowledge into practice.

So I'm hoping they will teach me to become a coach - to equip me on my journey to transform lives through CrossFit, which promotes better health and well-being through strength and conditioning and changes in diet.

When I left England three years ago and quit my job of 23 years as a print journalist, the plan was to discover a new passion as we travelled the world. It took longer than I had hoped. But that's how it is.

I knew when I first tried CrossFit, though, that this was it. And I have always been one to chase my passions and make dreams (like travelling the world with my family) come true, regardless of what others think or say. 

CrossFit is my new passion and as our travel feels like it is winding down, our attention is focusing more on the future and what that will hold for us. We are planning accordingly. 

Vancouver promises to be a pivotal stop along the way.

New Zealand: 19 Days On The Road With Two Children

IT didn't exactly start perfectly, with Zenchai throwing a tizzy in a car park in Christchurch (a case of being too hungry). But it only could get better from there. And, thankfully, it did.

Some 3,404km and nearly three weeks later, we'd explored New Zealand's stunning South Island, crossed the Cook Strait back to the North Island, and driven up to Auckland.

The landscape in NZ is overwhelmingly spectacular. Each day, when I thought it couldn't get any better, it did. Often we'd see ice-capped mountains, rolling green hills, blue lakes - all in the same location!

The roads, especially on the South Island, were practically empty. No traffic jams. There were occasional, though brief, roadworks. But it was a pleasure getting around.

However, we tried not to be on the road too long each day (between two and three hours) to save our children from boredom and confinement. Often we'd time the driving for when Kobra would take her nap. 

We did most of our camping in DOC (Department of Conservation) campsites. We received a booklet when we hired our Rocket rental vehicle and each night aimed for a DOC site near where we aimed to stop.

The sites are all relatively cheap (around NZ$15 per night) and in some extraordinary locations. The entry fee goes towards maintenance of the sites. Facilities are usually quite basic. We did most of our bathing in chilly but stunning, picture-postcard lakes or rivers. For shaving, I would try to find a public toilet en route or use the reflection of the car windows as my mirror. 

We were mostly fortunate with the weather. It was summer time after all. We hardly saw rain the first week and there were just a few days when we were washed out. 

The rain would also make it harder for sleeping. Not only did it sound loud pounding on the roof, but our canopy at the back of the vehicle would, in the case of a heavy downpour, leak a little. We just turned ourselves around, so our heads were in the middle of the vehicle rather than the back.

But, generally, we all slept reasonably well. We were tightly packed, but that was great on the few chilly nights when the skies were clear. 

In campsites there would often be children for ours to play with. We could see Zenchai's confidence growing in approaching other youngsters. He had a ball. So did Kobra. One day when we stayed by the amazing Lake Hawea, north of Queenstown, Zenchai just walked over to some children and the next thing we knew he was on a speedboat trip. He just took off on the lake. We laughed about how our son was off with some strangers we'd never met. But we felt sure he was safe and loving it. I heard him brag to one other child as he boarded the boat, "I've been on a ship called the Sea Shepherd. It's a real pirate ship, you know?" 

However, Kobra fell asleep while Zenchai was out on the water and, because we needed to get going, Jamie and I started looking at each other, thinking 'How long is he going to be out there?' 

In the end, I had to kayak to the boat (using a kayak our camping neighbours had kindly offered to us) to get Zenchai back. Like those neighbours, the people we met along our trip were always friendly. I found customer service in NZ to be outstanding, too. The Kiwis are a welcoming bunch. 

Starting in Christchurch, we headed south to Dunedin, where we visited this steepest street in the world and observed the endangered yellow-eyed penguins and seals at a special conservation.

From there we made our way across land, via Gore towards Te Anau, where there is a fabulous lake and we stayed the night. The following day we headed north to the unforgettably stunning Milford Sound in Fiordland, taking in the mountains, valleys and breathtaking scenery. 

There is just one road there, Milford Sound being the only fiord accessible by land. Make sure you fill your vehicle with petrol before you head there as there are no gas stations. 

We headed back towards Te Anau, camping by a river for the night at Deer Flat. The next day we ventured towards Queenstown, which was more spectacular than I ever imagined.

Although it's full of young people on adrenaline rushes (lots of adventure-type activities going on here) and a ski town in the winter, Queenstown is beautiful. The water, almost turquoise in parts, reminded me of Europe's fantastic Adriatic Sea. 

Queenstown can be expensive, so we headed out for our next stop at another special DOC campsite at Moke Lake.

The next day, after passing through sparkling Wanaka, we stayed at Kidds Bush at Hawea Conservation Park, again by the lake. It was also breathtaking.

We didn't feel disappointed until the next day, when we camped out at Paringa Lake and got ambushed by sand flies. We had been warned. But it didn't help. It was so severe they came through into the car during the night along with mosquitoes. We slept mostly with covers over our faces and then Jamie and I made an executive decision first thing in the morning - to sling everything in the back of the car and get out as fast as we could! 

On the next stage of our journey we passed through the gold-mining town of Ross, which is apparently sitting on NZ$700 million of the precious metal. Zenchai got his own mining pan and gave it a go in the nearby river, excitedly hoping he'd get rich. No such luck. 

By the time we reached Hokitika further up the west coast, rain was on its way. For the second night running (but for different reasons) our sleep was broken. But the kids didn't seem to be affected much. With rain lashing down, we took to the roads and, because we couldn't see a great deal, just kept driving, getting as far as Motueka.

There, we found a decent campsite, full of children for Zenchai and Kobra to play with. The next day we headed to Golden Bay in the impressive Abel Tasman National Park, where we had the beach to ourselves. The sun was out, but the wind fresh. Zenchai and I did some sprint training and then built sandcastles.

We moved on to Kaiteriteri, staying in the Bethany Park campsite where they offered a family deal for only NZ$20. Zenchai made friends again. He was playing football in the dark. The next morning, with the sun shining gloriously, we headed for the beach before hitting the roads, passing through Nelson as we proceeded north. 

Hours of driving took us to Rarangi, where we stopped at the remote Whites Bay. It took some finding, going up lots of winding roads. That night, before dinner, firemen came to our site to warn us of a possible Tsunami from the earthquake in the Soloman Islands. The beach was closed. But nothing happened. 

It wasn't far from there to catch the ferry across the Strait from Picton, where there is an excellent kids playground. Luckily for us the Strait was calm (ish). It was a glorious day. By 4.30pm we were in Wellington again. We didn't stop, instead heading onwards Otaki, where we camped at Otaki Forks, a gorgeous spot in the Tararua Forest Park. We had the place to ourselves and a glorious river to bathe in the next morning - though it was the coldest plunge pool I'd ever experienced!

We did a spot of shopping in Otaki at outlet malls, especially for Icebreaker clothing as we equipped ourselves for our next stop, Vancouver. Icebreaker clothing is expensive (it supposedly doesn't smell from prolonged use), but there were some great deals.

Our journey took us back to Napier, where we stayed with friends for three nights, having intended to be there only two. We just couldn't bring ourselves to leave and I got to revisit CrossFit Napier - three times!!

From Napier it was a two-hour drive to Taupo, where we stopped for lunch, and then another 90 minutes to Tauranga, where we ended up at a caravan park not typical of the places we had frequented on the rest of our journey. It was cheap (NZ$20), but the notice in the kitchen warning about theft in the area didn't exactly make us feel at home.

The nearer to Auckland we went, the more traffic we encountered. Tauranga, for instance, was surprisingly congested. We ended up racing the clock a little to reach our hostel in Auckland, buy food for dinner and our flight out of New Zealand the next day and then take our rental Rocket to a car wash before dropping it off by 4pm.

We made it without a hitch. The staff at Spaceship (Rocket) were friendly as ever. They didn't baulk at the broken tent either. It was a (standard) NZ$25 cab fare back to the hostel as we entered our final 24 hours in New Zealand. 

In terms of travel highlights since we departed the UK over three years ago, New Zealand is right up there at the top. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

North Shores Auckland: Orewa Estuary

I DON'T often research or plan family days. That somehow falls by default on to Claude. I won't make excuses as to why that is, but there is a saying "if its not broke don't fix it."

However, by accident I stumbled upon an idea for a day trip. The homeowner's from our housesit left a magazine all about things to do locally. I was perusing it and noticed that Orewa Estuary had been mentioned a few times along with a bike rental company.

With Zenchai being of the energetic type and loving a good cycle, I thought it would make a nice adventure.

Not to toot my own horn, but it was a fantastic family day out!

We covered about 8km in total and Zenchai, on a snazzy bike, loved every second of it. In fact, he said it was the best cycling day he's had!

Kobra sat on the back of Claude's bike, initially having chosen a small carriage instead of a seat before changing her mind. We stopped a few times to admire the scenery and take photos before heading back to the bicyle shop. It took us around an hour and was well worth it. 

We rented our bikes from BikeMe, which is located at 292 Hibiscus Coast Highway next door to Radio Station 89.9. Rentals are decently priced and there's a wide range of options. There's also a huge children's playground virtually across the road and, beyond that, a long beach. 

 

Mornington Peninsula: A-mazing Day Out

ENCHANTING mazes are everywhere in this kids paradise

They'll put a smile on your face, too 

And provide a place and tools to pretend you are at the beach

How about some snakes and ladders? 

Or one of the many brain-teasers?

Dress up as a pirate close to the tube slides

Then pull your vessel to the top and come down at speed

Time for the obstacle courses and some physical challenges

Make sure to follow the directions

But don't get your neck caught

Admire some wooden, life-like sculptures  

Take a walk inside the 3D Maze and a "wobbly bridge" that makes you feel as if you are going to drop 

If it can be climbed then I know who will try 

Walking with some spring in their steps through another maze 

In need of a stretch - or maybe a sleep?

A lookout tower made from a tree trunk

And a maze inspired by London's Hampton Court to finish

*The Enchanted Maze Gardens are located near Albert's Seat in Rosebud. It's a fun day out, but not cheap. We paid $77 (Aus) for the four of us. There is plenty to do and a cafe on site, though bringing a picnic is the best idea.

Melbourne: More Random Acts Of Kindness

WE must be doing something right to attract good energy. I mean, to be pitched (literally) by the beach in Australia, living outdoors in the fresh air and have all our camping equipment provided for free by friends!

Throughout our journey around the world we have been the recipients of random acts of kindness. It doesn't matter how small or large, it always blows me away, reminds me there are lovely people in the world and makes me want to reciprocate.

I was chatting one morning after training with the coach at Crossfit Mornington Peninsula (who is from Watford, close to where we used to live in England). She asked what I was up to for the weekend and I explained we were heading back into town (Melbourne), by public transport.

Without batting an eyelid, she and her husband asked if we'd like to borrow their car, not just for the weekend, but for the remainder of our stay in Rosebud!

Of course, I was stunned by the offer and gratefully accepted. And they also found a car seat for Kobra (from another member of the gym) and hooked that in for us as well! Lovely people.

Consequently, our world opened up enormously. Places to visit that were out of reach (for kids and by bicycle) were suddenly on the agenda. 

Then on another day, as I was washing dishes (as usual) by the tap near our tent, a neighbour approached, carrying a can of fuel.

I knew he was leaving any day, so assumed he was coming to say 'goodbye'. But instead he offered us the fuel from his container.

He said he wasn't allowed to take it on the ferry to Tasmania and would have to throw it. But he opted to give it to us instead. Nice man. 

As if that were not enough, another camping resident (and a Bobby on the beat) we became friendly with, offered to help us move back to Melbourne. He said he'd collect all our stuff in his trailer (if we wanted). He checked his work schedule on his iphone and said he was free. "Give me a call," he said. "I'll bring my son and he can play with yours before we go."

Turns out that our plans changed and we told him "thanks, but we're leaving a few days later". He still checked his schedule and said he'd try to come. 

Then our Crossfit coach, who allowed us to borrow her car, offered, without prompting, to drive us back into Melbourne. "No problem," she said. And she did, even sacrificing a massage appointment in the process. 

The generosity didn't end there either. The day we finished camping, Nikki and Tony, our good friends who allowed us to borrow all their equipment, came to help us take it all down. Then they said I could use their car to ferry Jamie and the kids to our airport hotel, probably saving us about $150 in taxi fees.

To cap it all, I received an email from No Worries Curries, a Melbourne company run by a charming husband and wife originally from Goa, who make truly fabulous spice packs. I'd posted some comments on her Facebook page - genuine comments - and she wrote back to me, offering some freebies. 

So when people ask me if I ever regret leaving behind England and a stable job, I always say no for two reasons: 1. the fantastic people we have met along our journey and 2. the great experiences we have had. Some things money cannot buy. 

 

Mornington Peninsula: Community At Last

THE sound of children playing was Zenchai's wake-up call. Usually painfully slow to get dressed after rising, Zenchai, like Superman going into a telephone box, would bounce out of bed, rip off his pyjamas and throw on his play gear. Then he unzipped the tent and was off.

Often we wouldn't see him for hours - though we could nearly always hear him. The kids in the campground would ride their bikes and scooters endlessly, in and out of puddles, around the toilet area where the ground was flat and along the trail path. There was no concern for traffic. Children of all ages playing freely in the streets - isn't that what childhood should be like? The cars drove slowly and carefully and the kids learned to stop and allow them to pass.

Mostly, visiting families would arrive on the weekends and leave before the work week started again. That felt strange to us. One minute the campsite was deserted and then crammed and then deserted again.

Zenchai continually had to readjust. He made some good friends and had great fun doing what young boys and children do. There was hardly any need for parental policing - just lots of kids playing happily together. Kobra, as she does, just fitted in where she could and wanted to and smiled at everyone. She loved having all the children around.

We had a community and met some great people - all so friendly and welcoming. We shared food, time, stories, experiences and played cricket, using a chair as our wickets. The children joined in, too. It was great fun.

We all headed to the beach one roasting day when the temperature, freakishly for spring, nudged 40 degrees. It was so hot Jamie had to take her chair into the bay to stay cool. 

But in Melbourne the weather never remains the same for long. Soon the winds, rains and cooler climates rolled in. The sun poked its head out from time to time.

This camping experience really grew on us. My cousin came down from Melbourne and we hung out with her children. We took some family bike rides along the beach front after dinner together. We found another fine playground with ramps and Zenchai got to practice new stunts. 

We took some excursions in the local area, heading up Albert's Seat and beyond for some strawberry-picking and visiting (for Zenchai) a car museum (which was pretty impressive). 

It was only when the rain came and was prolonged that life became really challenging. Our dining area, with chairs, drying clothes, table and fridge, would get damp and cramped. If the rain persisted it would be hard to clean dishes or clothes or even venture far. Shoes got muddy and getting in and out of the tent proved a struggle.

One night towards the end of our stay the winds, joined by heavy rain, reached 110kmh. I thought the tent was going to take off. But it stood firm - and the gazebo, too.

Dealing with adverse conditions is all a part of the adventure and experience, I suppose. The days, which seemed long to begin with when we weren't so sure what we were doing, soon flew by at a rate of knots. 

November, December and soon it will be Christmas again. Where has the year gone?