Flash back to Saturday. Yet another overcast and wet day, but by far the best day here. I had moved over to another hostel on Glebe Point Rd for two nights and Jean Kropper picked me up from there in the morning and whisked me off over the Harbor Bridge to see parts north of here. With rain jackets at the ready, we drove off into one of the National Parks for some beautiful views. Stopping for a hot lunch at a marina cafe, we strolled the docks and pondered how a huge boat had gotten there from Belfast, Ireland. (Probably some tax dodge.) I'm always amazed at how many boats there are in the world because I know so few people who own boats. There must be another universe of boat people that doesn't often overlap with non-boat people.
Up into the hills some more, we stopped at a beautiful lookout with views of the northern beaches and beyond. Indeed, the haunting mistiness of the scene had its charm, but I imagined that view on a sunny, clear day would be exhilarating.
There were these amazing looking trees which Jean said were some sort of gum tree. Trees are things that you just get so used to in your ordinary day-to-day life, but when you see someone else's trees they come alive again in a new way. I have found the trees of Australia already very fun to look at, so be prepared for more photos of them.
It was great getting to know Jean's story. Several people who had known her in Boston had mentioned her so it was a nice connection. Originally exploring Australia as a backpacker over 20 years ago, she fell in love with an Aussie and eventually transplanted here and had a son. Now on her own again, raising a teenager, Jean's finding new strengths as a single mom starting a new business. Very inspiring.
After our day's trip, we crashed for a few hours back at Jean's before we readied ourselves for Sydney's Mardi Gras Parade that night. More on that later.
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