Christmas, Boxing Day, and Australia's Highest Mountain

Despite temptation to stay in Ayr and continue on with the back breaking work - that is cantalope, honey dew, mango, or chilli picking - Jessie and I decided to catch a three hour flight down to Sydney where we have been spending the holidays.

Christmas was wonderful and warm. With temperatures in the high 70s, Jessie and I enjoyed a lovely pork dinner served outside on Christmas Eve, and we didn't even consider putting on our jackets. Thanks to Dave's mother's Danish heritage, most of the celebrating was done on Christmas Eve, which lead to a very relaxed Christmas Day spent opening presents, outside, and drinking beer and eating sweets (homemade Danish sugar cookies, and of course ginger snaps).

As far as gifts are concerned, Jessie and I managed to get each other all of the essentials... meaning copious amounts of chocolate, a back massager, and some "Bundy" rum with other ingredients for a pina colada.

While the gifts were great, I wish I could say the same about the Christmas Day weather. Although the morning was humid, at least it wasn't cold, windy, and spitting like the rest of the day. Turns out the rain was part of cyclone Laurence, a tropical system that had worked its way east across the continent, and the rains that the low pressure system were providing were as godsend for people in most of Australia, a point made clear by all of the Christmas and Boxing Day news headlines.

Boxing Day... a holiday not officially recognized by Americans, but unknowingly celebrated by them. Aside from watching cricket (a game that I am actually beginning to understand), the day is spent eating leftovers, drinking beer, and taking advantage of all the exclusive holiday sales. In fact, I think Americans might even be able to teach the Aussie's a thing or two about celebrating Boxing Day.

Although I mentioned the foul weather, I must say that I was pleased to have the dismal conditions because it made one of Boxing Day's most famous event all the more enjoyable. The event I am referring to is the Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race. Sponsored by Rolex, this race is a clash of the Titans; a two or three day struggle lead by multi-million dollar yachts (called Maxis) against the ruthlessness of Mother Nature. Perched high atop the Southern Head of Sydney Harbour, in a very wealthy neighborhood called, "Vaucluse," Jessie and I were able to enjoy the excitement of 120 or so Maxis charging out of a misty harbour into the great Pacific Ocean. The views were spectacular! Alfa Romeo, who was first out of the Harbour, ultimately won the race!

The bad weather stayed with us for the 27th, the day we left on our road trip. Accompanied by Dave and Henry (Dave's best mate), we made our way south towards the Australian Capital Territory and the great Snowy Mountains. The decision to head into the southern mountains and not to the beach was reached rather quickly, and supported by the idea that we would have the opportunity to climb Australia's highest mountain (Mt. Kosciuszko), see snow in the summer, and experience the brightest displays of stars this continent had to offer.

So, we climbed 2,228 meters to the top of Mt. Kosciuszko, which is located in a breath-taking (beauty, not altitude) alpine meadow at the top of Thredbo ski resort in the Snowy Mountains of southwest New South Wales. Ironically, those who climb the Seven Summits must laugh at "Mt. Kozy" when they see it, especially considering you can take a ski lift 1/3 of the way there, and then the other 2/3 is composed of grated walkway meant to protect the precious wildflowers. While it may not have been a difficult climb, it sure was rewarding! Never have I been to a place so majestic. And the cloudy, wet, and cold weather (actually wore beanies, fleece jackets, and wish I had gloves) only added to the experience. Fortunately, when we awoke the next day (yes we were the highest campers in all of Australia one evening) we were greated with sunny skies and we got to experience the full scale of "Mt. Kozy's" beauty.