THE FACTS:

1. The highest point in Adelaide at 727 meters (2385 feet)

The hike in total was 10km (6 miles)

Uncle Warwick, Daryl, Alicia, and I go to climb Mount Lofty. I was warned that one part would be bad as they demonstrated with their arms a slope at which I would say an 80 degree angle. Now all three failed to mention this bit lasted for 1k and that the rest of the walk would be at an angle of 75 degrees. I was naiive when they told me it would be hard thinking they just meant that one bit, they meant the whole hike. Alicia and Daryl left us and went ahead. I told Uncle Warwick to leave me (the out of shape American) and that I would meet him at the top. He stayed with me as I painstakingly inched my way up the hill. I think I almost had a few heart attacks as a never ending string of curse words flowed through my head. I stayed positive with what I said though because I was the one who said just how much I love hiking. I did it though and in the end I'm proud I did it and it was a great experience but next time I'll definitely just drive up with Auntie when I want to see the view.

Saturday I went to the beach with everyone, but stayed with Auntie and Mitchell. Everyone else had surf life saving. I planned to take pictures but as soon as Mitchell found out I was in my bathing suit he had me running in and splashing with him. I didn't mind though because I was excited to be at the beach (just as excited as the four year old)! The beach is commonplace for everyone else so they weren't too excited, I guess it is like us seeing snow. We got ice cream (I got a peppermint magnum) and then we went home. At home Mitchell and I watched Finding Nemo because we were at the beach and it's his favorite movie.

Today is Uncle Warwick's birthday! When we went out to get his present we also went and got frozen yogurt. I also finally did my laundry so I feel very accomplished! We went out to a restaurant for dinner called Indoshine. The waiter was hilarious!! He demanded that I try the kangaroo and that if I didn't like it he would make me a brand new dish. With an offer like that I couldn't refuse, and was glad I didn't! Kangaroo is delicious!!
Once again I will post pictures soon and sorry for the delay.

On Sunday we went to Murray River for the day. On the way there I saw a giant lizard sunning itself on the road. Then once we got there we went for a boat ride and it was beautiful there! We also went tubing and Chelsea went wake boarding. The water was freezing cold!!! I will be posting pictures soon, sorry for the delay!

Today I went out with Amalie for a girls afternoon. Alicia couldn't come because she had to work on a school project for Uni. We went to Marion, which is the mall here. It is only 5 minutes away so I will be there a lot. It is huge!! It has a bowling alley, a movie theater, and 2 stories of shops! We got lunch first and I got chicken teriyaki sushi because everyone has been telling me I have to try it. I took a bite and couldn't even hide my disgust, I made the face a four year old makes when they don't like something. It tasted like I just had a mouthful of the sea, seaweed is gross! I unrolled my sushi and just ate the inside which was tasty. Then I got a boost juice and it was delicious! The flavor I got was raspberry ripe, it tasted like chocolate covered raspberries! Then we went and got our nails done, it was the girliest thing I have done in ages but it was fun. Then we went to a shop so I could get tinted moisturizer, because girls here only wear makeup if they are going out at night usually. I tried not wearing makeup but it was too weird going to places without it, like the mall or town(I felt naked!) So now I have something to wear day to day. Then we picked up Alicia and went home.

Yesterday I watched the footy grand final, it is Australia's super bowl. I went to Amelie's house and had my first ever legal drink. It was called a Bruski. It was vodka and lemon but really just tasted like lemonade. Footy was really confusing at first but towards the end I had a pretty good understanding of the game. The teams were Fremantle and Hawthorn. We all wanted Freo to win but instead the Hawks did. It was loads of fun :-)

I did it! I made it to Adelaide all by myself! My auntie and Alicia picked me up. We went home and I got a tour of the house. I got to take a quick shower and it felt so amazing after flying for so long! I discovered that the noisy birds in the backyard are parrots! So I really don't mind the noise now that I know that! We went to school to puck up Daniel and drop stuff off to Liam for his rock climbing trip. He won't be back until Tuesday. he changed our of Hus uniform and when I saw him I couldn't stop myself from laughing; Liam was wearing Uggs, those are girl shoes! I was wrong they are in fact boy and girl shoes in Australia but still I think it is an odd sight. Then we went out to lunch at a coffee shop Alicia used to work at. The food was incredible! Then we went home Daniel went to work and Alicia and I watched Elf. Her friend Amalie stopped by and we talked. She is super nice and I am going to her house for the footy finals tomorrow with Alicia. Then her friend Lucy stopped by and was super funny and nice too. I went to bed at 8 and it felt amazing to get to sleep in a bed!

My journey began today. I did great in the Rochester airport and had zero problems finding my way to where I needed to be so I was feeling pretty good about my self on the way down. JFK airport is where I encountered my first problem, that place is huge! I had to ask about 11 different workers how to get where I was going and they always have directions like I already knew my way around. Also the pilot announced my baggage would be on pick up spot 3 so that is where I went. I stood there for a half an hour wondering where on earth my luggage is, turned out to be so it 4 instead (I was unaware that the pick up spot is subject to change). Once again I made it and was very proud of myself! I got on Qantas and was in awe at how big this plane was! I sat next to a young married couple and there three kids sat in front of us. The couple was on there way home to Sydney and were super helpful! It hit me that I was really going to Australia when the flight attendant asked what I wanted to drink, or conversation went like this: "I will have a soda please." She looked at me like I had three heads so I was like "Um, a pop?" She still looked on like I wasn't speaking English and said, "sparkling water?" I was getting a little frustrated and confused and said, "No I want soda pop." Finally the wife turned smiling and said, "She means a soft drink." Finally I got my coke zero and could relax! The couple spent the next 15 minutes explaining some of the other differences. for example on the menu lemonade is sprite. I was glad I wanted coke then and not a lemonade! My journey was pretty uneventful from then until Sydney. Once we were about to land the couple gave me there number for in case I missed my flight and needed a place to stay and for if I come to Sydney. Clearing customs was stressful because I had to declare things and the line was long! I was afraid I was going to miss my flight! I made it to my gate with time to spare so I ordered an iced coffee , which turns out is also different because it is cold coffee with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Anyways now it is Friday and I made it to Adelaide.