Australian Holiday

There were so many things good about this holiday it is hard to know where to start. The reason for the holiday needs to be explained first. While training for Ironman my poor deprived children spent many hours being babysat by the TV - mainly Animal Planet. There developed a love affair with Stever Irwin - aka the Crocodile Hunter - and his Zoo, Australia Zoo. So, as a treat for the family post Ironman, we decided to have our first overseas family holiday and take the kids to his Zoo in Queensland Australia. Unfortunately Steve wasn't there due to an incident with a stingray afew years back, but his memory and dreams sure live on at that place.

The kids first ever plane trip was awesome! The planes had individual TV's in the back of all the seats, so they watched telly and played video games. It was a peaceful trip to say the least. I watched this new programme that has just come out over here - The Big Bang Theory - it is the funniest thing I have ever watched, and I must have sounded like a right git laughing out loud, but I just can't help it - it is priceless hysteria!

Our first stop was the Gold Coast where the theme parks are. I have never been to any big theme parks, so it was all abit eye popping for me. 2 days of endless walking and queueing for rides in the baking hot sun is not my idea of a relaxing holiday. However, because of my kids love of things furry, fluffy, scaly or slimy, we had to see every animal that is in existance in Australia. Sea World had an absolutely stunning dolphin show and a riotous seal show. Throw in a polar bear, some sharks and a few other critters, and the children were like pigs in mud! There first ever "real" ride was the log flume which was great!

Next day we went to another theme park (I know, suckers for punishment we are) called Dreamworld. The reason this one was chosen was...... wait for it...... because it had tigers! Of course daaaah..... There were alot more rides than animlas at this park, so we managed to get the kids onto some smaller kids versions of rollercoasters and flying things, before we all went on the Moto Coaster - this is a rollercoaster where you ride replica superbikes, and specially for kids there are side cars. This was the coolest ride EVA!

After 3 nights at the Gold Coast (Surfers Paradise to be exact - have never seen so many apartment blocks before, amazing!), we hi-tailed it to the much more relaxing Sunshine Coast (Maroochydore/Mooloolaba to be exact). On the way we stopped off at a Koala Sanctuary. The kids got a photo cuddling one which was like a dream come true for them. So sweet.

We managed to get 1 day of relaxing, before the kids couldn't wait any longer and we were off to Australia Zoo. The poor boys were just about popping with excitement. They couldn't believe they were actually there. Their "when I grow up" dream job is to become vets and work at Australia Zoo, so for them it was the biggest buzz of their lives so far. It was the most amazing zoo I have ever been to, and if you are ever in that neighbourhood you simply must go. The kids knew all the crocs names and were once again like pigs in mud. I tell you what, to see their faces get so excited about the things they were seeing and doing, made all the money spent getting there totally worth it. We ended up getting a 2 day pass because we just knew they would want to go back.

Apart from all the animal watching and theme park riding, we just did touristy stuff driving around checking the place out. Our apartment in Maroochydore was on the 12th floor overlooking the sea and the big long sandy beach. The ensuite shower wall was a window, so you could sit on the loo or have your shower looking out to sea! MAGIC. The weather was hot for the first half of the trip, and then overcast and abit showery for the second half, but still warm. It was light bloody early in the morning so we were up and about before 5am usually, along with heaps of others, walking and cycling the boardwalks and tracks around the beach areas. One day we were boogey boarding and swimming at the beach at 8am - that's how warm it was. Taking two 8 year old boys on a trip is not really very relaxing as they can't sit still, so it was a very busy time indeed, but oh so enjoyable. We saw whales from our apartment window 3 days in a row which was simply stunning. What more could you want! Pigs in mud I say, pigs in mud!

You might recall that I had been trying to include a half ironman in this trip, but it didn't happen. Well, it turns out that this area has loads of big events, one being an ITU race, so the next trip will DEFINITELY include one. It is the most amazing spot for a triathlon, and training for that matter, and if I could move there tomorrow I would.

So, back home and back to reality of working, training and school/homework for the kids. I have to say I really thought the holiday would help me get abit of my flagging mojo back, but it seems I am still as blah as ever in regards to training. Or should I say - cycling. I'm just not feeling the love for it at the moment, and watching those damn event countdown clocks is not really helping me. I think being on holiday with the kids and doing fun stuff with them, really made me realise that they are growing up way too fast and I better spend some time with them while they still want me to. So, I think next year might have to be the year of the Olympic Distance Triathlon, and no more. It's too much with everything else I am trying to accomplish at the moment.

I will post some pics when I have time to play with them all - we have about 500 of them if you want to come for a very long visit to see them!!!!!!!