DreemPort and Worldmappin have joined forces for a challenge, in honor of WorldMappin's launch (which is a rebranded resurrection of a past DAP). This is my submission for the Week 2 topic:
What is the furthest you have been from home, was it an exotic getaway or maybe sightseeing and business mixed?
I have to verify this one before writing about it. I recently was in the eastern Mediterranean, which is quite a distance from Southern California. But I have also travelled to Australia, and in a check of distance, it was Ceduna in South Australia that won out, eking out Streaky Bay nearby by a mere 16 km.
Our longtime friends lived in Ceduna, and their family owns a house in Streaky Bay as well. The primary economic drivers there are agriculture and fishing, when you're not dodging the great whites. There have been attacks, and it's the only place I've been where there are chain link fences in the water off the beach. That way people can lounge and swim without worrying about becoming Bruce bait (a Finding Nemo reference).
There are wonderful trails to explore in the region. Australia emerged very, very slowly from the sea. We actually came across seawater ripples in the sandstone and limestone we passed.
While we were out, some of the ladies took the boat out to harvested razorfish. These 25 cm long mollusks have a muscle simiar to a scallop, and are quite tasty on their own. They are also used as bait for catching King George Whiting, a delicate whitefish. They stopped to harvest blue crab before retuning home, which cook up quickly into a fabulous feast.
Sunsets are often spectacular at Streaky Bay, and this night was no exception as we lounged with G&T's.
I woke early for a walk along the beach, finding these tiny crabs that were making marbles while creating new homes.
Australia can be a harsh place. I imagine that you've heard stories of all the deadly critters there, which is why others have evolved with armored bodies. It's all part of the balance of life in this curious land.
And then there are the termite mounds, which can look like tombstones. These insects build them to maximize the effects of the sun.
Oh, and just in case you think the entire continent is doom and gloom, I offer you this refreshing watering hole that I came across while hiking.
The afternoon was a series of fun and games, both at a cultural center and the front lawn.
I'll leave you with this serene picture from the animal rescue shelter. Albino kangaroos are shunned by the others and far more vulnerable in the wild, since they stand out. This rescue center inhabitant is enjoying the comfort of a vast area to roam, while simply trying. to live its best life.
And there you have it, the furthest point on the globe I've travelled. It's 13,450 km from here to there, with memories that make it feel like it's right outside my door.
(All images are property of the author)