Travel Day to Western Australia- August 2, 2019

I was running late again. Standard. I had told Ebony I would be at her house around 1:00 PM even though we had planned to leave for the airport at 2:00 PM. By 1:30 PM I still wasn’t finished packing and I still had to stop at the pharmacy for some body wash and toothpaste on my way. Realizing time was not on my side and how important toothpaste and body wash were for this trip I quickly threw the rest of my stuff into my bag and was about to run out the door until I realized I forgot to pack my Cocoon. My cocoon has been pretty much my most prized possession through my travels. It’s essentially a super comfortable sheet that’s sewn together in the shape of a sleeping bag. It not only keeps me a tiny bit warmer and cozier but also makes me feel a bit cleaner and acts as a protective layer for all the germs and diseases the hostel beddings and sleeping bags may contain. Pretty much a necessity for this two week camping bus tour. MAJOR PROBLEM. I can’t find my Cocoon. I tore my room apart as quickly as I could checking every drawer and bag I could think of, but it was nowhere to be found. I was really out of time. I could not spend another minute looking and I was so sad about it.

My brief trip to the pharmacy was a bit disappointing as well. They didn’t have any women’s travel sized body wash. They had mens, but I opted to leave without it. I Hoped there would be a place I could buy some when I arrived in Perth.

It’s 2:08 PM by the time I arrive at Ebony’s. By the time we get situated, get Penny in her car seat, get Ned in the house and the car around the repairman’s truck it’s 2:20 PM. My flight leaves in exactly one hour and of course we realize we need to stop for gas or we may not make it. I was a bit nervous but I tried not to let Ebony know. I didn’t want her to stress. I could tell she was already stressing and the lady pumping her petrol slow as molasses in front of us was not helping one bit. But low and behold we made it and I didn’t even need to beg people to let me go in front of them in the security line or run to the gate like I usually do. I got to gate 26 with a whole 14 minutes to spare 😅.

The three hour Jetstar flight was short and sweet. I watched the first 8 episodes of season 12-Big Bang Theory. I was living the dream and doing pretty much what I would have done if I was home with nothing to do anyway. I collected my rucksack from the baggage claim and opted for the 28 dollar uber vs the bus which would have taken over an hour. Raymond my driver was as sweet as can be. We chatted about his day job; a mortgage broker and the travels we’d both been on as he pointed out things to see and do while in Perth.

About 20 minutes later we pull into the Billabong Backpackers Resort parking lot. I check in and walk the three fights of stairs up to room 32. The second I open the door I was smacked in the face by a scent I can only describe as mildew plus boy. It was not a very good scent but I adjusted to the unpleasantness quite quickly. Probably because the situation I walked into was more surprising to me. It was only about 6:30 PM and all 4 people who are already checked into the room are sleeping. The lights are off and here I am trying to navigate my way to an empty bed with crap all over the floor, make my bed, and get changed for dinner all in the dark. I didn’t have much choice though. Danae was coming to pick me up at 7.

I met Danae 2 years ago in Nanjing, China at our hotel bar. We were both there for the World Roller Games. I was there watching my brother play inline hockey and she was there as a representative of the Australian Roller Sports Board. We bonded over our love for figure skating, mine on ice and hers on wheels, as I picked her brain about Australia, the country I was moving to in only two short weeks. We hung out a few times in Nanjing and decided that if I was ever in Perth I’d give her a call. So three days ago after not seeing or speaking to her in 2 years since we left China I did just that.

I got in her car and she took me to her local pub, The Old Laundry. Over delicious glasses of Tempranillo and a beautiful cheeseboard we chatted as though no time had passed. We reminisced about the amazing time we had in China as well as all the things we’d been up to in the last two years. It was such a lovely catch up and the perfect way to end my first day on the west coast.

Catch me if you can…

Jo Mo