Tag: australia

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see vegas, i told you it would all fit

So, everything is packed into very heavy bags.

Item One – Heavy Backpack
Item Two – Heavy Ski Bag and Boot Bag
Item Three – Crash pad in cardboard box
Item Four – Carry On thingos = rope bag and laptop bag

lots of important things

Once my plane leaves DC I’ll be landing in Melbourne 28 hours later. Won’t that be fun. Although I’ll start travelling 4 hours before that, so I can actually get to the airport and check in. Then once I get to Melbourne, I have to move house :)

Depart DC – 3.45pm Tuesday East Coast US time / 5.45am Wednesday Melbourne time
Arrive Melbourne – 7.40pm Wednesday East Coast US time / 9.40am Thursday Melbourne time

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injustice

On the injustice of gear pricing and sales in the USA, and why I will find it very hard to return to Australian climbing gear prices.

As a sample, we will refer to the pricing of a Green Colarado Custom Hardware Alien. In the US (from REI, for example), they retail at $US52.50. In Australia, the RRP is $AUD148.50, equivalent to $US111.00.

We will now turn to the case of the red (number 1) C4 Black Diamond Camelot. $US62.50 at REI, RRP in Australia of $US89.

We may also note that I have NEVER seen an Alien 20% off in Australia, whereas I have purchased one for 20% off over here. And Camelots are very rarely available for 20% off in Australia. Here, it’s hard to find them full price (NOTE – possible exaggeration).

Australian gear prices are unfortunately high. I rest my case.

(I will accept orders for people who want me to buy them cheap gear; extra cut on top of gear price can come in the currency of Australian food – tim tams, freddos, caramello koalas, crunchies, natural confectionery etc are all welcome)

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Austraya, Austraya, Austraya, Austraya, we love you amen!

wattle

G’day, Bruce!

Oh, Hello Bruce!

How are you Bruce?

A bit crook, Bruce.

Where’s Bruce?

He’s not ‘ere, Bruce.

Blimey, it’s hot in here, Bruce.

…….

Is your name not Bruce?

No, it’s Michael.

That’s going to cause a little confusion.

Mind if we call you “Bruce” to keep it clear?

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xerxes – not a moose

not a moose
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grrrrarrrr

both of the boys are downstairs, hard at work on their boats. they’re both building wooden sea kayaks – one of the kayaks is getting towards the stages of being finished, and actually looks like a boat. the other is still individual bits of plywood strewn across the garage. the whine of the saw is sounding intermittently, as more bits of plywood succumb. meanwhile, it’s 37oC here, and not really the sort of weather i’d choose for doing that sort of thing.