Gustery Blustery

On Monday Cyclone Dominic made landfall about 250km northeast of here. Though only a category 1 by the time it hit, it was enough to bring some serious wind and rain our way. We had a small barbie, since it was Australia Day but I think the weather kept things rather subdued. Not enough that I wasn’t hung-over the next day, mind you. Australia Day celebrates the arrival of the First Fleet- I find it very funny that they chose their national holiday on the day a boat load of English convicts landed ashore. The downside is that the Aborigines call January 26 Survival Day, in reference the fact that they are still here, despite the First Fleet and everything that followed. They want the day moved, but this is a very touchy subject with everyone, as is most things having to do with aboriginal issues.

The upside of all the rain is that it has been quite pleasant around here for the past couple days when the sun is out- the temperature topped at a downright chilly 30 degrees yesterday, practically spring-like! It is humid as hell, but it’s a nice change, especially since I have been doing housekeeping in the motels and actually walking around outside during the day. Things have been super quiet since I got here in December, but starting in February every single motel room will be booked up so business should pick up. I hate to count days, but I am getting excited about my plans for when I leave so it’s hard not to think about it. I have booked my flight back to Perth for March 30, and then I am renting a car and checking out all the things I didn’t get to see when I had no money- snorkeling in Monkey Mia, dolphins in Exmouth, and of course the world famous stromatolites of Shark Bay (one of only three places in the entire world where they have been found).

For those who don’t know, stromatolites are a type of cyanobacteria that leave behind coral-like mounds as they grow in shallow, super-saline lagoons. While not much to look at, they are believed to be the first oxygen-producing organisms on Earth and probably altered the atmosphere over millions of years to the point where it could support life. I learned about them in my 2nd year paleontology class and remember sitting in class thinking I would go to Shark Bay and check them out some day- it’s the least I could do after they so kindly created an oxygen-rich atmosphere for us. Okay, enough geek talk for one day. 50 days to go, but who’s counting, right?