hoping to see Australia for 8 weeks

Plenty of buses, not necessarily called Greyhound, up and down the east coast - a heavily travelled backpacker route. It's that Victoria thing, you know. Even the buses don't go there

I can offer spare room, with ?OK sofa bed.

When you firm up your time, we'll look at detail. Do you eat the same sort of food as Penny the Hamster - i.e., lettuce? Or something more! She's my only experience of a US guest. Had plenty of Swedes - they eat anything and everything!

Hi Margo,

I would love to crash on your spare sofabed. Thanks for the offer, I'll have to keep in touch with you about that. My friend just informed me last night that she won't be able to join me but that's OK. I want to do this on my own.

I have nothing against lettuce but I'm willing to try anything. What is the food I have to try when I'm there? Vegimite?

Vegemite is all we eat - you can eat it with lettuce if you need to!

I'm planning that for penny's dinner tonight.

I tried poi in Hawaii, fried plantains in Ecuador, had a sardine with my breakfast in Italy, escargo in Paris....I guess I can try vegamite

Hows things marty?

Well dadpad, Things have been crazy busy around my house between working on-call, taking a class and trying to spend time with my kids.
I checked out the couchsurfing website, you'll see me on there but I need to look around it for a bit so I can get used to the layout of the website.

I've set money aside in CD's and hope not to touch them until the trip. Now I need to just accrue enough time so I can take the entire trip with PTO. Therefore, it looks like my trip will be next March or Sept.

Ok i've blocked out the calender for march and september 2009.

Theres no backing out now.

I am sooooo there!

Still researching my trip in 2009. I've reserved my funds but have only 4 weeks vacation acrued, may have to wait until Sept but I'm itchin to get goin!!!

I was checking out the dept of conservation for New Zealand. I want to volunteer a week at some wildlife refuge, anything like that near your neck of the woods Dadpad??

I just want you to know I have seen your post Marty. I dont know off hand if there is a volunteer program locally but i am sure i have seen reference to something similar on couch surfing. I'll see what I can dig up.

hopefully i will be able to find this thread again.

http://www.conservationvolunteers.com.au/

www.enviro.org.au/wwoof.asp

Thanks Dadpad!