Casey Nash's Latest

Great Ocean Road

2009-12-10T12:22:00.000+11:00

I'm a bit late with some recent updates on my adventures so I have to back track a bit... Two weeks ago Lizard, Ashley and I traveled about an hour and a half drive to get to the "Great Ocean Road". It was a long road trip that ended up being about 15 hrs long due to so many stops and site seeing detours.. but it was all well worth it!!
I have copy and pasted some wikipedia facts about the Great Ocean Road so you guys can get the full low down of all the incredible sights!
I had to post more pics and less writing, because writing about what we saw just doesnt even do the place justice! Hope you enjoy :)

The Great Ocean Road is a 243 km (about 150 miles) stretch of road along the south-eastern coast of Australia between the Victorian cities of Torquay and Warrnambool.The road was constructed to provide work for returning soldiers and dedicated as a Memorial to those killed in the First World War. It is one of Australia's great scenic coastline drives.

Location

The Great Ocean Road starts at Torquay and travels westward to Allansford. The road was previously designated as State Route 100.

History

The Great Ocean Road was built by 3000 returned servicemen (or "Diggers") as a war memorial for fellow servicemen who had been killed in the First World War.
The idea for the road was suggested as far back as 1864. Surveying began in 1918 and construction took place between 1919 and 1932.
Parts of the Great Ocean Road run around steep coastal mountains. These were the trickiest and the final sections to be built.
In 1922 the section from Eastern View to Lorne was completed.
In 1932 the section from Lorne to Apollo Bay was finished, thus completing the entire road.

London Bridge

Coastal sections

Much of the road hugs the coast tightly, offering outstanding views of Bass Strait and the Southern Ocean.
Between Anglesea and Apollo Bay is a particularly scenic stretch of road which passes through many towns where mountains meet the sea. The main beach in Lorne offers great views of Louttit Bay nestled in a natural amphitheatre of hills, and Teddy's Lookout is not far from the main street.
The section near Port Campbell provides access by foot or helicopter to some of the most scenic coastline in the world, because of its striking and dramatic natural limestone and sandstone rock formations. These formations have been created by erosion from waves and rain and include Loch Ard Gorge, the Grotto, London Bridge (renamed to London Arch after the 'bridge' partly collapsed), and most famously the Twelve Apostles.

The 12 Apostles

Mountain and forest sections

Around Lorne there are many forest walks which visit impressive waterfalls. Erskine Falls is a 15 minute drive inland from Lorne. Kennett River is a popular spot for koala spotting. (We were lucky enough to see about 8 Koalas spread out in different trees!)
Between Apollo Bay and Gellibrand Lower, the road passes through the Great Otway National Park, which includes some of the last surviving temperate rainforests in the south of Australia. A walk at Mait's Rest offers spectacular views of tree-ferns and Myrtle Beeches.
Otway Nat'l Forest

The Great Ocean Road in a nut shell! :)

Phillip Island and Edithvale Beach!

2009-11-12T15:10:00.001+11:00

Last week my friend Elizabeth "Lizard" arrived in Australia! We became friends/roomates this last summer in Portland and it just so happened that she had been planning a year long back-packing adventure through Australia. After signing with a team here in Melbourne, it worked out perfectly that she come stay w/ me and my roomies for a few weeks while she tours around this enormous city of about 4 million people!

Since Lizard has been here we have gone and done some really fun things! She definitely did her research before she arrived, thank goodness because I had been here two months already and hadn't even seen a Kangaroo yet! (Which by the way.. contrary to popular believe, Kangaroos do not just hop around every where in the city and all over the place! haha) I usually stay pretty busy with basketball obligations as well as coaching clinics, but we do have a few days off, so its been nice to take full advantage!

Wambat

We traveled just over an hour drive to Phillip Island, its a very "beachy" type area with lots of touristy things to do! It is where a few world renowned professional surfers are from and a place that many Melbourne people travel to for holidays. We visited a chocolate factory, penguin parade and the wildlife park where I got to see so many of Australia's great animals; Koalas, Tasmanian devil, Wallabis, Wombats, Kangaroo, and several types of birds, snakes and reptiles!

The best part was being in an open range and able to feed the Kangaroos! I would go back every day just for that if I could! They just took the food right out of your hand and let us pet them, as you can see in the pics :). Next we went to "The Nobbies" which is the edge of the coast line where you can go seal watching. Then off to the "Penguin parade" where we sat on the beach and watched the "Little Penguins" come in from the sea to their nesting grounds on land.
These "Little Penguins" (which is their actual name) are different from Antarctic penguins because they are only about a foot tall, and they have blue backs, not black. Also they are warmer climate penguins so they would not survive in the freezing arctic waters. They come onto shore at dusk till about 10pm so they are camouflaged with the rocks so the birds wont try and eat them. (Just a couple fun facts for you guys :) Unfortunately we were not allowed to take any pictures of the penguins. Apparently it disturbs them.

Very pre-historic looking, scary bird!

The wildlife park and watching the Penguins come onto their nesting grounds was the best part of my trip to Phillip Island, although the beach was beautiful and I was able to collect lots and lots of sweet looking sea shells! I definitely plan to go back to Phillip Island soon! There is so much more to see there.

I can't wait to go back and find more!

Just a few days ago Lizard, my other American teammate (Ashley) and I traveled to Edithvale beach, which is part of the bay here in Melbourne. There are several "beaches" and obviously one of the best things about living in a city on the coast line. I 'reckon' I like going to the bays because the water is much more calm and its such a laid back, fun atmosphere. Going to the beach is like a daily thing for everyone here in the summer, day or night, soon as you get a break everyone is at the beach!

Yes that is a giant Jelly fish, but don't worry, its dead.

The water was perfect temperature for how hot its been here. We are having a mid spring heat wave. 32 degrees Celsius, which is about 95-98 degrees Fahrenheit. Except it feels like your sitting on the sun here...Another fun fact; the o-zone layer is so thin in this part of the world, almost non-existant. Therefore the sun is so much more intense and harmful. Skin Cancer is the leading cancer in Australia by a long shot. If you know me, you know I'm usually anti-sun screen, but here I wear SPF 30+ and still I get a tan! As long as I'm protected, I'm safe...right? :)

As you know it is Spring time here in Oz, and we all know what season that brings!... :)

Sorry, I had to...It's not every day you get to see Kangaroos gettin busy in the woods. :)

Poems

2009-11-11T00:33:00.004+11:00

BASKETBALL

It’s what we live for, something we’ve always done.
It’s not just a job, but we play for fun.
At times we get aggrivated at times we feel weak.
But without it our lives seem so incomplete.
The thing we love most and were born to do.
Whatever life throws us, it’s what we turn to.
All the glory, pain, sweat, blood and tears.
Been playin’ this game for so many years.

It allows us to see the world and meet new friends.
Answers life’s questions and reveals new trends.
Without it we’d be lost in translation,
Thriving on goals, opportunities, and self motivation.
Victory is what we strive for, greatness is our goal.
Its not just about putting the ball in the hole.

Because of this sport we’ve seen it all…
Naismith’s simple game of BASKETBALL.

-Casey-

2-15-2009

“BROTHER”

“Things happen for a reason,” or so they say,
But why this? Why now? Why him, on this horrible day?
How do we go on living? Why even care?
A pain so sharp, so deep, the numbest man could not bare.
Still, we sit in disbelief of losing you.
Wishing each day, we wake to see this all is untrue.
Our hearts ache at the thought of you being gone.
If only we could rewind to the past, to fix whatever went wrong.
Go back in time, to the day before that awful day.
So much left to tell you brother, so much left to say.
I want you to come back, just ONE last time.
Only because I’m selfish, I know YOU are doing fine.
It’s your family still here, who suffers all the pain!
Not until we come to you, will we be healed again.
Some how we must try to keep on, keepin on,
Holding you in our hearts as we carry along.
Cannot even wait for the day we can see you once more.
In all our memories forever, Son…Father…Brother...Oldest of four.
-Casey
October 25, 2008

Intro.

2009-11-10T00:03:00.007+11:00

I have been contemplating creating my own blog for some time now.. but with the extra motivation from Mom I have finally decided to electronically share my pictures and experiences of my worldly travels.

From Stayton to Corvallis, Oregon. Athens, Greece to San Sebastian, Spain. From Cork, Ireland to Madeira, Portugal and now Melbourne, Australia. I have much to catch up on, but hopefully you will enjoy learning more in depth about my life at home in the summers with JS as well as my life during 3 years of great overseas adventures.

I have been very blessed to play professional basketball in some of the most amazing countries in the world!
After three years of playing abroad it's still surreal to think of how many incredible life experiences I've gained all because of a little extra work and a whole lot of help playing this simple child's game of Basketball.

I have learned so much about myself and who I am over the past few years. Its amazing what so much time on your hands does to your thought process. :) I have learned that life is precious. We only get to live it once, so if an opportunity comes along that you can't pass, odds are you shouldn't let it. I've learned how important it is to surround myself with people that make you want to be better. Throughout my travels I've met some amazing people and am happy to say that I have made a few life long friends.
I have so much yet to experience and I'm so excited to continue to learn new things and experience new adventures, especially here in Australia!

I hope you enjoy the glimpse into overseas life through my eyes as much as I have enjoyed living it. Although there has been ups and downs that's just the way life is and I feel I have taken advantage of the opportunities I have been given...as the Aussies say; "You'll never know unless you give it a crack!" :)