All you need is love

If my Facebook is accurate, it seems like wedding season is winding down. And I've been lucky enough to take part in this September-October season on two continents. 

How are Australian and American weddings different?

Apparently Australian weddings have smaller bridal parties (so they tell me). 

In Australia it's not unusual to have one, two, three, and four (is HUGE) bridesmaids.

And in America, everything is bigger...

In Australia, they sign the marriage certificate as part of the ceremony.

But after four Australian weddings, I think the differences are due to the individual couple and not the country.And in the end, there are many more similarities between them.

Like Brides getting ready...

And Brides in beautiful dresses...

First time as Mr. & Mrs...

 

First dances...

And just dancing

Good food...

Good cake...

With loved ones young and old...

...from 3...

 

 ...to 102 

But the best part, 

and the part in every wedding, 

no matter what the continent, 

is the LOVE & pure HAPPINESS.

 

 

 

Congratulations 

Kyla & Adam

Caitlin & Matt

Chris & Jess

and a happy one+ anniversary to:

Lyn & Keith

Melanie & Scott

 Thanks for letting me share in the love of your beautiful days!

(and stealing some of your pictures)

What's it like to walk 100 kilometers?

• I think the better question is what is it like to walk for 31 hours? To me, that's much more tangible. We started walking at 7 am on a Friday and didn't stop (minus a few short breaks) until 2:15pm on Saturday. That's a long time to be walking!
  
• Icey poles (translation: popsicles) and Doritos can provide essential energy when your body refuses to accept any other food. 
  
• Blisters are real. And people will do anything to try and manage. They will hobble, wear sandals, fill open blisters with Talcom powder, and put every layer imaginable of tape on them. There is no 100% sure way to prevent them during a 100 km walk, especially during one of the first two 90+ days of the season when you've been training in the chilly rain. I was lucky enough to find some magic shoes.
  
  
  THANK YOU Caitlin Fenn aka Caitlin Cordaro and Inov8. The only two blisters I got were ones I had already had and I didn't even feel or notice them until I was finished and took my socks off.
• You learn the kindness of strangers. From offering water, blister tape, or just a motivating word, we saw so many acts of kindness on the trail. And the biggest thanks to the mystery man with the bag of ice at kilometer 92. Those handfuls of ice you shared were our saving grace. And thank you to the random volunteers along the route. From the volunteers dressed as Toy Story characters (what? I still don't get it) to the candle lit pathway across Great Eastern Highway, you were highlights through the dark night.
  
• You also learn the unwavering kindness of friends and family. We had so many supports, both financially and offering words of encouragement. A special shout out to our unbelievable support crew, Cam, Darryn and Sean who didn't hesitate to answer each of our whiny requests and never once complained despite being sleep deprived themselves. 
  
• Walking 100km is just as much, if not more a mental challenge than a physical challenge.
  
• 5 kilometers is not a short distance. It still takes at least an hour to walk at an average pace. Knowing there's "only 5 kilometers left!" is not motivating. But it is better to know how many you have left, and the little markers don't mean anything!
  
• Despite being scared of the dark, we looked forward to nightfall for it's cooler temperatures. We saw no scary creatures, not even a kangaroo to be seen, but may have created our own adrenaline and mistaken a tired walker for a drunk vagrant stumbling home from the bar and ready to attack us.
  
• With the right music, you can find a little dance left, even after 90 kilometers of walking.
• A 30-60 minute break can do amazing wonders.Even though you always wish you had longer, when you're ready to go, you're ready to go. And when someone tells you you can't go and you're waiting for over an hour for a storm that never comes, that's not so amazing.
  
• Sometimes deciding to stop walking is a harder decision than deciding to keep walking. I commend all those who listened to their tired bodies, and made the call for their safety, to stop the walk. I know how hard it is after months of training, excitement, and anticipation. Stay proud of what you achieved.
  
• I am not one to swear, but apparently after 96 kilometers, with 8 unimaginably hot kilometers walking up a gravel "mountain" path with no end, or support, in site, I mutter a few not nice words. Sorry Mom & Dad. I washed my mouth out with soap when I got home.
• I didn't feel drowsy at any point during the walk. However, as soon as I got in the car, I found myself battling to keep my eyes open. I didn't last a whole hour after getting home before I passed out for 15 hours without waking up once. And then had a two hour nap.
• The patience, laughter, grit, and motivation of a team can get you through almost everything, step, by step.

 Note the overall position # is not correct!!! We were 75 out of 194 :)