Paul Jam - Paul Andrews' Blog - Dunsborough, Western Australia

Day two has been a chilled out exercise day. Wanting to keep a tight rein on my spending I decided to hot foot it around the place and walked the 3 or 4 mile journey into Valencia town centre and had a gawk at this fairly privileged community. I plugged the ipod in my ears and took off to the sound of the Angels “Dark Room”. A bogan till the end!

I made it into the local shopping mall and my first task was to purchase a t-shirt. I don’t know how, but I managed to only pack three t-shirts even though I’m sure I put about half a dozen out. After a few days even I can’t put up with my own smell any longer and a newie was needed. I tried washing the two I have worn so far but only succeeded in spreading the B.O smell over the entire t-shirt. There goes doing my washing in the tub while I shower idea!

My first real day of being a tourist in USA is officially over and Magic Mountain has been climbed and conquered!  Been there, done, that and didn’t even bother with the T-Shirt.

For those of you who came in late, Six Flags Magic Mountain is the home of the of the worlds wildest and scariest rollercoasters. It was featured on National Lampoon’s “Vacation” where it was called ‘Wally World’. I didn’t punch the moose!

I got there bright an early at 10 am after a quick walk from my hotel. Staying near the park was a good move as the park was still quiet before the tourist buses arrived. I got straight in, picked up my Gold Flash Pass which allowed me to jump the lines and go directly to the loading areas of all the rides and was on my way.

I made it! I'm in the land of the brave and home of the free. I'd forgotten what a mission it is going directly from Perth to Los Angeles and then onto my hotel via public transport.

My 5am flight from Perth to Sydney was uneventful and my window seat made for some nice views and a little sleep. I awoke somewhere over western new South Wales and had a nice view of Sydney as we came into the airport. It was good to have no access to computers, internet, phones or any technology at all.