I ticked off a bucket list item this morning. Hiking Sentierio degli Die, the Path of the Gods. Before that could happen we needed to take the bus from Amalfi to Bomerano. The narrow roads and hairpins of the Amalfi Coast are not exactly designed for buses. I'm not sure they're even designed for cars. This did not deter the busdriver, who swung and finangled the long 56 seater around the bends as if simply tooting the horn to whatever melody took his whim would be all it took to keep the roads clear ahead and the cliffs a comfortable distance away from the windows.

The path of the Gods had spectacular views over the villages and landscape of Amalfi and the Mediterranean Sea and sky that blends together in a hazy blue horizon. The bus trip also features these characteristics, thus making it the bus route of the Gods.

The hike itself was stunning. Cliffs and forests and an unending stream of views all the way to Nocelle. That's the official end of the hike, but it is possible to continue down the hill to Positano, and because Positano is both renown for its beauty and also where the ferry leaves for Amalfi, it made logical sense to continue downward after a quick lemon granita.

The route down to Positano contains a lot of steps. They can be conquered, but probably at the cost of being able to enjoy yourself when the ocean brings a merciful end to the downhill slog. Particularly because Positano is itself a city of steps, and that's how I felt today. Barely able to walk, we bought a quick lunch by the beach then it was time to get out.

Positano like a poisonous flower. Beautiful, but deadly. Today in June its narrow laneways and staircases were choked by crowds. It felt like a mix of people who had saved up for years for the holiday of a lifetime, and people who dock their yachts off the Amalfi Coast for a few weeks most summers. I didn't enjoy the vibe.

The docks to get out of Positano were also crowded, and not pleasant, particularly under a hot sun in sticky air. We crammed into the ferry with the rest of the yacht-deprived and when there was finally no room to move on deck we disembarked. After an amazing hike among the clouds, it was the ferry ride of humanity back to Amalfi.

But for the opportunity to complete this hike, it was totally worth it.

After enjoying Adelaide's unseasonably warm April, we finished the month by flying into Canberra on the uplift of a high pressure cell that was trapping cold, wet air over Australia's capital. This was tolerable for the sake of spending time with family and not working for a Monday.

Saturday began with a trip to the Fyshwick Markets, some rounds of Chameleon, a walk around the ovals with the kids, then a nap. After a Parma (not Parmi, infidels) and a pint (I'll forgive that one) Steve, Jess and I enjoyed a selection of local beers bought from Plonk that morning.

I also got my revenge and beat Steve at Acquire.

Sunday was even more rainy, though we did get a decent walk in along the flank of Mount Pleasant and then back along the lake.

In the afternoon there was an attempt to play Fortnite using a PS5 controller (0 points for both) and then some nachos for dinner and two rounds of Taboo. (The squeaker really makes that game).

Monday was even colder, but at least less rainy. Vanessa and I completed an eleven kilometre loop of our nation's adolescent Arboretum, then ate lunch overlooking it. A quick loop up Black Mountain (more of a hill) managed to get our daily steps for the trip back in line with our daily average. After that and a shower there was enough time for a few rounds of sardines with the kids before our flight back, via the Virgin Lounge for a complementary visit where I drank three beers and ate four pies.

A pretty packed weekend, I regret we couldn't squeeze in the National Rock Garden.

It definitely feels like ANZAC day has been transitioning over the years from the first day of winter into a late-Autumn last gasp glimpse of summer. Today's weather was so exceptional that it felt appropriate to take Vanessa and my ANZAC tradition on the road and I ate this year's giant cookie at the midpoint of the Seacliff to Hallet Cove coastal walk.

Somehow, in spite of my aging and dilapidated body, I made it through the whole thing. I finished the walk too.

One of the benefits of marriage is having a day off and parking in Adelaide places that are always busy on the weekends.

Woke up at 6am for a second, annual hike up Mount Lofty on one of the only public holidays that you can hope you to get a car park. In fact, with today's forecast top of 38°C there were even more car parks available after we got back down.

We would have arrived slightly earlier, but after a week of rattling coming from the front of the car we finally isolated it to a broken guard under the engine and I spent five minutes gaffing it back together. This wasn't fun as I had to get down on the already warm bitumen twice, but while I was down there I got a glimpse of the cirrococumulus cloud high in the early morning sky and that was pretty.

Today started with another walk up the Bluff!

Followed by more frolicking.

The End

Seems a little strange that a single 96 year old lady halfway across the earth dies and today I get a day off work. But in 2019 a single person got a little too close to a pangolin we all know how that turned out.

Like a few people in Adelaide I spent my morning in Belair National Park getting my feet dirty.

Here's some photos.

After nine days of driving, relaxing, hiking and driving some more today I reached what most certainly was the furthest point of the road trip. From Lower Beechmont I drove up the very long, extremely windy Lamington National Park Road to Green Mountains - an experience both twisty and magnificent. Then after parking and breakfast with the birdlife we walked another eighteen kilometres to Toolona Lookout which, funnily enough, I could not see my house from.

1,565km as the Crimson Rosella flies.

It has been an extreme privilege to have a car capable of taking me such a long distance across what I have been reminded constantly is a diverse, beautiful country that has roads connecting it all over the place. I mean I’ve paid a lot of tax in my life, but not enough to cover the thousands of kilometres of motorways, winding mountain passes, bridges, bypasses, retaining walls, and other infrastructure that has carried me from Adelaide to here. I also appreciate those who have mapped out and trodden all the hiking trails past waterfalls and scenic vistas up and down the eastern seaboard.

While up on that lookout and taking photos I noticed I had 4G mobile reception, and I was able to check the security camera in my living room, so I guess thanks to all this infrastructure I could see my house from there.

After finishing the hiking and getting back in the car I had a headlight out, so after we got back and before I ate 5000 calories of food to refuel I had the privilege of changing a headlight bulb. Luckily I had the foresight to pack both a spare headlight bulb, and a Pirate Life to drink afterwards.