The Roaming Stevens

For those wanting something private, special, and REMOTE - all you need to do is visit www.kingscreekstation.com.au and YOU SHALL FIND WHAT YOUR HEART DESIRES. We had no clue what we were in for - we were only visiting, stopping by Kings Creek Station in Kings Canyon because Tinto remembered the area to be beautiful.  But, when someone as fabulous as Mel invites you in - starts chatting away about how special this station is...you listen.  Tinto and I were out and about at the perfect time of this year - school was not out - yet - and very few visitors about.  Mel advised us to find a nice table outside and she would bring us two glasses of Sauvignon Blanc.  Tinto said he just didn't feel like a glass of tinto - too warm!  We follow orders fairly well and exited the roadhouse to find the perfect lunch table. Once outside and settled, sipping on the cool, crisp wine - Mel delivered lunch and a woman by the name of Julie POPS by our table to introduce herself and ...

Tinto and I had a most unexpected and splendid time travelling through our back yard AND crossing over the border into the Northern Territory.  Tinto planned the trip AS SOON AS I FINISHED university studies - WE WERE READY to 'HIT THE ROAD'.  So, this post is for any Aussies looking for wide-open spaces and for those who may not have been to the NT...for a while.  Most everyone has already been captivated by the mere sight of Uluru, but it is the 'stops' along the way, the places you stay where you meet the MOST amazing people which transforms you, too! When you arrive in Anangu land ~ PALYA! - TRY the newly renovated Sails in the Desert ~ LOVELY.  Yes, they were originally built in the late 60s, early 70s, but renovations began pre-COVID and are still going strong.  We had NO booking.  The woman behind the desk looked shocked, but that's the way we rolled this time!  Within a few minutes and standing inside a gorgeous, wide, bright lobby - huge, high...

With university finished (for now), Tinto had been making plans for us to head off to the Northern Territory, travelling through Alice Springs, literally the centre of Australia, for quite some time now. I made no bookings; Tinto took care of it all or rather, made one or two bookings for the beginning of the trip, then...everything else was left to chance. And, I realized I prefer it that way!  We genuinely did not know where we would 'land' next.  Tinto had an idea, but the beautiful catch was NOTHING was written in stone. So, travel we did.  We 'ooooooogghhhhed and aaaaagggghhhhed' at the wide, open spaces and I felt just like one of the Dixie Chicks.  I have never wanted to see 'wide, open' spaces as much after this last stent with university.  This last study period was climbing a mountain of facts and new knowledge and I did just that and thanked my brain appropriately! The first night at William Creek Hotel, the staff had huge smiles for us and apologised...

If we look around us and consider deeply how COVID-19 has impacted our lives...it is not all bad. The worst aspect is the separation of families and loved ones; intolerable in most instances - not knowing WHEN we will see the faces of those we love enormously - physically hurts and causes great distress.  The best part is people are genuinely getting out and about and discovering their own back yards.  Australia has VAST and MIGHTY 'back yards' and Tinto and I were fortunate to experience some of Australia's true gems in a relatively short period of time - just a little under two weeks! So, for my American mates - once international borders open, I plead with you to travel the great distance and come and see for yourselves.  You'll need some time OR you simply choose a couple of states to tour instead of the entire country - either way, Australia is a splendid experience. I have been to quite a few places already, but I had never travelled to the center of the country (...

What IS IT you want to 'DO' in your life?  Is there something you think of often and imagine and when you do...you find yourself smiling?  Well, JUST DO IT.  Nike (whatever you think of the company ~ marketed those words first!)...but, they ring true.  No matter the age.  WHAT IS AGE?  I have recently discovered that it IS scientifically true - you ARE as old as you feel - the way YOU consider yourself to be can make a huge difference in how you manage your life!  That's the good news.  And, well, although it may be true that there is some 'withering of the myelination coating on neurotransmitters' (when one reaches 'Late Adulthood'!)-Haaaaaa!; it's not ALL BAD because we can strengthen some of our older grey cells, too, by LEARNING NEW SKILLS and performing actions we have never performed before.  HOW GOOD IS THAT NEWS?    Do you want to learn how to play guitar, or sing, paint a glorious golden moon or a stunning, shimmering sunse...