Welcome, welcome, welcome. Here we are in beautiful Sydney, home of the legendary Opera House, that weird needle building that’s not even close to as big as the CN tower, and of course our gateway to Australia. The team has trickled in over the past week, playing tourist and enjoying some well-earned time on the beach.

But we’re all here now, so playtime is over. The road beckons, and we shall heed her call…whatever that means. Over the coming months Skate4Cancer will head south from Sydney toward Melbourne at which point they’ll turn west. After that it’s over to Adelaide and into the fabled Outback toward the final goal of Perth. Did you get that part about the Outback? Ya we know, so dumb. But sometimes you’ve gotta go for it if you want people to pay attention.

We’ve acquired a new vehicle generously donated by Element Australia as well as some fresh faces and a reinvigorated resolve. It’s difficult to see what new challenges await us, but so far it’s clear that the heat will be one of them.

Based on the same format of the New Zealand skate, written and video blogs will be posted on a regular schedule so that you can stay up to date on the adventure. On Sundays (or Mondays for you Aussie followers) the video blog will be up. And every Wednesday (that’s Thursday Down under) the written and photo blog will grace your lookin’ balls.

You’ll be able to see exactly where we are on the map, so if you’re in the area feel free to drop by and give us a high five or some water…or both, it’s your call really, everyone has there own style and we don’t judge, you know? I mean you don’t have to do either if you’re not up to it that day, we’ll understand. It’s cool, seriously, don’t feel any pressure. I just shouldn’t have said anything, now we’re all feeling kinda awkward.

Moooving on. It’s been a genuine pleasure bringing you all stories and revelations over the past few months but now it’s time to pass the torch to a new and worthy writer. Ladies, Gentlemen, I give you Jamie McMahon. Recently joining us from the cold depths of Canadian winter, he is Geoff’s cousin and business partner in The New BEAT as well as a friend to all of us. Not only will he be providing you with entertaining videos, but he’ll also keep you in the know the old fashioned way, through words and photos.

So here we are. Australia awaits and our feet are itching. Let’s get this thing going! As always, see you on the road.

Signing off.

Daniel + The S4C Team