Mt. Lofty

I have been in Oz for 3 weeks and 1 day now and I have yet to do one important thing - - -
I'll get to that in a second. First, I just want to describe my weekly schedule... Similar to Belgium with games on the weekends, I am able to do a lot of strength training and conditioning during the week, which is pretty much the secondary purpose of being over here. What was the first one again? Oh yeah, baseball -
Monday - pilates, upper body lifting, 45 min cardio, light throwing
Tuesday - lower body lifting, poles, baseball practice - long toss
Wednesday - pilates, explore australia day, long toss
Thursday - upper body lifting, 45 min cardio, baseball practice - bullpen
Friday - pilates, lower body lifting, 30 min cardio, throw/hitting on own
Saturday - light day/plyometrics
Sunday - Game

So what is this Explore Australia day, you might be asking? It's not an official day here in Australia although after viewing this commercial -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPGSs56lZEQ

it wouldn't surprise me if they created one...
because wednesday is pretty much my designated day-off from lifting and heaps of baseball, i thought it would be a grand idea to get acquainted with this beautiful land down under. yesterday, i had an offer to kick off EA (explore australia) Day that i couldn't refuse, hike up the tallest "mountain" in the Adelaide Hills on a 100 degree day. Now, some might question my sanity on how this could be a good idea on my "recovery" day... let me present my evidence.
Exhibit A: Waterfall: probably ranks in one of the top 5 moments in my life. i've been to niagra falls but i have never been afforded the opportunity to actually go under one. it was fresh. it was bone chilling. it was breath taking. it was mystifying. i actually felt cleaner than if i would have taken a shower. i must go back. every week now, i decided. if you could build the perfect waterfall to stand under - this little secluded guy would be it.
Exhibit B: View from Top: After the grueling hike up - through the densely wooded terrain (that also contain poisenous brown snakes) the view is just thrusted upon you - you can see everything clear over the city to the ocean. it's a great reward for making it up there. shout out to the family who couldn't speak any english for taking a solid photo, big ups.
Exhibit C: on the way up, we made a little detour, and next thing you know - a kangaroo family, doing all sorts of weird things - Joey (baby kangaroo) feeding from the pouch and then hopping around, dad kangaroo just chillin' and lying down by the tree, and mama kangaroo coming right up to the fence and asking me in kangaroo language to free them from the fenced constraints and join the revolution. The wallabees i saw were alright, the kangaroos were pretty sweet. Now I know i'm not in D.C. anymore...
Have to thank one person in particular for the experience, Jess, from Ralph Magazine, was a great tour guide and a true Aussie Sheila full stop!
Now enjoy the exhibits...