One of the unexpected highlights of our trip? Being in Melbourne the same week as the Formula 1 Grand Prix! Neither Dave nor I had ever been to an F1 race before, so when Trent suggested we get tickets, we were all in.

Trent, his dad Jim, Dave, and I met up with a couple of Trent’s mates—Burgs and Matt—and took the train into the city for a day of fast and furious racing action.

Honestly, I’m pretty sure our friends watching back home had a better view than we did—we could only see the small section of the track near where we were walking. I was surprised how many people paid to get in and then just sat in front of the big screen, nowhere near the actual track. But seeing the whole race wasn’t really the point.

Being there was the whole thrill: standing maybe 15 feet from the track, watching cars rocket by at impossible speeds, feeling the vibrations in your chest, hearing the roar of the engines and the cheers of the crowd—that was the magic of it.

It was a blast. And it felt so good to spend the day outside in the fresh air! Rain had been threatening all day, but it held off just long enough for us to enjoy every moment.

In addition to the roar of the races, we also got to take in a fantastic car show. Some of my family back home would’ve loved seeing the lineup of beautifully restored vintage vehicles. And as if that weren’t enough, there was a spectacular airshow overhead! My favorite shot of the day is the one of the jet coming around and the flock of birds in the foreground.

Oh—and I picked up my first souvenir of the trip: a piece of rubber from an F1 tire, found by Trent on the track after the race. Not your typical postcard, but definitely one for the memory books.