Who would be a better traveling companion than Eric? I have no idea.  From the get go his trip was nutty. He missed his connecting flight in SFO because of a medical emergency on the leg from PHX.  The Plan was 3 days in Sydney for me, then we meet at the airport the day I fly up to Maggie.  I ended up traveling up there myself and meeting him at the Ferry in Townsville. Yeah ah.. no comment on the ferry terminal...