Day 515 Home Again

We arrived home almost 17 months since we left....we had had the best time ever, we have no knowledge as to how we are going to settle back into the cottage or even the life in one place. Here is a picture of my Garden Gnome sitting on the top of Toby with Turtle in the background...all outside our cottage. Is this a strange feeling or what... I can remember asking Stephen before we started about how we would feel about leaving on this trip....now I know that feeling..but this one of coming home I am not so sure of. Are we happy to be home...yes and no, are we going away again...maybe...do we want to go back to ...k ( four letter word ending K that is very rude in this home!) We will see in the future!
To all our friends, family and fellow travel companions ( both new and old)...thank you for all your comments, company and thoughts (especially in Darwin) on our travels. The map above shows our way and our circuit (double click to blow it up)..it doesn't show the heartfelt joy and pleasure that we have experienced on this adventure of a life time. To anyone who thinks that this is something they should do....just do it!

We will shut this blog for now, but watch this space, you never know we may just go away again... where to, who knows. One thing we do know is that we have only scratched the surface of this Great Country in 17 months..so there is a lot for us still to do.

Hugs to all............ Alison & Stephen

FINI !

Day 513 On to Karalee Dam

Proof, the next morning with a 6 am start, we passed the sign for the 90 mile of straight road......oh no he really is taking me home. We stopped in Kalgoorlie for lunch and to try and change our Telstra "My Hour"...lunch was bearable and Telstra down so no go as usual!!!!
On to Karalee Dam..yes we had been here before and loved it as a free camp . We made a few phone calls but did not let the family know that we were so close to home..(with the exception of Robert as he had keys for us to get into the house!).
At Karalee Dam we met Qui-Qui (Stephen's name for duck.) This duck adopted Stephen from the moment they met! He tried to eat our toes.....he even got in the van...I had great trouble not letting Stephen bring him home.
Cute hey!!!!!!
Spectacular scenery here and still as beautiful as ever. Sunrise from the top of the rock. Sadly it wasn't full of water like the last time we were here,but beautiful none the less.(S.D.)

Day 512 Streaky Bay to across the Boarder

I did manage to get Stephen to stop at Fowlers Bay...more to finish all the fruit and veges before we crossed the boarder into W A. Then he was off again....the aim was to get to the boarder and just beyond to a camp site we had seen on our way out.....we did pull into some of the coastal stops to view the spectacular coast......still stunning!
Toby and Turtle on parade.
Coming down the hill after the Border.....quite amazing how many hills there are on the Nullarbor. This is coming down the Eucla Pass.
You guessed it again...after 10.5 hours (we had gained the 2.5 hours at the boarder) and 820 k's under his belt,,,we stopped about three quarters down the 146 k straight!
Lovely, peaceful and quiet....oh I don't want this trip to end!!!!!!!!!!!!

Day 510 Heading Home

Stephen's nose was into wind and the long haul home started. We left from Tarwool (where the wedding was) and headed for Clare...I had thought that the wineries would at least get me a three day break.....no such luck!!
Two days later we were on the move again...through our favourite small town of Melrose, past this old ruin that we had seen on the way but had missed for a photo...
On towards Part Augusta...we were ment to stop here as well.... you guessed it, Stephen kept going again.....
All the way to Streaky Bay......where I tried again to get him to stop.....
This, unfortunately we as calm as we got to see..the wind escalated, so the predicted five days came back to three....oh well it was nice to revisit the area....

Day 508 Kristian plus Car at Wedding.

After the reception, Kristian wanted to take Dad for a drive in his car that he had for the weekend. "Only" an E350 with Panoramic Sunroof ! An ex service loan car, with 7k on the clock. Not bad heh...
As you can see a chip off the old block.
Posing beside said wheels, makes his Dad very proud...
How's that for a spot to park the van !! Even makes the M-B look good...

And now for the trip home !!!!!!

Day 508 The Wedding

Travelling down from Cobram to Trawool was horrific. Reminded us of leaving Tarra Bulga on Black Saturday, with high winds and temperatures. We were heading to Liam and Suse's Wedding..and just prayed that the weather would hold for their day.As you can see the weather was kind for the ceromony...don't they look fabulous?
Hazel (Stephen's Mum, on right) had made the trip over for the wedding from Perth, leaving Greg to his own devises. On the left is Barbara's Mum, Maria, who had got up from her sick bed to be there...great effort by both ladies...
The cake..delicious...and the kiss.
Stephen and brother Paul at the reception, glasses in hand .. naturally!
This ready made family includes the boys, Ryan and Jack..who look great in their little Tux's.. very difficult to get a photo when they don't keep still! Beautiful wedding and well worth changing our trip to accommodate it....now it is the long haul home!!

Day 506 Cobram

We were on our way home and on our way into Rutherglen we realised that we had completed the bog lap, on the 506 days, of this fabulous Country and we have only scratched the surface!!While in Rutherglen we came across a car yard that had a couple of Old Mercedes Benz (Kristian must be rubbing off on us!), along with this sign that I could not resist...now this is how we would want to work...that rude work....maybe we will just visit home and move off again!!!!
While visiting Pat and Bill in Cobram, we had the opportunity to catch up with Peter and Kerry. They had been with us on the Great Ocean Road last December. Last seen soaking wet, in Apollo Bay on December 13th 2008. They had a Kimberley Camper then...got too wet so changed it for a Kimberley Caravan on their way home. They were just completing a 3 month trip to S.A. and had managed to find a cross over point with us so that we could catch up....great to see you guys again.
They had lost a lot of their stickers with the changing over....to my mind that is a very good excuse to do it all over again!!
We had another fabulous two nights with Pat and Bill. On the second night they were holding a Street/Court darts challenge. Very boozy and amusing...I actually came first in the challenge by default..default that the organisers could not win and Bill had beaten me. Thanks again , Pat and Bill for your hospitality and your use of Site One.

Day 492 Mogo Zoo Part Two

I have to say that the variety of animals at the Zoo was not that huge but they were all in a good space. The fact that you could get quite close and personal was fabulous and the talks that they give every day at different venues around the Zoo were great! These Meerkat's have always amused!!
The hair on this Monkey is really this colour and that is a baby in the centre!!
Love this picture........................
White Lions...a feature of the Zoo....
Snow Leopards are another of their success stories. This Zoo appears to be very involved in the breading process for the endangered species...they are doing a fantastic job..so anyone in the area of Mogo should pop round to support them!

Day 492 Mogo Zoo Part One

I have never been much of a Zoo person as I hate the thought of animals being trapped in small confines.....having said that...we had heard great things about Mogo Zoo and also that they had a pair of my favourite animal the Otter...Stephen was highly amused when we discovered they were having a session....yep a session...that lasted a good hour...those were the days!!!!!
Can't resist these furry friends so you will have to put up with a few more photos and I will post another blog of some of the other animals.
Would you like a profile....
a portrait.....
or a straight at the camera.....doesn't matter to me they are all great!

Day 504 The Horn

Onwards and upwards we went..to the Horn....the wind got up some more and the rain came in....

Still pretty special..even in those conditions...
The flora and fauna was picturesque, with ghostly trees and bright yellow alpine flowers below. Yep we like Bright and most of the surrounding area...you never know????

Day 504 Mount Buffalo

On our last day in Bright we actually went to the top of Mount Buffalo, this is the Ladies Bath by Eurobin Falls. You can see there is bright sunshine...then the weather began to come in....
The Look Out at Mount Buffalo Chalet, this is a huge drop from this point...Stephen took a video and apart from the wind noise all you can hear is my moan of horror...
Mount Buffalo Chalet is up for tender...this magnificent property has been empty since 2005/6 Christmas and New Year celebrations. She is such a majestic building , it is heartbreaking to see her falling into disrepair.
The gardens are still outstanding...the pool dirty and crumbling..but the views are still spectacular!!!
This is the take off pad for the hang gliders...bloody idiots............not on your life!!!!!!

Day 503 Bright

Stephen and I had been to Bright in 2002, so were looking forward to reacquainting ourselves with the area (we both have a strong feeling about this place..it could even be somewhere that we could live!!)We also got reacquainted with Karl and Sylvia, and we spent a lovely day with them.. here we are at Brown Brothers...
The chauffeur driven car (thanks Sylvia) beside Lake Buffalo....not a bad spot, there was even a camp area...maybe next time..
Mount Buffalo in the sunshine...what a spot..not a bad shot either.