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....