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| 2022 |
2023 |
2024
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| Starting
2025 |
Autumn 2025
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The
frosts were just starting and while the
weather had been good enough to paint etc,
winter was coming.
Time to head off in the motor home again.
This time we planned to drive across to the
west, slowly and leave the motor home with
Roxane until some friends drive it back to
Victoria. We win - much less driving leaving
more time to enjoy where we are, and I hope,
they win also -
 When
we look at the map, many of the places seem
familiar and it is easy to think about
possible routes but then we remember, it has
been 32 years since we last drove most of
this! It is almost unbelievable that time
can fly so quickly. I wonder what changes we
will find. Prior to departing, we both
re-read our '93 journals - and laughed at
how many times we commented on the pros and
cons of travelling with children. The motor
home is definitely a vehicle set up for just
two. It is so luxurious compared to the
Jayco camper and we are old enough to really
appreciate the luxury.
We scooted across to western Victoria quite
quickly as we have been this way a few times
in the past two years, but then slowed down.
As we left Victoria, it became very obvious
how different SA is . Dry dusty saltbush
plains, small squat but pretty stone houses,
tiny towns. There are many other caravans
and travellers on the road this time of year
and things like wiki camps and our camps
book combined with the modern van
arrangements which mean most vehicles are
self contained have changed the way people
travel. Many of the tiny towns have a free
camping area (or more commonly a donation
box area), many of the sports and recreation
grounds now sport camping areas, and just
like on the Camino, people start " stopping
"
early in the afternoon. We have been lucky
and managed to get the last spot on occasion
and we can always go bush if we need. So
far, we haven't been anywhere near a caravan
park.
I am amazed how familiar some places are.
Camping at the World's End campground, we
chose the exact same site and re acquainted
ourselves with some of the giant red gum
trees we remember. Walking around Burra, we
didn't need a map or any plan as we
remembered where things were. There are
surprises though, like sitting in the coffee
shop in Orroroo when in walked friends from
Castlemaine - people we usually see for
coffee on a Tuesday morning after gym for me
and after a bike ride for Simon.
Climate change has made some changes . It is
much warmer than we expected, at least,
during the daytime it is. We missed the
giant cuttlefish at Whyalla because they
haven't arrived for the winter spawning yet.
While the east  coast
of Australia has been soaked by floods and
extraordinary amounts of rain, this part of
the country is just so dry. Even the prickly
pear has
wilted in Iron Knob.
Tomorrow we will arrive in Ceduna,
will stay in a caravan park, do the washing
etc and ready ourselves for the trip across
the Nullabor. I know things have changed
over the past 32 years, but i suspect there
will not be much internet so i will end this
section here
Simon's
Journal
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