The End

1st September Saturday

Marion and Laurie had a disturbed night. Leigh had got into a taxi and he started to drive off before she was belted in, then he braked suddenly, she fell forward and it sounds like she might have a broken nose. Marion stayed with her at the hospital till they sent her home. Good start to the weekend. We then went shopping to get the meat for the BBQ tonight with Dodzee and Wendy.

Colin, Marion, Rose, Wendy and Dodzee

All tired after the disturbed night. Dodzee flew in from Adelaide, picked up Wendy and arrived just after 7pm. The steaks we bought were huge so had to cut them down. It was a good chatty evening and went so quickly, sad to be saying goodbye to such nice people.


 

2nd September Sunday

Fathers day in Oz. Slow morning. Laurie went out and washed his panel van.

Tim came round for a while and we said our goodbyes to him. Matt and Abbey

popped in and stayed for lunch which was nice, and Colin was given a Fathers day card. We packed our bags and we have space, must have packed more in the LRover than we thought. Had a walk round to the bloke we met at the start who belongs to the local series 1 club, but he was at work, so had a good chat with his wife. Our last meal with Marion and Laurie and pudding, we have put on weight since we have been with them. Quiet night with Maddy sitting with us on the sofa.

3rd September Monday

Woken at 5.27am, not impressed, by Colin's phone ringing (Body Snatcher). Had our last fry up by Laurie. Packed the last few bits before heading for the airport. Laurie just dropped us at terminal building, it is for the best as no long goodbyes, still very sad to be leaving our Aussie home and rellies. The flight from Brisbane to Singapore went quickly, they just kept feeding us. The movies were good, Rose watched The Avengers while Colin watched Battleships then American Pie Reunion, they also had games on the screen. Had a wander round Singapore Airport and bought some tobacco, very cheap only £2 per 50g packet, we have 3 1/2 hours between flights. By the time we got on the plane we were feeling very tired. Had a meal and tried to sleep.

4th September Tuesday

Colin didn't sleep too well, Rose slept on and off for about 4 hours. We both then watched films again, feeling tired again when they started serving breakfast, approx 90mins before landing. Off the plane, didn't have to wait long for luggage, straight through customs to find Sandra at the gate waiting for us, great to be home. Back at Sandie's after a cuppa Colin went for a sleep. When he woke we went out for a walk before lunch, which we ate outside in the sunshine. In the afternoon we watched the opening and closing ceremonies of the Olympics (which Sandie had taped for us), they made you feel proud to be British, they were stunning.

EPILOGUE

About 10 months ago we met up with our trusty old Land Rover in Sydney where our epic adventure began. First stop just north of Sydney to sort out the vehicle and meet up with an old friend Johnny Marlow and have a few beers, then on to Brisbane to meet up with a cousin Colin hadn't seen in 56 years, we stayed in Brisbane for 2 weeks tweeking the Land Rover before the journey really started. We headed off South again leaving Queensland and back into New South Wales, the free camping was both great and a little scary at times when you are the only people camping in the middle of the bush. We couldn't get too far west because of the floods so drove down the centre and headed for Canberra, the capitol of Australia. After visiting Parliament we headed out toward the south east coast and then into Victoria for Christmas and the New Year, Christmas was very wet but more than made up for with the meeting of Peter and Marj and their friends George, Marion and Bruno, he became known to us as Sir Peter Of Leongatha, they were really good to us and even cooked us a proper roast dinner on the camp fire. Heading west now and along some of the most stunning scenery we have ever seen, The Great Ocean Road being one of the best on the journey so far. Heading up into South Australia to be top side of Adelaide for Colin's 60th birthday begining of February, met up with Colin's Daughter Natalie his sister Sandra and her friend Mary, had a great birthday weather very hot for a change. The journey round The Aire Peninsula was magnificent, we are now getting used to camping alone. After the trepidation of the journey across The Nullabor, some 1500kms of nothing it went really well with only a few days of 40+ degrees inside the Land Rover, the scenery was very green, a rare sight. We crossed into Western Australia where the Quaratine rules about fruit and vegetables are very strict, no problem for us as we had been warned by fellow travellers. The west coast is so very different to the east, the sand is whiter and the sea is warmer, the distances between towns are just mind blowing, some two thirds the length of Britain in some cases. Heading through The Pilboro and The Kimberleys where the ground is red due to the high content of iron ore,as can be seen by the massive ore mines, trains and trucks. During this part of our journey we kept meeting up with a couple in their purple caravan, Al and Dee with their poodle Lily, the friendship that was struck up between us will be unforgetable, we will keep in touch. Up in the north west of the state there is the mighty Gibb River Road, we travelled some 900kms on dirt roads and heavy corrugations and survived, the west is renown for it's gigantic mines, those of gold in the south, ore in the centre and diamonds to the east, these are truly BIG opencast mines. Heading into The Northern Territories where some say is the real Australia, there really is only one road from north to south The Stuart Highway. Alice Springs is a very nice town, perhaps we could have enjoyed it more had it not been -5 at night. The trek out of Alice was our most eventful of the whole trip, pulling the suspension away from the chassis, probably one track too many, still not a good time to panic, as miles away from civilisation, patched it up then drove slowly to the nearest cattle station and waited for three days until they could carry out the welding needed. Heading back into Queensland again, after nine months on the road and camping every night except one we are starting to feel a bit home sick so heading back to Marion and Laurie's. Our final trip out was to the inimitable Fraser Island where it was time to kick back and enjoy some fishing and family company. With our final goodbyes the adventure has ended.

We have met some stunning people, too many to mention, the Australians have an ability to make you smile, their laid back attitude is very infectious, I'd say that 97% of the people we met were truly amazing.

To sum up, Australia has a massive heart as do the people, we miss you all, and thanks.

Australia your fair dinkum mate!!!!!