The Last Word

We are ensconced in our new home near the beach. Most of our furniture is organized (with the usual one room piled with the stuff we can’t yet figure out where to put). The camp trailer has been sold at the price we wanted. Dennis has already started a job 3-days a week at a local resort. I’ve started doing swim squads two nights a week, found a hairdresser I really like and had lunch with my first new friend today. I think we can officially say that we now live in Coffs Harbour.


Before we completely leave our travelling days behind we need to “close off” the blog and share with you our “best of” awards. Being us, we have about 50 categories for our awards, but we will only burden you with the results in two categories that we think you might find interesting and informative. For the winners in other categories all you really need to do is give us a couple of drinks and get us talking about the trip – and you’ll be sorry you asked!

TOP TEN THINGS WE WOULD RECOMMEND YOU SEE/DO IN AUSTRALIA


1. Stay in a private campsite at El Questro on the Gibb River Road in the Kimberley

2. Walk through the gorges at Karajini National Park in the Pilbara

3. Jet boat through the Horizontal Falls in the Buchaneer Archipelago off the Kimberley

4. Swim in the falls at Lawn Hill National Park in the Gulf Country

5. Go barramundi fishing on the Daly River in the Territory



6. Follow the Gulf Track around the Gulf of Carpenteria

7. Attend the Anzac Day Service at the war memorial at Adelaide River in the Territory

8. Walk around Ayers Rock at Uluru

9. Sit by the fire at Comeroo Cattle Station north of Burke NSW

10. Camp underground at Coober Pedy SA



TOP TEN THINGS WE STILL WANT TO SEE/DO IN AUSTRALIA

1. Swim with the whale sharks in Exmouth WA

2. Walk to the Mitchell Plateau in the Kimberley and helicopter back

3. Drive the Birdsville and Strezleki track loop and stop at all the outback pubs

4. Drive across the Simpson Desert

5. Camp and 4WD on Fraser Island

6. Take the Ghan railway from Alice Springs to Darwin

7. Play in the Masters Games at Alice Springs

8. Go to the rodeo at Mt Isa

9. Drive the Old Telegraph Track to the tip of Cape York

10. Visit the Top End in the wet season

It’s been an amazing year and a half. We’ve seen great beauty and vast, ugly emptiness; experienced terrible tragedy and found joy in surprising corners; been close to killing each other and discovered new depths of love and understanding; met incredibly interesting people, salt of the earth okkers and absolute f-wits; felt the sun at our backs, the rain on our faces and the wind seem to blow right through us. We have also removed the blinders of our day to day life and discovered new directions that will lead to new adventures. I can’t tell you what a good decision we made embarking on this journey.

Before we left Melbourne someone commented “I don’t think that I could just stop my life for a year like that”. As it turns out life is everywhere – not just in the office or the family living room. This has been a year of finding, celebrating and living life. What a gift!

I must add a small postscript to this conclusion of the blog. Many people are asking what I’m going to do with myself next. The simple answer is that I’m not sure. But I do have an idea….. I’ve learned a couple of important things on this trip. First, I really like writing. Second, there are some pretty amazing stories out there that never seem to get recorded. So what I am going to try to do is create a business that pulls together histories of family businesses. So much of a person’s heart and soul goes into creating a business. It doesn’t seem enough just to pass on the business to the next generation – you need to pass on the stories as well. The idea is completely in its infancy and I still need to get past the biggest hurdle which is believing in myself as a writer. But, I do know how to start a business, and I think there’s another one in me. Watch this space.

And, for the final word, with the final golf report…..here’s Dennis!
The final stats are: golf handicap got worse +3, trip kilometers 60,000, cost ? highlights- many, the best voted highlight of the tour was the Barra fishing on the Daly River and the week at El Questro or EQ as the sign says. A wonderful year and a great experience, for those thinking about the big trip around Aus, do it now, you won’t regret it, and tell em that you know Stephanie and Dennis and you are guaranteed a beer and laugh. Until next time, love to all Dennis .

Thank you all for reading! We’ve loved sharing the journey!