Maiden Gully, WA, Australia

Driving through rolling green hills, thousands of acres of wheat and flat plains covered in nothing but saltbush completed our last day’s travelling as we moved further East from Port Augusta to Mildura. A distance of 500 km’s and a day that was somewhat depressing as the reality of returning home to work and routine drew even closer.

An overnight stop in Mildura was our last night on the road and in celebration, we dined at the Mildura Workingman’s Club. I don’t know if it was because it was so busy and therefore so noisy, but it didn’t really seem like a celebration.

Here are a few facts: We have travelled close to 23,000km’s, our fuel expenses have exceeded $6,300.00 and we’ve spent 99 days on the road with only a hand full of mechanical issues between us and only a few days where we were testy with one another.

Coming through Port Augusta we realised that we had completed the western loop and upon reflection can say that this part of our great country is simply enormous. The landscape and the seascape are wild and varied and we’ve only just scratched the surface. I asked the group a little while ago, “what’s your favourite thing that we done on this trip?” and without exception, they couldn’t answer me, so here are my top picks:

• Standing atop Uluru with Lyn (who didn’t climb it last time), looking out over the vast plains towards the Olgas.
• Discovering the enormity of Katherine Gorge from a helicopter.
• Cruising the Ord River scheme to Lake Argyle dam wall and racing back to Kununurra in a 1000HP boat.
• Flying along the Ord River and over Lake Argyle to the Bungle Bungles.
• Bouncing over 600km of the Gibb River Road to explore the inaccessible Gorges.
• Splashing down on Talbot Bay in a floatplane to go tearing through the
  Horizontal Waterfalls in the fastest boat in the Kimberley.
• Kayaking around Gantheaume Point off Broome in the Indian Ocean.
• Trudging out over the tidal flats of Roebuck Bay to investigate the Catalina flying boat wrecks.
• Scrambling around the majestic gorges of the Pilbara at Karajini National Park.
• Snorkelling with turtles and tropical fish at Ningaloo Reef.
• Quad biking up the beach to snorkel from Coral Bay.
• Watching & playing with the Dolphins at Monkey Mia.
• Exploring the peculiar Pinnacles outside of Cervantes.
• Marvelling at the hardships endured by thousands within the cell blocks at Freemantle’s historic Gaol.
• Being astounded by the scale of the Kalgoorlie gold mining operation and the gigantic Super Pit.

Everyone takes a shot like this

It’s a big list so I’m sure you can understand why it’s hard to pick a favourite. We’ve been very fortunate to meet some new friends, catch up with some old friends and spend months enjoying one another’s company, all the time being able to see spectacular sights that a lot of folks will never get to enjoy.

Thanks to everyone that made it possible for us to do this and a special thanks to Merryn, Patrick, Matthew and Glen for sharing this fantastic experience with us.

Now, if I have to pick one thing that sticks in my mind? The countless sunsets we watched over the Indian Ocean, especially those from Cable Beach whilst enjoying fish & chips and a beer or two as the camel trains wandered by and the pearling lugger sailed past.

Stay tuned for the next great adventure…………….