Krazy Kents on the Road Again

Week Twenty-Three: Westward Ho!

Stunning Head of Bight cliffs on the Nullarbor

Home sweet home! There is no place like it. We hightailed it through South Australia and across the Nullarbor to arrive home safely on Monday afternoon. With 20,243 kilometres travelled through five states and the Northern Territory, we had plenty of time on the journey home to reminisce and relive some of the many highlights and the odd lowlight we experienced. We have had the most wonderful time and Australia never ceases to amaze us with its spectacular beauty.

The Cubby de Wheels MKII dwarfed by the Bunda Cliffs

When I quizzed GK on his top five picks he named people rather than places that were the most memorable to him. It was wonderful catching up with family and friends on our travels as well as meeting new ones on the way. The weather can make or break a holiday and we were truly blessed to have very little rain to dampen our spirits although the freezing inland morning temperatures leave a lot to be desired! Minus 4 degrees in Gympie sent us scurrying to buy hot water bottles for the five days we spent free camping at the Muster. Brrrr!

All rugged up for the Gympie Muster

Check out the legs. Sigh.

We have now been around Australia four times. Our first trip was in 1975 when we were footloose and fancy-free. We bought an ex police paddy wagon, raised the floor where we slept and shoved our worldly possessions underneath. I don’t know how we did it as I now have claustrophobia and would get the screaming meemies if I had to climb back in there to sleep. The fact that I wouldn’t fit is beside the point. Being young and in love and at least ten kilos lighter obviously helped.

We set off up the west coast with retread tyres and the wrong set of spanners. Some things never change as GK’s mechanical skills haven’t improved. His talents lie in other areas. By Sydney we had run out of money and had to get jobs. Luckily great mates from Perth, Steve and Marg Buck, were also travelling around Australia and were flatting in Meadowbank. We moved in with them for six weeks and saved enough to continue our trip. They were six of the happiest and most carefree weeks of our lives. When we get together these days we still reminisce about the great times we had.

Steve and Marg - 1975

By the time we got to Melbourne the paddy wagon was belching blue smoke so we decided to sell it and go to New Zealand on the proceeds. When we returned to Melbourne we met up with other friends from Perth who were also on the road travelling in a Kombi. They invited us to go to Tassie with them and we jumped at the chance. The four of us (plus their dog) spent two weeks travelling around the Apple Isle with us sleeping on the roof and Chris and Ali in the van. Again being young and in love (read stupid!) and ten kilos lighter was helpful.

We then tackled the unsealed Nullarbor and limped back into Perth with no car and $28.00 in our pocket. Agh! The good old days! Roll on thirty-five years, three kids, eleven houses (true!) and buying and selling our own business, we set off again in 2010 to retrace our original steps. We travelled in style in the very swish Cubby de Wheels MKI. What luxury! We had so much fun we did it again in 2012.

Touring Tassie in style - 1975

We had a hiatus of five years before our itchy feet returned and we went ‘up the guts’ in 2017 taking in the Flinders Ranges, Wilpena Pound, Coober Pedy, the Macdonell Ranges and Alice Springs before heading back down the West Coast to home once again. This year’s mammoth 20,000 odd kilometre adventure hasn’t cured our wanderlust but we will take a break before returning to ‘do’ South Australia justice in a couple of year’s time. It is one of the most underrated states in Australia and we want to spend quality time travelling up and down its Peninsulas and exploring its famous wine regions. We ran out of time this trip plus I was getting homesick. I missed you all!

The Nullarbor isn’t as daunting as it seems and the long straight road is a pleasure to drive on after some of the shuddering rollercoaster rides we have been on. There are some very scenic vantage points for photo opportunities and safe free camps to stay the night. It is a shame we were hell bent on getting home as we could have stopped more often to break the journey and enjoy the sights. Too bad, too sad - we are home now and loving it.

Beautiful mural on the wheat silos at Kimba in the middle of Australia

What a hunk!

The garden is glorious thanks to all the rain you have had and great mates, Michele and Boj, who cared for it so well. The lawn was freshly mowed and everything trimmed and manicured when we pulled up. Jenny and Terry collected the mail and kept an eye on the house so it was a huge relief to come home and find everything ship shape and in one piece. Thank you so much to everyone. The drinks and dinner are on us!

GK has hit the ground running, or I should say limping, as he has made appointments for his knee to be replaced and to find some answers as to why his unsuccessful eye operation to relieve his stinging watery eyes didn’t work. I am not game to push the hearing aid situation just yet but will slowly work on him. In the meantime I will have to stop mumbling and enunciate more clearly. It seems I am the one with the problem. Whatever.

He has still got it!

We hope you have enjoyed our weekly reports on our shenanigans. We loved getting all your feedback and can’t wait to catch up with everyone over the next few weeks to hear all your news. Until then, this is the Krazy Kents signing off till our next great adventure. Hope to see you on the road! xxxx

Here are some highlights.