Hello lovely people no. 24 (no.1 in Australia)

A big trip. We are away four months: three months in Australia, three weeks in Japan, a week in Hong Kong

A bit of background: I have mentioned before, I think, that Alison M and I took a long- planned, long post-graduating gap year in 1985/86 starting with a tour through (parts of) India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and then on to Australia on working holiday visas. Andy decided, after we left, he too could have a gap year and caught up with me in Bali as Alison M left for Melbourne, boarding the Garuda flight Andy left, some 36 hours after he started

We joined Alison M 18 days later and started our first Australian adventure. After doing the Melbourne sights for a couple of weeks with Alison M’s lovely, hospitable, aunt and uncle, Andy drove us to Sydney where the three of us lived together for six months. Then Alison M, having decided she wanted to stay in Australia, took a proper job with an employer who would sponsor her for residency and Andy and I set off on our first Australian road trip through the red centre taking in Adelaide, Coober Pedy, Ayres Rock, Alice Springs, Tenant Creek, Mount Isa, Townsville, Cairns and many points in between. Our return from Queensland to Sydney was rapid, necessitated by getting back to New South Wales for the car registration renewal and the need for me to leave the country to validate the next leg of my “round the world” air ticket, 12 months after leaving London. Indeed I had to leave before Andy who stayed in Sydney to sell the car and caught up with me in New Caledonia for the long return home (my gap year was 16 months!). We had a fabulous road trip and felt then it would not be the last

Alison M remained in Sydney, gained her residency, met Roberto and the rest is . . . . We have spent two holidays with them in Australia subsequent to our gap year (as well as holidays in other parts of the globe) but never in Western Australia or the Northern Territory 

The current trip: we agreed, while in India last autumn, that winter (southern hemisphere) 2019 would see us doing a road trip from Perth, WA to Darwin, NT.  The minimum road distance (which we will not be taking as it cuts off most of the interesting part of the WA coast!) is 4,041 Ks; our minimum route is probably at least a thousand more; the minimum time people take do this whilst still experiencing something of the country is 21 days. We decided seven weeks would be about right to not spend too much of every day in the vehicle and to be able to pause and experience as much as we want to. Hey we are retired, we have the time, there are over 100 national parks in WA alone and lots of beach based things to do

Alison M and Roberto did the research. The 4WD vehicle with camping facilities was booked for collection 2nd July. Andy and I spent two days in Perth catching up with Cheltenham friend Tony Bennett and his wife Lucia. Good locals, they did not let a cold, wet Sunday dampen our spirits or our first experience of Perth and lunch at Cottesloe beach was followed by a walk round Fremantle and drinks at Elizabeth Quay

The next day was bright and sunny, Perth showed itself as an Australian City like it should be with blue skies and gleaming water. Tony took us for a great walk at Point Walter and we got a little over-excited at our first pelican and dolphin sighting of the trip!

Alison M and Roberto arrived that afternoon and we ate a fabulous dinner in a restaurant housed in the former treasury building, with much chat about what lies ahead

The road trip begins: the following day we collect the truck (it is a Toyota Land Cruiser Prado, diesel and automatic for anyone interested) and are talked through its features and how the camping gear works. The depot is about 20 Ks north of Perth. The strong advice is to stay very local the first night to check everything that should be on board is and that it all works. By sheer happy coincidence the parents of Andy’s former secretary Angela live 5 Ks away, have a smallholding and in arranging to visit them we are invited to set up camp, stay overnight and see how it fits together

The Vou family were marvelously welcoming and hospitable. Great food, far too much red wine for Andy and a night in the tents: Alison M and Roberto in the roof top tent with a built in mattress, Andy and I in the annexe at ground level on camp beds. It was bloody freezing!!!!

A glorious morning, and for Andy a bad hangover, saw us packing up and setting off, bidding a fond and grateful farewell to Adam and Eleni. We are laden with oranges, lemons, limes, passion fruit and avocado from their orchard as we head north . . . . .

Until next time, g’day to you all

ALISON