Happy Campers

Given the lack of free or even paid for internet over the next week it will be Darwin before this is posted, but I thought I’d give a quick comment on how we are travelling so far. Donald made a comment to me this afternoon asking how I am coping with camping (apart from a desert trip 11 years ago this would be my longest continuous stint). However I don’t think you can really call it “camping” when so far we have not had to use a long drop, everywhere has had showers (and often a resort pool, spa or warm springs or amazing waterhole) and often a beer garden or bistro or at the least basic kitchen facilities. Hardly “roughing it”.

We have covered a lot of miles (ok kilometres) but that has also been pretty easy as roads are fairly straight and not huge amounts of traffic. We have so far listened to the end of “Whose Body” (Dorothy L Sayers), “James and the Giant  to Peach” (Roald Dahl) and Episodes 4 and 5 of Star Wars (radio play) to pass the driving hours. 3 across the back has been OK except for the difficulties of keeping track of everyone’s stuff. By the time you add in 3 children’s hats, shoes, car bags, brochures collected, contraband etc it can get a bit chaotic back there.

As Donald is chief cook and catering officer, in addition to designated driver, my role is pretty easy. So far mainly navigator (pretty redundant while the GPS works), washing policewoman (interrogating small boys as to which undies need washing) and journal instigator (when they have time). Most days have been pretty action packed and they are rarely asleep much before we crash.

I could probably keep going like this for a very long time, though I would prefer longer in each place but alas if we were to do that we would see only a fraction of what we are hoping to see in the 14 weeks we have. Am I going to think the same in a few weeks time, I think not. I suspect the blog I may post from Broome may well rant about dirt roads, corrugations, biting insects, cranky children (and parents), shocking heat and then some. But if that is all then we will have got out of it lightly and the payoff will be some magnificent scenery.

What have I enjoyed most so far ? I think seeing the vast open skies and country as it slowly changes driving through. Not ‘pretty’ countryside in any sense but stunning nonetheless whether flat grass plains, rocky gorges or Mulga or Savannah. A reminder of how much we take the good fortune of living in Australia for granted. Most of our conversations so far have been with fellow travellers (usually grey nomads or families) but I hope to hear more ‘locals’” stories as we roll along.

Lynne