Josie’s Update road trip around Australia, 11 August 2012

The final chapter has begun, last leg of our journey is drawing near, a month will pass very quickly, our weary bodies slowing down, its time to re adjust our body clocks, 6 months of our lives is blowing thru the thermal winds as just a memory in our minds now & we will sit around the camp fires wanting to have a yarn about the tails that we have travelled.

We will take this final part of our journey, familiarising ourselves with reality once again, becoming civilised & becoming human again. No more cave/bush people, hanging the undies/bras round ur tent area, listening,  being care free to the musical snoring, burbing, bottom burps (as Darren calls them & not to be down wind from him), wild looking hair doo’s (mmmm Darrens Einstein hair look has a lot to be desired), hairy arm pits, legs, unshaven, daggy hiking clothes, red dust from ear to ear (not sure what color skin we have), Darren’s hang up on people calling us husband & wife (as i am an old woman, Oh the embarrassment for him, cause he is a young stud LOL), Darren’s lack of interest in sunsets, sunrises, markets, girly things,(Soooo need girl time, does ur head in doin all this bloke stuff LOL) me needing to be a tom boy to survive Darren dragging me thru every conceivable terrain, bags under the eyes, body constantly covered in bites, scratching, itching, sores, bruises, (there goes the Elle look, was good while it lasted LOL) physically exhausted from living out of the car for so long, travelled over 35,000 Km’s so far, with still another month to go, car is moaning, groaning, rattling, wearing out, adjusting to a travelling housemate has been a challenge in itself, understanding the good, the bad, the crazy, the compromising, the differences of opinions, the strengths, the weakness. Gosh how much it will hurt us to slip back into the real world, routine, work, time schedules, new place to live, new housemates. Ouch.  We are having  the time of our lives, wouldn’t change it for anything.

The experience of the Kimberley/Pilbara region, has blown us away, with Kalbarri, Karajini, Port Headland, the mining, the isolation of these towns, the characters that work/live there, the long dusty dry dirt roads, the amount of people travelling into these areas, the heat that feels more like summer to us, yet the locals think it is cold at 27-32degrees, the most stunning views, the deepest of gorges, the ice cold water holes, creeks, when swimming would sting ur skin, yet refresh u so much, the wind blowing dust storms whirling thru the arid land, up on the hikes at sunrise to try to beat the heat of the day, we have conversed with the most interesting back packers & g8 aussie travellers, just amazing.

Into the Northern Territory Top End, our journey found us wanting more of this relaxed lifestyle, still the heat was hard to bare, but the locals & travellers far out waded the harsh conditions in allowing a fun time. From the Douglas hot springs, to which we met some g8 families, thoroughly enjoyed the conversations,  the mix of 2 rivers meetin the hot springs, meant u could swim in hot water, or go further downstream to cool water, just heaven. Lytchfield Nat Park was our pick of the bunch, breathtaking views, cascading waterfalls, stunning gorges, plunge pools of all sorts allowed u to swim with the best views, all while cooling down from the heat of the day, hidden oasis at every spot, yet surprisingly eerie as all around u they were doing their winter burning of the bush, they just allow the bush to burn itself out, with not a person in sight controlling it, the night sky would give u a  spooky, smokey glow. Darwin, so multi cultural, fantastic locals, g8 Mindil sunset markets, with night entertainment, food, all with a stunning sunset thrown in for the viewing (another magical experience for me, but hohumm for Darren). Then with true diversity  came Kakadu Nat Park, so scenic, the best wetlands u will ever see, an array of birdlife that keeps u captivated for hours, the huge saltwater crocodiles, that r so well camouflaged u almost step on them or they look like floating logs, before u realise that they r alive & there. A better appreciation & understanding of the aboriginal people, culture, dreamtime stories, rock artwork, lots of fun conversations with the kids, who r full of life, plus the adult conversations were just as interesting, sharing the enjoyment of their land was fascinating & so very grateful. Going back, bringing the country girl out in me was the Adelaide River Country Music Festival Muster, such fun relaxed country folks, hospitality, made for a complete change of scenery to our travels. We also met a true fair dinkum Aussie lady of the outback , called Fran, that had a foul mouth of the south, told it as it was, but with the most lovable personality, hard working 68yr old, with an infectious spirit, warmth, had us rolling over in stitchers of laughter, who served us her homemade Buffalo pie, with mash potatoes & peas (delicious), in her corrugated tin outback shed tourist stop over.  She gave me a soft teddy bear gift as she thought i was a nice lady, with a g8 character, took my name & number & offered me a job to work with her in the dry season & to keep in touch with her. We spent a few hours there, also chatting to other travellers dropping in to eat her yummy homemade food. She just made our day & Darren & I chatted & laughed about her energy for while on the road for quite a while. A country rodeo toped off my zest for country cowboys (fantastic eye candy with men in jeans, boots, cowboy hats, strutting there stuff), was a g8 Sunday arvo, with good old country music & dancing to finish the night. Yeh ha, so much fun.

So many moments will be forever imbedded in our memories. Heres to many more travelling experiences, meeting lots of travellers & the forming of many more friendships.

Keep checking out blog for pictures & journal, on internet go to:-    josie-darren.blogspot.com  click on josie & Darren adventures

Keep Smiling Everyone

Huggss & Kissess

Josie