Sunday, 24 August 2014

Day 23 - The final leg HOME













Good morning last day!








 

These two talking bull.


Photo credit - Jorja Pryor - Declan & Mitch under "The Tree".




Packed up for the last time on the trip.






Hitting the big smoke, around the corner and to home.

These boots have done a lot of km's in 3 weeks.

Scott getting rid of some of the red dirt.
Car looking a lot emptier.











8043kms in 23 days.



The trip meter (left) shows our trip totaled over 8,000kms.

What a fantastic adventure we have had and we've loved spending every hour in the car and driving every one of these 8,000kms.

How lucky, to spend that much time with your 3 favourite people in the world!

We've seen some amazing parts of our country and met some wonderful people along the way.

We had a motto on the trip "Smell the roses" and that's what we did, if there was something to stop and see we stopped, if we wanted to change where we were going next we varied our itinerary.

Can't wait for the next adventure and seeing more and more and more of this beautiful country that we are lucky enough to call home.
This picture sums it all up - having fun in amazing places.

I've come to the realisation that Grey Nomad's are living the dream.  From now on each time my folks hook on the van for another trip away I'll know what a wonderful time they are having, free camping in tiny country towns, meeting people from all over the world and just getting out there and doing it.

Get out there and see Australia - you'll be blown away!



Day 22 - Thunderbolts Way (Bretti)

Leaving Inverell - so beautiful.








Stunning scenery around Inverell, we'll be back for sure!







We stopped for a chat to this farmer while his cattle crossed the road, all part of the "Smell the Roses" tour.













Thunderbolt Statue.



Uralla was our morning tea stop, another lovely country town on Thunderbolts Way.


Was only 9 degrees in Uralla brrrrrrrrr




Downtown Walcha







We pushed the jeep up and over Thunderbolts Way, nothing like taking it slow when it's steep and slippery.

Familiar territory now - nearly at Bretti Reserve.



Bretti Reserve, a fitting final destination for our half lap of Oz.

We did a few practice trips to Bretti, making sure we would be warm enough in our beds & van, it gets very cold up here.  A few time trials of our set up and pack up were done here.
Nanna and Grand were there to greet us.
The Pryors were waiting too.


A new car for Nanna & Grand

JR getting a fire ready while we set up camp.

















Jason, Ange, Jess, Jorja and Pippi were setting up camp waiting for us to arrive for the night.


Nanna & Grand came up for the day and brought Fritz (our dog) up to say hi.


A sneaky photo of Jess.

Up close and personal with some Moss.
What's on your shoulder JP?


Mitch sneaking the moss on Ange.

BUSTED Mitchy!
 



A rainy afternoon in camp, but what a great way for us to spend our last night of the trip with great friends, regaling story after story of our favourite bits.