On this day (14^th of June) 2 years ago, we were about two months into our six month ‘trip of a lifetime’, enjoying the sights, smells, sounds and especially the weather, at that time, of tropical Darwin. Since having returned from what I have come to describe to all and sundry who risk to ask, as the best and worst thing we’ve ever done (best because we had an absolute ball doing it and worst because at the conclusion we both had to go back to work to pay for it all), it wasn’t long before we were yet again yearning for the freedom of the open road. Despite that, we have only once managed to hook the tin can up to ‘The Beast’ for a quick weekend jaunt down to Indented Head, a mere hour or so from home. It was just the reminder we needed though, that we really needed to take another little journey, a little bit further afield than what essentially amounted to camping in our own back yard.

So plans were put into place to do just that. Sadly, unlike our last odyssey, which saw us spending 6 months circumnavigating this great country of ours, time is somewhat in short supply this time round. Thus, with only a little over 5 weeks available to us, we needed to carefully plan an itinerary that would take us somewhere just a little warmer than what we are experiencing in Melbourne at the moment, while getting to immerse ourselves into the culture that is outback Australia. While the plan has been carefully laid out over the last couple of months, and it was just today that I managed to convince good friends of ours to lend us their van for a little bit of much needed towing practice (well I wasn’t going to risk pre-game injury to our own highway Hilton), it is Sunday that we are due to gleefully embark on our next mini-odyssey. Naturally, along with Bec and myself, as well as ‘The Beast and the 21 foot tin can, our two little 4 legged friends, Alvin and Bethany will again be joining us for the adventure. They’re getting on in age a bit now, slowing down considerably and considering the troubles we had prior to the big trip when we told that Bethany would be lucky to be with us until we got home, as well as a health scare for Alvin last year that saw him undergo emergency surgery to remove his spleen, we are looking forward to spending some more quality time with them.

‘The Beast’ & the tin can get reacquainted

Whilst the cat is out of the bag as to where we are heading for those in the know, for everyone else, you will have to log in and keep an eye on ‘My Ramblings’ to see where we end up. As opposed to the big lap, where I dutifully keep all of my readers updated on a day-by-day basis, I’m not even going to promise you the daily drudgery of wading through 1000 or more words of long-winded diatribe about the minutiae of our daily life as we wend our way north, bound for warmer climes. Instead, when I get a chance, I’ll throw a couple of words down, add in a few happy snaps and send it out onto the web for all to enjoy.

Don’t forget, I can be reached at marcus@myramblingtales.com, or just leave a note on the web site. I’ll read and reply to all comers as best I can.

Until next time, have fun, stay safe and don’t forget to write.