There is no place like home

54 904km and 377 days after our departure, we returned home after our wonderful crazy adventure.  

On our journey we met many wonderful, inspiring and fascinating people. We were extremely fortunate to gain snippets into other worlds, from a mighty cattle station in the Territory, to remote Aboriginal communities. We saw nature at its best. We saw mankind’s insatiable appetite for resources literally moving mountains. We laughed and cried with other travellers. We laughed and cried with each other.

Home at last... including a very happy pooch :)

We swam with sea-lions, dolphins and freshwater crocodiles. We snorkelled in natural aquariums teeming with exotic sea life, plunged into deep rock pools carved by crystal clear waters, wallowed in pristine lakes and stole kisses under remote cascading water-falls.

At last - the lines meet up!

We broke down. In the worst possible places. There is nothing like a mechanical failure in the middle of the Tanami Desert or the northern part of Cape York. On one occasion, we rose to the challenge and emerged battered but not beaten to continue our travels. On the other, we needed all the help we could get and were touched by the many who helped get us back to civilisation and then back on the road.

It was a year to cherish each other. A year to rediscover, embrace and love.

Rocky returns to a farm ute, albeit one with many red dirt memories

It was also hard work. Simple luxuries such as running water, inside toilets, enough power to keep our fridge running, comfortable couches, heating and air conditioning, all take on a new relevance.

It was also a year to learn. All of us. We have been inspired by many people who have taken their passion and made it their life. With our little block at home in the back of our minds, we have heads (and notebooks) full of ideas. The journey was liberating.

The Subaru gets hauled out of the shed for its first start in over twelve months and took a bit of coaxing and a new battery to get going.  The paddock car started first kick!

Our sojourn down the east coast with family and friends was a wonderful way to end our year on the road.  We cherished time with Grandparents, and our often missed families.  We caught up with old friends, and new friends.  We even gate crashed a fantastic New Year's party with close friends. Somehow we managed to squeeze all the Christmas presents in - if we thought we were laden to capacity before Christmas, we exceeded our freshwater allowance on the way home (with apologies to Samuel Plimsoll).

Even heading to work isn't too bad!

And so life begins slowly to return to normal. Our house is beginning to feel like home again.  Our friends in the charming community in which we live have welcomed us back into their hearts.  We loved travelling for a year, but we learnt we are the kind of people who need a home to come back to. It is great to be home.

The record of our year on the road is told here, in this blog.  But the real story, the lessons we have learnt and the memories we have made will continue to shape us as we navigate 2015.  Thank you for sharing our adventures.  We might be home for now - but there are plenty of new tracks and camping trips ahead of us...  watch this space!