Halfway-ish

Week 26 on the road and we've completed the eastern loop back to port pirie where we stopped in September on our drive east.

We've done 25,000 kms already, and probably have another 15 to do going back west and through the north over the next 4 months. That's a lot more than initially planned, partly because we changed our itinerary, and partly because weve found we do more running around without the van on the back. You really do get into the mindset of "popping down the road" to see somewhere and its a couple of hundred kms round trip.

Overall we're having a ball, and so glad we are doing it. well over budget but wouldnt change the approach we have taken and would do exactly the same again if we had to - itinerary, choice of vehicles, timings, and would advise anyone thinking of doing it to jump in and get rolling.

I find I am enjoying the historic and current industrial sights as much as the natural. Mines, sugar mills, brewery and distillery tours, and of course the wineries....boy do we have some bottles to get through in the next few weeks. But given they go to all that effort to grow the grapes and make the wine and pour it for you at the cellar door it just seems rude to drive past and not sample.

Couple of days here catching up on jobs and visiting the lead smelter, then we are off up to coober pedy and woomera for the rocket museum, and seeing Knees' relatives Lyndal and Denys on route. We met them in Greenwich a couple of years ago when they were visiting and as a former truckie Denys' views on 5th wheel vans and utes were listened to. So its all his fault we got a Tigger :-)