Today marks fours years since we started our grand adventure.

Our last post for our big lap – thanks for reading!

So it’s time to finish up what we started. So grab a cuppa and enjoy the last blog of our big lap.

The trip home was quick. It took three years to get to Perth and just a week to get home to avoid the border closures.

We were in Kalgoorlie when we decided to leg it home. At that stage there was talk of border closures but we didn’t know what that meant. All we knew was jobs would be hard to find and that it wouldn’t take long for people, who didn’t understand situations to become fearful of travellers, and no longer welcoming.

We tried to enjoy the trip home as much as possible but put simply, it was an emotional trip. Feeling forced to head home, yet thankful we had a place to call home (unlike many nomads we met on the way), anxious we didn’t have work and worried we would be locked out of states – as we tried to figure out what was going on whenever we were in service. But we are home in Rocky. We are safe. We are working and we are covid free. For now, life doesn’t get any better.


Often after people do the lap, you get an update on the stats etc of how much fuel was consumed, how many KMs were done etc. Let’s just say there were loads. Instead I’m going to recount our highlights and lowlights of the trip.

First up, the top three places – would have to be Cape York, the Kimberley and I’m going to save the last for not a place but rather a time – tomorrow as you never know what top spot you will explore next. So we aren’t done with travelling and exploring just yet!

Worst roads, sorry Qld, but I’ll nominate you for this. Black soil is not a great foundation for a road.

Epic experience – paid I would go with our day trip to the Mitchell Falls, that was epic. Non paid, I loved doing the Karunjie track with Timbo, Ty and Bazza, exploring the Kimberley and the Cape. We had some great times up Cape York.

Clearest swimming holes, the Cape. Epic.

Unexpected accomplishments: well Tim tried his hand at sign writing so if you ever go to Darwin, look up on the main street and you will see some of his work. He also rocked at van repairs. So much so, we still get regular calls about it. Still.

For me, working at tourist info was fab! Not to mention having the spread in the caravan and camping mag was pretty cool, as was taking over the Instagram account for a week for Caravan & Camping Australia.

The hardest part of the trip would be that life goes on. Aside from constant van and car maintenance, some of the life stuff we endured was tough. Life doesn’t stop just cause we are on holiday, but being on a working holiday made it hard when we knew family and friends needed us, or us them.


Interesting person met – without a doubt this would have to go to Martin. The Chezk Republic national who sailed solo around the world. We met him in Mackay and then again up the Cape. He has since finished his trip but it would be great to catch up one day over a cold beer.

Speaking of, the best beer. Tim? Not impressed to be put in the spot but McAllister’s in Cairns had some good beers and Kalgoorlie get a high mention as well. Beer gongs also go to one at Mandurah, Thorny Devil Passionfruit IPA and Matsos Mango IPA – only available on tap at Matsoes in Broome – sorry folks – our loss too.

No wait, there’s more … Wild Hop at Margaret River had some good beers and the truffle and jalepano popcorn was good too!

Best beer service goes to the Iron Bark in the Swan Valley and favourite local would have to be Sporties in Kununurra and WA’s oldest pub – The Rose and Crown in Perth.

Favourite Sunday Sesh goes to the Casino at Darwin overlooking Mindil Beach.

Wow, I asked for a single beer and got the above. It has been a good trip. 😀

Surprise spot would be Flora River National Park. It was special but the bull dust getting in and out, not so much.

Places to revisit will include Cape York and the Kimberley. It may surprise you, while we didn’t love living in Darwin, we do like to holiday there. Actually, we will never stop travelling and exploring over our holidays  – there is always something to explore and while we may not do it on our big lap, we will go back and re visit many places as well as explore those places we missed out on.

It’s been one hell of an adventure, but for now, we work on having a home base to make it easier for us to explore. To all our mates we met on the road, we are truely blessed to have met you and look forward to catching up with you, again one day. Who knows where but we can be sure it will happen! Chances are it will involve a beer or two. 🍻

Travel safe! Get out and explore!

Exmouth

Exmouth, we were there from 25th to 26th Feb.

What a beauty Exmouth is. We would have loved to have stayed longer, but Tim was given an opportunity to help out in Townsville, so we are now on the clock and had to be in Perth in 10 days time.

So we got our explorer on and checked out the region. It really is beautiful. There are ship wrecks, the sensational Ningaloo Reef, Yardie Creek, more flies, a  communications area, history and not to mention emus everywhere. Such a cool little spot.

What’s funny is that we ran into a couple of young lads who happen to know a mate of ours we met in Darwin. Every time we stop, there is always a connection with someone.

Now the waterproof camera is a little touchy at the moment, so the only photos we have are all above ground.

Back on the road

We’re heading back to Kununurra!!!

We have not long left Innisfail and are catching up with family in Charters Towers tonight. There is currently a few kilometres between us and our destination but we hope to be home, to our van in Kununurra come Sunday.

Even though we have taken longer than planned, we have really enjoyed the time we spent with friends and family. Being back home gave us a good dose of the familiar. Something we never really thought about before. But being in a familiar environment (both natural and built) with familiar people (friends and family) was relaxing. Especially seen as we still have much exploring ahead of us and adventures to take!

Timbo is very excited as he just saw a Valiant on our way through Ingham… for now he will have to be happy with the Ranger.

FNQ 2018

Some of you have been wondering what we are doing in Cairns. So here it is…we’ve had the chassis extended and a new tray built!

So a while back, we decided to make a few changes to the car. We didn’t know if we would start again or simply modify what we have. After crunching the numbers over a few beers it was decided to modify. It also helped that if we opted to modify, we could have a family Christmas – so really it was a no brainer.

While we have been here a little longer than planned, we were able to make a future plan. Yes, Tim and Jodi have an ‘up to October ‘ plan. We are going to stay in Kununurra for a while as Tim has ongoing work there and I too have a job at EI Questro. To say I’m pumped is an understatement!!!

Here’s hoping the car is sorted soon and we will be back home to our van in Kununurra!

Happy weekend everyone! ! !

2017 Wrap Up

I know this is somewhat delayed, but hey, we’re the McLeod’s and that’s just how we roll. 😊

As some of you may be aware, we decided to leg it home for Christmas. Yep, we drove 3, 200 kms to be with family over the Chrissy break. My sister and her family planned to go home to Rocky to spend Christmas with mum and dad.  As it’s been a few years since we have all been together, it may be a few years till it happens again (as they have moved to Perth), and as we needed to get some work done to the car, we thought we’d make a Christmas out of it – what a Christmas it was.

The drive home was long. It took just over three days of driving. Driving through the NT was lovely, but you could tell when we hit Queensland (the sign did help) as the landscape changed and it was so dry. Out to Cloncurry wasn’t too bad, but south down to Longreach and across to the Gem Fields, it was just desolate. It was great to drive without towing the van – that was left parked up in Kununurra – but we will tow a small trailer home.  I’ll explain that in the next post.

It really is dry in outback Queensland. It takes a special person to withstand such hard conditions, even the livestock do it tough. It was so hot, dry and not much shade. My hat is off to those folk. I’m sure parts of the NT are dry, but with the wet season, down to Threeways and across the Barkley, it just seemed green and able to sustain life.

We spent a night in Comet to visit friends and family there before heading to Rocky to surprise my sister and her clan and what a great surprise it was!

Not long after Christmas, the Lloyd’s left back to Sydney for the final move to the West Coast and then it wasn’t long after that we said bye to my folks.

Now we are spending some time with the Plumbs up in Wangan. We really do love North Qld – it’s so green, a little warm but so much to see and do up here. I am a little surprised that we haven’t been for a drive out to Paronella Park just yet, but it’s the weekend soon. 😊

Burketown

Wish we had a bit more time to explore around here.

We are currently in Burketown for a few days, and while Timbo is busy fixing up houses, I thought I’d spend my time keeping you up to date with our travels!
We’ve spent the last two weeks at Normanton and Karumba. Popular spots and the people here seem to keep on coming back. I’m guessing they have better luck catching fish than what we do. 😊
We were asked to go to Burketown to complete some work so we decided to come the long way. While its only about 100 kilometres west as the crow flies, option two was a couple of hundred kilometres of dirt tracks – as it’s rained recently, we opted for the sealed route which took us the scenic 565 kilometres and I think we passed less than half a dozen cars on the way.
Burketown is smaller than Karumba and has amazing history. Actually, the gulf is a fantastic place to visit for history buffs, to see wildlife and in particular for any birdwatchers – this place is amazing! I don’t know that much about birds but the ones I have seen have been spectacular!
Sorry, I digress. Burketown is apparently the barra capital of Australia! There are so many creeks to fish up this way and the creeks are loaded with barra. But, as with most places in North Australia, the creeks are also frequented by crocs, but Jack (a guy helping Tim out) seems to know where to fish and what to see and do. However, he has been bitten by snakes twice and a croc has got him a couple of times too, so I’m not sure how much we should listen to him, but eh – no matter what – it’d make a good story! 😊
Some interesting facts on Burketown:
• Early history has shown that Macassans from Jakarta were traded with Aborigines on the shores of the gulf.
• January 5th, 1887 98% of Burketown was destroyed with 7 people killed and three pubs destroyed after a cyclone hit. Eight days later, another cyclone hit the town.
• 25th April 1992 – a 5.9 metre croc was caught at the rubbish dump and relocated.