Tuesday 26th June 2018
So with the decision made last night to make our way home starting today, we packed up and got everything organised so we could leave first thing, that’s if DB’s solar battery doesn’t needed recharging in the morning, he really needs the sun to get going.

Well surprise, surprise, we got up in the dark and were on our way out of the caravan park at 7.18am, just as the sun was coming up. After filling up with petrol, checking the tyres, etc, we were on our way at 7.42am. We are heading south to Port Augusta and then via Broken Hill as this is about the same time and distance as going through Mildura except you don’t need to go through Sydney. David did think about going the Oodnadatta track but that was 600km of dirt road and also via the Plenty Highway but these added extra time, not what we needed when on a tightish schedule.  He really hates going the same way twice.

Well we have just stopped for lunch at Marla, the quarantine bin for NT to SA and we have done well this morning. We have 512km already under our belt at 2pm SA time with stops for breakfast and lunch. Oh and a change of driver at the border.

It’s 4.20pm we have made it to Coober Pedy. An interesting looking countryside. All little sand hills where mines are or have been. David said it looks exactly the same as Lightning Ridge except the dirt is redder in Lightning Ridge. A quick fuel stop and on we go.

We made the decision to stop due to the amount of roadkill we had seen since Coober Pedy, but made it another 180km south by dusk tonight at 6pm. We have all this junior grey nomad stuff down to a fine art (except the arrival time – between 1-3pm is not possible for us). We arrived at 6pm, DB set up the tent, I got dinner on (re-heated fried rice that I annoyingly cooked last night and fresh salmon), eaten, dishes done, and in bed by 6.45pm. Yay us!!!.

We saw some amazing Wedge tailed Eagles today, the size of them is amazing, their legs would be a long as my forearm. They were massive. Wish I could get the camera out in time, but there is always someone behind us.

A couple of DB funny sayings along the way.

I will be doing some Ultra Light backpacking research when I get home. Cutting tooth brush in half, drilling holes in everything. Have to get my pack weight down.

We have seen people with $100,000 caravans and others with $1000 ones.

There were others but I can’t remember them. He sure keeps me entertained on the road.