Early this morning we dropped the car at the Indian Pacific where a friendly driver drove it on the car wagon of the train. The car left Perth before we did.
Travelling in Perth this morning after we dropped the car was challenging as all the centre stations were closed for rail works. On the other hand, it gives us lots of opportunity to see different suburbs from the view of a bus window.
The children are happy but tired. I'm not sure if it is supposed to be like that when you just finished your holiday. We talked about the best things we did and already we all have different vivid memories of the adventures. Simon's favourite was the climb to Frenchman's Peak in Cape Le Grand National Park. Isis's moment was when we watched all the whales and having dinner in the cosy camp kitchen of Fraser Ranges Sheep Station. Tom loved the playgrounds in Adelaide and Ceduna best, and driving through the rain puddles. Bink especially loved the violin player we saw this morning in Perth City Centre. He danced intensely on the music of this street musician bringing smiles to many people's faces who stood still and watched. Bud's favourite moment was when we watched the whales splash about and the climb with the boys to Frenchman's peak.
And I? I loved travelling with the tribe through the unknown and vastness of the country. The amazing feeling of freedom. My favourite part of the journey were the plains between Eucla and Madura with their majestic Wedgetailed eagles. My favourite walk the one in the Fraser Ranges and my favourite rock Pildappa Rock in Minippa. But most favourite of all was having such a wonderful time with the six of us.
I have not talked about the little disasters. How I almost burned down the holiday house because the old fashioned oven set the tea towel on fire. The very musty room we had in one of the road houses. How I had to eat two minute noodles with Simon and Tom because they were fighting so much they could not go to the restaurant. All the toy cars that Bink hid in every motel room so that we have none left. The people that scolded the children when we visited the Eucla Telegraph Station. The tortured dead fox and dead cat that were left hanging on a road sign near Cactus Beach.....
Today I'm writing my 1000th blog and most of them are happy ones. On the 18th of July we have lived in Australia for 5 years. We are so lucky.
Tomorrow we're back to normal. School, work, routine stuff. Writing in Dutch again.
Car on the Indian Pacific.
Bink is ready to go.
Disruptive train services make travelling through Perth an interesting experience.
Coffee time.
I'll fly to Adelaide to pick up the car on Tuesday morning and drive it back to Melbourne. So I have one more day.......
