The final leg.... Mandurah - Albany (24/6/12)

Today marked day 250 and also the final day of our amazing adventure.  We left Mandurah around 8.30ish, destination - home.  An accidental detour took us home through Donnybrook and Manjimup instead of Collie, adding a few extra kilometres onto our trip. What's a few extra kilometres when we have driven almost 38,000 kilometres in the last 8 months!

As we drove the 430 kilometres home, we had a mix of emotions.  Sadness that the most amazing eight months of our lives was at an end; happiness that we had such a wonderful eight months of family time exploring our beautiful country; excitement at seeing all of our Albany friends; dread at getting back to the "normality" of life - work, housework, school....; joy and gratefulness for the many many wonderful memories we had created; fondness for the many lovely people we had met along the way and the wonderful friends we have made; and anticipation of getting home to all things familiar, especially our toys and beds (Chloe & Ben).

So many people have asked us what our favourite place has been.  This is really hard to answer as we loved so many places.  Some highlights though were;

- The Kimberley's - the remoteness and the natural beauty, especially the Bungle Bungles, Emma Gorge, Broome (Cable Beach), Cape Leveque, Derby, Bidyadanga and Quondong Point

- Karijini  - one of the most beautiful places in the world

- NT - Darwin, Litchfield, Kakadu (especially Ubirr - absolutely magical), Katherine Gorge, Ayers Rock and Kings Canyon

- Queensland - Rainbow Beach, Fraser Island, Airlie Beach, Camooweal and the Gold Coast (kids)

- NSW - Sydney, the coast, especially northern NSW, Lake Conjola, Wallaga Lake and the Snowy Mountains, especially Jindabyne, Thredbo and Charlotte's Pass

- Victoria - the Great Ocean Road, especially Port Campbell and Apollo Bay, Barwon Heads, Phillip Island (kids) and the Alpine country, especially Omeo and Mt Buffalo

- Canberra

- SA - the Eyre Pennisula, Flinders Ranges, Harndorff, Claire Valley and Murray River

One of the BEST days of our trip was the day we reached snow at Charlotte's Pass.  There was a small patch of snow in the distance that Chloe spotted and was determined to reach.  We walked a tough 4.5 kilometres (one way) and finally reached it.  Whilst there wasn't much snow, there was enough to have a snow fight and build a snowman.  The look on the kids' faces was well worth the 9 kilometres and 4.5 hours of  walking! They were so excited! We are so proud of Chloe and Ben for doing such an epic walk. The kids still talk about that walk and am sure they will for a long time.

So....after 250 days, 38,146 kilometres and 6,500 litres of diesel, we finally made it home to Albany safe and sound.  Our trip complete!  The past eight months have definitely been the best eight months of our lives.

THE END!!! 

(for now!)