In January and February 2014, we travelled 7,500 kilometres to and from southern Australia – the ACT (Canberra), and South Australia (Adelaide), visiting children, grandchildren, relatives and friends. This was a really satisfying, though hectic, time, exacerbated by the intense summer heat. There were many days of record high temperatures above 40 degrees, producing a harsh summer landscape. Quite an experience after living in green, sub-tropical SE Queensland for the past fifteen years!
We were in Canberra for three weeks, playing with the grandchildren, doing a few handyman jobs, and doing some very intense training walks in the summer heat. Not really appropriate, as the forecast maximum temperatures for the parts of Spain we’ll walk through in April and May are only in the mid-teens!
We visited long-term friends in Shepparton on our way over to SA. This was a really valuable preview of ‘real’ retirement living at its best - free to set our own activities each day.
South Australia was a reality-check, where we experienced how hectic life is for a young family, and again, really enjoying our grandchildren there. Nonetheless, we also found time to visit many friends and relatives, comparing our various life experiences. Thank you to all who warmly opened their homes to us, enabling us to share good food, wine and conversation.
We returned to Qld in late February, taking four days to travel the 2,100 km. We camped out each night, including one night’s real bush camping.
And another night next to the river at Hay NSW)
We are now staying with our daughter and son-in-law who happen to live near to our home in SE QLD. We will be here until our departure in one week’s time. This time is also a chance to bid farewell to our Brisbane children and grandchildren, plus our social and church friends.
Grandchildren and grand-dog in SE Qld
The past two months has been highly valuable for us. We have been given a glimpse of life ‘on the road’ and Anne has enjoyed the less demanding days without having regrets about leaving full time employment. As we anticipate our nine month sojourn in Europe we will leave with thankfulness for the landscapes of Australia and the relationships of family and friends.
PS. I'll be seeing the Barber when I get to Seville ...
