The Last Post (Scarborough and Stats. Wk28)

Scarborough is our last stop before we take the caravan to storage for sale. Although Scarborough is further from our Unit than Newmarket (Newmarket Caravan Park has closed) its lovely being by the sea.

We feel so lucky to have been able to undertake a trip around Australia even if it was not quite as envisaged. We have had the most amazing time. On completing a trip of this nature most people share statistics with a financial flavour. We will not be doing that as it’s far too scary but here are a few stats:

• 14,064 km covered between 16/11/2019 and 28/03/2020 (4 months). NSW, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia
• 23,020 km covered between 24/03/2021 and 08/10/2021 (6.5 months). Queensland, Northern Territory, Western Australia.
• 14.5 months living in the caravan over 2 years.
• 3 Car Issues (0 showstoppers ): Broken shock absorber (repaired under warranty!), 2 windscreen cracks, flat tyre (while in caravan park).
• 3 Caravan Issues (0 showstoppers): Broken toilet lid. Broken HDMI cable, 1 flat tyre.
• 1 kangaroo strike plus 1 very very close shave where the roo saw us and slid into the road on his side trying to turn and run away (we were also breaking hard but not sliding….)
• Scariest moment (Alison): Docker River: middle of nowhere, pitch black, no other caravans, Paul asleep and I can see headlights of a car circling the free camp……
• Scariest moment (Paul): Jacob’s ladder, Launceston. Paul got vertigo whilst driving…..big time. I drove down.

Best stuff (very hard to decide and hard to remember the first trip!):

• Dive: Navy Pier, North West Cape
• Snorkel: Whale sharks and Coral Cove, Ningaloo
• Caravan Park: Tarangau, Broome
• Adventure: Horizontal Falls.
• Plane: Horizontal Falls.
• Sight: the back of the Olgas whilst heading for the WA border
• Swim: Ellery Creek Big Hole, West MacDonnell Ranges
• Gorge: Emma Gorge (walk, swim and lunch)
• Helicopter: Miri Miri
• Waterfall: Miri Miri
• Walk: Hancock Gorge, Karijini
• Meal: Whalers, Exmouth (seafood curry)
• Road: any in WA (worst: Gibb River Road and Highway No 1, Mackay to Rockhampton)
• Wild Animals: Cassowary (Alison), Whale Shark (Paul). Paul struggled with his choice so other mentions are: Salt water croc, Manta Ray, Giant Cod, Brolga, Jabiru, Jesus Birds
• Sunset: Broome Beach
• Sunrise: Steep Point across from Shark Bay from our swags.
• Fishing: Port Douglas estuary
• Good Samaritan moment: 4wd snatch recovery for Japanese tourists bogged in sand in Francois Peron National Park
• Boo-boo moment: Caravan wheels log jam, Gibb River Road
• River Crossing: El Questro

A big thankyou for following us on our trip. We have loved getting your comments.