When does a trip start?  In some sense, it starts with an idea, and in this case the idea to travel around Australia by 4WD, and to visit its remote and beautiful places, meet its people, and get to know our country (better).  So, the trip started many years ago.

The current 2019 trip started almost at the end of the last one in 2018, as I began to think about, and then plan, the 2019 trip.  After last year, I thought it might be nice to do more of this trip solo. But, I realized that I enjoy the company of friends and family.  Also, this trip involves travelling into fairly remote places, and the strong advice is, don’t travel alone.

I arrived in Darwin today, Wednesday, 24th April, the day before “Anzac Day”, a day of huge significance to many, but surely not all, Australians.  I haven’t decided whether to attend a “dawn service” tomorrow but, I will certainly remember the many members of my extended family who have served in the armed forces, and sacrificed for their country. If you don’t know about Anzac Day, let me recommend an excellent film “Gallipoli”, directed by Peter Weir, that explores the Gallipoli campaign through the eyes of two young Australian volunteers.  Anzac Day was the starting point of this campaign fought during World War I.

Today, I was reunited with “The Imp”, and it was fun climbing behind the wheel of the Prado, if only to head to the nearest shopping mall; life in all its mundanity continues.  That said, there is a definite spring in my step and grin on my face.

So, when will the trip start?  Let’s say the day that we (Bruce Croft and I) hit the open road, and that is likely to be Sunday, providing all preparations are complete: car serviced; trailer packed; shopping done; and admin completed, e.g. registering for Medicare. For what remains of today, I plan to kick back, and sit beside the pool at Hidden Valley Caravan Park, Darwin. There may or may not be beer involved!