Looking forward, looking back…A photo essay of 2014…

This song by Slim Dusty touches the nerves of my gypsy soul. It brings back memories of the past year and starts me thinking of the year ahead.

It was this time last year when we sold Matilda our faithful camper van that carried us around Australia for 4 years.

Matilda takes off with her new owners to new adventures. Goodbye Matilda.

Now it is pedal power.

I never thought I would be able to survive life, as I know it, without a vehicle. But we made the decision, in December 2013, to be carless for the time being, as during 2014 we would be travelling and having the use of other people’s vehicles.

 Our 2014 adventures took a new direction.

During February and March 2014 we were in New Zealand.

Mount Maunganui

Wairakie thermal power

Maori culture

Whangamomona Hotel

Punga forests

Napier

Hot thermal lakes

Bubbling and boiling Rotorua

Lots of walking

Hobbiton

Auckland musum

Beautiful gardens

Hydrangia

Mt Taranaki

Family BBQ

April and May we house sat in Geraldton, Western Australia, and had the use of Hector a grunty, rusty, old, diesel, 4WD Toyota land cruiser that I bonded with and loved driving. Made me feel macho…

Hector

Windswept trees of the Greenhough Plains

The garden we looked after

The ocean meets the rocks in a turbulent burst of spray

St Francis Xavia Cathedral

Northham

Herutage gardens

Take care, we could hear the roaring as we approached.

New friends

Walks on the beach

Going fishing

Spring time sowing

Our Lady of Mt Carmel Church

Jack tuning up

Have a glass of wine and watch the sun set

June is winter in Australia and we had 4 weeks before the next house sit, so we hired a camper van and toured the south of Western Australia. Visiting friends made during previous travels.

Our transport waiting for us as we had lunch and explored Mandurah

It takes the brave to challenge and ride these waves.

One last cuddle from Jack

Pippa in her winter jacket

It’s cold and raining outside but we are warm and cosy

They were once known as “Black boys” but that is now politically incorrect.

Gnomesville

The wild Indian Ocean

Carroll and I have a girl’s day out

The long shadows of the golden hour create a magical scene

Canberra was the next house sit, July, August, September, October. It is winter and Canberra has a reputation for very cold weather. But the house was warm and Canberra is an interesting place. This time we had the use of an almost brand new Mazda 6, and we had the company of an adorable “Labradoodle” called Molly.

Molly

Misty morning Lake Burley Griffen

Telstr Tower

High Court of Australia

Inside Australia museum

Australia’s High Court Building.

Arboretum village square

The village centre

Just look at the selection, it made my mouth water…

Goulburn

Goulburn Cathedral

Spring is coming

Bunganbore Brewery

Questicon

The tulips are the heroes

Some of the trees had pink and white blossom all on the same tree

Botanical garden

Floriade

CSIRO

2014 is flying by, we have been away from home almost 9 months but decide on one more 2 week house sit for the year. This time it is on the New South Wales coast. A delightful place called Valla Beach. We have the company of  Rufus, an affectionate blue-heeler, and 3 rather haughty alpacas. This time we are driving a Honda Jazz, a very zippy little car.

The “boys” 3 very aloof and haughty alpacas

The garden

Part of the 20 acre farm

walking Rufus on Valla Beach

Honda Jazz

Nambucca Heads

V-wall Nambucca Heads

Dorigo

Dorigo National Park

Bellingen Butter Factory

Bellingen

Cresant Head

Trial Bay Gaol

South West Rocks

Finally we arrive home end of October.

Home

So here I am back home for Christmas and taking time out to catch up with family and friends.

What is in store for us in 2015? Well I am already starting to plan our next adventure and it will be the slow way to New Zealand, something I have never done before and I’m wondering if cruising is going to be my style. Our friends tell us it is so relaxing. Am I ready for relaxing? In the past it has always been the road less travelled, roughing it and minimalist style travel, taking time to go where ever looked interesting.

I’d love to hear from my cyber friends if they have been on a cruise and what they thought of it…