Day 98: Cowra to Home

Our holiday of a lifetime has sadly come to an end. We have had so many adventures and learnt so much about this country, ourselves and each other. We each take something different from this experience.

Darren embarked on this adventure to gain knowledge to help with his business aswell as to spend valuable time with his family. The knowledge he gained has been invaluable. Darren can go back to work pleased with the knowledge that he and his sisters
are running a caravan park comparable to the best this country has to offer. He has picked up a few new ideas to implement but more importantly he has experienced it from a guests perspective. His appreciation for what the guests want is greater through not only experiencing it but from also talking to fellow travellers. Our journey has enabled us to converse with a varied array of demographics and learnt that basic needs and desires are similar across the board.

Me, I embarked on this journey for 2 reasons. One, to spend time together as a family. All of our lives are so hectic these days that I wanted to simplify it, even if it is for only 3 months, before our life becomes more complicated by me graduating and returning to full time employment for the first time in 11 years. I also embarked on this journey to see this beautiful country of ours.

The kids embarked on this journey for the sheer fun of it but also to explore this great country.

We have all truly had the most wonderful time and are filled with mixed emotions to be returning home. We can't wait to be reunited with the 6th member of our family, our puppy Daisy, and we can't wait to see our friends again but the joy of travelling is insurmountable.

Our collective highlights are numerous. Included are Staying at the Breust's farm, the Grampians, Kangaroo Island, Uluru and Kings Canyon, Kakadu and Litchfield national parks, Nitmiluk, snorkelling the Great Barrier Reef, ocean rafting, the theme parks, and the Parkes Radio Telescope. We also thoroughly enjoyed catching up with friends like Ben and his partner Breda;
Scott, his partner Michelle and the kids Cameron, Byron and Felicitee; Christian with his daughter Elka; and Brett, Michelle, Aidan and Lachlan. Then there was family we met up with along the way like Bec, Mum and Lydi; Uncle Tom, Aunty Kerry, Neil, Krystle, Bryce, Tegan, Erion, Leanne, Jamie, Jessie and Jack. Not to mention all the new friends we made, most notably Kate, Pete, Maddie, Emma and Harry.

Would we embark on this sort of adventure again? Absolutely, without hesitation!

Now we start the difficult process of settling back into our normal life.

I'm looking forward to catching up with all of my friends and sharing the tales of our adventure. Whilst the kids don't necessarily want to go back to school they are looking forward to seeing their friends again.

Bye for now
Xxx