Bob and Fiona, Back in Brisbane..

Well, this is certainly not he way we planned to come home.

As the previous post describes, (Thanks JB) the Disco should get home in the next week or so.

It certainly has been a bit of culture shock, and I am glad we arrived home at night to stave a bit of it off. The largest town we have been in for months is Mt Isa, and that was only for 1/2 a day. Then to hit the "Big Smoke" after nearly two months... Well, there have been a lot of changes in such a short time, particularly in the Airport tunnel extension works at Kedron Park...

The crush at the airport was a little daunting, and the really difficult part was that it was difficult to see the stars last night...

Just as we left "The Isa", we were greeted with a stunning sunset, as if to bid us farewell.

Now that I have had a nights sleep (in my own bed, and geez it was noice) to reflect on the manner in which our trip finished, it is with a happy heart and a head full of outstanding memories and a bank of experiences that are of an overwhelmingly positive nature.

I am ever so grateful to have had such brilliant travelling companions in JB and MB who's good humour and support have been just delightful.

When couples travel together, there is often a need for some to live as one big "happy" family. In this instance, is was a delight to stop at the end of the day, chat a little, and play a little backgammon with Fiona (She is getting much better at it and occasionally kicked my backside) and discuss the plan for the next day. Then we would head to our own corners. Sometimes we would eat together, sit and look at the stars and while away the hours.

Ultimately, we headed to our vans, and awoke in the morning to try to get away at the appointed time (and largely succeeding at this)

The nights that we prepared dinner together (or for each other), or the occasional mornings of the breakfast fry-up were also a delight. That being said, the best thing I can recommend for couples travelling together, is to follow this example and be independent of living, come together to commune with nature and do the tourist thing, but have a clear separation to make sure that your company does not become a chore.

Two months is a long time to travel together (if you have not done it before), and to this end, our relationship, I feel has not been strained at all.

I feel a lot of sadness about finishing this way, but none of us were hurt or injured, the car can be fixed (and traded for a Toyota) before the next trip, and we have had a seriously enjoyable time, with the positives outweighing the negatives.

Our overwhelming thanks and gratitude for being the perfect travelling companions goes to J and M.

Finally, this period of time has been the longest and most constant period of time Fiona and I have spent together in one go. We watched no TV (Except for the State of Origin and a newscast or two), and did not miss it (the stars are hard to beat), we chatted, we shared experiences, and it highlighted that we do work pretty well together. I suppose after twenty years, it is expected. There are many who cannot do it as the constant time is too difficult for them.

Oh, and on the whole, she still has a bit to go to defeat the BACKGAMMON KING... But we will try to get her there.

It has been a hoot, and the realisation of a a lot of planning, a lot of dreams have been realised, a lot of challenges thrown up and met... In a lot of ways, the expectations and dreams have been surpassed!

Bon voyage J and M... and to Fiona, I love you, and thanks for putting up with me for so long..

Bob and Fiona