It’s often been said that crossing the Nullarbor in Australia can be tedious and boring. On knowing I was soon to travel the long, open expanse of Australia’s famed outback, I was a little apprehensive.
I traversed the internet looking for advise, ideas and opinions of others who had gone before me, only to discover a barrage of information, some of which, after doing the first crossing, was a tad exaggerated. ‘You need to have cash, POS won’t always work – fill up at every fuel stop as some places run out of fuel…’ Yet, this wasn’t the case. Crossing the Nullarbor was actually easy. Free camps were plentiful as was the fuel, and not once did we have to use cash.
And when I found myself doing the return journey 3 weeks later, I had exactly the same experience. And this time, on my own with my two precious dogs by my side. the journey was just as gratifying and enjoyable as the first crossing.
And why did I choose to do a repeat performance? Simply because I decided the job I had planned to commence in Perth was not what I wanted to do in life. After driving across the country the first time following the sale of my house, I found myself loving the freedom travelling by road afforded me. After only 24 hours in Perth I knew in my heart that I did not want to fly again, rather, I wanted to live a simple life on the road with my dogs, whilst looking for my forever home.
Over 2 weeks and with the help of my ex-husband and son, we transformed my van, who Rob named Kevin Anderson the 2nd, and on Christmas day, I set off. Bound for eastern shores, I knew the Nullarbor was unavoidable. So rather than finding it a chore, I chose to embrace the 1700 + kilometres that lay before me. And unlike the first crossing when we had a deadline to meet, I took my time. The kilometres were dissolved as I listened to hilarious audiobooks, stopped every couple of hours for wee walks and drinks and I simply adopted a positive outlook of where I was, what I was doing and most importantly, who I was doing it with.
Life really isn’t complicated, we can live simply, happily and with minimal possessions.
Now, just prior to writing this post, I have spent the last hour chatting to fellow travellers in a free campground on the outskirts of Port Pirie, South Australia. I feel an immense sense of freedom, knowing I am in control of every minute of my life. I am free to choose my next destination, free to move without restraint and Im doing it all in the comfort of a small van with my two best friends.
So on crossing the Nullarbor again – I would do it again, and maybe again, again….
stanley & bear 