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Here is our Newsletter #22!
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Four months in Australia! And there is a lot going on, so much to see, do, walk - and repair...
Read all about the last weeks of our trip in this newsletter.
As usual, you will find one of our favorite photos as a full resolution download at the end.
Have fun!
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Our route in Australia so far
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'O'CEAN
After staying in Melbourne for three weeks, Willie's injection pump was fixed, finally. We had spent a great time with our lovely hosts Marlies and Dieter. Living in a house with a proper kitchen and bathroom had been really nice, and the days there were the best that could had happened to us while we waited for the car to get ready (including some trips to the lake, a flight with Dieter in a glider (you can watch a video of this experience on our Facebook page HERE!) and a lot of time to relax and read books). But slowly, we had become inpatient. So it was good to be back on the road end of March.
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We headed to the East - first stop was a surfing school. For his birthday in December, Heiner had received a gift card for some surfing lessons. We had an exhausting and very fun day in the waves (and a couple of times also on the board...)! We had decided to buy one board for two of us to share, at least for the start. So we were ready to hit the Great Ocean Road that spreads along the southern coast form the surfing capital Torquay towards South Australia.
For a couple of days, we trained with our board to catch some waves. And although there is still a long way to go, we enjoyed our trials a lot.
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In Adelaide, South Australia's capital, we met two Troopy owners (here known as "legends"). We could stay with them and shared our travel and Land Cruiser stories.
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'O'UTBACK
It was time to leave the coast and pack the surf board into its protecting canvas.
We headed towards the Flinders Ranges National Park, straight into the outback after leaving Adelaide.
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The next weeks were filled with dryness, unpaved roads, dust, flies and a million stars at night. We came through a couple of small (sometimes abandoned) towns and enjoyed the remoteness, some hikes and wild camping.
We explored the opal mining town Coober Pedy for two days, and filled our fridge and tanks there.
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Expedition vehicle electrics reviewed
In one and a half years on the road, our electrical system has seen some major upgrades. We have changed almost every key component in ... Read more>>
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Hiking in Tasmania: Montezuma Falls
We did a fair bit of walking in Tassie. But one easy 8 km walk to the Montezuma Falls ticked so many boxes, we highly recommend it. ... Read more>>
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'O'H WILLIE
From there, we still tried to avoid the Stuart Highway that goes from Adelaide straight up to Darwin. We took the unpaved roads through the Simpson Desert and the surrounding areas. A farm from time to time, some cattle but mostly vast outback desert.
Our next destination should be Kings Canyon, followed by the famous Uluru (Ayers Rock). We decided to go on a hike along the canyon's rim for Anna's birthday before heading to "the Rock". But beside the hike, the birthday had other plans.
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Just the evening before, during some routine maintenance, Heiner found our front axle broken. We were closer to Kings Canyon but still in the middle of nowhere. No mobile reception, no clue what to do. At least, the next road was paved. So we went for the hike, and started the 500 km to Alice Springs. The only real town within hundreds of kilometers.
We arrived there the next day and were lucky enough to find a decent welder and mechanic to work on the axle. There is no point in replacing the axle - the right hand drive version is different to the left hand drive one...
Now, we're waiting in Alice for the repairs to be done.
Keep all fingers crossed that Willie is fixed again soon and we can continue on Australia's back roads towards the west!
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FOR YOU
Here it is! Our regular gift! The best picture, made by us, for you! Willie in the vast outback of Australia's center, next to the beautiful Painted Desert: just click HERE.
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See you on the road!
Anna and Heiner
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