Our interest in traveling Australia has been with us since the beginning of our journey together. Sarah holidayed ever year with her family in Liverpool, England, and was determined to do this with our family. From humble beginnings, saving to buy our home and endless expenses like many parents experience in the early years as our family continued to grow.
Fitting all the children and baggage in a small family car was always a challenge, with small voices in the back asking “are we there yet?” We camped, stayed in caravans, cabins, budget price motels and everything in between. The luxury of overseas travel, classy hotels, hire cars, air travel, were always a dream and way in the future.
Also with four weeks of annual leave, local travel highlights within Victoria, and visits to South Australia, New South Wales and Queensland was at the edge of the known universe for us. Still every year we loved all our different and varied points of interest and the people we encountered on the way.
As the youngest was able to live independently at home Sarah and I were able to travel throughout Europe, visit family in England & Ireland, America and home in 2015. Again in 2019 for a wedding in Germany, we once again traveled throughout Europe, England & Ireland, Dubai and home.
After team sport began to fade I took up bike riding, in 2014 I was blessed to be able to follow the Tour de France and also ride much of the course with our good friend and my work colleague Peter, (now married to beautiful Prue, lucky man Peter),what a trip Peter. Also the wonderful family in Ireland & England who accommodated us, also the friends we met along the way. Who can forget Mark, Jonathan & Phil who we rode with on the TDF in my place of birth Ripon, Yorkshire England. We have continued to visit each other both in Australia and England on many occasions since. Joe & Eleanor what can I say, three separate encounters in France, incredible, such fun, warm and generous, you remind me of Yorkshire people, oh you are from Yorkshire, enough said.
Another riding opportunity arose in 2017 when along with Peter, & local friends Paul, Ross, Garry, we embarked on an incredible journey arriving in Sicily and riding the whole of Italy (over 3000klm). Then continued to ride in France, Switzerland, visiting Germany & England.
Peter, Garry, Paul & Ross
Phil & Malia Slater
This also produced a fantastic experience with forty other riders, mainly from America, Australia, & NZ. Karine, who we met in Sicily, who also visited us in 2020, is from Amiens in France, look forward to meeting again Karine. Special mention to Jim & Peter from Portland Oregon USA, these guys have traveled the world on bikes, they bring such a great spirit to riding and life and we were privileged to have them visit in 2019. (Peter & Jim, the tree behind the car in the opening photo is a Giant Sequoia ‘Redwood’. We are camped on a old school site, and there is a plaque at the base. Planted in 1989 on the 50th anniversary of the school opening(now closed). Not sure why this particular species was chosen, maybe your next visit you can unravel the significance). Hopefully we also would like to arrange a visit to Oregon. Jim and Martin from Yorkshire who live in a Hebden Bridge Yorkshire, Happy Valley was filmed here, Ed Sheeran was born here, thanks for your hospitality, and endless laughs. (born in Lincolnshire & Lancashire, but live in Yorkshire, do they qualify as Yorkshire men? still thinking about that). I will consult with Joe, Eleanor & Jonathan.
Peter & Jim
Gillian, Jim & Martin
Karine
Stephan & Verena
Over all these trips 2014-15, 2017-19 a special thanks to all our families in Ireland & the UK. We also express our eternal gratitude to Peng & Lei in Paris, Erik, Stephanie, Theo, Kirsten, Jens, Stephan, Verena & families, who have all visited us in Australia, thank you for hosting not only us but Peter, Garry, Ross, & Paul. Who can forget your 60th Theo. Anna-Lena, Dominik from Frankfurt, thank you for showing us (and the boys above) another aspect of the beauty of Germany and its culture. Danke Schoen, Merci. Such breathtaking countries and the German & French people. The images you see on the TDF are all real. Wow!
Erik, Kirsten,Theo, Stephanie, Verena 
Dominik, Anna-Lena
Celine, Peng & Lei
Jonathan again thanks to you, (have to mention that Jonathan is also from Yorkshire) Matthew & Ruth, opening your home not just to Sarah & myself, but also Colette, Donovan and the four children on a visit to England in 2018, incredible. The Cotswolds, beautiful countryside. Also Joe and Eleanor again, Phil & Malia again, stunning Cornwall and the Veryan Cottage where you have a home. Also your rendition of Two Little Boys on a visit to OZ in 2020.
Phil & Malia holiday pad, Veryan Cornwall
Joe, Eleanor & Ferdi 
Jonathan, Phil & Sarah
Last but not least Declan (cousin) & Trish who live in OZ, and who inspired us to venture down this pathway, look forward to seeing you on the road.
As we were approaching the retiring years our thoughts were very much on our own country, which is captured so beautifully in Dorothea Mackellar poem, which I memorised on the ship (Fairsky) that I sailed to Australia from England in 1969 at the age of 17.
“I love a sunburnt country/A land of sweeping plains,/Of ragged mountain ranges,/Of droughts and flooding rains.”
My brother Tim, and cousin Declan and wife Trish who had caravans and traveled extensively throughout Australia for many years really heightened my interest even further. (there blogs inspired me as they captured in words and images, all that I imagined Australia to be outside of the cities, that excites visitors from all around the world) Over the last five years Sarah, who at first was reluctant, (no camping though) was warming to the idea, (must have a shower and toilet though), started to embrace the prospect(must be able to use a hair dryer). In late 2019 we purchased a car to tow a van, then September 2020, put a deposit on a van after looking for a few years previously
