Brisbane (think New York City) to Perth (think Los Angeles). Driving 4,470 kilometers (2776 miles) in 8 full days of travel.
THANK you, thank YOU, THANK YOU!
Thank you to those who have given to the Christmas GO Project to get us to Perth and by March to Broome in the NW Kimberly area. Many were new givers.
The Support page on our website updates the amount that comes in and shares how to give, which can be done either online or via check. Or you can just click the button below!
Day 1
We left NTC Brisbane mid-day to get right past the border of Queensland and New South Wales. NORTH Star Rest Area right inside New South Wales on our way to Perth….
Beautiful weather and sunset (see above) that first night.
Day 2
Brisbane to Perth – Day 2 was to Bourke, NSW.
Learned a lesson … don’t fill up ice trays right before departing for a day traveling on bumpy roads – H2O goes everywhere!
DAY OF REST ON SUNDAY
Bourke Community Christmas Carols Sing!!! 104 degrees – OUCH!!!
First of several days in a row in the 40’s centigrade (over 104 degrees F) – No candles that day because of the extreme heat, and being full-on summer the sun sets late. around 9 pm local time.
Day 3
Brisbane-Perth. 104 F temp (40C) blew the cord trying to recharge the caravan batteries from 34% back up to 100% while running the air conditioning to bring the temp back to something reasonable.
Made it to Broken Hill, New South Wales. An old bromide mining town!
Test of the SYSTEMs
One of the upgrades we were able to do was add three solar panels to the original 4 panels already on top of the caravan. We also changed the marine batteries to Lithium because they are more efficient.
To the Left is our test of how long we can go running AC full blast on Battery power, only, when it is over 104F (40C) outside. At 6:02p the AC shut down and the Battery Alarm wailed – “Plug me in….”!
We will need to add more batteries and solar panels at some point if we are off-grid.
Day 4
Brisbane to Perth – stopped a little early to celebrate Cindy’s birthday.
Broken Hill, New South Wales to our first stop in South Australia – Port Augusta.
First time to see the Southern Ocean on this leg of the journey. The temperature went down in the 30’s C (85 F), down from the 40’s (100’s) the last three days – LOVELY!
Day 5
Our drive today with Beauty In tow!
Temps down from 111F to a very reasonable 76F heading to mid-80’s trekking through South Australia – land looking like New Mexico or west Texas.
Drove on to the coastal town of Fowlers Bay, South Australia.
Day 6
Fowler’s Bay SA into Western Australia past Madura.
Beautiful trekking adjacent to the Southern Ocean on the southern coast of Australia- met a couple summering here from Darwin. Think of someone living in Florida in the winter (Darwin) and staying in Michigan for the summer because it is so much nicer weather with less humidity and lower temps.
Thinking of friends in Traverse City who reported feet of snow during Thanksgiving – come to Australia instead of Florida for your winter… Melbourne or Perth will suit you!
Day 7
Brisbane to Perth – long day of driving from Cocklebiddy, to just east of Southern Cross, Western Australia.
Thank you Lord for safe travel today. Beautiful sunset to end the long day – 10 hr. drive
Day 8
Made it to Perth!!!!
Greeted by Rev. Gabin Nzoyihera as we rolled into the Maddington Nazarene church grounds about 2:30pm on Saturday the 21st of December.
Thanks for all your prayers and support to get here!!!
