Farewell from Sue & Ryan
After 77 different camp spots, over 40,000km and some 10 months on the road it's time for me to leave and head back to reality. A scary cancer diagnosis in the family coupled with a awesome job opportunity see me heading home to Brisbane slightly before our original plan.
So here are a couple of things before I go all wrapped into my one and only post!
1. Life in the caravan has similar routines to live anywhere else - cooking, shopping, cleaning, washing, putting kids to bed and school work all still have to happen. All at a different pace and mostly occurs much more as a family unit but still has to happens (picture all of us hanging out at a laundry mat waiting for the washing)
2. I did not get really fit or lose any weight!! All the hiking and swimming was balanced out by the day's sitting in the car driving and the nibbles and drinks around camp!
3. Everyone get homesick and has some bad days - the kids, hubby and me. Some days I just wanted to escape and see my girlfriends or go to the gym - to be honest there are days when I wanted to be anywhere but where I actually was.
4. Anything you forget, don't have or that breaks you can buy along the way - the little general stores in some of these country towns are just amazing for what they stock.
5. Australia is bigger, more interesting with soo much more to see and do than I expected - we missed stuff, lots of stuff. We either didn't know it was there (poor planning), didn't have the funds or missed it totally.
6. The journey for us was more important than the destinations. Sure we did the iconic bits but it's how our family reconnected and became closer, more supportive and stronger than before that is the best bit. It's time with my kids and hubby that I will never forget and I am so grateful to have had.
7. The kids have learnt some wonderful life skills - resilience, patience, flexibility and most importantly self belief and confidence.
8. It's is expensive - yep that one we figured before we left and it proved very true. In saying that it's the best money I have spent in a long time!!
9. You can go for as long or as short as you have / want. Family of all shapes and sizes in different set ups travelling for 4 weeks, 6 months, 12 months, 2 years or until when ever. They are a lovely group to meet and talk to and be supported by on all our trips.
10. I was / am still worried about coming home, how will it work, where will we live, jobs etc. So far I have got a job, sorted a rental property and schooling all from the other side of the country - now just need to adjust back into that world again. Scary stuff but it was always going to happen and it will all be fine.
9. If you are thinking of going, wondering if you should / could etc my only advice is GO, it is worth it.
10.I did find that non stressed, non tired much more relaxed and chilled person I was before I had kids again and I am determined to try and stay this way.
So now Blake and our older boys will continue the journey home and I am looking forward to watching their adventures and hopefully joining them for a couple of days as they get close to home. I will leave you with this quote - one that seems to say it all as I embark on the next chapter of life.
"Beginnings are usually scary, endings are usually sad, but it's everything in between that makes it all worth living"
Sue
After 77 different camp spots, over 40,000km and some 10 months on the road it's time for me to leave and head back to reality. A scary cancer diagnosis in the family coupled with a awesome job opportunity see me heading home to Brisbane slightly before our original plan.
So here are a couple of things before I go all wrapped into my one and only post!
1. Life in the caravan has similar routines to live anywhere else - cooking, shopping, cleaning, washing, putting kids to bed and school work all still have to happen. All at a different pace and mostly occurs much more as a family unit but still has to happens (picture all of us hanging out at a laundry mat waiting for the washing)
2. I did not get really fit or lose any weight!! All the hiking and swimming was balanced out by the day's sitting in the car driving and the nibbles and drinks around camp!
3. Everyone get homesick and has some bad days - the kids, hubby and me. Some days I just wanted to escape and see my girlfriends or go to the gym - to be honest there are days when I wanted to be anywhere but where I actually was.
4. Anything you forget, don't have or that breaks you can buy along the way - the little general stores in some of these country towns are just amazing for what they stock.
5. Australia is bigger, more interesting with soo much more to see and do than I expected - we missed stuff, lots of stuff. We either didn't know it was there (poor planning), didn't have the funds or missed it totally.
6. The journey for us was more important than the destinations. Sure we did the iconic bits but it's how our family reconnected and became closer, more supportive and stronger than before that is the best bit. It's time with my kids and hubby that I will never forget and I am so grateful to have had.
7. The kids have learnt some wonderful life skills - resilience, patience, flexibility and most importantly self belief and confidence.
8. It's is expensive - yep that one we figured before we left and it proved very true. In saying that it's the best money I have spent in a long time!!
9. You can go for as long or as short as you have / want. Family of all shapes and sizes in different set ups travelling for 4 weeks, 6 months, 12 months, 2 years or until when ever. They are a lovely group to meet and talk to and be supported by on all our trips.
10. I was / am still worried about coming home, how will it work, where will we live, jobs etc. So far I have got a job, sorted a rental property and schooling all from the other side of the country - now just need to adjust back into that world again. Scary stuff but it was always going to happen and it will all be fine.
9. If you are thinking of going, wondering if you should / could etc my only advice is GO, it is worth it.
10.I did find that non stressed, non tired much more relaxed and chilled person I was before I had kids again and I am determined to try and stay this way.
So now Blake and our older boys will continue the journey home and I am looking forward to watching their adventures and hopefully joining them for a couple of days as they get close to home. I will leave you with this quote - one that seems to say it all as I embark on the next chapter of life.
"Beginnings are usually scary, endings are usually sad, but it's everything in between that makes it all worth living"
Sue