After 5 months traveling, there are mixed feelings about crossing the border into Queensland and winding our way over the mountains to home.
As much as we are looking forward to seeing friends and family, we will certainly miss the unpredictable lifestyle of exploring a new location every few days. After being out of the studio for almost half a year I’m really keen to get back in there and immerse myself in working on some larger paintings.
I will keep this blog going, updating with my day to day activities from the studio. Perhaps not as exciting as traveling to lots of interesting locations, but you can watch over my shoulder as I get all the accumulated ideas from five months on the road down onto canvas and paper.
Thanks to everyone following our travels, and thanks for the many comments. I hope you continue to enjoy posts from the studio until our next adventure in Italy next May.
FACTS AND FIGURES
- Toyota Landcruiser 2008 wagon V8 Diesel
- Loaded Weight – (Car – 2750kg – Van 1360kg) Total 4110kg
- Distance traveled – 24,970kms
- Fuel used – 3,649 litres Diesel
- Fuel consumption approx. 14.6 litre/100km
- 3 tyres destroyed
- 1 shattered windscreen
- 1 cracked fuel tank
The only major problem we had with the car was 150 chocolate bullets scattered over the floor in 40+ degree heat. Not that they caused much damage once they were all located; just tasted funny coated in red dust. Buy smarties next time.
Splashing Paint 
I’m sorry your journey is over, especially since I didn’t know about your blog until you were well underway. But I’m glad you’re choosing to continue blogging so we can see some of the results of all the images stacked up in your head and in computer.
Did I miss a photo or two of Diana or are you like my own husband who forgets to take pictures of the people in favor of all the scenery?
Hi Jo,
I guess I am a bit like your husband in that regard. Dianne does sneak into a few of the photos though. She is sitting on the seat in Tilpa Pub talking to the little dog. I’ll leave it to you to find her in other shots – a bit like “where’s Wally”
John
Hey John,
How’s things? The rest of the trip go well I hope.
What’s it like to be back home?
Things are good at home, mum and dad are well.
I’ve also got myself a blog up and running now, so you can check that out. I keep an eye on what you’re doing.
My link is http://jamienicolaou.wordpress.com/ , I’ve added you to my blogroll and also a link to your website.
Take care John and say hi to Dianne.
Hi Jamie,
Good to hear from you and congratulations on the blog. The photographs are fantastic.
We had a good trip home – finding it hard to settle down though!
We were wondering if your dad got that hay in before it rained – we drove into showers up around Bridgetown after we left you. Hope they swung the other way.
Say Hi to everyone for us.
Cheers
John
Hi John,
Just finished looking at your wonderful photos of your trip, it is somethingg i would like to do someday ,hope being back at home is not to dull for you.Hope you and Dianne had a wonderful Xmas.
Great pics and paintings John. Your remark about the chocolate bullets reminded me of friends travelling in their loaded 4WD down through Charters Towers when they hit a cloud of bull dust and a truck inside it.
Their dry comment afterwards was – ” Don’t ever travel with a ripe paw paw in the car”. Enough said.
Keep up the great work.
Hi Loi,
Thanks for your comments. Wow, ripe paw paw splattered through a 4wd traveling in bull dust doesn’t sound real nice!
Cheers
John