08/08/2023
It's Matt here....writing for the final instalment! Check the photo captions for details of the journey home!
4 weeks to the day since the breakdown, I made it home. I will never forget the incredible people I met along the way, helping me through all this in any way they could. Without them I can't imagine where my head space would have been.
Kevin and Cam - who tried their best to fix the car and then lent me their own personal car for 1100km round trip to Alice Springs from Tennant Creek to drop the family for a flight.
Lee, manager at the Outback Van park - whose kindness and good humour will never be forgotten.
Ros and Rog - Tassie travelling legends who checked on me every day in Alice and told all about their precious life and family.
Pete and Slyvia - Adelaide teachers who were also broken down. Invited me over for dinner and then cards.
Craig - met in the cinema in Adelaide killing time and found out we were both from Canberra, both staying in the same hotel on the same floor in rooms next to each other! We drunk many beers and watched the footy together that night.
Rob - my 2nd cousin, who took us in and lent us the space and tools to get the rig ready for its last journey.
Nath & Suse - who sent me beer to my hotel room in Adelaide.
But mainly my old man deserves all my love and respect. Without him I still wouldn't be home. He jumped on an overnight ferry from Tassie then drove 10 hours straight to Adelaide. One day later after running around and fixing stuff, he towed my camper for 3 days, 1200km back home. All this in a soft top landrover that needs noise cancelling headphones worn to drown out the noise and wind!
