Helen has retired, yes, really retired this time.

For the past three years I've been telling people I'm retiring. I've cut down my commitments a lot, but until now, I could never completely let go.

I really love travelling. It's what I want to do. But it doesn't mesh with a job, even a part-time job, that requires me to be nearby to the internet every day.

Australia is a vast land with a lot of empty space in it. So there are far too many places nowhere near mobile (cell) phone reception or internet reception. And I want to see them all.

So this is it. I am really, truly, absolutely, definitely retired now.

Adiós, adieu, addio, adeus, aloha, arrivederci, ciao, auf Wiedersehen, au revoir, bon voyage, sayonara, totsiens, vale, zàijiàn, shalom.

And most importantly, Have Fun. I will.

Helen

From Port Phillip Bay to the Gulf of Carpentaria...

I've driven from Port Phillip Bay (Victoria) to the Gulf of Carpentaria (Qld) and east up Cape York to Cooktown, from less than 100km from the Northern Territory Border to the eastern coast, and just about everywhere in between in Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland.

9847 km, 1386 photos, 44 days, 3 states, and one motorhome hauling my mobility scooter.

Yes, I had fun. Amazing, excellent, fun.

Ayr, Qld.

Cardwell Range Lookout, Qld.

Mount Isa, Qld.

Moree, NSW.

Mount Carbine, far north Qld.

Wandoan, Qld.

Australian Wildlife

These are crocodiles, not alligators. This one, Krys, was over 6 meters long.

Little green tree frogs everywhere.

On the Jump Up (mesa) near Winton, the scientists have discovered 6 new "animals" including a parrot thought to be extinct, and a red-back spider the size of a saucer.

Cane toads.

Lots of things that bite, including hugely enormous flies at Mamu and meat ants at Augathella.

Kangaroos, wallabies, emus, koalas and even cows wandering on the roads in the Outback (no fences there).

And, of course, scrub (bush) turkeys.

I'm loving the heat (high 90sF, 36-37C) and the travel.

Helen

In the Wheel Ruts of the Pioneers

Quite literally!!

Australia's National Highway 1 - but not how those who live in the capital cities know it.

Burke and Wills, explorers.

Helen.