With time running out to get back we turned our nose towards home for real. We decided on a route through Benalla so we can enter Melbourne via Yea and the east tomorrow,  hopefully avoiding the freeway traffic.

Certainly passed through some pretty little  towns we’d like to pay another visit when we have more time – Darlington Point, with beautiful camping spots right on the Murrimbigee and Jerrildere, which not only has a great bakery, but looks like it’s worthy of a return visit with the bike.

We felt mixed emotions when crossing back over the Murray at Tocomawall – but now just ready to get home. 

It’s amazing the stark comparison of the landscape & vegetation as we have passed from Queensland to NSW to Victoria.

Our last overnighter is in Benalla.  We arrived this drops of rain and black clouds so decided to opt for a motel rather than get our canvas wet.

Haven’t seen one of these for over 3 weeks- to turn on or not to turn on?

Summing up:

• It was a FABULOUS holiday, if a bit short
• We still love the land of red dirt with its big skies and barren landscapes
• Dry heat isn’t that bad but we wouldn’t want it much hotter
• If I had my life again I’d do a stint as a Jillaroo (not sure that David shares this sentiment )
• Favourite towns – hard to pick there were so many. Roma and Longreach stood out for me as they gave such a sense of the working outback. For David looking at the stars in Charleville was hard to beat.
• Next trip? ASAP, for longer and further north.

Over and out for now.