Well, home at last. The last few days of the trip have been a blur amost. After leaving Alice Springs on Sunday, had a long ride to Coober Pedy. Not much in the countryside on the way either.

First stop (fuel) was a little roadhouse at Stuart's Well, where there is a tourist camel-farm and also, at the roadhouse. a singing dingo called dinky, pictured above. He plays the piano as well, as you can see. (no, really, he does.)

Then on to Kulgera, and then the SA border where I met up with a group of bikers (see photo) who intend to ride to Perth (they started in Townsville) so we saw each other on and off until Port Augusta, where I turned left and they turned right.

Coober Pedy on Sunday night: not a lot going on. I stayed in an underground motel, rather too warm for my liking but comfortable enough. Early morning departure on another very long empty stretch - 254 Km to Glendambo, where I had brekky at the roadhouse. There was again a lot of wind and I may not have made it on a tankful of fuel - but luckily, the day before, I had found a pristine empty Smirnoff vodka bottle which I filled with petrol - just enouogh to get me to Glendambo.

Bloody cold in this wind, too. But eventually I reached Port Augusta, and continued on to Morgan on the Murray River.

The next day, Tuesday, I had thought it might be possible to ride all the way to Albury, but no: Echuca was far enough, and after a long day it was good to find a nice motel. Bugger the tent, too cold and windy to think of camping.

Wednesday: finally got home, after calling on my friend Terry at Yarrawonga for a cup of tea about mid-morning, then only another hour to Albury. Wife, child, and poodle all in good shape, unharmed by my absence for a month or so.

Things I have learned on this trip:
1. There's no place like home.
2. I enjoy motorcycle touring.
3. Friends are good to have (especially scattered around strategically!)
4. Travelling light is the best way to go.

OK, most of these I knew before, but it's good to have them reinforced! And it's been a fantastic trip to do, although I am not sure I will do another long ride involving northern Australia - there is really so much more in the South, but it is great to see the huge extent of Australia's empty spaces - and those spaces seem even bigger and emptier on a motorbike. Maybe Tassie next time, or Highway One from Melbourne to Sydney, now there's an idea.....