I am a single lady, almost 70, and recently got hooked on travelling.

Nearly two years ago I bought an old HiAce Toyota. On my very first trip I went to Hervey Bay in Queensland. Whilst staying at a local caravan park I met Peter, who pulled in next to me at the same time in his huge Coachman Mirada. He told me about CMCA and gave me an edition of The Wanderer. I quickly became a Member.

Ormiston Gorge

I had my little dog with me, a talking point wherever I went to, making friends easily.

After four weeks of travelling I went home as I was expecting my son and grandson from Germany. Of course I gave them the campervan to trip around for a bit.

Just over a year ago I decided to get rid of the HiAce and bought a 2000 Mercedes Sprinter 313Di and, as a frog freak, I named it the Sprinting Frog.

East MacDonnell Ranges with my Sprinting Frog

With the bigger and far more convenient RV, I explored the Yorke Peninsula in South Australia in January. Then in May, after a bowling event in Swan Hill, I kept going and headed back to QLD, caught up with Peter and went on to the Tablelands to visit my niece in Ravenshoe.

I was aboard the old steam train (the subject of the article All Aboard in the December edition of The Wanderer) on the same day that it derailed! I am wondering whether the writer of the story was the nice lady and her husband I spoke to when it happened. We had stopped our conversation and looked at each other silently, awaiting what would happen next. Then we walked back together on that old track and over the bridge, pointing out cracked sleepers (I have almost identical photos that appeared in the story). Unfortunately we didn’t exchange addresses!

I went on to Mossman, Cooktown, back to Kuranda, Ravenshoe, Normanton, and via Winton, Charleville, Bourke, Deniliquin, then back home. On this trip I had left my beloved dog Millie with friends as I wanted to explore national parks where pets are not allowed. The trip was very enjoyable, why on earth I went back to Victoria in the middle of winter I do not know, and I certainly regretted it very much.

So, after doing some gardening back at home and getting everything done, off I went again. This time it was after a bowling event north of Mildura in September that I kept going: Flinders Ranges, Woomera, Andamooka, Coober Pedy, Uluru, the Olgas, Kings Canyon, Alice Springs, and then right down around the Eyre Peninsula, places I have never been before although I have been living in Australia for nearly 25 years.

Ormiston Gorge

Reviewing my whole trip, Ormiston Gorge in the West MacDonnell Ranges was certainly a highlight. During an early morning walk along the White Ghost Tree Track I took the stunning photos that illustrate this article. The sun just shone into the Gorge, the still water so clear, mirroring everything in it. It was hard to tell which way was up when I look back at the photos. This place was so peaceful and tranquil; no-one disturbed the black footed rock wallabies when they came for a drink. I am looking forward to going on my next trip; where to? I don’t know – I just keep travelling.

Ormiston Gorge

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Written: Fri 01 Feb 2013
Printed: February, 2013
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