Today is a special day for Willow and I as it marks 365 days since we left our island home of Tasmania to travel around Australia. I’m often asked how long it actually takes to travel around Australia to which I reply “I’m not sure, I’ll let you know when I figure it out”. Now if you do the maths you could consider that averaging just 60km a day we probably should have made it all the way around by now, but this does not take into account our strong desire to know what is at the end of every road, and the times I accidentally go through round-abouts twice. I also assert that those who go directly from A to B will miss out on X which can be any number of things such as a place they never new existed, a new type of tree which is perfect for scratching, or just an indefinable moment that will stay with them for the rest of their life.

I started Willow’s instagram and Facebook unsure of what their purpose might hold. As they have found their feet over the time we have been travelling I’m now very clear on what that purpose is. It’s a place that leaves religion, political views, agendas, opinion, hate, and sickness at the door and only lets in curiosity, adventure, peace and love. It’s a place where you can forget your problems even for just 3 minutes and breathe the same air we breathe, look out over the same horizon that we see, and know that things are going to be alright.

I would like to give the most heartfelt of thanks to everyone who has joined us so far on our trip, this includes our Facebook, Instagram and YouTube subscribers, Jackie for the support and guidance she has given me, everyone we have met in person on our travels, our family and friends back home, and especially those who have messaged us personally.

We have been very fortunate to have made it through the past year with no more troubles than two flat tyres, 3 stitches in my head, and a sore paw (Willow). As you can just make out on our map we can see a breakout line emerging North-West from Central Queensland which will develop further as we carve a path into the Northern Territory and onwards to Darwin over the next month. I hope that you can continue to check-in on our progress as we complete the world’s slowest land speed record attempt.

I would also like to thank Willow, the little black adventure cat who really took a chance when she rescued me. The little cat who has made my van into a home and the whole of Australia her backyard.

Happy Trails – Rich