Collie to Perth Feb 2019

Collie to Perth February 2019

With a Departure day set at 4th July 2020, the countdown started 1500 days out but a number of factors combined to reduce that down by some 425 days, so Saturday 2nd February 2019 was my new D day. The last few weeks of course flew by as preparations kicked up a gear. Notice was given to quit work, work vans had to be sold, house needed to be prepared for letting out, tenant found, Motorhome (Rhonda) needed to be thoroughly checked out mechanically and some alterations/additions made like extra solar and batteries among a myriad of other things. Worldly goods needed to be disposed of and endless goodbyes said.

Most of the action took place in the last 30 days but in keeping with my focus on the end game, I rolled out of home at 9am on Saturday morning with nothing but blue sky ahead. First stop breakfast at a mates place and then around 10.30 I was heading down Rowland’s Hill for a morning tea stop at another friends place. Next stop was Waroona to say farewell to another mate and by the time I got to Pinjarra it was near 4pm so I overnighted there in the 24hr RV Stop. 127 km was enough for day 1.

I took a walk over the bridge into town and walked the length of the Main Street (South West Highway). Had a wander through the Memorial Rose Garden, Church and cemetery and through the park by the river. First nights meal was fish and chips at Pinjarra Hotel, conveniently located opposite the RV Park. Pub was very quiet I thought for a Saturday night, but then I didn’t hang around long and was actually in bed by 7pm, well before the sky had turned to night.

As I lay reflecting on my first day as a new Grey Nomad, my thoughts turned to how my life has changed so much over the past 3 years. Moving to Collie 3 years ago was like a breathe of fresh air – literally and metaphorically. I have made lifelong friends there and was sad to leave such great people. Collie cops some bad press from time to time, being a coal mining town. But it has so much going for it, none more so than its resilient people. They have hearts of gold and welcome newcomers with open arms. Thank you Collie.

After perhaps the best sleep in many months, I had a leisurely start to Sunday and rolled out of Pinjarra around 9.30am. Stopped at Mt Nasura on the southern outskirts of Perth to catch up with a friend over a couple of cups of tea and headed for Ballajura where I was leaving Rhonda whilst I was in Perth.

My time in Perth has enabled me to catch up with family and friends and to get those last minute things to make me and Rhonda as comfortable as we can be.

So the adventure proper starts on 20th February when I head to all points north of Perth. The loose plan is be in Broome in May, Darwin July and be in Cairns in September (to celebrate my 60th birthday) and then make my way down the east coast of Australia.

Still learning this picture stuff. Above is from Pinjarra WA.