Home!

Well, here we are- home again after driving halfway around Australia!

We've been marking in our route as we went... and finally completed the loop today!

We have often driven between Sydney and Melbourne, usually only making one or two short stops for fuel, but this time we were towing the caravan and had been driving long distances for several days in a row and it had taken its toll on all of us.  Our first stop was at the Holbrook Bakery where we had a cup of coffee and shared a sticky bun. 

Then, passing ripe wheat fields and grazing sheep, we crossed the border from New South Wales into Victoria.  The golden colours of the landscape here, backed by the blue peaks of the Snowy Mountains and the Victorian Alps, are quite different from the lush green forests and rich red soils of the Tweed Valley, but to me they are equally beautiful.

The Hume Freeway bypasses most of the small towns along the way these days and it is convenient to stop at the big roadhouses and service centres on the highway for fuel and food stops.   I asked Philip if we could make an exception this time and drive into Benalla for lunch.  Not only would it make this last stretch feel more like part of our journey of exploration, but I wanted to show the children the town where I was born!  So, taking a small detour past the Benalla and District Memorial Hospital, we stopped off at the beautiful Rose Garden in the town's centre.  I was reminded of the days when several families from the church in Melbourne would travel to Sydney for the Easter conference in convoy.  Back in the 'seventies the old Hume Highway was narrow with few overtaking lanes and passed through every little town along the way; the cars had no airconditioning (or seatbelts in the back!) and we made many stops for the sake of those who needed frequent toilet breaks!  How long those trips were, and how excited we children were to join our friends from other cars for a run in the park!   Today Esther and Arthur had fun climbing up the same rocket we played in all those years ago, but the high swings I remember have been replaced with smaller (safer) ones.

Usually we would have driven straight home after Benalla, but Philip found he was having trouble keeping his eyes open so we pulled into a rest area at Seymour- only an hour from home!  While Philip had a quick "power nap"and the children played on a fallen tree...

...I made afew phone calls to let people know we'd be home soon.  When I got onto Arthur's kindergarten teacher, she asked whether there would be any chance that we could make it to the Christmas play, which they were putting on tonight! I said I'd make no promises, but would come if at all possible.
So after a cup of tea we were on the way again.  The last stretch went quickly.  The children exclaimed as they recognised familiar landmarks along the way, and at changes that had taken place since we left.  And then we were HOME!!! 

One of the corner we didn't recognise... so many new buildings have been rising up!

The roses were in bloom, but there was no time to stop and admire them.  It was just before five o'clock and I had just enough time to find some fresh clothes to wear and brush Esther's hair... and get Arthur to Kinder at five thirty! Which is how it came about that Arthur acted the part of a shepherd in the Kindergarten Christmas Play tonight!  He had not rehearsed once, of course, but he knew all the songs and followed the lead of the other shepherds beautifully!
As one last surprise we realised that the primary school- across the road from the Kinder- was having its Christmas concert tonight as well, giving Esther the opportunity to greet her teacher and a few of her classmates.  Arthur met the wonderful teacher he will have next year and I caught up with my colleagues and had a very quick briefing on what I will be doing when I go back to work next year.

I was so glad the children had the opportunity to see their wonderful kinergarten teacher before the holidays!  She also taught Janice, John and Katina, and we feel priveleged to have had our children in her care!

Esther was so happy to see her teacher, too... and excited to learn that she is going to have a baby!

Now we have a busy few days ahead as we unpack the caravan and get ready for Christmas.  Life is not back to normal just yet....