Rain began around 4am and persisted while we packed up after breakfast ready for departure on our 172km run to home.

The final leg of our trip was uneventful and approaching home we reflected on the many places we'd seen during the trip, making it hard to single out a highlight. However we both agreed that seeing the 90 million year old footprints of the dinosaur stampede at Lark Quarry near Winton, Queensland was the highlight.

Another thing we took away from this trip was that despite the parching effect on the land and financial effect on the farmers caused by the drought, radio in the regional areas presented a much more positive view of life than suburban radio. This is echoed in a feeling of community created by regional towns which just doesn't seem to exist in the city.

So after travelling approximately 7950km, of which 6050km was with the van in tow, we arrived back home safely. Pleasingly we had encountered no mechanical issues with the Territory or Avan, except for a blown brake light globe and importantly we haven't found anything to add to our to do list for the van - all of the mods we've done have made it very functional, comfortable and convenient to use. We did add an electric jug to our kit in Winton. In the outback heat, using the electric jug in lieu of a kettle on the gas stove as we've done since we've had the van, was much more pleasant - not sure why we didn't do it earlier, but that's another story!!