I know I keep saying it, but it feels so good to back on the road. Always an interesting and unique experience stopping at places to work, no longer just a passing tourist, you really get to know a town, the locals, what makes it and they tick. And let’s face it, stopping to work is an essential part of our nomadic life choice.

That said, we live this life for the adventure of travel, and there really is nothing quite as exhilarating as taking to the wheel of your home and just drive, especially when a specific destination is unknown….just taking each road as it comes.

Just before leaving the farm at Burra, we committed to a job back up north, about 300 odd km’s north of Alice Springs, managing a remote general store. Having said we wouldn’t commit to a 12 month job again, we just have.

The reason, well we loved our time at Redgum Store before and this time, we get to help the owners make big changes and improve the store and developing a sense of community for the local Utopia people. If we committed only 6 months, it would be coming into summer when it’s time to leave and I really don’t want to head north in the wet season, way too humid.

So this where we save up a pile of cash then head to the top end and across to the west, the places I am just dying to explore. So for now, we have almost 8 weeks of freedom to do as much “beach” as we can before returning to the hot and dusty desert that we have actually come to love. Our tentative plan right now, is head to Ceduna along the inland highway then travel back along the coastal roads of the Eyre Peninsula…..as much beach as we can muster.

Shop stop at Port Augusta then first stop is Iron Knob. When last we visited, this place resembled an abandoned ghost town in both look and feel. But the mine has reopened we’re told and wow, there has to be at least 20 or so residents, lights on in a couple of houses at night. Talking to the locals, if you work at the mine, which is right in the town, you can’t live in the town, or if you do, you still have to travel back to Whyalla and catch the mine bus to work instead of walking just up the road from an Iron Knob home (due to OH&S Reasons apparently), sounds crazy. Can't complain about the Iron Knob camp ground for $5 per night

Personally, Whyalla would be a much more pleasant home to live in, the prettiest part of Iron Knob being the art work on the camp area buildings.

Kimba on the other hand, a very pretty little town full of house proud residents who like to give their houses names it seems.Very welcoming in appearance, this little village just bursts of pride and welcome to travellers. Heading out of Kimba you can’t help but miss the Big Galah (though apparently a lot of people do, miss it that is) and obtain the knowledge that we are now “half way across Australia”.