We're emerging again to complete the saga...

   So... can I have a welcome back from you, dear world wide web, as I continue to relate the travelling Woodleys' adventures one year after last acknowledging you?... Thank you, I'll take that as a yes; and give a brief (ha!) but hopefully satisfying overview of the year of our Lord two thousand and twelve before covering the states of Queensland and Western Australia with more depth than they have initially been allocated!...

(edited to add - DID I REALLY THINK THAT I COULD 

INCLUDE ALL OF 2012 IN ONE POST... I'M LUCKY I'VE EVEN 

GOT TO THE END OF JANUARY!!!)

   After a year of phenomenal growth, the beard is finally sacrificed...

...to reveal a rather surprising eighties' rocker look...

....while relaxing in Adelaide's summer heat 
at a generously provided house-sit...

(many thanks Mr and Mrs Parry)

...during which we were privileged to attend and 
participate in a friend's beach baptism...

...before moving to another house-sit at a fellow homeschooler's 
(yes, that's you, Mr and Mrs Decrevel) 
house to celebrate the big boy's fourth birthday...

(being fellow homeschoolers, there are enough books to satisfy even me!)

...followed by our annual Bean family getaway...

...which just happened to be at Normanville soon 

to become our new (and glorious) local beach...

(the last time we were to use our trusty Viscount... 

already been back out west with friends to whom it now belongs) [sniff]

...then a taste of South Aussie skies again as we stay for the 

longest time in a year at one place - two full weeks with 

our lovely friends the Monaghans...

...interspersed with some Woodley family fun...

...and a decadent rainbow welcome back cake...

(thank you Auntie Leslie!)

...finally on our way to the new abode we pass 

our old place where we began this whole trip...

(maybe the eighties' rocker look as not so bad after all!)

...celebrate our oldest's ninth birthday...

...appreciate the hardy and (mostly) reliable caravan one last time...

...before drawing ever closer to our destination...

We're back in the south...

   Loyal world wide web, you will see more about the sunshine state and the wild west as time goes by (!), but for now let's find out what happened in the last month of the year of our Lord two thousand and eleven...

   The travelling Woodleys were halfway along the Nullarbor when we stayed for three nights at an unnamed free camping spot...

...where we were finally able to practice our essential and authentic boomerang skills (helmets do come in handy for all sorts of things for boys who are 'three and three-quarters'!)...

'Look Mama, no hands!'

...and an entirely book-and-reading-free day brought out even more creativity than usual...

...there really is a lot to be said for being out in 
the middle of nowhere!...

...then on further eastward with a stop at the Great Australian Bight, where an interesting attraction is the wind that blows from two directions at once...

...and, finally, to Streaky Bay - one of our favourite places, and it felt like we were nearly home at last...

...a relaxing family time was had by us all; visiting the library, riding continuously, tree-climbing, fishing, op-shopping, swimming, and playgrounding (and I'll leave it to you to determine which member of the travelling Woodleys took part in which activities)...

...and let's not forget Mama and Dada's fourteenth wedding anniversary  celebrations...

...the stunning west coast scenery, beckoning us closer to home...

...then a visit to Murphy's Haystacks as we made our way down the Peninsula to a friend's farm near Port Lincoln...

...surrounded by beautiful South Australian farmland 

and God's quirky creation...

...on the road again enjoying the ride...

...to visit a very old friend who is newly married, and some fun (Modra-style) on the farm at North Shields...

[DISCLAIMER and WARNING!!!: 
to cut down one thousand four hundred and fifty one photos taken over five days is no small task - 
I am warning you now to clear your schedule and make yourself a cup of coffee; 
you're going to need it as I indulge my love for farm photography!]

...the kids having no objection to riding (and driving - Issy boy!) the header, rounding up sheep, bouncing around in the back of the ute, and a myriad other typical and not-so-usual farm activities - all surrounded by serene views and storm-studded skys... 

...so to illustrate some of the non-typical farm activities that we engaged in, take a good look at these Modraficated machines...

(again with the lovely surroundings)

...and no end to the fun opportunities for creating and learning...

...a visit to Uncle and Aunt Wiseman (and thus all the Bean aunts and uncles have been seen on this trip!)...

...the obligatory playground visit - do our children ever tire of this?...

(and our God is everywhere)

...and the boy - seriously! - just has to jump off of something...

...the peaceful Boston Bay...

...and to have a surf with friends, Nick was 
'forced' to go four wheel driving!...

...who can say that this isn't the cutest 
egg-gathering toddler in the world?...

...and did we mention that our farmer friend is also CFS? - so a little fire-engine fun was in order...

(always surrounded by the serenity of the farm)

...and despite the fact that there are four crazy children, and four (only slightly less) crazy adults [you know I'm looking at you, Mr Modra!] the fun and games merge nicely with 
the peacefulness surrounding us...

...books, dress-ups, exploring - it's amazing how much 
can be fitted into five days on a farm...

...and who would believe it?...

(why is it that farms are so peace-inducing?)

...so, farewell, Mr and Mrs Modra, thanks for all (and particularly the late night conversations)! - we will be back...