The last 4000km with Shelly

It was not possible to sell my car in Perth because I had a New South Wales registration. Re-registering it in Western Australia would have been expensive and time-consuming. So I decided to drive the 4000km back to Sydney. I set off with little enthusiasm.
On the first day I made it to Norseman, the last place before heading into the Nullarbor.
After an uncomfortable night in a parking lot in the car, I filled up at a large rest area and met Gavin, a paramedic from the Gold Coast.
After saying hello, he spoke to me as he passed by and asked if I would give him a ride. He had stood at the roadhouse for 10 hours the day before and was very happy when I immediately said yes. He cycles from Perth to Adelaide and did not want to cycle the Nullarbor because there are often fatal accidents involving cyclists there.
I packed up my things, we got his bike into the car and drove off. Another stroke of luck.
He was incredibly nice. And his enthusiasm was infectious.

He is Australian (Gold Coast), but for him it was the first time he had crossed the Nullarbor. For me it was at least the second.

The idea of cycling along here can be quite frightening. The huge road trains, each 50m long, shake my car as they drive past. The road turns directly into unpaved sand and there is no alternative for the 1300km. It is the only road that goes through there.
We saw eagles and even a dingo right by the side of the road. At dusk we heard the dingoes howling. Magical.

After 3 days we were in Ceduna, where I said goodbye the next day and continued on.
I saw landscapes that reminded me of Tuscany, endless roads and I couldn't get enough of it. After freezing miserably in the car the next night at 2 degrees, I treated myself to a motel for the next one because I couldn't stop shivering.

Two days later I was back in Manly. Three Dutch women had taken a look at Shelly and were rightly impressed. They contacted me a day later to say they wanted to buy the car.

Since my arrival on December 18, 2023, I have been sailing 1000nm for 44 days. I have passed through 3 time zones and 3 states.

Then I was on the road for 62 days. 15,000km, during which I was in 7 time zones and 8 states.

Now I'm in Manly looking after little Millie, my daughter Elena's dachshund, who is surfing in Bali. My car is empty and waiting to be picked up.
On May 6th I will probably fly to Athens, where I will go sailing for a few weeks.