Part 2 of the story so far

After leaving Blue Mountains National Park with sore feet, burning thighs, and a bunch of great pictures, we spent a few nights in a parking lot in Sydney's suburbs. It was free, not entirely legal, but it had showers, a beach and bay, and many other 'Vanpackers'.

For the first time, we set up camp on 'Kalle's' loading area and felt very comfortable. Of course, there were curious looks and skeptical questions, 'You sleep under that tarp?', 'Isn't it cold?', 'No one will catch you!'

And they were right, this blue tarp is a real advantage when you're a 'wild camper' on tour.

We fell in love with the peninsula around Port Stephens during the trip and stayed at this beautiful place for another 2 weeks. On one side, you'll find the calm bay where dolphins greet you in the morning while having breakfast on the sandy beach. If you climb over the hills, the wind blows a little stronger. The coastal strip facing the open sea is characterized by high waves and rugged cliffs that allow for exciting hikes. The beaches are separated by rocks, and at certain times of the day, you can be completely alone and enjoy sunbathing or go on a shell exploration tour.

So we ended up in Sydney again. The parking lot welcomed us back.

We slept there for a few nights until we embarked on a new adventure with a friend.

It was a morning when we set off, not too early and not too late. But it was very hot. Actually, too hot to drive a long distance in the car. Our goal was to cool off a bit in the Mermaid Pools,

and then head to Lakes Entrance.

Actually...

But...

Kalle gave up on us for the first time. The old grandpa broke down. In Genoa, the smallest town, right in front of the 'Café Berlin', he stopped.

The hipsters among you might get excited now. But no, we didn't discover an instagrammable 'hidden gem' for you. The café was more of a shabby pit stop and owned by an elderly lady named Marion. According to the guestbook, it had seen its last guests about 4 years ago.

Marion is quite a personality. She greeted us with the words 'you fucking idiots' and said goodbye with the most delicious steak I've ever had. She moved from Berlin to Australia 60 years ago, and with her love for big engines, she took a good look and fixed the car.

We continued, and Kalle purred like a kitten.

We stopped in Lakes Entrance,

went on a wild hike in Wilsons Promontory,

and marveled at penguin butts on Phillip Island.

And then we arrived in Melbourne!

In Part 3 of 'The Story So Far', you'll find out why Melbourne was the coolest city so far, what the Great Ocean Road surprise was all about, and how Kalle fared.