Top Fives

Maybe the hardest part of this trip is out of the way now. Two weeks out, I'm not missing home, or the telly, or my own bed, or having a fridge and I'm certainly not missing work. I have no second thoughts about leaving. Not yet, anyway. I've had to adapt to life on the road and so far, I think I'm okay.

There's still a lot more of the North to be traveled though. It's been something of a baptism of fire, learning how to live out of my car and dealing with the distance and the dust up here at the same time. I'm heading east from Broome tomorrow into the Kimberley proper, which will take me even further out of my comfort zone.

Five things I've learned about life on the road;

1. Put things back where they belong, or you'll go insane.
2. When you're driving tired, pull over and take a nap. Even if it's not a proper sleep, it will revitalise you and the rest of the drive will be enjoyable.
3. Read your map before you depart, just to be sure. I drove all the way from Tom Price to Paraburdoo unnecessarily, because I didn't do this. 160 km round trip. Dummest thing I've done so far!
4. You can get used to being filthy most of the time.
5. Forget about meal times and keep doing what you're doing - you eat quite a lot less. That's been a bit of a revelation really.

Five things I've loved;

1. Not shaving
   
2. Eating less
3. Spending the day looking for things to photograph
4. Getting up when I wake up
5. Dr Karl podcasts

and the birds, wherever I have been.

Five things I haven't loved

1. Dirty fingernails, but I'm getting over it
2. Overtaking road trains
3. Driving with no spare
4. Port Hedland
5. Being too cold to sleep (Thank you, Payne's Find)

Here are some of my favourite images so far, all iPhone/iPad.