I've just got back from my 1st solo trip outback (20days 3700kms). I ended up only going as far as Alice and I didn't end up doing the Oodnadatta Track,  which was just as well because the weather suddenly got wet and wild and I would probably still be stuck at William Creek. I got a motel room at Spuds Roadhouse Pimba that flooded instead along with other 'grey hairs' who had decided to hole up there for the night as well.

Because this was my 1st trip and I didn't know if I would come back going 'woo hoo'  or 'never again' I didn't invest a lot of money on 'stuff' so soon realised it would be silly to go off road unprepared and uncomfortable. Well I've come back with a shopping list, a lot of lessons learnt (like clean my teeth with bottled water because the runs when travelling is not fun), a new appreciation of the vastness of the outback (fly drive holidays don't give you the reality of how big it actually is) an understanding  of my physical limitations, and the 'travel  bug' (the good one). 

The car was brilliant, the best 12grand I ever spent. I love that I can clean it up, put the seats back up and turn it from my travel home back into grandmas car.

I just need to wait and see if the increase of titinus in my ears settles, before I  plan my next long trip. 

Meanwhile I'm already planning a short trip to Naracourte 

Well, good on you Lucy.

There are thousands out there still dreaming about doing it and that's about as close as they will ever get.

Joe.