Downunder to Australia ... and off again!



The Travelling Stones on Goolwa Beach in South Australia

G'day! Red Nomad OZ from Australia – bringing you the next stage in the Travelling Stones' journey!

When Saz sent me the Travelling Stones, to say that they caught me at a busy time would be an understatement. They arrived on the last working day before Christmas so I left them to their own devices until the new year.

Actually, that's not quite right.

I forgot them in the whirling maelstrom that is Christmas, New Year, Australian summer school holidays and visitors from interstate. 

But once Saz's polite reminder goaded me in to action, I got right into it. Here's some of my first post about the stones:

 

The stones' magical mystery tour - for they never know where they are going next - started with Darlin when they came into her possession at a dinner.  She decided to send them out into the world to seek - well, if not their fortune, at least some new friends, landscapes and experiences.

 

And perhaps a little fame!

 

So far, after leaving darlin in Canada, they've visited Dormy Saz in the UK - where Saz added a friendly little 10p piece to keep them company - before they arrived in the Adelaide Hills of South Australia.

 

Once I've found them a new host, I'll be adding a souvenir from Australia!  But - you won't find out what it is until they reach their next destination!!

 

Meanwhile, the Travelling Stones await! And we all know what happens to stones that wait too long ...

Surprised by the response from readers who volunteered to host the stones, I contacted Darlin and Saz and together we worked out a new plan. Darlin set up the Travelling Stones blog with Saz's suggestions. I wrote a new covering letter to accompany the Stones.

And we decided to split them up!

That way, they'll visit more places more quickly, and more people will get the opportunity to host the stones – with the added bonus of being able to track their progress. And also wonder whether they're ever going to meet up again!!
 

But, once that was over it was time to select two new hosts and send the stones on their way.
 

Here's some of my post about their last day in Australia:

I see a lot more crowds in the Travelling Stones' future! But that's because I know something that only two of you don't – YET!

So for their last day in Australia – on this visit, anyway – I gave the stones the gift of Australia's Magnificent Emptiness!

Apart from a 4WD mostly obscured by the sea spray and mists of the Great Southern Ocean right down the end of Goolwa Beach on a mind-blowingly awesome South Australian summer day, we were alone. Just Pilchard, me and the two Travelling Stones.

That's if you don't count the pelicans. Or the seagulls!

As we farewell these tiny dots in the vast and empty panorama of Goolwa Beach, the Travelling Stones spend their last moments together.

For now.

Because the purple stone is already winging its way to Solitary Wanderer Aleah in the Philippines, where she'll be taking them to India!

And the pink pearl is en route to Texas where Not Just Another Mother Blogger Tina is ready and waiting, with great plans afoot!!

Where will they go next? Who will they visit?? Will they return to Australia??? And – most significantly – will they EVER meet up again????

Meanwhile, farewell from Australia – and if you ever get to host the stones, you'll know where those tiny grains of sand came from …

And now it's Tina's and Aleah's turn!! Watch this space!!!