Kathy and husband Tom faced a mad dash across the country
Following a mad dash across the length of the country, grey nomads Kathy and Tom Mailey recently arrived back in Western Australia, ending a trip they will never forget … and one that was nothing like the one they had planned.
All seemed normal as the couple travelled across from Madora Bay to Melbourne where they were to spend time with their daughter, her husband and their two-year old granddaughter before heading across to Tasmania on March 23. However, as the days ticked closer to sailing day, Kathy and Tom grew increasingly nervous as the Covid-19 situation escalated.
“Even though they hadn’t closed the borders at that point we were worried that, if we went, the ferry could be cancelled at any time and we could find ourselves there indefinitely,” said Kathy.
Happily, the couple were able to postpone their booking without financial penalty, but then the Tasmanian border did impose restrictions … and it wasn’t long before South Australia and Western Australia were following suit.
“We were gobsmacked,” said Kathy. “We didn’t panic but also knew that we would have to leave abruptly and it was upsetting for us all.”
The pair quickly packed up and headed off, just managing to cross into South Australia before the border restrictions came into place … but WA was a different story. Despite tales of long tailbacks at the border, Kathy and Tom arrived at Eucla to find only six or seven vehicles in front of them.
“The Senior Constable, who was very pleasant, asked a number of questions and pointed out that we were a risk to others now and had to presume we were carriers of Covid-19,” said Kathy. “We both signed the declaration and were given strict instructions to take the most direct route home and to then self-isolate for 14 days.”
If the Maileys thought that – other than a long drive – their hassles were over, they were soon in for a rude awakening. Having stayed the night at Mundrabilla, they were on their way the next morning It was a trip they’ll never forget … and not necessarily for the right reasons when more drama struck.
“We were only 30 kilometres on the Nullarbor when we had a complete blow-out on the caravan,” said Kathy. “Wow, the trail of shredded tyre behind us … what a mess!”
Given that they had been given a deadline to get home to begin their isolation, Tom wasted no time in changing the tyre and the couple were grateful to the passers-by who stopped to help clear up the debris from the road. Having driven home from Melbourne in nine days and finished a planned three-month trip in three weeks, Kathy and Tom are now self-isolating.
“We are glad to be home in our own space and feel that we are all in these terrible uncertain times together and have to do the right thing,” said Kathy. But do the couple hope to hitch up the caravan again?
“We will go on the road again as we love it, but it may be some time … a year, 18 months, who knows?” said Kathy. “The main thing is that we all take care and survive this pandemic.”
Glad your home safe and well, look after each other
Look after each other and stay safe and hopefully the road trips will be able to start again in the distant future.