The end is so final.
2 years of build-up.
A date is set.
It’s then brought forward 6 months.
The day arrives, surrounded by friends and family.
You go.
9 months and 35,000kms later.
BOOM, you’re done.
CURRENT STATE OF PLAY
‘How does it feel being back?’
‘Are you sad to not be travelling?’
‘What do you miss the most?’
I can honestly tell you; it’s been a mixed bag of emotions.
On one hand, the ending of something that you have been set and focused on for +/- 3 years has quite an impact on you. But then returning to the warm embrace of friends and family, whose faces you haven’t seen in 9 months, is a heartening experience.
As that saying goes “All good things come to an end.”
And I say to that “It’s what you do after that matters most.”
The ending of our trip is not as impactful as it might seem, for us anyway. When you are on the road, and you have made the decision to come back, you have a lot of time to rationalise it. It’s not like going for an overseas holiday. You book your flights, you pack, then jump on a plane for 3-4 weeks of go-go-go and boom you’re back on that plane and pulling on your shirt and tie or slipping into heels to head back to work within 24 hours of being back. Road tripping is different. It’s slower. Slower to prep for - in every regard - slower to plan, slower to execute and slower to finish.
I think for us, the slow-ness of it all is what’s helped the end become less intense.
Something else that’s added to this de-escalation - we’re not returning to our old lives.
The "9-5" clock isn’t ticking away in the back of our heads. I think this has helped a lot. For me anyway.
So, what does the future hold for “The Kadon Experience”?
Is this a sweet farewell and adieu until next time - is there going to be a next time?
I can happily assure you that this is not the end. Not even close.
Adventure is in our blood.
YouTube videos will continue. We have to finish off the Expedition Australia series (currently being edited). Going forward we will continue to film YouTube videos, but they may be more sporadic and in batches, rather than once a week.
The videos will also be pivoting to local adventures and Kaitlyn’s journey to a marathon!
The Newsletter will also continue, again, rather than weekly, go to fortnightly.
The balance of 2024 might look quite different to 2023, but we have big, big plans for this year.
The next expedition kicks off in November 2024.
At an opportune moment in time, we'll elaborate. For now we can say that it won’t be in Frodo and it won’t be in Australia.
Frodo also, might, be getting replaced.
LOOKAHEAD
As we wind out of travel mode, we are engaging back into work mode. We need to restock for the next set of expeditions.
Kaitlyn is taking on swim coaching/training with her mum’s business and I’m jumping onto the "tools" to help my old man with his property maintenance business. Additionally, we will have other little side projects on the go - these we’ll report on when the timing is right.
Next edition of the Newsletter will be all about a summary of the trip and our stats - distance travelled, fuel chugged, cost of accommodation, top fuel price paid, best spots etc. etc.
If you've got this far and if you have any specific questions about 'Expedition Lap Australia", please feel free to send them through and we can answer them 😁
Lastly.
We want to say THANK YOU to everyone who was involved with or Expedition Lap Australia. From our friends and family providing all sorts of support, belief, food, food packages and accommodation. The friends we've met and made on the road - who made our travels that much more epic. To the supporters who read this newsletter and/or watched our videos AND to those who have gifted us with coffee and/or fuel tokens..... we just want to say a massive THANK YOU.
Expedition Lap Australia would and could not have been possible without you ❤️
Anyways, keep on keepin' on and until next time
Love GL and KL!
Key Travel Stats:
Distance travelled: 34,898kms
Wild animal of the week: Brissie Bin Chicken
Final Travel Map:
