WANDERER OF THE WEST: An update on Edwina Robertson’s trip around Australia
SHE knew her three-month journey around Australia wasn’t going to be easy but Edwina “Eddy” Robertson has faced her fair share of challenges out on the bush roads.
From rolling and nearly writing off her LandCruiser “Alice” to going without food for 24 hours and having nowhere to stay, she said her Wander of the West trip had been a wonderful eye-opener.
Eddy headed off on her journey on May 22 and it is still continuing, with the aim to close the gap between suburbia, cities and the bush.
She wants to bridge the gap and highlight just how tough things can be in the Outback while showing the beauty of the landscapes and generosity of the people.
Tracking along her journey, the first big hurdle Eddy came across was rolling her car just north of Tennant Creek on her way to Alice Springs. It was day 26 of her journey.
She was on her way to the next family that would house and feed her for the night when the accident happened.
“I was told to take it slow as there was a build-up of sand from previous flooding and a fair amount of corrugation,” she said.
“Driving along and knowing full well that Alice wasn’t the best type of vehicle for sandy, slippery terrain, I paced myself to the conditions.
“Twenty-five kilometres in, driving around 60kmh, I rolled her. It appears the tyre got caught in a track, I over-corrected and the weight of the three jerry cans of fuel on her roof were enough to tip me over once and straight onto my side.
“In a split second I had gone from being on the road on four wheels to Alice being on her passenger side and me almost standing/dangling with my feet on the passenger window.”
Luckily enough a couple travelling the same path came across Eddy within 10 minutes.
She was safe and sound but Alice not so much.
Alice had to be repaired and, thanks to good old bush hospitality, she was.
“Initially I felt pretty overwhelmed to how Alice was going to be put back together and I even flirted several times with obtaining a one-way ticket home,” she said.
“However with the barter of my time to help paint a house in return for a bit of muscle and good advice from some amazing people, the only professional paid assistance I needed was to put in new glass.
“Can I also mention no one in Alice Springs looked twice at me driving around with a smashed windscreen and three windows missing.”
So Eddy was back on the road by day 42 and heading to her next destination.
However it wasn’t long before she hit another bump in the road.
This time it was having nowhere to stay.
She took to Facebook to ask for help.
“If I ever needed a helping hand on this journey, right now is it,” her Facebook post read.
“I’m stuck. Literally. I have nearly a week to fill and nowhere to stay.
“The worst part is I’m in one of Australia’s most picturesque areas and I’m not with camera in hand capturing it.
“I knew WA would be a challenge being so vast and not having many connections and yesterday was the first time I went without food for over 24 hours, it wasn’t fun. If you know anyone who lives or yourself live in the Kimberleys, please tag/share. I would be abundantly grateful.”
Soon enough comments flooded the post and Eddy found somewhere to stay and some food to eat, a perfect example of the bush hospitality she has been promoting on her journey.
Now with Eddy having just passed the halfway mark on her journey, she took time to reflect on what the past seven or so weeks had taught her.
“Basically everything I imagined this trip would be hasn’t happened. It has been far greater in other ways, which in reflection are better then I ever could have imagined,” she said.
“The biggest thing I have noticed is how much I have personally grown during this journey.”
Before hitting the road Eddy faced tough times and had exhausted herself physically and mentally.
So much so that those close to her recommended she give up the trip.
“Many people advised that I should stay at home and look after myself,” she said.
“Yes, my mental health is very important, however my determination to at least start this journey that I had envisaged for so long overrode any recommendation that was given. I’m a little stubborn like that.
“But you know what? I’m so glad I persisted.
“Some days have been challenging, uncertain and I find myself asking what the bloody heck am I doing, yet every other day is incredible. I often get moments where I have to pinch myself that I am privileged to experience this.
“I can honestly say I am experiencing a happiness that I have never felt.
“I literally have nothing other than the few belongings I carry and my main man Jordie (her dog).
“I want for nothing because I am fulfilled by the experiences I have.”