How Long is the A1?

This is a great pub quiz question if you are in Australia. The answer is at the bottom of this blog. This road is effectively a ring road that mainly hugs the coast, although it also has a route in Tasmania. Depending on which state you are in, the road is named, e.g. between Sydney and Brisbane parts are called Pacific Highway and Pacific Motorway. Given we are driving up the coast, we have spent a great deal of time on the A1, although any chance to dip off along more scenic tourist routes have been taken. However, our next step of our journey from Hervey Bay consists mainly of taking the A1, as coastal tourist roads are infrequent. We have already been advised by fellow campers that the next stage in our journey may be less interesting until we reach the Cairns region and, basically, their advice is get there as quickly as you can (also it will still be very warm). So, our plan is to still stop off at places on the way, but travel more directly (i.e. skip dipping off to some remote village on the coast, etc). Our next port of call is Moore Park Beach, near Bundaberg and we stop off at Moore Park Beach Holiday Park, that is right next to yet another great sandy beach. We get a great spot, in the sun and decide just to chill for an hour, enjoying the peace and quiet, other than hearing the waves of the sea lapping on the beach shoreline. A quick walk into the very small shopping centre to get some provisions, leads to Diane getting a hair trim at the only hairdresser / beauty salon there called A Cut Above @ Moore Park, that then leads to agreeing to booking a facial treatment for both of us at 7am the next day! We have a home made stinking hot chiili that evening, then an early night with alarms set to make sure we get up on time.

Next morning, we definitely get up before anyone else on the camp and get to the shop for the facials. Diane felt a million pounds better and even Keith looked more human after his treatment. So, an early start to our onward journey to Lake Awoonga Caravan Park, near Gladstone. Before we get there, we have an impromptu hold-up at a railway crossing of 25 minutes, as the barrier was down, but no train was appearing. Eventually, the railway engineers turned up and one guy held the barrier up whilst we all drove over the railway line! The park we stayed at was remote but lovely. Plenty of wildlife including kangaroos, some with joeys in their pouches. We walked to the lake (which is a reservoir) and what is great about Australia is that they provide fantastic facilities for people to enjoy wonderful settings as well as being able to cook meals. This place was no different. There were a host of wooden pergola-like structures with BBQ stations and totally free to use. As evening fell, we sat outside our motorhome and just admired two laughing kookaburra's in the tree just feet away from us, as they eyed the grass below, looking for tasty worms.

We are now officially half way through our journey having completed 90 days, so 90 more days to go. How time flys when you are having fun!

Answer to the question - 9,000 miles (14,500 km). It is the world's longest highway.