We head towards Darwin, on the northern tip of Australia. There, we immortalize the Scnic's 100,000-kilometer (62,000-mile) mark. But the trip is far from over. We still have about 3,000 miles to go before arriving in Adelaide, with a stopover at the famous Ayers Rock, the Aborigines' most sacred site. The beauty of this huge sandstone monolith-the largest in the world-is breathtaking, but unfortunately does not bring us luck. A few miles further on, we get stuck twice in the red sand dunes. Fortunately, our traction pads and winch save the day.
The bush stretches on, so we drive along for hours on end, talking and taking stock of our journey. We've been on the go for two years already! That has a nice ring to it, as we mull over our experiences-the feeling of having a childhood dream come true, to have had the chance of sharing it together. But there is a bittersweetness to this journey. When people we meet ask us: "What are you going to do afterward?," we don't have the faintest idea. One thing is for sure-the idea of going back to a cubicle in an office building confined by four walls seems increasingly difficult to bear:
"When we finish this world tour, what do you think about doing it all over in a sailboat?" asks Laurent.
"You're on!" Philippe exclaims.
After two months in the bush, we finally arrive in Adelaide, covered in a thick layer of dust. Long showers for us and for the car, and we seize the opportunity to perform a major maintenance check. The Scnic then takes to the road with brand-new drive belts and filters-direction Sydney, where we once again will hop a boat, this time for Tokyo.
In western Australia, the...
In western Australia, the stations are so wide that they have to use helicopters to gather the cattle. Then the cowboys, on their horses, look after it and bring them to the fold where they are going to be treated.
We spent more than three weeks...
We spent more than three weeks in the Australian bush with gold prospectors. Near Nallaguine, we tried our hand at detecting gold on the slopes of a hill.
Bivouacking on the foot of...
Bivouacking on the foot of Baobabs, in the Kimberley plateau. Also known as the bottle tree, this native plant stores water in its bulbous trunk.
The 12 Apostles, between Adelade...
The 12 Apostles, between Adelade and Melbourne.
The wood is so dry in the...
The wood is so dry in the bush, it's quick to build a fire to cook some beans and kangaroo meat.