light at the end of the tunnel.

Welcome to what I would consider my first formal blog post. After months of waiting, preparation, organisation, and unexpected delays, I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Currently, I am installing insulation in Sophie’s canopy. As a cost-saving experiment, I am using heavy-duty Velcro instead of traditional adhesive to see how it holds up. Next on the agenda is sourcing roof racks that are suitable for my existing solar panels and compatible with a Starlink Mini mounting system. I have yet to acquire the Starlink mount and am still researching my options, but once that is sorted, Sophie and I will finally be ready to hit the road.

Due to recent time delays and the current fuel situation my original plans have been scrapped in favour of a more flexible, general guideline: heading north for the winter, followed by west, south for the summer, and eventually east. However, even this loose plan is subject to change. I have made a firm decision not to travel when fuel prices exceed $2.50. If prices spike, I will simply hunker down wherever I happen to be—whether for a week, two weeks, or a month—until prices drop below that threshold.

According to my fuel-tracking applications, prices are highly volatile. Currently, New South Wales appears cheaper than Queensland, though that could easily change tomorrow & then again the following day. Consequently, my route will be largely dictated by the cheapest fuel prices on any given day. The ultimate goal is to head north, perhaps even reaching the very tip of FNQ, but I have resigned myself to remaining adaptable and taking it one day at a time due to fuel prices, crazy weather etc.

On a broader scale, OPEC appears to be fracturing, with the UAE reportedly exiting the organization. This means the UAE is no longer bound by oil output restrictions and can produce at maximum capacity. This development, coupled with their pipeline that circumvents the Strait of Hormuz, should theoretically be a win for consumers and the global economy. Whether this will actually translate to lower prices at the pump remains to be seen.

Additionally, there are reports that the Prime Minister has been negotiating fuel deals with Japan. This could be a positive development, especially given recent reports that Japan allegedly received a shipment of fuel from Russia today. However, I have only seen one source reporting this, so I currently consider it unconfirmed.

Regardless of global logistics, I am incredibly eager to hit the open road with Sophie. We have been parked for far too long, and Australia is a vast, beautiful country with so much to explore.

Uluru