Adelaide — the starting line

This is where it begins. We picked Adelaide because it’s where the van was built, because it’s a short drive to the Barossa, and because we’d both agreed that starting in a capital city felt less intimidating than starting at the edge of a desert.

The checklist

We spent two days parked up at a friend’s place running through every system in the van twice. Fridge holds temp; fresh water holds; the diesel heater obediently fires on a cold morning. Good enough.

North Adelaide, one last time

We walked up to the parklands for a long lunch with family and then, slightly emotional, pointed the van north.

Next stop

A short hop to the Barossa to let the engine warm up before anything bigger.