The Travelling Stones Roll On ... Goolwa Beach, South Australia

The Travelling Stones at Goolwa Beach, South Australia

I see a lot more crowds in the Travelling Stones' future!

But that's because I know something that only two of you don't – YET!

So for their last day in Australia – on this visit, anyway – I gave the stones the gift of Australia'sMagnificent Emptiness!

Goolwa Beach, looking towards the Murray Mouth

And an experience that many overseas – and local – tourists never have.

Apart from a 4WD mostly obscured by the sea spray and mists of the Great Southern Ocean right down the end of Goolwa Beach on a mind-blowingly awesome South Australian summer day, we were alone. Just Pilchard, me and the two Travelling Stones.

The Travelling Stones at Goolwa Beach, South Australia



That's if you don't count the pelicans. Or the seagulls!

But behind the dunes, the narrow neck of the Sir Richard Peninsula separates the ocean from the mighty Murray River, as it nears the end of the long journey from its headwaters near Mt Kosciuszko, Australia's highest mountain.



And at the end of the beach is the Murray mouth – at times one of the most controversial places in a country where state and territory water rights are a political battlefield that ends in the driest state of the driest continent on earth.

The Murray River Mouth, via Goolwa, South Australia

Watching the politicians line up to wring their hands and bleat about the dying river system during every drought; or at election time; or as a launching pad for climate change policy would be comical if it weren't so tragically predictable.

But thankfully, there are no politicians in sight on this bright February day. And as we farewell these tiny dots in the vast and empty panorama of Goolwa Beach, the Travelling Stones spend their last moments together.

The Travelling Stones

For now.

Because the purple stone is already winging its way to Solitary Wanderer Aleah in the Philippines, where she'll be taking them to India!

And the pink pearl is en route to Texas where Not Just Another Mother Blogger Tina is ready and waiting, with great plans afoot!!

Where will they go next? Who will they visit?? Will they return to Australia??? And – most significantly – will they EVER meet up again????

Crossing the Sir Richard Peninsula dunes, en route to Goolwa Beach, South Australia

For the answers to these and other questions, follow the Travelling Stones' journey on their very own blog – The Traveling Stones - where each host gets to add a post about the latest stage of the Stones' adventures.

Keep checking Aleah's and Tina's blogs – once the stones reach their destinations, they'll be blogging about them and requesting new hosts before posting on The Traveling Stones.



Looking towards infinity, Goowa Beach, South Australia

Meanwhile, farewell from Australia – and if you ever get to host the stones, you'll know where those tiny grains of sand came from …

Stay tuned for the next instalment!

Read more:

• Where the Travelling Stones' journey began
• The Stones' 2nd Destination
• The Stones reach Australia
• The Traveling Stones - read more about their journey on their very own Blog!
• Aleah – Solitary Wanderer
• Tina – Not Just Another Mother Blogger!