E and I needed to get away, just the two of us.

Over the long Easter weekend, we decided to pack our bags to go camping. It was so last minute that we didn't plan where we were going to stay or how long we were going to be gone for. I suggested Ballarat for Sovereign Hill and the Wildlife Sanctuary Park, and he wanted to go further to the Grampians.

So we got in the car and onto the Western freeway and drove for about an hour and a half before we got to our first stop.

There is something very liberating about leaving behind the city and driving through the country, where all you can see are fields of green and wide open skies, towering wind generators in the distant hills and the occasional house along the road.

It felt like we could drive on forever.

We were blessed with gorgeous weather and friendly folks and most importantly, each other's company.

In 4 days we must have driven at least 750 km. We fell in love with the kangaroos and echidnas at the Wildlife Sanctuary Park, caught "The Blind Side", spent a whole day at Sovereign Hill, checked out a newly-opened live jazz bar, ate a lot of meat pies, visited the J-Ward Gaol (for the criminally insane) in Ararat, visited the Grampians National Park and climbed to the top of Mount William.

And there is nothing like setting up our tiny tent under the night skies, snuggled together in our sleeping bag.

I was very reluctant to return to reality and face my assignment deadlines, and I think I speak for us both.