The trip was 3 hours long but it felt like it had been going for all of eternity. My dad drove his 2007 Toyota Prado with our rental caravan on the back, something rather foreign to all of us. The last time I was on that road was a year ago.
Even though the weather was overcast, the heat was not afraid to hold back, reaching a temperature of 43 degrees Celsius. The air con was nice, considering the temperature outside.
My brother drove behind us in our old Carola, my mum sitting next to him watching him drive with the learners plates stuck on to signal his license status. I had driven earlier, but we swapped halfway.
The road to Renmark was an interesting road, nothing fancy but with your typical Australian wildlife in sight. We fortunately didn't have any Kangaroos jumping out in front of the car, which was one of my main worries while driving.
"There's a car wanting to overtake us but they can't see past the caravan." I hear my mum say over the vrs radio, and soon approaching us was an overtaking lane. The car overtook.
I continued reading a book of mine, not paying close attention to the music from my dads playlist as our music tastes were quite far from each other. We drive through a familiar part of the trip and I'm taken aback by a memory that stings harder than anything. I push it aside. I have reason to be involved in this trip instead of being reminded.

In about an hour we arrive at the caravan park, all of us hoping to set up as quickly as possible just to sit under the air con in the caravan. We've never had a caravan before, we're just used to towing a camper trailer and cracking the shits whenever a caravan is in front of us on the road. My mum didn't enjoy having to sit behind dad on the road.
"I don't want to share the bed with Georgia," my brother, Wilson, complains as he realises that the caravan only had two double beds, "I'll sleep anywhere but there."
"Well you can sleep on the couch dipshit," my dad replies, and my brothers fate is sealed.

My whole life I have been travelling with my family, driving across Australia to see family friends and explore the nature of our country. Each place holds memories from my childhood, where I wish I could stay forever young, be a child, and explore the world. Now my brother and I are almost 17, our final year of school ahead of us and a sudden career decision must be made. It all seems daunting.
As the caravan is finally set up, we all grab our chairs and sit at the riverside to watch the sunset. I admire the sun; no matter what state it's in it always serves a purpose, whether that be for light, heat, warmth, or beauty. The sunset is spectacular. In all of its rage and burning fury it still can be one of the most beautiful sights. The remaining light shines on my golden shoulder length hair, my hazel eyes gleaming at the sight.
I watch my dad set up his Bluetooth speaker as my mum fills up a wine glass with her favourite alcoholic beverage. My brother sits with my dad, sipping his Pepsi Max and watching some car video. I find a natural sense of peace as the sun fades away beneath the horizon, ready for someone else to marvel at.
I think back at the last time I admired this view, the river glistening and mirroring the sky as the trees turn a shade of black that has more colours in it than ever. I take a deep breath as I sip my Coke.
Memories can be haunting.