Wayne, thank you for your reply. Unlike you, I am about to lose a lot of money but after 4 falls in 4 weeks, I have decided that I shall abandon my plans of life-on-the-road. I feel that I would be a liability and decided that it was a wonderful dream but shall just take a couple of trips a year, depending on how much I can recover on the caravan and Landcruiser. Thanks, it would have been wonderful life but hey, it was fun planning.
Possum3 said
08:12 AM Sep 24, 2022
Gaye; You should in fact not lose a cent on the LC 200 = they are as rare as Rocking Horse droppings and commanding better than new prices; similarly with the caravan you should at least get similar money to purchase price at the moment.
Even when/if you sell your combo; unfortunately you will not be able to wander the great outback as you intended, but there are many tours that are almost as good as independent travel.
I wish you well whatever path/s you decide to take.
Ash said
02:10 PM Nov 8, 2022
Hi Gaisie, I have been traveling around OZ now for the past 10 Years,I have a motor home an old one .....like me I am 79 years of age.....but I think..30ss.. The thing I have mostly to say is there is always someone around to help.....just be positive and always look to the brighter side of life we are here only once so just go out there and enjoy.....Hope every thing works out....
Ash
Paul said
08:26 PM Nov 8, 2022
Hi Gaisie, asking for assistance can be a good way to make new friends, if someone doesn't want to help then they're probably not worth knowing.
dundreamin said
08:28 AM Apr 26, 2023
Hi Gaisie
Like you I have now reached the big 70 & have severe arthritis in various places but especially my neck & hands which means I have very little strength or dexterity. Having just sold my house I now travel full time in my 8m Sunliner Motorhome on Mercedes Sprinter chassis. People have asked why I don't tow my little Suzuki Vitara & I always tell them I wouldn't be able to handle the hooking up process. I also sometimes feel a little envious of those in a car & caravan who can leave the van & go off touring wherever they want but again I know I could never handle the hook up process. My motorhome has all the comforts of home with a walk around bed & full ensuite, fresh & grey water tanks & I go most places I want to. I have an electric awning & I've discovered a wonderful tool, multigrips, to help with many things. My fuel tank filler cap is quite hard & I even had to ask a bloke to undo it for me once. I limit my driving to mostly under 200km a day as my hands get quite stiff & sore. Although I don't like asking for help there are times when I've had to for whatever reason & everyone I've met is very friendly & helpful. I love travelling & plan to continue for as long as is reasonably possible. When I feel unable to continue with the long trips I may downsize to a smaller van & do shorter getaways. Life can be diffficult but a privilege denied many so I plan to keep going as long as I can & hopefully when the time comes, I'll drop off the perch looking out over an amazing view somewhere along the road. Good luck with whatever you decide to do.
Desert Dreaming said
04:28 PM May 6, 2023
Gaisie,
Many wonderful and helpful replies here. If you have no strength, consider a planned body strength-building program, including weights etc. One is never too old or 'weak' for this to be beneficial in building body strength
Macka1706 said
09:56 PM Jul 13, 2023
Small Motorhome. Treadlie and a set of dumbells.
I'm 82. Stopped vanning Eyes gone = licence gone. But I still ride down to beach. Fishing and Marina. Spinning.
Have rowing machine in Garage. THE best exercise machine for old farts.. Believe me.
You breathing. KEEP moving. Arthritis may hurt. BUT moving it stops it seizing up altogether. Motorbike accident 30+ yrs ago. I know all about that.
And "loneliness????" I love it when I close the door with EVERYBODY else outside. I was a single hander sailor and distance runner all my life.
Nothing better than sailing straight out for a week with just the dog. Come back in coupla weeks later. Heaven. Just the dog and me.
The actual Getting away from people in the first place is the HARDEST thing to achieve usually. The things are everywhere.
Enjoy your life kid. It IS shorter than you think.
Dick0 said
04:48 PM Jul 30, 2023
How are you going Gaye?
Are things getting better and are you sorting things out ok?
strikeymate said
02:06 PM Aug 14, 2023
Ivan 01 wrote:
I have long ago stopped offering assistance to other caravanners. Being repeatedly told they can back it in even after 20 minutes of the backwards and forwards motions, Being expected to know where their awning equipment is stored and being expected to lift that equipment while they watch and bark indecipherable directions is now something I am not prepared to experience any more. Like others I have trouble getting up and down when winding stabilisers but with my equipment with my previous van, I had suitable tools to do the job without having to bend too far. The details could be an entire new topic.
From your need to have a drive through and coupled with your inability to do what is required it might be a wise suggestion that maybe caravanning is not for you.
Apart from the inconvenience and difficulty experienced in a caravan park, it is out on the road where inexperience can turn into tragedy in the blink of an eye. Handling a combination in the vicinity of 6 tonne in weight is not something anyone should be doing when suffering any type of disability or are out there without appropriate training and experience.
I have just recently undergone chemo treatment and subsequent recovery ( hopefully ) from cancer and I know that I am now not as strong as I was prior to the chemical being administered to control the disease. I actually ( sadly ) sold my van and will not get another one until I prove to myself that I am capable of performing all the tasks skilfully so as not to be an inconvenience a burden or a danger to others.
Wise advice... however, for the stubborn like myself, I soldier on because I love the camping too much.
-- Edited by strikeymate on Monday 14th of August 2023 02:07:08 PM
Wayne, thank you for your reply. Unlike you, I am about to lose a lot of money but after 4 falls in 4 weeks, I have decided that I shall abandon my plans of life-on-the-road. I feel that I would be a liability and decided that it was a wonderful dream but shall just take a couple of trips a year, depending on how much I can recover on the caravan and Landcruiser. Thanks, it would have been wonderful life but hey, it was fun planning.
Even when/if you sell your combo; unfortunately you will not be able to wander the great outback as you intended, but there are many tours that are almost as good as independent travel.
I wish you well whatever path/s you decide to take.
Hi Gaisie,
I have been traveling around OZ now for the past 10 Years,I have a motor home an old one .....like me I am 79 years of age.....but I think..30ss..
The thing I have mostly to say is there is always someone around to help.....just be positive and always look to the brighter side of life we are here only once so just go out there and enjoy.....Hope every thing works out....
Ash
Hi Gaisie
Like you I have now reached the big 70 & have severe arthritis in various places but especially my neck & hands which means I have very little strength or dexterity. Having just sold my house I now travel full time in my 8m Sunliner Motorhome on Mercedes Sprinter chassis. People have asked why I don't tow my little Suzuki Vitara & I always tell them I wouldn't be able to handle the hooking up process. I also sometimes feel a little envious of those in a car & caravan who can leave the van & go off touring wherever they want but again I know I could never handle the hook up process. My motorhome has all the comforts of home with a walk around bed & full ensuite, fresh & grey water tanks & I go most places I want to. I have an electric awning & I've discovered a wonderful tool, multigrips, to help with many things. My fuel tank filler cap is quite hard & I even had to ask a bloke to undo it for me once. I limit my driving to mostly under 200km a day as my hands get quite stiff & sore. Although I don't like asking for help there are times when I've had to for whatever reason & everyone I've met is very friendly & helpful. I love travelling & plan to continue for as long as is reasonably possible. When I feel unable to continue with the long trips I may downsize to a smaller van & do shorter getaways. Life can be diffficult but a privilege denied many so I plan to keep going as long as I can & hopefully when the time comes, I'll drop off the perch looking out over an amazing view somewhere along the road. Good luck with whatever you decide to do.
Many wonderful and helpful replies here. If you have no strength, consider a planned body strength-building program, including weights etc. One is never too old or 'weak' for this to be beneficial in building body strength
I'm 82. Stopped vanning Eyes gone = licence gone. But I still ride down to beach. Fishing and Marina. Spinning.
Have rowing machine in Garage. THE best exercise machine for old farts.. Believe me.
You breathing. KEEP moving. Arthritis may hurt. BUT moving it stops it seizing up altogether. Motorbike accident 30+ yrs ago. I know all about that.
And "loneliness????" I love it when I close the door with EVERYBODY else outside. I was a single hander sailor and distance runner all my life.
Nothing better than sailing straight out for a week with just the dog. Come back in coupla weeks later. Heaven. Just the dog and me.
The actual Getting away from people in the first place is the HARDEST thing to achieve usually. The things are everywhere.
Enjoy your life kid. It IS shorter than you think.
How are you going Gaye?
Are things getting better and are you sorting things out ok?
Wise advice... however, for the stubborn like myself, I soldier on because I love the camping too much.
-- Edited by strikeymate on Monday 14th of August 2023 02:07:08 PM