We had our first big trip all planned, departing Adelaide around 15th Jan for the southern part of WA returning early June. Have now been informed that we need to be in Brisbane early March for a family birthday.
The way I see it I have three options, carry on as planned (not really an option if i want to stay in the good books with the better half ), go west and put the rig into storage somewhere for a week and fly north or just go north and do the west next time.

Looking for advice on which would be the best way north at that time of year.

thanks

Gary

My Advice!!!

Just do as you are told young fella!!!

Gary, I went thru this exact scenario..... SWMBO's mother turned 80 in Sydenee and we were in Wonga Beach.....
Drove back to Cairns, put the Jack & Van into Crystal Springs Park and flew back to Sydenee, partied and returned to our trip.... A pain in the bum especially as the "party Girl" has dementia and did not have a clue who I was....
In your case I'd reckon the sensible thing to do (and the most cost effective) would be to put off your trip, go to the party and do the West later.... Alternatley you could go to Brisbane and return to your planned trip via another route, the north ( especially the tropics) are no place  to spend the wet, unless you like growing webbed feet......
At the same time I would also be making noises about your magnamimity, brownie points are unfortunatley FOR US BLOKES A FACT OF LIFE!!!
I envy those of us without rigourous family ties who understand that someones birthday is not an excuse to throw a spanner in the regular works of life....
Life is like a roll of toilet paper, the closer it gets to the end the faster it goes....

-- Edited by Basil Faulty at 11:44, 2008-07-27

mate how close are you to this "family member" anything like me you have dozens of the buggers and they all want you there at the gatherings, if I was to accept every invitation I would be going nowhere, as for putting off a trip to go to one that doesnt even remember you forget it !!!!!, life is too short, yeh I hear those out there saying "oh but little Johnny is only one once" who cares, you wont be there at his hundredth either, if you are going to be in a little bit of poo with mum for a short while, (been there before, will be again) compared to missing out on the great southern rainforests of the west so be it,  she will, in time get over it, you may be dead tomorrow, will they all put their partys off to go to your funeral?? I live to travel, take travel away from me and I might as well be dead.

In our case we would never let a family birthday control our life.  With modern technology you can be at the birthday on a webcam or mobile phone for a time.  Personally I think those that let family or grand children control their lives and waste their precious time left on planet earth need help.  My wife and I come first to each other, and everybody else and everything is secondary.  To us a family members birthday party whichever one it is would be unimportant and not even be something to consider to change our plans.  Some may say we are selfish, perhaps we are, but so be it.  The only thing that would ever cause us to change our plans would be our daughters wedding- nothing else would.

   GO WEST YOUNG MAN & WOMAN.

time to find out how committed your other half is to the concept of round australia trip. i have spent many years overseas during important dates and in some ways regret but we can only do as well as we can do. if your other half is not committed to round australia tour except in theory you need to find this out. if they are really interested but need to do birthday put them on plane or bus and tell rellies you have to mind your belongings. we are not all siamese twins. i think it is very foolish for any of us to never as our partner questions and find out where we stand as we could end up on our own.