Just received my membership pack from CMCA. Lots of interesting stuff, but, reading their magazine, I've ended up feeling totally inadequate on behalf of my beloved Matilda. She doesn't have any of the mod cons that most people seem to think are absolute necessities - a toilet and shower being high on the list, along with a GPS, reversing camera, air cond, solar power, generators, inverters etc etc. Never mind, I think she's perfect anyway. And isn't part of the fun of being a grey nomad being able to get by without most of these?
On the subject of toilets in vans, and in my previous life as owner of a nudist retreat, we had a nasty experience with one of these. One of our guests emptied his chemical toilet into the septic system and killed all our lovely bacteria - cost us heaps to get it pumped out and working again. Some people are just so inconsiderate.
dave06 said
05:33 PM Aug 15, 2008
all the bells and whistles that some people think are a must have is nothing but extra weight, mostly bragging rights when they pull in to the next caravan paddock, once you start truly travelling you will find matilda is a fantastic conveyance, we have little blue, very few luxurys in there, we have roamed this great land up hill and down dale ( he didnt like that much I can tell you!!!! ) all up about 200,000 kms since we had her, and I wouldnt trade a second of it for a you beaut 32 footer with all mod cons, no hope in hell of getting a rig like that to most places we go, but all one needs is a bed and somewhere to cook, we, as you will, spend most of our time outside with other people, cook outside, eat outside, we only sleep inside, take the porta potty outside if we are far enough off the beaten track, had some of the most amazing toilet views you could imagine, dont belittle matilda, you and her will become best freinds and freinds dont do that to each other, enjoy what you have, you have a lot, a lot of people have a bloody sight less, be like the others and snub your nose at the tenters, anyway we are off tommorow, arkaroola here we come for 2 weeks, yeah I hear ya Basil "now someone else might get a word in!!!!"
Silver Fox said
05:42 AM Aug 18, 2008
Although a lot of people swear by the convenience having toilets and showers on board offer, I don't think you really don't need them and would even go so far as to say that not having them is actually a bonus. We've got some of our best advice and have met some of our best friends in the amenities block (or in the queue outside the drop toilets)! I may be a little late, but have a great trip, Dave. We'll be keen to hear whether you think the 'rock' has become too commericalised or if it is still an awe-inspiring experience.
On the subject of toilets in vans, and in my previous life as owner of a nudist retreat, we had a nasty experience with one of these. One of our guests emptied his chemical toilet into the septic system and killed all our lovely bacteria - cost us heaps to get it pumped out and working again. Some people are just so inconsiderate.
Although a lot of people swear by the convenience having toilets and showers on board offer, I don't think you really don't need them and would even go so far as to say that not having them is actually a bonus. We've got some of our best advice and have met some of our best friends in the amenities block (or in the queue outside the drop toilets)!
I may be a little late, but have a great trip, Dave. We'll be keen to hear whether you think the 'rock' has become too commericalised or if it is still an awe-inspiring experience.