I was just getting my daily fix of the nomads website and thought about back when i was a city dweller (many years ago) when going from one side of the city to get something on the other side was such a long way to go. How things change when you have spent time on the open road. Only 4 more weeks and we are off to the Eyre and Streaky Bay (my little slice of heaven) and i always tell people no its not far only 1700k. When I am there I have to duck up to Ceduna to find a nursery to buy some plants for our very bare front yard of our house that is finally finished its only 120k to ceduna and after long trips is like going to the corner store. My grown up children who are very urbanised want to know where the nearest airport is so they can visit when in two years we finally move there. They are shocked its a whole hour away so far to them. They look at me strangely when i talk about how handy it will be to live there and can zip up through the centre to Darwin or across the nullabor to the west for camping trips whenever we feel like it. So how far is too far? Not very far at all.

hey cheryl, hope you dont mind a boring old half a show man answering you, but the miles thing is a funny animal, the distances one covers when travelling is a strange phenomenom, I have done 1700kms in a 24 hour day in a 75 model nissan patrol (when I was young and stupid) and on the other hand, taken (according to my old and tattered logbook) 3 days to do 17 kms, that was in the days when we travelled up to the top of cape york , just after the bulldozers put the exploretory roads through, some were not even tracks, time wasnt exactly an issue in "wait a while" country, we did the Gibb river track before it was a road back in the seventies, we were inspired by the likes of malcolm douglas and bindy was his dog, not some stupid little half bred snotty nose brat with no life, colonel les hiddens was bashing his way through arhnem land finding his "bush tucker"  the places they went and the things they did, my god I was totally enthralled and captured forever more, tainted, one might say, I am still, I still remember watching malcolm catching huge fish with nothing more than tin foil as bait and the huge tidal exchange of one particular spot of the kimberleys, I have since seen it for myself and I will tell all and sundry it is " MIND BLOWINGLY MAGNIFICENT" the leyland brothers were nothing short of inspirational, "ask the leylands, ask the leylands, ask the leyland brothers" sorry got carried away there, the kids of today just dont seem to have the travellust or adventure spirit that we had, and probably it is a good thing, the things that we did and the chances we took looking back now, were absolutely stupid and iresponsible, how did we survive, but the adventure is still out there, shrinking by the year and I feel they and any other non travellers are missing out on the real "life",  it is not to be found on widescreen t.v.'s or in the $500,000 house when all is said and done it is all meaningless, I'll shut up now or risk being berated by another non participant in life

-- Edited by dave06 at 13:57, 2008-09-04

G'day,

I don't count the miles anymore, we just travel until I feel like stopping for a rest or something takes my eye and we stop for a look, if we don't get there today we will arrive tomorrow or the day after or whenever we do arrive, we are retired and like to think we have all the time in the world but then maybe him up above may have a different idea so we ( the wife and me) will just keep going off to some place or another for as long as we enjoy it.

Best Regards and Safe Travelling.
John

I raed the forum every day, but like many others have not bothered to write before now, lazy buggar really. Dave I love to read your comments, and keep sending em, but I disagree with you that the youngsters dont have the will to travel anymore. Times have changed and not always for the better, but with air travel being so good many youngsters these days choose to go overseas for a few years and good luck to them. This wasn't so readily available in my day. For me there is so much here to see, I'm finished going overseas, plus they all speak our language here. Good travelling to all,Keith

Jrh, you my freind have hit my life goal smack dead centre, dont count the miles, enjoy the drive, and kesue, yep air travel is such that the dragon and I actually did a bit a few years ago, frightened the living crap out of me I dont mind saying and I will not fly again, but if the youngsters are flying out to holiday elsewhere then that is great, as long as they are going, life is not just about work, a wise old feller told me years ago that "one works to live, not lives to work" my son will not take time off for any reason he just works, works and then works some more, but if there are young players out there travelling they will get nothing but support and praise from me and quite a few have already, but one doesnt hear about the "big adventures" from them anymore and thats a worry, perhaps t.v. is to blame, "the great outdoors" for instance seems to focus more on overseas than it does home, or is that just my slant, I love australia, it is the greatest land and people on earth, I would fight to defend any inch of it in an eyeblink, why people would make travel shows on china for instance is beyond me, the people are just so brainwashed that they suspect everything that a person wants to do for them, the japanese are so childlike, if one does them a kindness then they are forever giving you thanks, the rest of the world is so backward that it makes my eyes water, americans are so far up themselves and so thick I feel sorry for the lot of them, give me an aussie "G'DAY mate" and that will do me, but as I say I am very protective of my fantastic, open, ever aweinspiring native land, yeh O.K. I hear you, Down Dave

well hello to you rosey, and a great big old warm welcome I and many others extend to you, stay a while have a read and a laugh or two and throw in a few of your own, miles and kilometres dont really mean that much out bush either, ask a local up around birdsville about distances and he will sprout days of travel and look at you funny if you say how far is that in kilometres, sydney, melbourne, oh god my hair just went a little greyer just thinking about taking a 7 mtr motorhome through there, think I will give them a wide berth as usual

Spent time in the NT, when I first got there I said to a fellow worker who had been there a years or so "how far is it to Berry Springs" Answer: 3cans Humptydoo Answer : 4 cans Just another perspective to measuring distance traveled

Dave you have certainly had some great adventures. Today Im not counting the miles I'm counting the days to be on the road because getting there is lots of fun. I do have to do a quick trip to Sydney before we hitch up the camper again but it doesnt compare with travelling the open road. Stopping on the highway near your home town to stock up on fresh fruit and check for new graffitti on the tanks outside Port Augusta although they are not a very pretty landmark they are one that reminds me everytime I go by im not too far from the bay and every person on the road from that point greets you with a great aussie wave. I cant wait to do the miles

dave06 wrote:

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Jrh, you my freind have hit my life goal smack dead centre, dont count the miles, enjoy the drive, and kesue, yep air travel is such that the dragon and I actually did a bit a few years ago, frightened the living crap out of me I dont mind saying and I will not fly again, but if the youngsters are flying out to holiday elsewhere then that is great, as long as they are going, life is not just about work, a wise old feller told me years ago that "one works to live, not lives to work" my son will not take time off for any reason he just works, works and then works some more, but if there are young players out there travelling they will get nothing but support and praise from me and quite a few have already, but one doesnt hear about the "big adventures" from them anymore and thats a worry, perhaps t.v. is to blame, "the great outdoors" for instance seems to focus more on overseas than it does home, or is that just my slant, I love australia, it is the greatest land and people on earth, I would fight to defend any inch of it in an eyeblink, why people would make travel shows on china for instance is beyond me, the people are just so brainwashed that they suspect everything that a person wants to do for them, the japanese are so childlike, if one does them a kindness then they are forever giving you thanks, the rest of the world is so backward that it makes my eyes water, americans are so far up themselves and so thick I feel sorry for the lot of them, give me an aussie "G'DAY mate" and that will do me, but as I say I am very protective of my fantastic, open, ever aweinspiring native land, yeh O.K. I hear you, Down Dave

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G'day Dave,
I have also tried air travel a few times and must admit I do not like it one little bit, there is nothing to do, nothing to see other than clouds and my life is in the hands of some stranger up the front of the plane.

He was a wise man who said "one works to live, not lives to work" Another once told me the average aussie spends far to much time earning a living to make money, well as long as I can put food in the belly, fuel in the car and spend some time exploring this wonderful country we call Australia I will be as happy as a pig in the proverbial.

Am off to Kalbarrie on Wednesday 10th Sept for a few weeks and then next March we are heading off again for a little trip around the block, only have a 1993 falcon wagon and a 1986 15 foot Jayco Songbird but we will enjoy every second of the trip.

The Great Outdoors does seem to focus on overseas destinations more than when they first started out but I think it is what the younger set seem to want.  Maybe the fact I was raised in Zimbabwe and learned to love the bush out there that makes me want to spend more time exploring Australia, the younger set seem far more interested in o/s destinations, maybe they find them more exotic but quite frankly I believe we have a far better lifestyle and better beaches and much more safety here in Aus.

Best regards and safe travelling
John.

g'day John, your 93 falcon and your jayco is what I see absolutely everywhere, including far outback and way up north and west, the models change and the years but the vehicles are still the same, I seen a modified falcon (four wheel drive and raised suspension) half way up cape york, it was towing a van, dont remember the brand but oh boy it did the trip, dont tell me they cant take the rough stuff, half your luck as far as going around the block is concerned I must hold my horses for another couple of years and then I will be touring around and up and over and under and through (what a happy little vegemite I will be), all I live for apart from family, as the song goes, turn me loose, as for air travel, it wasnt boredom it was sheer bloody terror, if the window could open, I swear I would have jumped out at 15,000 feet, flying in to tasmania we struck turbulance over some mountain range just out of launceston, it was all I could do to stop myself from from running up and down the aisle yelling let me out, let me out, I am not a flyer, it was quite literally a war within myself

G'day Dave,

I know exactly what you mean about sheer bloody terror, December 24th 1974 we were in transit from Perth to Johannesburg and copped the turbulance from cyclone Tracy, while we had tailwinds all the way the bloody plane very near stood on it's nose a few times and I can tell you I was in the loo checking my underware on more than one occasion, like you if I could have jumped out I would have without a second thought.  Now I stay on the ground and travel at a much more sedate pace and thank God I am still here to smell the roses and enjoy this great country we live in and I guess my favourite song now must surely be "Don't Fence Me In" from Annie get Your Gun.

I believe I read in one of your messages that you are from Port Pirie, whilst I have not had the pleasure of visiting Port Pirie, will make a point of visiting there next year, we lived in Adelaide for seven years, used to camp on the shores of Lake Bonney in Barmera during the summer break, only had a tent in those days, bet we couldn't do that today.

Those 2 years will fly by my friend and then I'm sure you will be here, there and everywhere.  It is strange when I think about it but before retiring I couln't wait for my 65th birthday to come around, I was wishing my life away so to speak, now I want it to slow down a bit so I can tour around a lot more, never satisfied that's my problem.

Best Regards and Safe Travelling.
John

the last time I was at lake bonney it had been used as a storage pool for all the logs burnt during ash wednesday something about placing them in water reduces the rot or whatever, you wouldnt want to go there now as it is almighty polluted, we also camped there quite a few times amongst the small trees and around the sand dunes, a lot of happy memories there but not now, I will not be aging once I am retired, I made up my mind about that a long time ago, we are going at 55 which may seem young but we will be self funded and working as we need to, as my description reads we have been caring for our cerebral palsy son for what will soon be 30 years, my father and his father before him, died before their 65th birthday so I want to have a bit of life myself, before I kick the proverbial, I have done the seven day a week work thing, heavy equipment, with contractors, dozers, loaders and scrapers, all the big stuff and I am paying for it now, that is how I was able to travel when I was younger, big money lot of time in between contracts, but we are so tied down now, we only get 6 weeks respite a year so we are very restricted, but in a couple of years look out

G'day Dave,

I heard on the grapevine that Lake Bonney was poluted but didn't realise they had used it as a storage pool, to be honest I was looking forward to revisiting it next year, probably will still have a look but may camp at Berri and just drive in for a quick looksee.

I know all about seven days a week, I am sorry to say been there, done that, it was one of the reasons I had my accident, too tired to concentrate properly, accident ended up costing me most of my super so we have had to settle for the pension.  I had the accident in 1986 and was put on the Disability pension along with all it's restrictions so we could only travel a little until I turned 65, I am not complaining or whinging just stating what happened.

My father died in a car smash aged 44 on the 4th September 1958, my mother died aged 76 on the 4th September 1990 so if I get past 4th September I reckon I've got another year to travel, thank God today is the 5th September.

Dave 55 is not too young to retire, after looking after your son for almost 30 years I believe you and your wife deserve a break, I know quite a few people who would have given up a long time before that, it can't have been easy.

Best Regards and Safe Travelling.
John.

mate you got my sympathy, as for my life being hard, yep sure is but wouldnt change it for the world just as yet, wont relinquish the legalities of him even when we place him in care, so we will keep coming back every year, dont let me put you off going to lake bonney, still a great spot but just dont go for a dip or you wil start glowing or something, I spent 5 years down the south east when it used to be wet, rain for 5 days and drip off the trees for the other two, I had a few mates help me put the naracoorte highway in, I was on a wabco twin power scraper, and then moved over to casterton where I was an eco vandal, spent 3 years clearing trees for a contractor on a d9g dozer, I love the bottom of our country, I also love the top of our country and all the bits in between, the south east is always a great place to visit, the blue lake is mesmerising with it's colour changes and the naracoorte caves are fantastic, bool lagoon, great camp there, piccaninie ponds, spent many a night in that camp, head over to kingston and cape jaffa (have a look at the marina they are building there), you wont be dissapointed, tantanoola caves, great country, too little time

G'day Dave,

Have been a bit busy preparing for our next little trip to Kalbarrie, and this one is only a short trip unfortunately, we keep expecting a call from Adelaide to say B/inlaw is getting worse, he has Pancreatic Cancer poor bugger, makes my few aches and pains seem rather insignificant by comparison.

Irona's relations live in SA, we came to this great country to get away from them all and then they followed us, must have run over a Chinaman hey!lol.  All I can say is thank God there is not enough room in the caravan.

As you say, your life has been hard but to quote an old cliche "What doesn't kill us makes us stronger" and in a couple of years time you will reap the rewards of a lifetime of commitment and hard work, good on ya mate.

We visited some of the places you mention when we lived in SA and are looking forward to having another looksee next year but unfortunately will have to give the Tantanoola Caves a miss, Irona (swhmbo) suffers from claustrophobia and no amount of pleading and grovelling will get her into one.  Will also be going to take another look at Milang, Lake Alexandrina, Port Elliot, Victor Harbour among other places and hope to get a bit of fishing in at Waipinga Beach, I used to fish there a lot when I was younger, also at Daly Heads on the York Peninsular.

Anyway pal, hope you had a great Fathers Day and you never know we may run into one another next year.

Best Regards and Safe Travelling.
John

we can only hope we run into each other at some stage, I would dearly love to have a "big gathering" of the nomads somewhere at some stage, oh boy the stories that would roll from a meeting like that, fathers day with a cerebral palsy child is always a great day, they are so happy and easy going it makes my eyes water, I dont blame your rellies chasing you here, best country on earth, hope your b/law has a bit of luck, only one good thing in hospitals, thats the bed bath, but then I used to always get the big matron when it was my turn. my life was and still is not hard, I dont regret a thing the hard times made the good times better, the long hours made the long travel far more enjoyable, wouldnt miss any of it for quids

G'day dave,

You are one in a million my friend and I sincereley hope we do meet up one day so I can shake your hand, it is very rarely one finds someone who has been through it all and comes out the other end a better and nicer person for the experience.

I must admit your statement regarding Father's day with a cerebral palsy child actually brought tears to my eyes.

I have just received visitors so will have to go for now.

Best Regards and Safe Travelling.
John