well, its funny how time and things change, and life I guess too.
initially when dad thought of travelling around in a caravan and 4wd he then decided for
"The Tardis" (our 23ft 2008 jayco motor home, any ways I was at the beginning very excited , but then all the crap I got from the family for supporting him etc, I can now understand there fears etc, and even my own.
But now this new year I said to dad, lets just go, if the family arnt happy then fine ,just be there when we do need them..
any ways dad and i have a couple small trips planned, so far
We have the mudgee trip booked ready , but in the mean we going possibly to
Old Adaminaby NSW for a fishing trip for a week,
then maybe melbourne to see some friends.
and maybe wilpena pound??any one been there? latley?
also a possiblity to go to Broken Hill
and also another trip back to see my mums remaining relies which we usually do once a year...
now for our big trip were planning for next year, but not sure yet whens the best time to go..
we are kind of thinking of going to in either direction,
Say from Nowra to Alice springs via port augusta etc then up to Darwin, then back down to broome wa and eventually down to Albany , back across the nulabor and eventually home , as i said in either direction we dont care..
nothing is set in stone and we can go when and where we want, but just some ideas in our head , we got a great motorhome , got 3years warrenty on it and just need to add some Ks to it.. and just enjoy our selves, I dont know how long I got dad around for and at 86 and me 40 this year we should make the most of our time together...
Milo, you can drive to the ends of the earth and back again if thats what you both feel at the time. I think that it is sensational that your dad at 86 does not consider himself 'too old' to go on these runs. Good on both of you. We have a friend Doug who is 92 this year and each year he drives his 14ft pop top with his Ford sedan up from NSW to spend winter on the beaches in the Cairns area. He recons that as long as he can see and hear he wants to see and hear more of this country.
Milo what a lovely way to look after your Dad.I hope my son will treat me the same way.Thanks for sharing mate.Say hello to your dad and wish him good health from us.Cheers.Ibbo.
What a lucky man your dad is to have a son like you. Go for it milo while your dad can, i lost my when he was 60 and that was 18 years ago life is too short to sit and wonder should i or shouldn't i.
I can only endorse the previous posts to this thread and express my utmost admiration for you and your Dad. Helping your Dad get the most out of his remaining years is a wonderful thing to do and your lives will be richer for it. I was able to spend a bit of "quality" time with my mother and father in their later years, mainly boating and fishing in Dad's case, and after they passed on in the mid 90s I cherish the memories of the good times we had.
Unfortunately there seems to be a community attitude that the elderly should sit around in some sort of God's waiting room rather than getting out and getting a life to the best of their (declining) abilities.
-- Edited by jimricho on Sunday 31st of January 2010 05:43:08 PM
Make every day count. I lost my Dad when he was only 53, 29 years ago. Not too many memories there for me, still those I do have are good ones.
Don't listed to the "knockers" go out there and enjoy !!!!!!!
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Guru & Ma Ulladulla NSW Happy day, safe travelling Ford Ranger towing 21ft Jurgen shower and toilet which was large enough to fit in a few extras (fridge, bed, stove...)
the pound itself has a good park....http://www.wilpenapound.com.au/..........but will not allow animals in simply because it's a national park, you may stop at rawnsley park station which is just back from wilpena pound........http://www.rawnsleypark.com.au/.........which do allow dogs and you may be able to get someone to watch him for a while when investigating wilpena
there is also a free camp just outside the national park which is a large parking bay, plenty of folks go in there to save the cost of wilpena so you may be able to get someone to mind the pooch while you have a look then return the favour
road conditions are excellent, bitumen all the way with very good causeways, there are free camps all the way up through here if you go the old main north road route, up through Adelaide to clare, then yakka, Georgetown, Gladstone, stone hut (pastys and cuppas) wirrabara, melrose (camp at either goyders line which is free or in the oval, low cost with power) quorn (free camp out at the dutchmans stern) then Wilmington, and hawker then Rawnsley and wilpena
