Been lurking for a bit, thought I'd join, and here I am. I'm Ross, the wife is Dawn.
We hail from Newcastle NSW and sadly, are still working, but get the van out when we can. Hoping to toss work in in about 5 years time too, I'll probably be saying that in 5 years time too.
Had a Coleman Camper in the 1980's when the kids were young. Was great, but from memory, every time we used it, I had to either put it up or pack it away in the rain. After deciding that it would be better just to pull up and plug in, we sold the Coleman and bought a Viscount Grand Tourer pop top. That lasted 10 years or so. Unfortunately I lost my job and I needed to sell a few things to pay the mortgage and bills. The caravan had to go.
About eight years ago, after the kids had all flown the coop, we decided to get into caravanning again. Ended up with a 15 foot by 7 foot Millard pop top. Did some local trips, and some distance ones, Newcastle to Adelaide down the Hume, across the Murray Valley Highway to Adelaide, then returned via Ballarat, Melbourne, Bairnsdale and then up the NSW south coast. Another trip Newcastle to Hervey Bay and return.
The Millard was a bit squeezy so we started to look around for something a little bigger, had a look at the Sydney Supershow last year and was offered a deal we couldnt refuse on a 17 foot Imperial pop top. Again several local trips and one up the NSW north coast, another the NSW south coast.
Whilst still working can only get four weeks annual leave a year. Try to take two weeks touring and two weeks parked at a beach somewhere.
Thats about it.
Oh by the way, have three kids, all married, and between them we have five grandchildren, with another on the way, which could be today. Woohoo...
Cheers Ross
-- Edited by rosco on Tuesday 10th of August 2010 03:09:09 PM
Welcome to the Forum and joining us 'grey nomads'. You sound much like us, except with a bit of luck Peter will retire at the end of the year. We purchased a second hand off-road campertrailer back in 07, have kept that for when we have the time (?) to head out to Cameron's Corner and/or up The Cape. At the beginning of 09 we purchased a pre-loved 17'6" Mayfair by Regent caravan and doing much the same as you. At the moment we are at Tambo in central west Qld on a 5 week trip around the state. Will be home in about 2 weeks time.
Pete & June
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Pejay are travelling in a 2014 Holden Colorado LTZ Twin Cab Ute + 2013 Coromal Element van
We have just retired and brought our first caravan, a 25 ft jayco to travel in. travel will be our home now as we sold up our farm etc for the life on the road we hear so much about.
Count down for us, 9 days to go till we drive out the gate for the last time. Ballarat is an hour from us. We are looking forward to heading North, I am over the cold wet stuff down here. We have no kids, just 2 little dogs and 2 young birds, so can be amusing at times.
-- Edited by freehazzas on Tuesday 10th of August 2010 04:27:31 PM
another couple of newbies here, Stan and Pat. Just sold the business, 7 weeks to final settlement and then its the house with lots of garage sales. Having a van built in the states, much cheaper and then theres the cruiser to buy and all the other little bits and pieces. Never thought it would be such hard work to retire and hit the road but I think it will all be worth it, can't wait. See you out there maybe.
Welcome to all the new members, you sound like alot of us, we all start off with some thing small & work our way up to bigger & better things.
Hope you all enjoy the travell bug,there is only one cure for it & that is to travellwhile we can, there will be time to sit & watch the grass grow later.
There is a lot of people on here with lots of knowledge to be shared around.Hope you enjoy the forum.
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Be your self; there's no body better qualified ! "I came into this world with nothing , I still have most of it"
Pete & June, retiring at the end of the year. Half your luck. Camerons Corner is on my wish list, as is Birdsville, the Cape, the Nullabor, come to think of it, anywhere will do.
Kerri and Paul. 9 days and counting down, probably 8 days now. Half your luck too. Ballarat eh. Have been there a few times, nice place but damn cold. Spent a few days there last October on the way back from Adelaide. Woke up with ice all over the car, had to chip it off the windscreen, the wipers wouldnt work, heard on the radio that they were expecting a maximum of 4 degrees. Thats cold.....
Stan and Pat. Half your luck too. 7 weeks. Hope you have better luck with your van than my previous next door neighbour. Bought a van from USA, I think he got it on ebay. Shipped it over. When he got it here he couldnt register it for a variety of reasons, most of which I've probably forgotton. The main one was the door. It was on the wrong side. He had some kind of issue with the gas and electrics too. Sat in front of his yard for ages. Ended up selling the house and moving to another suburb. Got no idea what happened to the van.
When you get to the point of crossing the Nullabor, don't forget to chuck the golf clubs in the back! The 18 hole 'course' apparently is up and running - a hole at each roadhouse and a few other places as well. You can start at either Ceduna or Calgoorlie (?) or vise versa and your card is marked along the way - can't wait ourselves, just a little longer.
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Pejay are travelling in a 2014 Holden Colorado LTZ Twin Cab Ute + 2013 Coromal Element van
HE he when someone finds the warmth of the sun will they please send a jar of it down here to Sydney, its almost as cold as Ballarat at the moment.....
Hoo Roo Happy days...
Grumps
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LEAVE THE PLACE IN A BETTER CONDITION THAN YOU FOUND IT !!!
Hi everyone , I am a newbie too. had a 12ft viscount Grand Tourer but now have a 18ft Cormal 2005 model. What a difference. We look to retire in 4years hubby is 63 andI am 62.Really cant wait to travell without time restictions. Plaaning a trip from Adelaide to Geelong Via Halls Gap and home via the Coast road next yeay . Such a long time to wait Safe travelling all who are heading out soon. Cheers Barb
We spent nearly a week at Halls Gap, after we left we reckoned we could have stayed there another week. Top spot.
By the way, I think your post may get lost in amongst this thread. Why dont you pop into "Start a new post" at the top of this page and tell us about yourself there.
Wellcome, we all so did the big sell up lets go have been on the road since may it's greeeeeeat know don't forget that happy hour will you. I also can't wait to play the big 18 hole coures will be there in @ march
currently in Airlie Beach next stop Rollingstone
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Chris & Joan toyta prado & traveller Belair home town Gawler s.a "Living the Dream"
reading all your posts makes me very impatient to get going. 8 days and counting. Rosco, i too love Halls Gap, we walked up the Pinnicle, nearly killed me, but oh boy, what a great walk it was. Would love to do it again if my body would cope.
Funny things those golf clubs. They were the first thing to be packed in the van under the bed. I am sure hubby was worried i would leave them behind. he he
Hi Barb. Have lived most of my life around Geelong I try to avoid it now, a real rat race. The coast is nice. We are 40 mins from Apollo bay where we live so often go down there.
If you do it about this time next year and stop off in Warnambool, the whales are intown. Great to see, they come right into shore at times and play.
Hi Grumpy, would send sun up, but we dont have any. gggrrrr
We have just retired and brought our first caravan, a 25 ft jayco to travel in. travel will be our home now as we sold up our farm etc for the life on the road we hear so much about.
Count down for us, 9 days to go till we drive out the gate for the last time. Ballarat is an hour from us. We are looking forward to heading North, I am over the cold wet stuff down here. We have no kids, just 2 little dogs and 2 young birds, so can be amusing at times.
-- Edited by freehazzas on Tuesday 10th of August 2010 04:27:31 PM
nine days, lucky you, we have 11 months - but there is still so much to do.....
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DUNMOWIN is no longer on the road and still DUNMOWIN!
