We are heading off on our first shakedown trip on Saturday. Going from Brisbane to Gladstone (Inland) and coming back the bruce highway. This will be our chance to test everything and do any adjustments before we head off in January
hate to burst your bubble about sorting out every thing in your shake down trip, I think you will find continuous change in the way you do things, but thats just me. Good excuse for a trip but you dont need one of those either. Enjoy your journey cheers blaze
Hope all goes well I remember our very first trip away- was so funny. Came home and threw heaps of stuff out of the van, changed our chairs and bedding. After the Second trip, got rid of the annex, got a roll out awning. Third trip, changed vans.
We are heading off on our first shakedown trip on Saturday. Going from Brisbane to Gladstone (Inland) and coming back the bruce highway. This will be our chance to test everything and do any adjustments before we head off in January
Safe travels and good luck.
May I suggest a stopover at Calliope on the river. It is a nice freebie, toilets no showers. It is in behind the Pioneer Village which is also worth a look.
wow changed vans!!! eeekk!! hope our first trip with the coaster is okkies... mind you after wandering around wa in a car I think the bus will be 5 star to us!!!
Best of luck, I'm two months into shakedown cruise, taken down inside table, always sit outside or balance computer on lap, lol have the cooking stuff I don't need but after sorting out some electrical problems its been great so I hope yours goes as well as mine
Just returned from the same trip, inland is scenic ,no pressure but the Bruce H'wy, well it's a less than pleasurable trip. Make sure that you pre-book if you intend to stay in Gladstone for a day or two, LNG has put extreme pressure on poor old Gladdie with about 100% occupancy in every C/P.
There are a few holiday spots kept at Tannum and maybe at Boyne Is. but if you use C/P's check first
Hope all goes well I remember our very first trip away- was so funny. Came home and threw heaps of stuff out of the van, changed our chairs and bedding. After the Second trip, got rid of the annex, got a roll out awning. Third trip, changed vans.
LOL
Rosie
Yep, we can relate to that. we'd already done 2 trips before this long one and threw out stuff of all kinds, but now theres still too much. Part of it is our fault, bought new chairs but Mr D thought the old ones might be useful at home, so they are going home with us. And lately we are starting to think we'll get a different van.
Good luck, hope you can get it all sorted this trip!
Enjoy the trip, safe travelling, as for the shake down I dont think it ever ends, the wants & needs change as life changes along the way. Well thats my excuse,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,I think LOL
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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"
When I bought my van I'd lived in my old van for 8 years but it was too old and too big to go anywhere. I'd also stored more "stuff" than I needed. So it was time to trim down when I moved into the newer van which took me 18 months to find. I'd travelled with another friend and I wanted a similar layout to his van because it was ideal for me. I bought this one on ebay. It still suits me and I haven't accumulated any unwanted clutter, and I have a regular clean out of anything I haven't used or worn for more than a year. That's life. I used to live like that in a house with the kids at home. I don't do clutter and I can't hoard.
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20ft Roma caravan - Mercedes Benz Sprinter - SA-based at the moment. Transport has no borders.
Management makes the decisions, but is not affected by the decisions it makes.
Boroma Calliope is the Greek muse of epic poetry so A&D if you go through there we will expect a fine speel of verse detailing your adventures and experiences... Always good to declutter very healthy for the mind and spirit. Hope you enjoy the trip.
Everyone seems to do things differently don't they? I have friends who travel regularly and they have done all of the above. Some are on their third rig!!!! One couple changed in mid trip !!! I too am about to head off in about 6 weeks. What I have is what I will use. Compact but it's just for me and I'm not sleeping on the ground........have done the tent thing for years and this is a step up literally. I guess with each trip I will find what I need and what I don't . It is a strictly highway van but that suits for now. There is so much to see out there it will take me quite a while to run out of highways. I have taken it to the Murray and down short dirt roads etc but down the long tracks, I don't think so. It's just exciting to be able to head off anywheere. Got a new grandee arriving in November so that is my first stop. Head up and help with the other two boys. It is very exciting to read what you re all doing and where you have been and are heading. Thanks to you all. Cheers Tess