It's been a while since anyone posted on the solos forum so I thought I'd update the solo travelling public about how Plodnalong is getting on.
I last started a thread in Kalbarri in WA after a gentle drive from my last place of work (yes, some grey nomads still have to do that) in Cobram in Victoria at Easter. The Nullarbor was a lovely drive with my 25 year old petrol Patrol towing my 35 year old Chesney van. I loved the Indian ocean drive up from Perth to Carnarvon though Coral Bay and Exmouth were solid with ankle biters as it was the school hols when I went by. Bullara station stay was a highlight of that area. The trip north up to Broome along the coast is nothing special and why anyone would want to go into Port Hedland is beyond me. I liked Broome for its laid back atmosphere and beaches and the fact that it has a brewery though as a single it can be a dear place to stay. The west Kimberly scenery in general though was not particularly awesome unless you are really into flat dry scrubby views. Some may say you should have gone to ...... but I have to stick to the bitumen with my van and the way I went was what it was.
The drive from Broome over to Kunnunura was also quite dull until the east Kimberly region which was stunning. I was advised, probably sensibly, not to attempt the Bungle Bungles in my old Patrol so took a lovely helicopter trip from Turkey Creek. Expensive but worth it and if the couple who were also on the flight read this please send the photos that you said you'd send as the guy with the flash camera ended up in the front seat. Kunnunura I quite liked and still have a third of the bottle of rum from the Hoochery there. Lake Argyle was lovely.
I then headed over to Katherine in the NT and down towards Threeways via Daly Waters and Banka Banka, taking in hot springs in both Katherine and Mataranka. I took a young US hitch hiker chap across the Barkley to Mount Isa. Don't see many on the roads at all these days. Too much fear in the world now I guess.
From the Isa I went through Cloncurry and Charters Towers to the east coast. It's dry out there. Stopped in at Bowen to chat with a pal and down to Taylorwood between Proserpine and Airlie which is a lovely peaceful place at only $100 for a powered site for the week. I stayed there last winter for over two months but sadly it is no longer a nudist place, but still a nice place to stay. Travelling south I joined up with my son for a week in Rainbow Beach. He's worked the winter out at Goondiwindi and was learning to surf. I loved the kayak trip and seeing whales from 20m as well as dolphins and turtles. Now I'm in Nanango and heading south. Narrabri next I think, on the way to West Wyalong for some work in October.
It's been a lovely break from the work I have to do to finance my travels in this huge land and after nearly five years on the road I can now say I've seen some of the west.
I went round in an old 3 ltr Petrol Patrol with Car head and Turbo fitted. Towing a "really" Like $2.500 old. older Windsor. Many moons ago too. With a lady and her two girls. Never missed a beat.
Jeez. They'd be in their 30's now.
Didn't have a van at that time. Just the old Patrol for when ashore.
Full on living on Yacht and cruising.
She a friend. Wanted to take her kids round while they WERE kids (10yrs and 12)
I found an old reliable van. She bought.
I drove them round.
Was good fun. Those kids made it a different world.
They see EVERYTHING differently at that age.
Been up to new rigs. and now back to a '98 Coromal and 2000 D-Max.
People should realise. You DON'T NEED the newest. Flashest.
Just get what you have. Reliable. Van to suit. and go.
They all only a set of wheels with a bed. Cooker and sink in there. Basically. No matter what you pay for them.
Enjoy them hey.
-- Edited by macka17 on Wednesday 27th of September 2017 06:00:05 AM
Mate, you are so right at the end of the day it's just a bed on wheels with a cooker and sink.
Some have a toilet and shower. I have Nellie - the elephant in the room - my portaloo. Showers happen as and when.
A good mate has a recommendation for when travelling with kids (though it could work with some grownups): Get the kids to do their own diary of what they thought of every day, including the bad bits as well as the good. And then share them, if they are up for it, at happy hours on the road or when mum and dad are talking about the trip at the barbie three months down the line. These days a diary means a blog with photos and video for when the whole thing is bogged due to someone's stupidity and the kids have to edit out the adult swearing! A kid's point of view is fabulous because they see the whole thing through a completely different set of eyes.
Hi Hendo,
That's my next destination, if they will have me. I rang up Valley View in Cairns from Cloncurry and they said NO. Too many single blokes for their ratio and so I missed out. Or maybe they did.
I am heading through Narrabri and will ring over the weekend.
Hey Seadog,
As I said to some tourists out there, "if that doesn't touch you, you have got no soul". Those blowholes are just so awesome. Where are you now?
I got them a nice thick foolscap page book each. Several Photo albums. One for each State, Basically.
Gave them a reasonable. cheaper Nikon and 28-85 lens. Plus one of those talking into notemakers ea. To record items of the day.
Every evening after tea. 1 hr schooling (Pre recommended by each girls teacher) I processed shots in a mobile lab. They selected. I printed. and they added to Albums.
That way. They had whole day. EVERY day. to appreciate and absorb life in the real world. Still get their basic education (2 months) and get a little practice on organisational skills.
I hope they all still enjoying life to the full. Beautiful little kids. Then.
We have a Porta in this van. NEW.
SHower.
Van came with a side rail setup and collapsable sides\fr\top.in boot
2 rails and coupla hooks at top.
I bought one of those flip out Tut Tents. $70. 1+ x 1+ m and stand up.
Takes 2 ticks to erect and collapse.
AFTER,,,,,, You get the hand of where to hold to twist and collapse it
Chuckle. An experience the first coupla times.
It just disappears into your hands.
Have a HOT TAP HWS. Mounts (removably) on ext of van
Front L\h door. Fits on ext wall panel in front of door for gas bottle proximity.
Have run HW line to back for that fixed shower tent if needed.
Also use the HWS at poolside for washdowns. (Sal****er pool)
Very versatile.
Next door took it with them on fishing trip at 5 rocks
recently. Kept kids manageably sand free.
Those older rigs are more worry free than multi zillion $ latest ones, Ain't they.
More reliable. slower. cheap to replace and repair with bits everywhere.
I miss my GQ. Nicest of ALL of them I reckon.
Just a little skinny in cab compared to GU I found when changed up.
-- Edited by macka17 on Friday 29th of September 2017 07:12:59 AM
-- Edited by macka17 on Friday 29th of September 2017 07:15:10 AM
Plodnalong, currently been back in Adelaide the last couple weeks. Good chance to get a few little jobs done. Gave the van and tug a good clean. They are both a different color again. I changed the diesel heater tank over to a larger one, and put another solar panel up top. Never ran out of battery yet, but just making sure.
Cheers, John.
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