Good God

I have been wittering on about doing this for years!  I thought I had it sussed, I thought I had a good idea, but no, I have NO idea!!

Having read lots of messages and banters, and queries, especially from other women such as Bubs and Cruising Granny and Bamphoto, I realise that despite how many Global miles I have covered I am a compelte novice in this arena!!

Thank you for sharing your stuff, and thank you for making me realise that I probably need the year that I have to get everything ready for a safe and wondeful journey.

It's good to know if you guys are out there, people like me will hopefully do OK.  But for now it's back to basics, get the right rig, the right communciation toys, the right amount of water, petrol v diesel, licences, by golly the list is never ending.

Any tips will be gratefully received.  Thank you.

Sorry Bamphoto, I know you are a man, that read wrong!

Jeez, Sophie, you're going to take all the fun out of it. Half of the pleasure in nomad-ing is the self-flagellation when you realize that you brought the CD player, but left the cord at home, or stocked up with 6 kilos of 11 different sorts of pasta, but forgot the strainer. The one ESSENTIAL when doing these trips is a notebook, to record all the "I should have packed a . . . ) and, more importantly, the things that you packed because you were sure you would need, but didn't use. In this way, by the time you're ready to fall off the perch, you will have a perfect set-up. At the moment, I have 8 milk crates full of "stuff" under the bed - 90 percent of which I haven't touched in 3 months. All it's doing is using up diesel which I can't afford. The main objective of travelling is the fun in getting there, the wonderful sights and sounds when you get there, and the friends you meet along the way - everything else can be either corrected later or put down to experience. Don't, don't, don't put the trip of until things are "perfect", they never will be and you'll never go. Take a punt with what you think you will need and GO. Sort the rest out later.

yep!! agree with that, jump in and learn to swim as you go, bestest way!! sit down and write out everything that you will need, and then write out everything that you might need and then everything that you dont need, then tear it all up grab your blanky and pillow and a tent and just nick off, you will quickly learn what is and is not necesary!!

Sorry Sophie , none of really know what we are doing, but what the hell, sit in and share the mistakes, then we will have another teacher

We all have our way of doing things. Pack all the stuff you think you'll need, and if you haven't used it for 6 months, get rid of it. Remember, while you're on the road the shops are open. What you haven't packed you can buy. Don't take heaps of fuel and water unless you're planning on taking to the Simpson Desert, Canning Stock Route or similar isolated adventure highways. It will only take up space and add weight your fuel guage will reflect. An extra spare tyre for the van and the vehicle could be a wise inclusion. I know there are a lot of kms between roadhouses on some the outback highways like the Nullarbor, the Great Northern Highway in WA, the Barcly Highway in Qld, and those sorts of long hauls. And you can park up and camp at the roadhouses, for a small fee. Blow outs happen when you least expect them. I also have a tyre repair kit for "justin" .... just in case I need it. Correct tyre pressure is much more important. Knowing your rig is vital. Don't rely on others to do it for you. Your peace of mind as you cruise down the road depends on your knowledge of your vehicle and van. Then all you have to do it load it correctly etc. etc. etc. I don't want to tell you how to suck eggs, but shared knowledge can only be a good thing. With you fave CD's in the stacker should keep you smiling for a long way. Happy planning. Cheers Granny

My first laugh of the week! (Mike47). I suspect he's right Sophie - it's best not to know. Now that the evenings are cooler here, I could have sworn I put my trackies in. But no. Now that's slack. (and important).  I can promise you: the older you get. The more you know. The less you know. (This forum is my bible)
Cheers

Ah Suenami, where did you leave those trackies? Now that's the advantage of towing your home around the country. My trackies are packed with my winter gear under the bed. I'm hoping to avoid winter, but one never knows where one will turn up. I even bought an over coat last winter after parking up in Bathurst during a cold snap which froze the roads. The uggies and trackies were very warmly warn and the heater kept the van snug. It reminded me why I avoid winter. The bones also reminded me. Where are you all at the moment? It would be interesting to learn where you all are and how you got there. Cheers Granny in Cairns.