Hi all

I am inspired by your comments and caring on this forum.

I am an avid  bush camper in a pop-top hiace.

To date I have been travelling with a friend, but am keen to do a few trips on my own.

I am concerned about what I would do on my own if something went wrong. It might be something simple like a tick latching on  my back, feeling unwell, spraining and ankle,  or perhaps something more serious

I look forward to hearing how as experienced solo travellers manage in these situations.

Excited but nervous

ZedJay

ps: as a newbie I also inadvertently posted this msg on the general forum. Apologies for the cross postings

Welcome to Nomads ZedJay. Wow, you really are a deep thinker. I don't know your age, but I believe we are all vulnerable to many things, no matter what our age, whether we are travelling or not. I have travelled most places in Aus on my own, and never once thought about the afflictions you list here. Unless you're crossing the west of Qld, or heading north in WA or SA, there are towns and roadhouses in strategic locations from where you could seek assistance. The other way would be to get yourself a satellite phone, or by hiring a Flying Doctor Radio which uses the HF frequency while you are in outback regions. I do have some annoying chronic health issues, but I just take the pills and carry on regardless. I have miles to do, and I'll keep doing them until my health says I can't, or I can't get up the van steps. If I feel "crook" I stop in town for a while to get a medical opinion, and stay until the feeling passes. Of the things you list, a tick on your back is highly unlikely, but it can be removed by running methylated spirits over it, and it will pull out. I've lived in the tropics since '96 and haven't been "ticked" yet. In '76 while working on prawn trawlers I had to remove ticks from the crew after they carried buffalo hind quarters to the boat for fresh meat. A sprained ankle hurts like hell, but you can probably still get around. Broken might be different. Anything more serious may or may not give you a warning. The best way to reduce your concerns is to have a medical before you set out for peace of mind. The other way to avoid injury is to work within your capabilities to reduce the risk. Foolishness can inflict more than a red face. All the best in your travels.

Welcome ZedJay, Granny has pretty well summed it up. If you don't have Metho., we used to use Kerosene on ticks when I was a child. They pull their heads out, and drop off. I have a Hi-ace Pop-top too. Cheers, xina.

Thanks for your words of encouragement cruising granny. The ticks came up because just got back from a trip to the coast where my friend ended up with a couple of ticks that were tough to remove and it got me thinkin' ZedJay

Hi Xina I love my Hi-ace. The ticks on the south coast must be super tough - metho didn't get em, tried burning them off too they just hung in there. Cheers ZedJay

Did you try the Kerosene ? I know salt will get rid of leeches, but I'm not sure about ticks.
I love mine too.
Cheers,
xina.

-- Edited by xina on Tuesday 24th of November 2009 01:47:42 PM

Ticks rarely attach to people, but they can and are dangerous.

I have infused crushed fresh Garlic with boiling water in a jar, adding a couple of drops of detergent to help make it soluable. Then transferred this to a spray bottle when cooled and sprayed the tick.

This was used on my show cattle and the ticks dropped off within the hour. I am unsure if it killed them, so for personal use, monitor them and kill so they do not re attach.

-- Edited by twobob on Wednesday 25th of November 2009 03:48:02 PM

Dont know if this helps          we used to use turps as kids           but many  many years  later while camping   my sons friend got a tick     because he wasnt ours we took him to the ambo station      there new way was to just break the body off  and not worry about the head   sure enuf   no dramas followed    the head fell out later

Heard somewhere just recently that if you smother the tick and surrounding area with hand cream, moisturiser, conditioner or anything that is a bit oily and thick they will back out because they are being smothered.   Evidently ticks are those queer creatures that actually breath through their rear end.

Ma

-- Edited by Ma on Sunday 29th of November 2009 10:14:17 AM

twobob wrote:

---

This was used on my show cattle and the ticks dropped off within the hour. I am unsure if it killed them, so for personal use, monitor them and kill so they do not re attach.

---

Surely you'd notice if the mixture killed your best show cattle????

 

I just think this comment is beautiful Rolly, well said.

Please allow me to bid you welcome to the Nomads forum. Newbies seem to drop in at the oddest times, like this one. I love it. It gives a bit of a guide to the type of person who's compelled to comment on a particular topic. Safe travels.

Hello..I am a newbie also. Ohhh the thought of ticks makes me get the creeps, but the likelyhood of getting one is much rarer than the loss of health or life from the stress's that modern suburban stress brings these days..i would be more worried about that....i travel alone and think that if you are well prepared, are careful and are kind to the universe then it will be kind to you..hopefully....so far so good!!!

G'day fredo welcome to you! havent had much to do with ticks but I was under the impression that if you grab a tick by the freckle and yank him out, they spill the poison out of their gut and make you crook is this right or wrong

Welcome from me too, Fredo.

We thrive on other peoples' experiences, so please join in, -  often!


-- Edited by Rolly on Wednesday 9th of December 2009 02:53:51 PM

well you're in good company here, all opinions are "old mans opinions" so join the club okay if I dont get poisoned from squeezing the body where does he hide his paralysis goop!

Dave06 you got me there I never bothered to ask any one 

Hi guys, I don't believe you have Paralysis Ticks that far south, but I could be wrong. Cheers, xina.

nope we dont have them here but I will let you in on a secret that very few know, we travel!!! shhhhh!!! dont tell anyone! we havent been bothered by them even though we have been all over the joint, why? I hear you ask, well I really dont know but I've heard some horror stories and would like to know how to deal with the little buggers if or when one grabs me or my doggy's is it just a matter of using a stern commanding voice or maybe an eviction notice or does one proceed to the petty claims court, ripping off his head for a simple matter of trespass seems drastic even though he has some nasty habits I reckon he has a bag of that paralysis gear in his back pocket and if you pull his head off then logically he cant remember where he left it, that is how I reckon it would work!

The Symptoms for tick bite in a DOG are excessive saliva then paralacis first in the back legs then front this happened to a dog of mine it died because I missed the tick we lived at sussex inlet south coast NSW at the time. The saliva that only thins our blood (keeps the wound open) doesn't hurt us but kills dogs same as onions don't hurt us actualy good for us but is poison to dogs.

This is all away from the original thread ZedJay if you stay at home you will miss out on what you know is great don't let things stop you all the best,
fredo