The Grey Nomads Forum

first solo trip with van

jules47 said
02:48 AM Feb 25, 2011

Well, I have just arrived in Porepunkah, Vic, having come from Boonah in SE Qld - left there Tuesday am - arrived here Thursday early afternoon. 1423K, and loved every minute of it. The van is so easy to tow, I don't know what I was worried about - I now feel that I can go anywhere - had no problems at all - apart from trying to find diesel pumps at petrol stations, that don't have them listed at the front of the bowser lane - very frustrating with a van in tow. One guy said "oh yeah, we used to have them, someone cut their hand on one, so took them away" - hey what about replacing them with something that won't cut a hand - too easy?
Came down the Newell to West Wyalong, then across to Wagga, down to Albury and off the Hume to Porepunkah just out of Wangaratta.Can't wait till friends arrive over the next day or so, we should have a ball - usually do - good wineries around here.
See you.

pws25 said
07:25 AM Feb 25, 2011

Goo onya Jules!! nothin t worry about , those servos that dont indicate where diff. fuels are are a real pi..off!! But now, relax,& enjoy the ''journey''. Hope t catch up with some of you mob when I get back that side. Take care......

jonathan said
08:23 AM Feb 25, 2011

.. way to go Jules .. !! and it'll just get better .. enjoy !

Jon

(currently in Albany, WA)

Gerty Dancer said
08:55 AM Feb 25, 2011

WOO HOO! Go girl!!! smile

gillyb said
09:28 AM Feb 25, 2011

A BIG well done Jules what a great trip, glad you made it safely....did u have many stopovers along the way, I'll be heading in the opposite direction on my first big trip in 4 wks, I can't wait. How did you find the Toowoomba range, was there much damage from the floods? Have a great time here in sunny Victoria, I hope the weather holds up for you

Beth54 said
10:28 AM Feb 25, 2011

gillyb wrote:

A BIG well done Jules what a great trip, glad you made it safely....did u have many stopovers along the way, I'll be heading in the opposite direction on my first big trip in 4 wks, I can't wait. How did you find the Toowoomba range, was there much damage from the floods?
Have a great time here in sunny Victoria, I hope the weather holds up for you

Jules wouldn't have needed to use the Toowoomba Range. Boonah is south east of Toowoomba. But I will be using it in a few weeks, so I'll let you know how it looks.

jules47 said
02:47 PM Feb 25, 2011

Hi guys - thanks for all that - apparently the Toowoomba range is ok at the moment - back to 4 lanes - I went over Cunninghams Gap which is still a mess - stop/go traffic - so pretty slow - bit of a disaster area really - the trip down was uneventful - some roadworks, but nothing to worry about. Where are you heading to Gill? The weather down here is magnificent - 31 today - blue sky, few small clouds, light breeze - NO HUMIDITY!!!! Cool nights and early mornings - lovely - hope it stays this way for the next week or so.

Happywanderer said
03:46 PM Feb 25, 2011

Good going Jules, glad to see you arrived safely and see there was nothing to worry about was there?

gillyb said
05:14 PM Feb 25, 2011

Beth54 wrote:

gillyb wrote:

A BIG well done Jules what a great trip, glad you made it safely....did u have many stopovers along the way, I'll be heading in the opposite direction on my first big trip in 4 wks, I can't wait. How did you find the Toowoomba range, was there much damage from the floods?
Have a great time here in sunny Victoria, I hope the weather holds up for you

Jules wouldn't have needed to use the Toowoomba Range. Boonah is south east of Toowoomba. But I will be using it in a few weeks, so I'll let you know how it looks.

Ha Ha I knew that Beth just testing to see if everyone else did wink

gillyb said
05:18 PM Feb 25, 2011

jules47 wrote:

Hi guys - thanks for all that - apparently the Toowoomba range is ok at the moment - back to 4 lanes - I went over Cunninghams Gap which is still a mess - stop/go traffic - so pretty slow - bit of a disaster area really - the trip down was uneventful - some roadworks, but nothing to worry about. Where are you heading to Gill? The weather down here is magnificent - 31 today - blue sky, few small clouds, light breeze - NO HUMIDITY!!!! Cool nights and early mornings - lovely - hope it stays this way for the next week or so.

Thanks for that info jules I think I will definately avoid cunninghams gap and take my luck on the toowoomba range :) Firstly I'm hoping to spend a bit of time in the Brissie area to catch up with a few old friends then I'm just pointing the car north and seeing where it takes me and hopefully end up in the Cairns area where I also have a few friends to catch up with......I have a period of 6 months so I'm prity excited about the whole trip and hoping to meet a few fellow nomads along the way, most seem to head north for winter. This also is my first solo trip so will be interesting

jandas fun said
05:49 PM Feb 25, 2011

Well done Jules. No stopping you now. See you out there one day. Johnw

HeadnHome said
08:13 PM Feb 25, 2011

Well done!! Enjoy the wineries...

jules47 said
10:23 AM Feb 26, 2011

Nope - nothing at all - just hadto get out there and do it - very chuffed now. See you soon.

straycat said
08:29 PM Feb 26, 2011

Hey Jules.. Diesel is mostley on the outside lane, & good on ya girl,,I,ve just stopped (for awhile) after 9mths,, ENJOY,,

Cee said
10:49 AM Feb 27, 2011

Wooooooooooohooooooooooooo Jules, great to hear that all went well and you are having a great time.

Keep Smiling smile

jules47 said
10:53 PM Feb 28, 2011

Again - thanks guys - raining here at moment - there is a "Rockabilly" festival here this weekend, and I have volunteered to do some work on the Friday and Saturday - should be fun - I will be representing the caravan park her _ Riverview in Porepunkah - reckon it will be a good time. probably head back north Sunday or Monday I think. Back up from albury to wagga. Temorah, and West Wyalong, then up the Newell home. See yas soon

Mookas said
01:51 PM Mar 30, 2011

Hi Gill,

I am ready for my first trip.Just joined "The Grey's" to find some great people. I will take off from Syd. in July, only game to take a 6 week try trip, to see if I can do it...Will be heading north, first stop at Nelson Bay, then who knows.

I hope I feel as good as you sound after my try.

Thanks for your input.

Christine & Ziggy poodle

Clare46 said
04:15 PM Mar 30, 2011

Mookas,

I'm also another newbie from Sydney. You'll have a great time when you get out there

gillyb said
04:27 PM Mar 30, 2011

Hi Mookas and Clare welcome to the site you will learn heaps on here. I was as nervous as hell when I first set out alone, it took me a few days to start relaxing a little, now soon as I stop I'm wanting to get back on the road again biggrin

I'm currently in Toowoomba, hardest stop yet, I got totally lost and was getting a bit stressed and ended up stopping and asking directions from a taxi parked on the side of the road and he gave me very precise directions (a very helpful man) so finally got to the van park I was looking for, then they gave me this tiny little spot with no hope of me getting in on my own so had to ask for help which was given with a smile so all ended up well.

Hope we meet up on the road one day, I'm going to be in the Brisbane are from tomorrow for at least a couple of weeks smile

Cruising Granny said
09:52 PM Mar 30, 2011

Congratulations on finding a taxi driver who speaks English well enough to be understood.
Now that I have my tongue out of my cheek, with the emphasis on cheek, just relax and enjoy yourself wherever you go.