I have dreamt, planned and thought about travelling with my home on my back for at least 20 years. Now I am approaching the age where I can really start planning my retirement it is getting very exciting.
This year I have planned a test, travelling straight down the centre in a rental, only a relatively short distance, ~3000k but plan on having some caravan parks and some free camping.
Tis a little scarey, my friends happily remind me of the Falconio episode and Wolf Creek (the movie). But I figure now I am a SNIT and this is a practice run.
Wish me luck and hopefully I will bump into some other nomads and have a ball.
Jelly
-- Edited by JW on Tuesday 13th of December 2011 04:47:02 PM
wendyv said
04:06 PM Dec 13, 2011
Good luck. What time of year for down the Centre?
JW said
04:45 PM Dec 13, 2011
TY Wendy. Heading off this month.
nomadic1 said
05:35 PM Dec 13, 2011
I'm sure that you'll have a ball and that your biggest problem will be how to buy your own van when you get back home.
pauline said
05:37 PM Dec 13, 2011
Ditto and WELCOME............
Esmeralda said
09:53 PM Dec 13, 2011
Welcome to the Forum and have fun in the great outdoors. How far are you intending to go?
jonathan said
08:13 AM Dec 14, 2011
Great to see .. enjoy it !
Jon
Dougwe said
10:34 AM Dec 14, 2011
I too welcome you. You will find out heeps here so enjoy.
Elle on Wheels said
01:18 PM Dec 14, 2011
Hi Jelly
welcome and we feel your excitement. There's always something to be nervous about when thinking about traveling solo whether it's lunatics or running out of petrol or if your awning is a fashionable colour. There's quite a few of us aspiring solo's here and we all try to encourage eachother plus there's the ones who have been on the road for a long time who have heaps of experience and knowledge. Keep us posted on how oyur trip goes - daily photos would be good. Good luck and enjoy.
Clare46 said
02:26 PM Dec 14, 2011
Jelly
When I first started planning my first big trip I was also a little apprehensive. The thought of long stretches of lonely road up through the centre and then back across the Nularbor were a little daunting, but when I looked at distances between roadhouses or towns it broke down to only being 200-300 kms at a time so seemed much more manageable.
I have done a 21,00km trip from Sydney, up the centre and back home around the WA & SA coasts and this year I did 9 weeks, about 8000kms in Queensland.
I hope to go back to WA next year to cover parts I did not see last time. I use caravan parks and also free camp and have never felt uncomfortable or uneasy in any way. I just take the same care that I would at home.
I hope your trial trip goes well and inspires you to keep going. I alway travel in a rented Toyot Hiace campervan
wendyv said
05:29 PM Dec 14, 2011
Coming from Darwin, you will know that it may be quite hot through the Centre. Make sure you have plenty of water - and do not just rely on one water tank or container.
Cruising Granny said
05:39 PM Dec 14, 2011
Safe and happy travels. The real drop kicks can't afford to travel. They're all within about 20kms of the towns. That leaves a lot of space to enjoy yourself. Trouble will find those who go looking for it. Get out there and enjoy yourself.
rvtraveller2 said
11:33 PM Dec 14, 2011
Welcome to happy world Jw you will like it you are never alone being a nomad,there is nomads travelling all year round where ever you go,people there will help if you ever have trouble[ I HOPE NOT].Great scenery and places to go.merry christmas and happy new year. Neil
JW said
09:38 AM Dec 15, 2011
I'm so excited, thanks all for your great and encouraging comments.
Rip and Rosie said
12:12 PM Dec 15, 2011
I like your SNIT (solo nomad in training)
How graduating to GNOM (grey nomad on move)?
or WOGN (wise old grey nomad) or maybe CAGN (Chilling as a grey nomad)
I have dreamt, planned and thought about travelling with my home on my back for at least 20 years. Now I am approaching the age where I can really start planning my retirement it is getting very exciting.
This year I have planned a test, travelling straight down the centre in a rental, only a relatively short distance, ~3000k but plan on having some caravan parks and some free camping.
Tis a little scarey, my friends happily remind me of the Falconio episode and Wolf Creek (the movie). But I figure now I am a SNIT and this is a practice run.
Wish me luck and hopefully I will bump into some other nomads and have a ball.
Jelly
-- Edited by JW on Tuesday 13th of December 2011 04:47:02 PM
Welcome to the Forum and have fun in the great outdoors. How far are you intending to go?
Great to see .. enjoy it !
Jon
welcome and we feel your excitement. There's always something to be nervous about when thinking about traveling solo whether it's lunatics or running out of petrol or if your awning is a fashionable colour. There's quite a few of us aspiring solo's here and we all try to encourage eachother plus there's the ones who have been on the road for a long time who have heaps of experience and knowledge. Keep us posted on how oyur trip goes - daily photos would be good. Good luck and enjoy.
Jelly
When I first started planning my first big trip I was also a little apprehensive. The thought of long stretches of lonely road up through the centre and then back across the Nularbor were a little daunting, but when I looked at distances between roadhouses or towns it broke down to only being 200-300 kms at a time so seemed much more manageable.
I have done a 21,00km trip from Sydney, up the centre and back home around the WA & SA coasts and this year I did 9 weeks, about 8000kms in Queensland.
I hope to go back to WA next year to cover parts I did not see last time. I use caravan parks and also free camp and have never felt uncomfortable or uneasy in any way. I just take the same care that I would at home.
I hope your trial trip goes well and inspires you to keep going. I alway travel in a rented Toyot Hiace campervan
The real drop kicks can't afford to travel. They're all within about 20kms of the towns. That leaves a lot of space to enjoy yourself.
Trouble will find those who go looking for it.
Get out there and enjoy yourself.
Welcome to happy world Jw
you will like it you are never alone being a nomad,there is nomads travelling all year round where ever you go,people there will help if you ever have trouble[ I HOPE NOT].Great scenery and places to go.merry christmas and happy new year.
Neil
How graduating to GNOM (grey nomad on move)?
or WOGN (wise old grey nomad) or maybe CAGN (Chilling as a grey nomad)
I'm a Blonde Nomad.
Cheers Cate