Cuppa & MrsTea’s new blog - ‘A Nomadic Life - An Australian Travel blog’.
Cuppa said
10:52 AM Jul 23, 2017
Hi folks,
Some here may know of myself & wife, MrsTea, from other forums. Im only an occasional visitor here, so most wont know me.
We have recently commenced our dream of becoming full time nomads after our experience 7 years ago of travelling around the country for an 18 month stint.
Im posting now in the belief that our new blog may be of interest to some here. Our previous Big Trip blog gained a large following with over 200,000 visits during our time away.
We are travelling quite differently this time with a 4wd & Tvan having replaced our Nissan Civilian based motorhome.
We left Ballarat last Tuesday & are now on the banks of the Darling River, at Pooncarie, NSW, where we thought we might stop for an overnighter on our journey northward to warmer climes. However, its a great spot, & this is our 4th day here.
If you look at the blog & think you would like to follow our adventures, there is an option on the first page (a little below the map) to subscribe by email. Doing so gets you an automatic email notification whenever I manage to make a new post.
Hey Cuppa, that's a top-notch blog mate! I haven't time to read it in detail now but definitely will get back to it. The info and lists you add will be darn handy for anyone starting out in the van caper. We've started our van life but are only doing smaller trips. For those with more ambitious plans.. good stuff!
You bog story reminds me of our experience way back when I bogged a Sandman (??) panel van near southern Exmouth Gulf. I was young and inexperienced with wife and a couple of young kids along. Long story short, we managed to get it out after waiting until the day cooled and then a lot of struggle. Later I bogged the thing on a sand track just out of Coral Bay. This time we got wise and let the tyres down to 10 psi. It simply climbed out of the bog and continued on its way. I stopped, got out of the car, bent over, pointed to my bum and said to my Mrs, "See that? Kick it!" She did.
Radar said
04:52 AM Jul 24, 2017
Hey Cuppa hi.
Enjoyed the read, well done.
1 question how big a chain saw and why 3 chain blades?
Cuppa said
08:10 AM Jul 24, 2017
Thanks JocknNik & Radar. Saw is a 36v (2x18v) small Makita battery one with 12 blade (10 on the Aussie version would have been just as good - but I bought from eBay - USA import). 3 spare chains cos without my electric bench sharpener Im hopeless at re-sharpening blades! Ha ha.
Dougwe said
09:24 AM Jul 24, 2017
Thanks for an interesting read Cuppa and MrsTea. Always good to read bout other travellers and what they get up too, to a point that is.
Gaylehere said
10:25 AM Jul 24, 2017
Nice read. Will finish it when having a bit more time. I know what you mean about slowing down too. When working we always had a limited time to fit in our travels, so we too find it hard to "stop and stay" a little while longer in the one spot. Cheers.
Radar said
05:47 PM Jul 24, 2017
Cuppa wrote:
Thanks JocknNik & Radar. Saw is a 36v (2x18v) small Makita battery one with 12 blade (10 on the Aussie version would have been just as good - but I bought from eBay - USA import). 3 spare chains cos without my electric bench sharpener Im hopeless at re-sharpening blades! Ha ha.
That you for the reply.
We are at present enjoying a couple months staying with our son in summer time Innsbruck, Austria. One of the first jobs I was assigned was to knock the wood heap down. The chain saw I was given was an electric Makita, small but worked a treat, then they allowed me to use the new electric/hydraulic block splitter.
On my return home I thought I may add a chain saw to my caravan gear. I think I just may buy some new tools to replace some aging power tools as well.
Photo 1 is the block splitter.
Photo 2 is the wood heap at about 2/3rds mostly pine.
The wood 35 long is used in a very large boiler for central heating family unit block, the wood I was cutting was for the lounge room wood fired heater 30 long.
Congrat's on your trip It gets better by the yr believe me.
Just don't go too big with the rig.
We started off with a 12ft6 rear door to see if Di liked vans.
Then to a 17ft. (Di's fav.)
then a 6.5mtr offroader (my fav)
Ending up with a Coromoal 535 Tandem full height semi offrd.
Ext Shower inside Porta. Hot water supply and 2 tanks under.
Cheap. Go most places most would go.
and reliable. NICE to tow. D-Max tugs it easy and economical.
Those over last 17 yrs.
I had a prev 35yrs with vans prior to.
Reason for post........
Go to SKIL dealers (Probably others too)
They sell a hand tool. sets internal files at correct angles etc for you.
For your Chain saw.
Makes it dead easy. Saves carrying and changing\oiling 3 chains.
I bought a 14in SKIL on special. Also a 17in Blade\chain. (on same special).
Cost about $25 more than full price 14in by itself.
Just the right size locally. and easy to swap out for travelling.
14in for palms and 17in for timber.
Cuppa said
04:28 PM Aug 7, 2017
Several new entries - covering Pooncarie to Eulo A Nomadic Life
Radar said
07:55 AM Aug 11, 2017
Cuppa wrote:
Several new entries - covering Pooncarie to Eulo A Nomadic Life
Hi, I am enjoying the read.
Thank you.
Tony Bev said
05:06 PM Aug 13, 2017
Hello Cuppa, and the boss (Mrs Tea)
I do not have much internet at the moment, to read your new blog
But I have previously read your blog of a few years ago, and found it very interesting, so thanks for that
I know some of the Saint Helens district, as a teenager I was one of the NCB boys and attended the collage opposite the Beacham Pill factory
Cuppa said
12:12 AM Aug 14, 2017
Just letting folks know I have made several new posts today covering Eulo to Quilpie.
-- Edited by Cuppa on Monday 14th of August 2017 08:00:25 AM
Cuppa said
08:29 AM Jan 18, 2018
Hi folks, It's been a while since I posted posted any heads up about our blog here ....... but it has continued on a regular basis. We have been in Tassie since early December, & will be here until mid March.
If you think our Tassie adventures may be of interest to you you can check us out at cuppa500.com/Blog
-- Edited by Cuppa on Thursday 18th of January 2018 08:30:55 AM
Hi folks,
Some here may know of myself & wife, MrsTea, from other forums. Im only an occasional visitor here, so most wont know me.
We have recently commenced our dream of becoming full time nomads after our experience 7 years ago of travelling around the country for an 18 month stint.
Im posting now in the belief that our new blog may be of interest to some here. Our previous Big Trip blog gained a large following with over 200,000 visits during our time away.
We are travelling quite differently this time with a 4wd & Tvan having replaced our Nissan Civilian based motorhome.
We left Ballarat last Tuesday & are now on the banks of the Darling River, at Pooncarie, NSW, where we thought we might stop for an overnighter on our journey northward to warmer climes. However, its a great spot, & this is our 4th day here.
If you look at the blog & think you would like to follow our adventures, there is an option on the first page (a little below the map) to subscribe by email. Doing so gets you an automatic email notification whenever I manage to make a new post.
Hope to see some of you there.
http://www.cuppa500.com/Blog
Safe Travels
Cuppa & MrsTea
Hey Cuppa, that's a top-notch blog mate! I haven't time to read it in detail now but definitely will get back to it. The info and lists you add will be darn handy for anyone starting out in the van caper. We've started our van life but are only doing smaller trips. For those with more ambitious plans.. good stuff!
You bog story reminds me of our experience way back when I bogged a Sandman (??) panel van near southern Exmouth Gulf. I was young and inexperienced with wife and a couple of young kids along. Long story short, we managed to get it out after waiting until the day cooled and then a lot of struggle. Later I bogged the thing on a sand track just out of Coral Bay. This time we got wise and let the tyres down to 10 psi. It simply climbed out of the bog and continued on its way. I stopped, got out of the car, bent over, pointed to my bum and said to my Mrs, "See that? Kick it!"
She did.
Hey Cuppa hi.
Enjoyed the read, well done.
1 question how big a chain saw and why 3 chain blades?
That you for the reply.
We are at present enjoying a couple months staying with our son in summer time Innsbruck, Austria. One of the first jobs I was assigned was to knock the wood heap down. The chain saw I was given was an electric Makita, small but worked a treat, then they allowed me to use the new electric/hydraulic block splitter.
On my return home I thought I may add a chain saw to my caravan gear. I think I just may buy some new tools to replace some aging power tools as well.
Photo 1 is the block splitter.
Photo 2 is the wood heap at about 2/3rds mostly pine.
The wood 35 long is used in a very large boiler for central heating family unit block, the wood I was cutting was for the lounge room wood fired heater 30 long.
Enjoy your travels.
Congrat's on your trip It gets better by the yr believe me.
Just don't go too big with the rig.
We started off with a 12ft6 rear door to see if Di liked vans.
Then to a 17ft. (Di's fav.)
then a 6.5mtr offroader (my fav)
Ending up with a Coromoal 535 Tandem full height semi offrd.
Ext Shower inside Porta. Hot water supply and 2 tanks under.
Cheap. Go most places most would go.
and reliable. NICE to tow. D-Max tugs it easy and economical.
Those over last 17 yrs.
I had a prev 35yrs with vans prior to.
Reason for post........
Go to SKIL dealers (Probably others too)
They sell a hand tool. sets internal files at correct angles etc for you.
For your Chain saw.
Makes it dead easy. Saves carrying and changing\oiling 3 chains.
I bought a 14in SKIL on special. Also a 17in Blade\chain. (on same special).
Cost about $25 more than full price 14in by itself.
Just the right size locally. and easy to swap out for travelling.
14in for palms and 17in for timber.
Several new entries - covering Pooncarie to Eulo
A Nomadic Life
Hi, I am enjoying the read.
Thank you.
I do not have much internet at the moment, to read your new blog
But I have previously read your blog of a few years ago, and found it very interesting, so thanks for that
I know some of the Saint Helens district, as a teenager I was one of the NCB boys and attended the collage opposite the Beacham Pill factory
Just letting folks know I have made several new posts today covering Eulo to Quilpie.
-- Edited by Cuppa on Monday 14th of August 2017 08:00:25 AM
Hi folks,
It's been a while since I posted posted any heads up about our blog here ....... but it has continued on a regular basis. We have been in Tassie since early December, & will be here until mid March.
If you think our Tassie adventures may be of interest to you you can check us out at cuppa500.com/Blog
-- Edited by Cuppa on Thursday 18th of January 2018 08:30:55 AM