I am a first timer on this site and just starting out on my own after the loss of my partner to cancer. It was a dream of both of us to travel so I have decided to do it on my own. I am a 59 year old male and will start out with short trips then get longer as I get more experenced. I have a Avan Sortliner camper (the baby of the range) and Ford AU Falcon Sedan. I am not all that interested in going "off road", have a mobile phone with regional cover and wireless broadband, both with Telstra. I would be interested in your comments.
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Live Life On Your Terms
DOUGChief One Feather (Losing feathers with age)
TUG.......2014 Holden LT Colorado Twin Cab Ute with Canopy
DEN....... 2014 "Chief" Arrow CV (with some changes)
Hi Doug We are not solo but just in our fifties and left tassie in january. We are having a ball. We do need to work still other wise we wouldnt get very far. Had 6 months in Albany and now in Karrinyup, back to Tassie for about 6 weeks over chrismas, then back here until juneish and then spend a couple of months getting to Darwin. The good thing is the plans may change tommorrow and it dosnt matter. Do your small trips and then the toughest decision will be to turn left or right on departure. Try to do someone a good deed each day on the road and the joy will come back to you tenfold, be happy. cheers blaze
I am a solo traveler, in my 70's and driving a 1979 Hi Ace campervan round Australia. I started early August from Queensland and currently am in Esperance. My home is my van and I live daily in anticipation of the day aheadand have not been let down yet.
I encourage you to make your dreams come true, every day on the road is filled with the unknown, who will I meet today? where will I go? where will I camp tonight? what experiences will I have today?
I can not go into 4WD territory either but I accept that and go where I can, which is amazing just where you can go and what you can see.
Keep the vision and make it happen, you will have a varied and rich life on the road.
I have just turned 50 and am also a solo traveller and from the little bit I have down so far, its great fun. I am travelling in a 2007 Prestige Jayco motorhome so wont be doing any 4x4 stuff either but from what I heard I will have more than enough places to visit.
Great replys John and Brett . I am sure it will make doug want to hit the road as soon as he can....It good to see you all haveing a ball out there ..I cant wait till it my turn evey day it get closer for me ...
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The clearest path in life is always the one behind you....
The rig sounds as if it will suit you - at the beginning at least. The Telstra Next G network is the best for travellers - but be aware that there are big areas of Australia not covered by any mobile network. However, if you are mostly sticking to the bitumen, if you do have a breakdown or problem out of mobile range, you will find that we travellers are a helpful lot, and there will always be someone stop to help who has a satphone or similar. You will probably also find, as you gain more experience, that your rig will handle some good unsealed roads, driven carefully, and you will be able to access more than you think. If you start out with short trips, that will give you a good handle on what gear will be essential for your longer travels, and what you won't need. Be fairly ruthless and keep the weight and clutter down. When we first retired and went caravanning, we did an initial shakedown trip of 6 weeks. When I think back to that, I'm embarrassed about how much "stuff" we jettisoned after that.
it's good you have the opportunity to do some short trips to get used to things. Once I get my act together I will be on the road full time without much practice but so be it. Each short trip you have will just whet your appetite for more. I reckon Australia's telecommunications network is pretty apalling in comparrison with similar countries with remote areas - eg Canada - but that's something we have to live with for the next few years at least. Anyway sometimes you don't need phones and computers and stuff all the time. Let us know how your trips go. There are lots of very knowledgeable people on this forum.
I have been on the road for over three years and have loved every minute of it.
Suggest you don't buy all the gear your THINK you might need in your travels. Start with the bare minimum or nothing and after you have said "I need or wish I had" a few times then decide if you can afford the finances or the weight then purchase if you pass these test.
I started with all the gear I though I needed and have dropped many expensive items in and on rubbish bins as I carried them for several years and did not use.
A good idea is to attach a little paper sticker to each item and then when you use it the sticker will be washed off. After the first 12 months anything that still has a sticker throw it out as it is not needed. You will be surprised what you can do without.
The best part of full time travel is you are the boss and each day your first decision is will I move and then where when etc.
Don't make plans drive out the gate and toss a coin and follow your nose.
Regards Brian
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11 Mtr house Boat based at Mannum hoping to travel up the Murray as far as I can get then drift back again
Hi Doug and welcome, I too am a novice. Have camped for many years with family and friends but never headed off into the wild blue yonder towing something for any length of time. I have a very small rig about the size of yours just some years older. I tow with a 97 Toyota Vienta. It is "cute" so folk tell me but does the job for myself and sometimes a girlfriend or sister. I have read sites that prepare you for travel and if I allowed it I think I could be very easily put off thinking I could ever afford it or manage it alone. It would be great to have all the gear but some times it just cant be. I have always been a hands on make something from nothing sort of person so I tend to agree with previous posts. Get out there, be sensible "to an extent" and see how it goes, add or subtract as need be and I'm sure we will have a ball. I do hope to run across you some time and see how you are going. I am heading to Wilsons Prom for the first weekend in November as I have never been there. It is the start of my first longish trip. Drop by for a cuppa and a chat if you have the time. I am sorry for your loss but I'm sure there are smiles from above seeing you fulfill the dream. Enjoy Tess
Although I have been caravanning with my parents on and off just about all my life, I have only recently taken to the road myself. I have had one shortish trip (Canberra for a week or so) and four weeks to Charleville and back with a few side stops.
Get out there and do what you can and each time you will become a little braver - my next challenge is free camping. My van is only tiny but I have a battery, a charger and just the other day I bought a folding solar panel kit. So no excuses.
Some of us from the Forum are heading to Greens Lake at Corop near Bendigo in a few weeks time if you feel like joining us, I am sure you will be made to feel welcome.
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Esmeralda
It aint over until the fat lady sings, and I dont feel like singing just yet!
Like you, I lost my wife and decided to do some solo travelling. End July I set off rather anxiously, but adjusted reasonably quickly and have visited some excellent places, met many nice people and am enjoying the experience! When I return to Tassie in November, I will leave roughly half of what I packed and thought I might need before setting off again.
