Thursday and we drove from Eungella Dam towards Mackay and turned off to Eton and then down the Peak Downs Highway and had lunch in the Retreat Hotel Rest Area and on to Nebo where I dropped Steven off to continue his hitch hiking safari down to Emerald and Carnarvon National Park. I have done enough going south and wanted to get back to Townsville and had decided to visit Lake Elphinstone Camps6 #82 so I started northwards inland towards Collinsville and Bowen. Lake Elphinstone is an out of the way location but is hugely patronised by the travelling fraternity, there is a large area to camp stretching along the lake with good amenities and a donkey shower. I had never heard of donkey showers before but they work by heating up large quantities of water with any available wood, in this case with pallets and used wood from the mines heating two 44 gallon drums and then being pumped into the showers. My last shower was at Guthalungra so I gratefully took advantage of the donkey shower. Dont work out the number of days it is too embarrassing. John
Another beaufiful place, I was wondering about showers availability on the road, I guess they are or can be a problem.
They can be but I am lazy I have a shower tent and a Coleman Hot Water On Demand shower unit but never seem to be in one place long enough to be bothered setting it up. I intend to stay in one place longer this time and get set up with the annex too, I got sidetracked with Steven catching up and then setting off quickly down to Eungella.
Looks like a nice spot John, don't forget you can heat a bit of water in a saucepan on you gas ring and use a facecloth in a bowl to have an all over body wash, advise start at the top and finish at the bottom......not as good as a shower but you will feel much better for it! I used an icecream container for my wash bowl when I was travelling solo! Baby wipes are good too for a quick wipe over without the mess of water.
PS: I didn't have a shower tent then but kept a good distance from others and had my wash outside the van on the hidden side after dark!
the water is heated up by gas there is a location at the back of the unit where a canister screws in, it can also take a larger bottle using a flexible pipe.
The water is pumped up with a 6 volt battery unit so it can be used seperately from the van and there is a plastic pipe running from the unit into a bucket or special water holder.
The water is pumped up into a shower rose that is tied to the top of the shower tent.
It is a good system but bulky for the van and I have a special cupboard for it and the generator.
Yes Vic I remember how thorough you were from Cosy Corner, much more diligent than I was and I haven't changed since then either.
John
Nice shower that one outside the dunnies, surprisingly for a cold shower it was luke warm.....pity it was located in the day area and not further down the beach in the camping area though....
I do remember you giving me a demo of the workings of the hot water on demand system you had at the free camp at Borden....
-- Edited by Duh on Saturday 11th of August 2012 09:13:35 AM
Please, please be very aware of unrestrained articles within the passenger area/s of your vehicles. Should anything occur, and heaven forbid it never does, loose items can be killers.
An example - a sudden stop from 60kph, (an accident for instance), will cause a box of tissues on the rear parcel shelf of a sedan to travel forward and and have sufficient force to knock an adult unconscious should it hit the back, or side of the head. Imagine what heavy unrestrained articles would do if the vehicle overturned - even if only onto its side.
Always restrain articles within your vehicles.
Cheers - John
-- Edited by rockylizard on Saturday 11th of August 2012 05:07:10 PM
__________________
2006 Discovery 3 TDV6 SE Auto - 2008 23ft Golden Eagle Hunter Some people feel the rain - the others just get wet - Bob Dylan
Re finding room. I am about to repack my van which is the same size as yours. Have decided a lot more is going to be packed on the passenger seat and floor in front of it from now on, so I don't have to keep moving things around in the house part. So I am thinking My shower tent, solar panels (portable) and moon chair should all be able to stand comfortably on the floor with other stuff packed around them. Also my buckets etc should be able to slide in there, then all books and relative stuff will be on the seat, all packed in order of when I need them. Should be easier that way as you only have to open your passenger door and its all there to see what you want.
Loving your trips and photos yeoeleven (John). You give me so much inspiration.
Hi Janette, I also have very little space in my wagon. Ive had to come back to Perth for Dr's so am in the middle of yet another cull in the hope to be able to use a tent...maybe. HW. the front seat seems a good way to go for storage. I was thinking of putting my mech/hardware stuff on the floor (in the hope I wont need it) just in case I do need it or the hopes that if someone else is in need I wont have to expose all the little things I probably should have left at home.
They are more likely to go flying if I leave them stacked in the back of the van John. I have heaps of bits and pieces lying around the floor in the house part. Water bottles, portaloo etc. I also have a box of tissues sitting on the table in the house section. It never moves. Maybe the items in the front stacked upright on the floor on the passenger side could have an occy strap used to tie them securely. Might have to try that.
the water is heated up by gas there is a location at the back of the unit where a canister screws in, it can also take a larger bottle using a flexible pipe.
John
That makes it a no-no for me then. Won't have any gas larger than a small butane cannister in my Campervan. I'll stick with the 12V unit and a bucket when I want Hot water. I was told the water from the external Shower would be warm enough after a full days travel, but haven't tested that yet.
The "Donkey" has been around for generations. Still used in some areas of Cape York today as well, and probably a lot of country areas.
Please, please be very aware of unrestrained articles within the passenger area/s of your vehicles. Should anything occur, and heaven forbid it never does, loose items can be killers.
An example - a sudden stop from 60kph, (an accident for instance), will cause a box of tissues on the rear parcel shelf of a sedan to travel forward and and have sufficient force to knock an adult unconscious should it hit the back, or side of the head. Imagine what heavy unrestrained articles would do if the vehicle overturned - even if only onto its side.
Always restrain articles within your vehicles.
Cheers - John
Some good wisdom John, I've often thought that a sedan boot is preferable to a hatchback for that reason also, less chance of anything in the back of the vehicle becoming a missile.......on the humerous side, imagine your shopping in the back of you hatch and having a dozen eggs hit you in the back of the noggin, apart from impact damage to your noggin, just imagine the mess!
Have just finished a cardboard template for a box with a lid to see how it went. Although it wont hold alot, it does hold small shovel, hammer, wire, matches and a couple of other small items. I was going to put a small esky on top but after your advice I might check it out for size as well before I actually make up the "real" box. Thanks for the advice, I can feel the eggs already.
I am lucky enough to have a seat in the back with a lift off lid, plenty of room inside for all my tools. It holds everything from oil, to compressor, clothes line to hammer, torches to spanners. So everything is out of the way for when I need it. A bit like your box Colls, everything tucked away safely.
If you can't hide it, why not camoflage it some-how. Maybe either Paint it, or make a cloth cover for it, or cover it with an Adhesive Paper or something. I once covered a Fridge with Marble Patterned Adhesive Paper. Looked marvellous.
Is there any way you could make a Curtain to hide it behind ? Bit hard to make suggestions if we don't know exactly how it's situated when you lift the tailgate.
Sounds like you have it sitting in the aisle Janette. About the only thing would be a cloth cover over it. Mine sits on the other side of the side sliding door. Looking through your open door on your avatar, it would be on the other side wall and a bit to the right, sits next to the wardrobe. I have seen square cushions at the cheap shop in Childers, will go get one to pop on top of portaloo so it looks like a seat.
Thanks for your ideas, some great ones. I haven't posted photos of the inside of the van because it changes so often. I'm still looking for the ideal setup. I must do so soon though.
