I am going to copy part of my blog onto the website regarding my experience at my last free camp. It was at the Lions Park at Bundarra, NSW. I have experienced this a couple of times, however this time, having the priviledege of being in such a serene, pristine part of the country, the way people left this area really got up my nose. It is such a beautiful serene area and well thought out and maintained by the local Lions Club.
"The other observation that I made while there, was this place was very busy with day trippers and people passing by, stopping to use the amenities. Not my problem as such. My problem does come when they leave them in a mess. I cleaned the ladies loos when I arrived, they actually were not too bad, but my goodness, after day trippers and the travelling public they were a mess again. So, I guess many are wondering why I raise this subject. Let me enlighten you.
As a now fulltime Grey Nomad, there is a lot of talk about free camping and if it should be allowed etc, mainly by a very loud and vocal caravan park lobby, the other thing that happens is that many places get closed to camping because of the mess that gets left behind supposedly by GN's. Let me assure you and please pass it on if you are ever having this kind of conversation, it is not the GN's it is the travelling public. I have no experienced this a couple of times and usually clean up the mess that is left behind. There are bins people, or take it home with you. When I arrived at this area there were tissues and paper over the grounds, so it was a matter of gloves and a bag, took a couple of minutes to tidy up. Sorry I will get off my soapbox now, it makes me cross when these facilities that are maintained by volunteers are not appreciated. Of course there are some GN's that do leave a mess, and those who use these facilities and do not contribute with the requested donations but they are few and far between because in the main we appreciate what we have access to. "
I hope it makes sense as like I said it is part of my travel story. I know I am preaching to the mostly converted, but maybe some member of the travelling public will read it and think twice before leaving a mess next time. It costs nothing to flush a toilet or put a tissue in the provided bins.
-- Edited by shekon on Sunday 27th of July 2014 07:31:11 AM
Unfortunately, welcome to the real world of "full-time" travelling ... and I wish it wasn't so.
I have been on the road now for five years and I have had the pleasure of spending time in many areas. What you encountered is more the norm than the unusual.
Not all are very messy but many are just thoughtlessly messy. It is predominantly the "travelling public" and they are just passing through, stop for a leg stretch or a comfort stop. They very often aren't stopped long enough to even notice the 'natural beauty' of the area.
In my first year or so of travelling, I used to take a plastic bag and walk around the spot to familiarise myself with the area and to also pick up the mess left by others. Now, I am not as dedicated - I have become tired of picking up the thoughtless mess of others.
It does not matter whether the mess is the result of 'camping' GNs or the "travelling public". The end result is the same. The local community, caretakers and/or councils see this everyday because they live there. No wonder the provision and maintenance of 'free' stops becomes tiresome and expensive for the locals.
Those of us who travel full-time will obviously be the main sufferer of the restrictions the thoughtlessness of others brings.
I wish I could find an answer to the problem, (other than doing the cleaning and picking up myself), but it seems that Strayans become thoughtless, or worse - slobs, when they travel away from their personal caves.
Cheers - John
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2006 Discovery 3 TDV6 SE Auto - 2008 23ft Golden Eagle Hunter Some people feel the rain - the others just get wet - Bob Dylan
Couldn't agree more with both the above posts - I have even found rubbish from "Golden Arches" several hundred k's from the nearest one - what is wrong with a plastic bag in your car, and take your rubbish home!!!!
Even some "free" rest stops (as RL calls it), GN's are careless - instead of breaking up a beer carton, or wine cask box - they put the whole thing in the bin, effectively almost filling it!!! Jump on the box, break it down, then put it in the bin - think of the next person!!!!
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jules "Love is good for the human being!!" (Ben, aged 10)
Agree with all of these posts. When we had our dog, and stopped at rest areas for coffee/wee break, we always were on the lookout for broken glass in particular, we did not want our dog to suffer. We still to this day, pick up at least one shopping bag of rubbish every time we stop. (Little bits count) Even when we are out geo-caching, we always bring back rubbish from the bush.
However, Gloves or no gloves, I do draw a line at used tissues and toilet paper!
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Pay it forward - what goes around comes around
DUNMOWIN is no longer on the road and still DUNMOWIN!
We are yet to stay at a grotty free camp in the past 2 years .... I consider us very lucky as I know many leave a lot to be desired And some campers are absolute pigs to put it bluntly! We are at Lake Elphinstone and have been here for over a week. The current problem here is not really of the campers making (depending on how you look at the problem), the amenities here have been breaking down on an average of every couple of days needing council to come and pump out and assess And do running repairs ...today is one of those days. Apparently the older block is now past its use by date and will be decommissioned ... There is a temporary demountable which keeps things "moving". A new block is being built and a caretaker will be installed due to incidents of vandalism, ie the lights at the entrance and, yes, you guessed it, toilet paper! Can't blame the backpackers that stay here, they also treat the property with respect.
I wonder if this beautiful spot will soon be off the free camp list .... i think it is starting to cost a bit to maintain! Good idea to make sure you are selfcontainted if you intend to stay here As there may not be working loos when you visit!
Other than that, campers who stay here are to be commended for the way they treat and leave the site.
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The Maccas ....
2013 Avida Esperance Motorhome - based in northern NSW.
I agree, free rest stops usually have a horrible mess in the amenities, and I have always thought it was the people who are travelling in their cars rather than campers who were responsible. I'd hate to think that the beautiful free-camps which are further from the highway, therefore not used so much by passers-by, would be as bad.
Yes we pick up rubbish too, especially bottles and glass. Loo-paper will eventually rot, unless it is where we want to camp we don't touch it.
I cringe to think what the council cleaning crew must think when they have to do this awful job.
Its logical that most free campers "wont mess in their own nest" as they want to use the area and amenities for days or weeks at a time. It is most often the travelers stopping to use the toilets or, sadly, those in caravans rushing to the caravan parks, who need to make a one stop that cause the problem. After all, they wont be back so why should they give a damn or be worried about those of us who free camp for whatever reason
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Cheers Bruce
The amazing things you see when nomading Australia
I don't think anybody says I 'm going to make a mess in this area so that free campers can't camp here, free campers or others are not even in their thoughts.
Unfortunately the human species has a percentage of its kind who only think of themselves, are the bad apple in the barrel etc and spoil it for others.
They have no consideration for others , themselves and others property etc.
they would also be representative of all walks of life and hierarchy of society.
The only person I can be responsible for is me and I like to use clean amenities and leave them clean, and I tow a caravan to caravan parks.
... and I wish it wasn't so.
