I travelled alone on the Highway to hell and survived!

baute · Senior Member

I travelled alone on the Highway to hell and survived!

Bryan · Guru

I hope he gets more than a slap on the wrist

shekon · Guru

Good onya Baute, love to hear that you are living the dream and not in fear. I love being on my own and have never encountered a scary experience. I figure if one considers the world a scary place thus it becomes so. I don't be silly, and look after my things and self, but so far after nearly 12 months on the road, it has been nothing but a wonderful time. It is nice to hear that others enjoy doing the same without fear.

GaryKelly · Guru

I figure if one considers the world a scary place thus it becomes so. Well said, Shekon. As someone also said, the only thing to fear is fear itself.

Vic41 · Guru

Bryan wrote:
I hope he gets more than a slap on the wrist

Be interesting to see what happens Bryan, sounds like the perpetrator has a real anger management problem, not an excuse for his actions though, I wonder how his wife coped with it, sounds like he is a real loony hmm

-- Edited by Vic41 on Saturday 30th of August 2014 01:58:33 PM

Johanna · Veteran Member

Has anyone got any idea what to do in a situation like this? It might be handy to have a heavy stick to throw out the window to slow him down. Or just any sort of heavy rubbish.
But then at 180 ks an hour it would be suicide. I intend to travel alone in a couple of months. Hopefully there are others going same way and we can sort of travel together on the road trips. Just for support in a case of some idiot coming along. Johanna

baute · Senior Member

The chances of this happening in the outback are so remote Johanna it is not even worth considering. You are more likely to be confronted by an unstable person in towns and cities. If this sort of thing happened to me on that road, I would simply stop. To drive at 180km an hour to get away would be far more risky in my opinion. The guy is a wimp with a gun. He is more likely to run if confronted. I actually had cause to stop on this road to help a couple who had a flat and no wheel brace. I was actually surprised how many vehicles passed us in a short period of time. Sometimes travelling out there you feel like you are alone but the reality is there are so many people out there it would not be long before someone come along. This type of road is the road well travelled rather than the road less travelled.
I lock my car doors everyday going to work and have been harassed by idiots twice recently on the way to work. Both times I would assess the person to be "weird". one accused me of "following" them, I was going to work! They obviously had a reason to worry about cars behind them. The other bashed on my window at the lights and I screamed, they just wanted to tell me my blinker wasn't working and the cops were bad in that area. There are so many stories about incidents in the cities that the odd incident in the bush pales to insignificant in comparison.

Dougwe · Chief one feather

And here I was all this time thinking "Wolf Creek" was a doco baute smile

That would have terrifying to say the least but would like to think a very minority incident.

baute · Senior Member

Well Doug it was sort of: Wolfe Creek is a meteorite crater, 150 kilometres down a dirt track from Halls Creek, is named after early prospector Robert Wolfe.
Apparently tourists are flocking to the area to camp there after the "documentary" especially after the sequel.

roadtourer · Senior Member

In 2008 I was a victim of road rage on Hume Hwy, I called 000, when i felt uncomfortable and the car was trying to push me off the road. It was 3am and i was heading home from Cooma NSW. I have to thank the Tallarook cop shop for helping me out and the person on 000 was fantastic! Yes i was scared but sensible to. I had to pull over as the moron was going to have me killed... stupid man got out of his car smashed my window only to be attacked by my beautiful German Shepherd female who broke his jaw (along with other bones.... (put the prick in hospital and he was imprisoned as i did all the police guided me to and had the junkie locked up) Abby My Shepherd literally held him to the ground until the police came. I followed instructions to the emergency operators and all turned out ok, i must admit it was a whole lot of adrenalin but the shock kicked in 4 days later.... Yes it's not a safe world BUT non the less it hasn't stopped me from traveling either and i often today still take trips on my own (now without Abby my Shepherd anymore), but for some reason i don't feel threatened on the roads and can't wait to go again. I feel and my attitude is that no matter how sheltered you try to live you still can get in trouble... either way life is for living and traveling is the way to go!!!

just had to share a couple of picks of Abby she was small in size hardly weighed 30 kilos but was a pocket rocket made the biggest of men cry

Training

Waiting to play

-- Edited by roadtourer on Sunday 7th of September 2014 08:34:21 PM

baute · Senior Member

Wow that would have been scary! Abby looks pretty scary to me. Glad to hear the guy was caught. Maybe a self defence course would give some some confidence. But as you said attitude to a situation goes a long way, keeping your head and calling triple zero if you have coverage.

Vic41 · Guru

That's what I call poetic justice Roadtourer, hat off to Abbey, that bloke got his just deserts and more! smile

roadtourer · Senior Member

Baute Abby is a no nonsense girl and not a dog for all to own she has pinned my dad many a times but she was one if the best dogs I've trained in my time I agree certainly caution and self defense is important and not allowing it to ruin the love and desires too Lol vic41 hehe I giggled when she did it and when the police came they were mighty impressed! She's now retired and living a pet life I have now an ankle biter as a pet but I still have my wits and yes we always can call for help

Vic41 · Guru

Sounds like she was a good dog to have RT, I have been reading an article on Army Tracker Dogs in Vietnam, what a brilliant job them and their handlers did, amazing dogs! smile

Mary · Senior Member

In my opinion all outback travellers should have a uhf radio.It allows contact with trucks and keeps you in touch with others on the road.In situations like those described a mayday call on channel 40 would surely get some assistance

Kooroorinya Kelpie · Senior Member

Hi all. First time I've looked at the Solo GN's forum as never considered it relevant to my wife and I but on reading this thread it made me realise that in some of the instances mentioned it would have been far from enjoyable. It also reminded me of a scheme which was developed some time back which was the identification of Safe Houses for the kids and I wondered whether a similar scheme may work amongst our fraternity. If not only solo travellers. but also those who may be unable to effectively fend for themselves. were readily able to identify a fellow nomad who was able to assist when the script goes haywire maybe everyones travels would be a little more enjoyable and stress free. I put myself in the solos' position of pulling into a free camp for the night and looking around and wondering what is my best option if I need help when you are surrounded by complete strangers and probably in unknown country. I reckon it would be real handy to have a safe haven identified and nearby. As an able bodied, knockabout but decent bloke I would be more than happy for it to be known that I'm the go to bloke. A means of identifying us as such may be a subject for further discussion, Cheers.

baute · Senior Member

Two great points there: Mary I agree a UHF radio is a great idea and solves the issue of phone coverage.
Yes Kooroorinya I like the way you think, it would be nice too know a friendly face was near if needed. Unfortunately the kids safety house scheme has all but collapsed in most areas.
Not sure how a grey nomad identification would work. But using Mary's idea of UHF radios, if grey nomads had a nominated UHF channel you could check in to locate others in the area.