CAMPSITES FREE AND OTHER: 1st free was Bowenville Reserve, 20 k's from Dalby. Heaps of room but weather closed in and we had to stay put for a few days.
Mitchell. Neil Turner weir. Spent 15 nights here. Roomy but very busy. Loud dispute between a couple of campers over a generator on our last night.
Roadside stop 42 k's south of Blackall. Still a bit boggy after the wet. New people every day.
LONGREACH: Never seen so many vans. Apex camp, the $3 per night one out by the river so packed it would be hard to slide a razor blade between them. Thus our move to Dingo Creek, 15 K's west of Longreach. 3 other campers so far, can't see them though, place so huge one can sometimes hear them but they are concealed by the bush. No facilities, but plenty of firewood. (Plenty of water if it rains too I suspect.) We will stay here for a week or 2.
THE PEOPLE:
WOW: Majority friendly, happy to say hello and a short chat.
However, the "AVACHATS" complete with life history and full run down on their rig I could do without, but I guess it comes with the territory.
Many seem to travelling under very tight schedules, rocking up late arvo and away 1st thing, some spending their entire time inside the van.
Surprised the number of very old vans like ours.
SUMMARY: I think I could get used to this lifestyle, overall great people with so much to see and do.
p.s. The cat has settled into the routine well, keeping herself busy sleeping by the campfire and eating.
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Kevin Kyle
On the road full time with Son and 21 year old cat and 3 year old Manx.
Toyota Landcruiser 100 series V8. Nextgen semi off-roader. 3 120 AH agm batteries, 1KW Solar
Sounds like you are having a good time Kevin - we stayed at Bowenville for a few days not long ago - have been there before - not a bad spot, flushing toilets and rubbish bins. Probably about 15 - 20 when we were there.
Stayed at Apex Park, Longreach, just before the fishing comp one year - packed!!!! But a lot of fun, and free then. Also went on the Sunset cruise on the river, the one that goes from the Drovers Camp - picked us up at the camp, and dropped us back to our door - had a great night! Bush poetry, great food - lean beef stew with damper - we know it was "lean" because young Jeremy told us it was leaning on the fence when he caught it!!!
Get the boss man at Kinnane's to tell the story of the barefoot bush poet and his run in with OH &S!!!!
Keep on travelling - it is a great life!
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jules "Love is good for the human being!!" (Ben, aged 10)
We had no problem at all - get friendly with your neighbours, and put a hitch lock on the tow ball, have heard of more stuff being stolen from caravan parks than free camps. Halls Creek several years back used to be notorious - one guy in a tent had his wallet stolen from under his pillow - while he was asleep in bed. From our last visit, seems to have been tidied up all over town now. Great bakery!
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jules "Love is good for the human being!!" (Ben, aged 10)
Two weeks ago . A young Aboriginee opened the doors of my motor home . Half way in door . Till he saw me . Halls Creek opposite IGA .. Never leave van or MH unlocked .. I stayed behind while Mrs shopped ..
LONGREACH: Never seen so many vans. Apex camp, the $3 per night one out by the river so packed it would be hard to slide a razor blade between them. Thus our move to Dingo Creek, 15 K's west of Longreach. 3 other campers so far, can't see them though, place so huge one can sometimes hear them but they are concealed by the bush. No facilities, but plenty of firewood. (Plenty of water if it rains too I suspect.) We will stay here for a week or 2.
And all those people that swear by free camps will now come on and say you are lying. You only get that in caravan parks.
We had no problem at all - get friendly with your neighbours, and put a hitch lock on the tow ball, have heard of more stuff being stolen from caravan parks than free camps. Halls Creek several years back used to be notorious - one guy in a tent had his wallet stolen from under his pillow - while he was asleep in bed. From our last visit, seems to have been tidied up all over town now. Great bakery!
Reminds me of a hostel I stayed at years ago Jules, bunk beds in a large room, I was told to sleep with undies on and wallet inside your undies, same thing, wallets were getting stolen from under pillows while occupants were sleeping, most had been out on the booze the night before. Theory was if someone put their hands down the front of your jocks you would wake up....
Two weeks ago . A young Aboriginee opened the doors of my motor home . Half way in door . Till he saw me . Halls Creek opposite IGA .. Never leave van or MH unlocked .. I stayed behind while Mrs shopped ..
Halls Creek IGA.... shopped ??? Don't you mean fleeced?
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Steve, Di & Ziggy We named our Motorhome "Roadworx" because on the road works "On The Road Again" Ford Transit with 302 Windsor V8 conversion, C4 Auto, 9 Inch Ford Diff All Lighting L.E.D., 260 Amp/h AGM, 530 Watt Solar + Kipor Backup Gen.
When I was at Halls Creek many years ago they had a pair of Doberman guard dogs chained across the CP entrance to discourage locals.
I first stayed overnight at Bowenville in my old fast back Vanguard in about 1961 when I was too full to drive on to Condamine. I got on too well with the locals at lunchtime.
I broke a (half) windscreen just up the road & drove on from there with my rifle poking out of the front to ping at any wildlife that I spotted beside the road. Roos were fair game in those days.
It was about a two six pack trip from Bowenville to Condamine. Pitch the empties over the roof to the other side of the road.
-- Edited by Cupie on Sunday 3rd of July 2016 10:27:19 PM
-- Edited by Cupie on Sunday 3rd of July 2016 10:30:09 PM
Really Phantom? Apex is the first that I have seen packed like this.
As we are fully self sufficient we don't need access to anything other than firm ground to park on.
Let's face it CP owners are A'holes and they ain't getting a single cent from me.
I will spend the money I save on provisions with the local businesses. Already spent $300 in the local shops here. If I paid a CP I wouldn't have that money to spend.
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Kevin Kyle
On the road full time with Son and 21 year old cat and 3 year old Manx.
Toyota Landcruiser 100 series V8. Nextgen semi off-roader. 3 120 AH agm batteries, 1KW Solar
We have been in quite a few free camps that were jam packed. Rollingstione, Balgal Beach, Rocky Creek and quite a few more, here at Kilcoy we had a guy parked about ugh teen inches from our door! We stay in caravan parks, reasonably priced ones, as well as showgrounds. Torbanlea Racecourse is $5 night, and was pretty packed couple of weeks ago.
Never say never, you don't know what is going to happen in life.
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jules "Love is good for the human being!!" (Ben, aged 10)
Snippy,I agree with what you say,it is better to spend in the small buisness when you can, we do a bit of both stay in caravan parks and free camping which we enjoy and yes sometimes we are packed in like sardines but that is OK for the short term, we appreciate the open space when we do go free camping.
I am merely making an observation based on your excellent post regarding your extended period on the road. You read far more into my post than I intended.
Most country town caravan parks are also small family owned business just trying to make a living. They pay very high rates, have large power and water costs, this is before everyday running costs. If people wish to stay in free camps, ( I am happy to free camp also) that is your prerogative. In my travels I have seen travelers who boast they only free camp sneak into caravan parks at night to get water, get rid of rubbish, do laundry and shower. I am not saying anyone in this forum does such things, however, we should always remember there is two sides to every debate.
Most country town caravan parks are also small family owned business just trying to make a living. They pay very high rates, have large power and water costs, this is before everyday running costs. If people wish to stay in free camps, ( I am happy to free camp also) that is your prerogative. In my travels I have seen travelers who boast they only free camp sneak into caravan parks at night to get water, get rid of rubbish, do laundry and shower. I am not saying anyone in this forum does such things, however, we should always remember there is two sides to every debate.
Here Here!
My thoughts exactly.
A fair go for all. (Isn't that a quote out of Orwell's Animal Farm? Oops)
Problem with these "Small family owned businesses" is they want protection from competition.
I ran an IT business for 30 years in a very competitive environment and no one gave me protection against competition. These CP owners need to "Wake and and smell the coffee" and either provide what owners of self sufficient rigs want or go and cry in another corner.
The great thing about this country is we all have a choice.
9 week on the road=1 paid CP and that was because we know the owners.
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Kevin Kyle
On the road full time with Son and 21 year old cat and 3 year old Manx.
Toyota Landcruiser 100 series V8. Nextgen semi off-roader. 3 120 AH agm batteries, 1KW Solar
The caravan park owners I have talk to don't care if people free camp but they don't like that some sneak in after hours to have a nice hot shower and empty their black water cassette , Using washing machine are not a problem has they have to use money to do that , One is now putting locks on their shower blocks who can blame them , Someone always have to pay if someone gets something for nothing .
Problem with these "Small family owned businesses" is they want protection from competition.
I ran an IT business for 30 years in a very competitive environment and no one gave me protection against competition. �These CP owners need to "Wake and and smell the coffee" and either provide what owners of self sufficient rigs want or go and cry in another corner.
The great thing about this country is we all have a choice.
9 week on the road=1 paid CP and that was because we know the owners.
�
9 weeks on the road, stayed at one caravan park and you are an expert.
9 years on the road, stayed at many caravan parks and managed caravan parks and I am still learningÂ
Problem with these "Small family owned businesses" is they want protection from competition.
I ran an IT business for 30 years in a very competitive environment and no one gave me protection against competition. �These CP owners need to "Wake and and smell the coffee" and either provide what owners of self sufficient rigs want or go and cry in another corner.
The great thing about this country is we all have a choice.
9 week on the road=1 paid CP and that was because we know the owners.
�
9 weeks on the road, stayed at one caravan park and you are an expert.
9 years on the road, stayed at many caravan parks and managed caravan parks and I am still learningÂ
If you want to be picky, 15 years on the road, most of it in tents, used both paid and free so maybe I am as qualified as you.
Geez, people get their dander up quick on this forum
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Kevin Kyle
On the road full time with Son and 21 year old cat and 3 year old Manx.
Toyota Landcruiser 100 series V8. Nextgen semi off-roader. 3 120 AH agm batteries, 1KW Solar
Dont care where you end up camped, Snippy, just keep the cat under control
I agree re the cat - friends took their cat camping in a council camp ($8 per person per night - not cheap, only facilities were toilets) - the cat didn't like coming out of the motorhome, but managed to slip out and was lost. So it will either find another home (hopefully, it is a nice cat) or become feral - let's hope not! Same thing can happen with dogs., of course.
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jules "Love is good for the human being!!" (Ben, aged 10)
