This is the epitome of stupidity people who behave so stupidly as this guy should have to pay all costs incured in their rescue.
Agree whole heartedly.......but my concern would be .......did he have all his faculties with him.....some blokes I know at that age have started to lose the plot and others are still right on board......this is where family need to keep close eye on the parents.......provided of course the old people have family......makes it harder if not.
lets hope he starts to listen to reason now....
__________________
I Remember It ...............All Too Well
Wherever the four winds blow. I'm restless, I'm ready
It was better in the old days.
Before all this electronics existed. Just HF radio and VHF for intership.
People still went everywhere they capable of.
BUT.
were more capable.Sensible. Competent.
Responsibilities for your actions basically.
You went out to wherever. (Specially us going to sea, by ourselves and otherwise)
And KNEW. Only one thing would get you back.
YOU....
Anything went wrong. You were the one to fix it.
No ringing up for somebody to risk their lives coming out to save your stupidity, Mostly.
You didn't fix. you quite often WERE dead.
It's idiots like that one above, that cause so much "Nanny State " rules nowadays.
Um the video I am seeing, was from South Australia on Oct 5 the following is the news post A YOUNG couple who travelled into the foothills of the Mount Lofty Ranges to enjoy the twinkling lights of Adelaide have had the mood broken when a sinkhole swallowed them and their car.
The small Suzuki 4WD â carrying the young couple from Murray Bridge â was parked on Sunnyside Road in Glen Osmond at around 11.50pm on Tuesday when the sinkhole opened.
They were sitting inside the car while looking out across the Adelaide lights when they fell into the 4m by 4m hole.
There may have been an incident involving a Gray Nomad, but the internet is not always right.
Um the video I am seeing, was from South Australia on Oct 5 the following is the news post A YOUNG couple who travelled into the foothills of the Mount Lofty Ranges to enjoy the twinkling lights of Adelaide have had the mood broken when a sinkhole swallowed them and their car. The small Suzuki 4WD carrying the young couple from Murray Bridge was parked on Sunnyside Road in Glen Osmond at around 11.50pm on Tuesday when the sinkhole opened. They were sitting inside the car while looking out across the Adelaide lights when they fell into the 4m by 4m hole. There may have been an incident involving a Gray Nomad, but the internet is not always right.
Try reading the text below the moving pictures, could just be enlightening.
Sort of have to think that the poor old chap has seen stories etc. and maybe even internet posts and didn't realise he wasn't up to it anymore. Didn't have the tools to change a tyre? No one with full faculties sets off to the local shops without a jack and a wheel brace or what manufacturers like to call a wheel brace. We should be thankful that others helped him rather than denigrating or castigating him. One has to think that in one of his more lucid moments, he thought it would be a good idea but set of in one of his less lucid moments. Putting aside the whole make him pay etc. etc., it's still a bit heart warming that someone at his age can still have, albeit misguided, the adventure still in him. With a bit of luck, one day we'll all get to that age, and hopefully those a bit younger will forgive our more idiosyncratic if not at time idiotic pursuits.
or maybe he didn't want to be found and out in the desert may have been his chosen destination to be at peace with all, cause that doesn't sound to bad to me
cheers
blaze
There are lots of people that age, and older.
Heading off every day.
I'm 75 and still mentally around 27.
I always test myself. Physically and mentally regularly, to make sure I can keep doing what I want.
Hopefully I'll realise when I can't.
I know I've stepped back recently from quite a few physical things I used to do without thinking.
We should all do the same.
Get down and try a few push ups. or pull ups..
now.
It'll surprise you how few you can do nowadays.
I used to do 100 sit ups, b4 starting gym free weights circuit.
then finish off with another 100.
Now. Ha.. don't even ask. and what gym circuit?.
Or run/walk up the stairs.
6 months ago I did 10 up/downs (walking) on stairs every week at least twice.
NOW. Today. I stopped at 6.
Used to do 35 laps then another 10 in pool yr b4 last.
Now. 10 is the comfort line. and maybe another couple later.
I stopped Racing the 6 man Outrigger canoes at 68yrs. have since lost around 30% of my Physical muscle mass.
and probably a lot more in power.
We all do after around 70.
He's probably gone past the point without realising.
Specially if the brain slowed too.
There are a few brain activity tests on NET. we should do them regularly,
so far, I can still count zero to thirty. backwards, in Deutche (After that number it's just a repeat of the Swei.drei, fier.)
and pronounce the Phoenetic Alphabet.
They actually a good memory and Pronunciation test.
try them.
What I'm saying is we ALL slow down.
Try to keep a check on it Yourself. regularly..
Or you'll probably end up in that situations too, one day.
We'll all (mostly) get there.
There are lots of people that age, and older. Heading off every day. I'm 75 and still mentally around 27.
I always test myself. Physically and mentally regularly, to make sure I can keep doing what I want. Hopefully I'll realise when I can't. I know I've stepped back recently from quite a few physical things I used to do without thinking. We should all do the same.
Get down and try a few push ups. or pull ups.. now.
It'll surprise you how few you can do nowadays. I used to do 100 sit ups, b4 starting gym free weights circuit. then finish off with another 100. Now. Ha.. don't even ask. and what gym circuit?.
Or run/walk up the stairs. 6 months ago I did 10 up/downs (walking) on stairs every week at least twice. NOW. Today. I stopped at 6.
Used to do 35 laps then another 10 in pool yr b4 last. Now. 10 is the comfort line. and maybe another couple later.
I stopped Racing the 6 man Outrigger canoes at 68yrs. have since lost around 30% of my Physical muscle mass. and probably a lot more in power. We all do after around 70.
He's probably gone past the point without realising. Specially if the brain slowed too.
There are a few brain activity tests on NET. we should do them regularly,
so far, I can still count zero to thirty. backwards, in Deutche (After that number it's just a repeat of the Swei.drei, fier.) and pronounce the Phoenetic Alphabet. They actually a good memory and Pronunciation test. try them.
What I'm saying is we ALL slow down. Try to keep a check on it Yourself. regularly.. Or you'll probably end up in that situations too, one day. We'll all (mostly) get there.
Like weedfarmer I did not comment on his age as one of my mates who is 84 would outperform many 50 year old's, and he may not have asked for help but I like most Nomad members would always stop to help anyone in trouble and I also believe all emergency services (Police) have an obligation to assist those in difficulty. I still find it hard to believe that someone would attempt this trip as poorly prepared as this guy was.
__________________
Life was meant to be enjoyed Australia was meant to be explored
Happily doing both to the Max.
Life is like a camera, focus on what's important & you will capture it every Time
Like weedfarmer I did not comment on his age as one of my mates who is 84 would outperform many 50 year old's, and he may not have asked for help but I like most Nomad members would always stop to help anyone in trouble and I also believe all emergency services (Police) have an obligation to assist those in difficulty. I still find it hard to believe that someone would attempt this trip as poorly prepared as this guy was.
Of course anyone should stop to help someone in need, especially out there.
But we have not nor we will have the full story!!
I have been stuck on the side of the road with a flat tyre and trying to fix it 3 caravans passed me and not one stopped to even ask if I needed a hand.
We've only broken down once with the van in tow (actually first time out with the van!) and the first van going past stopped to see if they could help, so I still have faith in my fellow man.
not saying too much about his mental state nor situation awareness nor some of our speculation to his drivers for the trip, but maybe he just looked at the onboard GPS and saw a 'road' to get to the Kimberleys?
Preparation seemed to include a 100L drum of fuel, a light bar and as it turned out a sat phone ...
He actually went through our camp at Well #6 at ~7pm on the first day of his 'journey', told us he had problems with his fuel drum leaking, wouldnt turn his light bar off and asked us for directions!
When speaking to him, he had no real concept of what the CSR was/is, nor its remoteness, nor reputation - one of his comments was that the road was a 'little rougher than he was expecting' but he was not going to entertain our suggestions of pulling up to camp and re-evaluating his plans in the morning ... our thoughts were that the track was in a lot better shape than we were expecting!
We monitored his progress up to Well #33, where we turned off, by the distinctive tyre tracks he left. On speaking with the staff at Kunawarritji, we heard of his first call to Police and that they had responded.
As i am sure most on this group are aware, the CSR can be an extremely hazardous track, and while this guy had a decent amount of luck and clearly drove with a lot of caution, it could have gone a lot more differently for him!
If I had any say in it, i would make a clear example of his follies and absolute stupidity and at least ensure he, in some way, reimburses for the teams that responded to his two calls - I have a number of ideas from various community service projects through to financial penalty!
I am not sure what we would have done had we been the first on the scene of a more serious mishap that he could have had - the additional stress of knowing he was just in front of us was enough .. managing a recovery/emergency for him would have definitely destroyed our trip!
As someone said above, we are all getting a little older, a little slower and maybe a little less capable ... it is becoming more important for us to asses our ambitions vs our capabilities and ensure we dont confuse the two!
Not saying dont attempt things, but spend a bit more time researching to ensure it all goes to plan - there arent many things that cant be done safely and taking risks like this guy did could certainly have ended up a lot worse for him and those potentially also put at risk!
not saying too much about his mental state nor situation awareness nor some of our speculation to his drivers for the trip, but maybe he just looked at the onboard GPS and saw a 'road' to get to the Kimberleys?
Preparation seemed to include a 100L drum of fuel, a light bar and as it turned out a sat phone ...
He actually went through our camp at Well #6 at ~7pm on the first day of his 'journey', told us he had problems with his fuel drum leaking, wouldnt turn his light bar off and asked us for directions!
When speaking to him, he had no real concept of what the CSR was/is, nor its remoteness, nor reputation - one of his comments was that the road was a 'little rougher than he was expecting' but he was not going to entertain our suggestions of pulling up to camp and re-evaluating his plans in the morning ... our thoughts were that the track was in a lot better shape than we were expecting!
We monitored his progress up to Well #33, where we turned off, by the distinctive tyre tracks he left. On speaking with the staff at Kunawarritji, we heard of his first call to Police and that they had responded.
As i am sure most on this group are aware, the CSR can be an extremely hazardous track, and while this guy had a decent amount of luck and clearly drove with a lot of caution, it could have gone a lot more differently for him!
If I had any say in it, i would make a clear example of his follies and absolute stupidity and at least ensure he, in some way, reimburses for the teams that responded to his two calls - I have a number of ideas from various community service projects through to financial penalty!
I am not sure what we would have done had we been the first on the scene of a more serious mishap that he could have had - the additional stress of knowing he was just in front of us was enough .. managing a recovery/emergency for him would have definitely destroyed our trip!
As someone said above, we are all getting a little older, a little slower and maybe a little less capable ... it is becoming more important for us to asses our ambitions vs our capabilities and ensure we dont confuse the two!
Not saying dont attempt things, but spend a bit more time researching to ensure it all goes to plan - there arent many things that cant be done safely and taking risks like this guy did could certainly have ended up a lot worse for him and those potentially also put at risk!
Keep the shiny side up and enjoy the journey!
Welcome Whiskey9666
Gee, quite a scathing attack!
Sometimes sh.. happens and nothing goes to plan. Remember Murphy!
Cheers, John.
__________________
"My mind is made up. Please don't confuse me with facts."