CANCELLING OUR BIG LAP PLAN

Donna and David · Member

CANCELLING OUR BIG LAP PLAN

KJB · Guru

Sealed road from Adelaide to Darwin - no red mud......

Mobi Condo · Guru

Donna and David wrote:
Been planning our big lap for years, upgrading the van and the tow vehicle, and planning the trip on an excell spreadsheet meticulously so we would get through the top end before the big wet. Planned to spend most of the nights free camping in our ensuite van and read everything we could find on the big lap bloggers sites.
Initially planned to start from covid free Adelaide, going clockwise around Australia, taking 5 to 6 months on a travel budget of about $10,000.
Then Victoria exploded with covid. So we changed the plan to go through Broken Hill and straight to Brisbane, bypassing Melbourne and Sydney.
Then the Crossroads Hotel in NSW exploded, but hey, no biggy, we didnt plan to be in nsw long, just long enough to get into QLD but it is getting harder to avoid hotspots.
We then changed the plan to go from Adelaide Straight to Darwin, bypassing the entire east coast, and being prepared to have our rig covered in red mud and dust to achieve it. But where do you go after you get to Northern Territory ? Then we applied to enter WA, giving them heaps of warning, registered on their problematic GTG site, to be REFUSED ENTRY, meaning that we could then only head back to SA,,, and more red mud.
Fckit, trip cancelled.

We have empathy here. Planned to be in Darwin for the June LWE, from Adelaide via the main drag and all freebie camps plus a few friends yards and taking three weeks to do so. Then to the west via a few roads yet to be explored down to Karijini and out to the coast to complete a coastal travel down to Carnarvon, then inland to the Central Gascoyne regions to catch up with remote folks we know before the Northern Goldfields to Laverton, Great Central Road to Alice, down to Marla & home via Oodnadatta Track etc.

We are yet to leave!

Sob, sob with you

Ian

Donna and David · Member

yep, but planned to see a bit of NT on the way, which isnt sealed.

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

There is enough to see for a couple of year's full time travelling in the NT without ever going off the black top.
Cheers,
Peter

Whenarewethere · Guru

We didn't plan a thing other than some smaller trips first, then NSW, then up through Bourke to Kakadu & anti clockwise.

We ended up starting 10 days late as I badly twisted my ankle 2 days before we were going to leave on a missing drain grate.

You need to be flexible with the best laid plans.

Plenty to do in SA.

The best thing about doing short trips first is getting rid of all the rubbish you really do not need to take.

markf · Senior Member

This is the problem with plans. As soon as you make one there will be a spanner landing in the works.

By all means do all of the preparation - the caravan, the tug, yourselves, etc. Have your basic aim set out but if you make a solid plan then it'll get shot to bits for sure.

An old manager of mine used to say "it is what it is" which is a saying that I hate but in these uncertain times it's worth bearing in mind. Another thing that he said a lot was that "flexibility is key" which is probably the best advice he ever gave.

My wife and I have had a few things go drastically wrong but we have been flexible enough to work our way around them. I've written a bit about what to do when it all goes pear shaped here.

You've done all the hard work so now is the time to be flexible and do what you can. We're in the same-ish boat. We've got a basic route set out and a few aims and are just waiting until we can get going. Once we pull out of the driveway we'll just go with the flow and see how it turns out. Undoubtedly we'll have a blast overall.

Tony Bev · Guru

Hi David and Donna, welcome to the forum

Unfortunately we are all in the same boat, as no one knows, what the new normal will be, due to the Coronavirus

As hard as it may sound to other travellers, I actually support, all the hard Australian State/Regional/Territory border closure

This may well be affecting me, in a few short months, as I like to travel from the west, to see my rellies/friends, in the east

Unfortunately, for us all, travelling for pleasure/holiday/etc, is not a valid reason, to be given an exemption, to cross the border

As others have already said, there is still plenty to see, without actually doing the complete lap

Hope that when we eliminate this Coronavirus problem, there will be plenty of happy road trips, ahead of you both

Greg 1 · Guru

Unfortunately the virus has wrecked the plans of most of us on this forum. Our kids and grandkids live in NSW and we have not seen them now for over a year and with Covid, not likely too at least this year. We had planned to travel across there but are halted in our tracks. I am also supportive of the hard border closures so am just being patient until things flatten out and we can travel again. We could get out of WA but would struggle to get back in. WA would not consider your application for entry on purely holiday grounds. There are very strict rules surrounding exemptions and travel for pleasure is not one of them.

Bobdown · Guru

We have cancelled our trip East this year and are going to visit the Wildflower country in WA this Spring,.......... at least we know we can get back home if we have to.

Cheers Bob

Whenarewethere · Guru

Donna and David wrote:
yep, but planned to see a bit of NT on the way, which isnt sealed.

Lambert's Centre?

Red flag taking over Australia.jpg

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

Best way of going in these conditions . Keep away from population or built up areas

Mobi Condo · Guru

Got add re planning. I note the detailed spread sheet planning. That is my style as well. That way we get to see if we can afford the fuel and the time etc - Food is discounted as we need to eat anyway. At least if trip plans go astray, we still get the enjoyment of the planning.
Cheers - Ian

gold dandelion · Senior Member

maybe you over planned a bit as well, you only need a start date and a finish date. a lot can happen in the middle.

Warren-Pat_01 · Guru

Just kick that extra passenger who often appears in vehicles out - Mr Murphy!

Go where you can & enjoy what you see.

We'd like to see our kids too but that's out of the question at the moment.

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

Change of journey more than cancelled . ENJOY yourselves. Well ?? Not too much lol

TheHeaths · Guru

Donna and David wrote:
Been planning our big lap for years, upgrading the van and the tow vehicle, and planning the trip on an excell spreadsheet meticulously so we would get through the top end before the big wet. Planned to spend most of the nights free camping in our ensuite van and read everything we could find on the big lap bloggers sites.
Initially planned to start from covid free Adelaide, going anti clockwise around Australia, taking 5 to 6 months on a travel budget of about $10,000.
Then Victoria exploded with covid. So we changed the plan to go through Broken Hill and straight to Brisbane, bypassing Melbourne and Sydney.
Then the Crossroads Hotel in NSW exploded, but hey, no biggy, we didnt plan to be in nsw long, just long enough to get into QLD but it is getting harder to avoid hotspots.
We then changed the plan to go from Adelaide Straight to Darwin, bypassing the entire east coast, and being prepared to have our rig covered in red mud and dust to achieve it. But where do you go after you get to Northern Territory ? Then we applied to enter WA, giving them heaps of warning, registered on their problematic GTG site, to be REFUSED ENTRY, meaning that we could then only head back to SA,,, and more red mud.
Fckit, trip cancelled.
There needs to be one autralia wide website, where all border approvals can be managed without the hotch potch disarray we are seeing at the moment'

-- Edited by Donna and David on Friday 17th of July 2020 10:35:41 AM

-- Edited by Donna and David on Friday 17th of July 2020 10:36:38 AM

The red dust and mud is part of the fun.

A good trip would be up to Darwin, via Lambert Centre, Uluru, Kings Canyon and the MacDonnells, Devils Marbles Katherine Gorge, Kakadu, Litchfield and then across to Cooktown via Lawn Hill, Cobbold Gorge, Undarra down the coast to Townsville and then back out through central Queensland to see the dinosaur trail, and then home via Birdsville or Innamincka.

A bit of dust, unlikely to be mud, and a great lot of fun.

Donna and David · Member

okayy, so then we reversed the spreadsheet, changed the direction to clockwise and planned to head from covid free Adelaide straight to Eucla, WA, thinking that we would be a monty to get an access permit, even offering to self quarantine in South Australia for 14 days beforehand but no , ENTRY REFUSED (again). It seems that WA is determined to play hardball, ie dont let anything get in the way of sending as much of our minerals offshore (to China ?) as quickly as possible.

Mk3 plan, feasible as at 19/7/2020: leaving thursday: Adelaide to Brisbane via Broken Hill, focusing on north queensland, northern territory, and then down through the middle back to Adelaide by Christmas. (dodging the hotspots as they arise). Heard today that there are hundreds of caravans free camping on the roadsides near border crossings.

Greg 1 · Guru

As I said above, you will not get an entry permit into WA for purely vocational reasons. Basically essential services only will be allowed in. It has nothing to do with exports to China. It's keeping Covid carriers out. You don't seem to get that. Until the situation in the Eastern States has stabilized, don't expect to get into WA. All of us on here have had our plans ruined by Covid. Just suck it up and wait it out.

TheHeaths · Guru

You will have a great time going on the trip you have mentioned. We spent 4 months last year going from Adelaide across via Broken Hill and Lightning Ridge to Hervey Bay, up the coast to Cooktown, across to Karumba and Burketown, down via Cloncurry to revisit Julia Creek, to Richmond and then Winton. Back to Mt Isa and home via Birdsville to Adelaide. You will just keep going via Camooweal to the NT and then have fun there.

Enjoy the trip.

Donna and David · Member

Hi Greg,

The future of big lapping is totally dependant on an effective longlasting antivirus being found, which wont be happening soon. The current science is that covid antibodies created by surviving the covid infection, fade after a few months anyway, meaning that those who have had covid, and were therefore left with the reduced lung function legacy, are even more vulnerable in successive reinfections, especially as covid mutates. Its not like flu in that regard. The present moment is probably the very last opportunity to big lap at all. Its not an option to suck it up and postpone a trip. Its all the more reason to do it now, while you can, take the necessary precautions and plan it well. Im hoping for a brighter travel future, but there are no indications that is coming.

-- Edited by Donna and David on Monday 20th of July 2020 08:48:02 AM

StewG · Senior Member

We don't make detailed plans. Just head out and see where it takes us. There are so many happy diversions along the way and as long as your rig is in good shape and the fuel tank is topped up, it's all good. You talk to other travellers and get the good oil on places to go and things to do. We had never heard of Horizontal Falls until we were heading for Derby WA. Caught the last flight to the falls for the season and stayed overnight. A wonderful memory now. Driving through Herberton QLD we stopped at the Historic Village for morning coffee and stayed all day. It is an utterly amazing place that is extremely well curated. When (if) Covid isolation lifts from Melbourne, we are heading north.

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

If you keep pretty much to yourselves ? Its no different to staying at home . Maybe better freezer / fridge so food lasts longer between shopping . Oh and extra storage for 1000
Rolls of toilet paper . Hate it but masks while shopping etc . I cant see how it can be spread if we keep distance and hygiene from each other . No need to totally close everything down !! Just be aware of social distance !! Even us old codgers !! We are actually living out there . Not travelling from one pub to another so to speak !!

Whenarewethere · Guru

Last year we did the south west corner which we didn't do the previous year due to wet weather. Too miserable living out of a car for too long so headed back east via Wave Rock after looking at the weather predictions.

So last year got to Poison Creek, debated going to Israelite Bay, all the way from Perth along the coast. Started heading up to Balladonia. The rain really set in, the dirt road was crap & over grown, so headed back west & up to Leonora & did Australia's Longest Shortcut! The Great Central Road.

If that's not changing things on the run I don't know what is!

Whenarewethere · Guru

Forgot to mention, I got her to fly into Perth from Europe instead of Sydney & picked her up from there. Another two weeks of piece & quite..... driving to the airport!

Donna and David · Member

Great news !
After much online research and optimisation of our rig, flexible intensive planning and patience, our journey starts tomorrow morning !.

We updated our border passes and are now clear for nsw and qld, but wont know about nt and wa until later.

What started out as an old fashioned casual big lap plan, has mutated, requiring us to plan around the slow inevitable expansion of covid from Victoria.

First step was researching a wiring plan for a serious solar set-up, and getting the wiring sizes, copmponents and specifications right.

This has enabled us to cost effectively power up the ensuite van with a solar system enabling us to live off grid for an extended period if necessary.

This involved 2 x 300w solar panels plus a folding 250 watt panel, for a total of 850 watts of solar (maximum). We linked that to a 60w mppt solar controllerand big inverter.

4 x 115ah gel batteries are the heart of the system, which remain charged as we drive, through the solar panels but also via a dc to dc charger attached to a new alternator in the tow vehicle. The car crank battery is kept separate. A large inverter gives us 240 volts and a high capacity battery charger is connected for rapid top ups at the odd caravan park.

We ran the rig over a weighbridge to confirm our payload limits, loaded accordingly. We bought a mini weber bbq which just fits in the caravan boot and runs off the 8.5kg size gas bottles.

Scruffy had his annual vaccinations yesterday which takes care of the heartworm and tick risk, and enables us to board him in kennels temporarily if necessary.

A mechanic checked over the 4wd suspension, replacing the shock absorbers and rear torsion bars, Another mechanic replaced rocker cover gaskets and the exhaust manifold gasket.

Fitted a tom tom navigation system, reversing camera, new tow mirrors, new caravan leg and new heavier duty jockey wheel, new first aid kits and portable uhf radios.

Today, its off to the tyre place for a 4wd wheel alignment and tyre checkover. Tonight is farewell to friends and family, and tomorrow morning, we drive out the driveway and join the great caravan of caravans heading to the warmth of the northern states..... AT LAST !

See you on the road ! Regards, David and Donna