Raising the right arm, not fascists are they!

Hairyone wrote:

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Where did you live before? UK?

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A  number of countries around the world but I don't feel inclined to detail my life on the internet.

Why do you ask? Do people in other countries wave differently at caravans?

It was a thing in the early days but it waned when I owned a Peugeot for 18 years, but being a French car one could get away with it!

When I went outback 2020 there were so few fellow travellers on the road that a lot of finger, hand, and arm waving was going on; one motor home practically having a party in the front to see a vehicle coming in the opposite direction. So I waved back.

I live in an area where once you hit the last 5kms 99% of the vehicles will be your neighbours and they will always raise a finger (in a nice way lol) to you. In fact I finally felt like I belonged somewhere when they recognise me (or the cars) regardless of which of our 2 vehicles I'm driving. But this is different it's acknowledging someone you actually know.


With sooo many travellers on the road I will be saving my 'left finger raise' for very isolated spots, or someone I recognise

You're going all native and defensive on me :)

On the Canning Stock Route I can certainly understand the desire to connect with other humans but on the Murray Valley Highway with one caravan every two minutes this obscure habit eludes me.

But as mentioned... I'm probably at odds with 75% of posters :)

Back in the day if you owned an MGB you automatically waved to other MGB's on the road.Why who knows. In the case of motorhomes I see no reason to wave to other MH's regardless of whether they wave to me or not so I don't.

Remember Crocodile Dundee in New York, " G'day, G'day, G'day " a smile or a wave is much better than a gun or a knife

I have seen (possibly 3D printed) 2 raised finger wave mounted on velcro on the dash in front of the drive to imitate the raising of fingers (and NO not in a V formation).

Would save the trouble and (at least for me) give me a laugh every time somebody waved back.

Waving only happens in the regional areas and the bush, where friendly people live. You only get the bird in the cities, one finger at a time.

tea spoon wrote:

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caravaned for 40 plus years ......waved to most vanners coming along towards us ......today its almost gone waving as vans are way to many ........on K.I many years ago everyone waved ....on York Peninsula some wave most without a caravan on ......nowdays i Tent and have a closed in trailer i tow with my gear i dont wave no more to anyone .....

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 On KI they still wave.

Had an amusing moment a couple of years ago while on KI with Blazeaid. Had a female backpacker with me for the day in the car. At the end of the day she said, wow Hewy you must have been here a while - everyone knows you and waves.

Most motorcyclists nod to other oncoming motorcyclists, I always did.
The exception was Harley riders on their overrated antique piles of crap, they are too cool.

Ower yer goin', mate? Orright?

 

Aussies of just about every ilk acknowledge one another when briefly meeting.

 

I have surfed - always give a nod or a grunt

Big bikes and similar - a head nod

Runners - a quick finger

Hikers b- "Ullo"

 

and so-on.

 

It's what makes us Aussies and sets us aside from the heathen nations where

everyone is crowded on top of one another.

We even talk to our neighbours out here!

 

"Just up the road a bit, mate."

 

Get it?

 

The Land Rover/Range Rover wave last century was more like a condolence " sorry mate you too"!

Yeah, it's an Aussie thing apparently...Truckers generally acknowledge each other as they pass on the smaller highways and byways...same job different day eh.

I often will but not always acknowledge fellow travelers on smaller back roads when passing by. I have to admit, I do lift a couple of fingers off the wheel but very rarely look at the other driver and would not even know if he / she acknowledges in return...don't care either really.