Point of no return.

Magnarc · Guru

Point of no return.

Are We Lost · Guru

At 87+ and still planning trips to motels etc you are doing well. With 10 less years I think I will be making that decision sooner than you have.

As a positive it gives you more time for the ups and downs of the banter.

Radar · Guru

Enjoy your new travels and may there be lots of happy experiences.

DMaxer · Guru

Just keep enjoying the road ahead. I look forward to more banter and your views. I dont agree with all of them but that does not mean I am right. It just means we see things differently. Happy travels

landy · Guru

Hope you do keep posting your input over the years has been much appreciated .
Landy

Gaylehere · Guru

Changing into the vehicle and motel "grey nomading" is still a good way to go about seeing our beautiful countryside. My husband and I have had to do it that way for the last three years and I haven't yet reached 70. I very much miss "free/donation camping" and the ability to pull up most anywhere, but you do get into a routine with your new lifestyle. In 2022 and 2023 we went tripping in my husband's old 4WD, but last year it was two shorter 10- and 12-day trips in our Lancer and me doing virtually all the driving. We still don't own suitcases but leave our clothing in our vehicle and have overnight bags with a couple clothing changes, so we don't need to carry heavy luggage. A couple of soft sided freezer bags come in handy but be warned don't take large freezer blocks/bricks to keep things cold as they don't fit in the little freezers in the mini motel fridges and take a couple microwave dishes as all motel rooms have a microwave but very rarely have a container to heat anything in. We still don't travel with a set itinerary but by lunch time have a general idea where we will get to for the day and then usually use Bookings.com on the mobile to organize a motel for the night but if you can't do steps scan the motel pictures and if you are not sure ring and ask for a ground floor room. The motel holiday lifestyle is still good but different. Enjoy yourselves. PS: I still look at The Grey Nomad posts every day and make comments where I can and put photos up in Pick this Place. Cheers.

Dougwe · Chief one feather

G'day Gaylehere, I see no reason why you can't keep contributing here. You are still a grey nomad. I hope it all goes well and you enjoy the change in lifestyle.

I have been in dry doc for a while now due to health and house sitting duties. I am still in my aluminium tent though if need be and not sitting but don't lug it around for now. I have also still done trips and stay in motels or cabins in CVP's. I use Expedia for bookings or just call in and ask. Stay clear of Ibis motels though. I got caught out at Xmas in Sydney twice when flying to Townsville. I reckon I got more room in my aluminium tent and the tent was much cleaner. Another private motel a few weeks earlier was that dirty and unsafe all around it, I actually complained to the local council about it being a health hazard. My fault I spose as it only had a 21/2 star rating. Stingy me biggrin

Keep Safe on the roads and out there.

Possum3 · Guru

No need to leave as you are still nomading, just doing it differently.

Note when you are booking motels/hotels ensure you deal directly with the actual motel/hotel. Unfortunately, Google preferences site through Wotif and other such organisations.
They are overseas based and bleed the profit off the actual entity they usurp.

Are We Lost · Guru

Agree. I avoid booking sites whenever possible.

Use them for finding suitable places if you wish, but then deal direct if that is possible. That way you are helping a local business and not supporting a large international business and sending the money outside the country. A small extra cost in time.

Maybe you will score a better deal as well.

Magnarc · Guru

Thanks to all who wished us well. We never deal with booking agents. As Possum said they send the profits overseas. We select the motel and deal direct with them. One can usually tell which are well run simply by observing the surrounds and whether there and how many vehicles are parked there.

Plain Truth · Guru

Hi Magnarc,We have to the same conclusion as you. I am doing alright " touch wood",at 83 yrs. old,but the wife is struggling along.

So we are planning what might our last trip in the van.

It will be a trip over the top of NE. Victorian high country, and along the the upper Murray River,our favorite area.

Sadly all good things must come to an end in the full-meant of time.

We won't give up traveling, will book into cabins in the future.

We wish you well,keep posting.

-- Edited by Plain Truth on Wednesday 12th of March 2025 08:04:59 PM

Magnarc · Guru

Hi Alan, it has certainly got tougher this last year hence the decision. We share your views on the upper Murray area the last time we were up there we parked up at the Colac-Colac park ( pronounced Clack=Clack by the locals), and did day trips from there. Beautiful country.

Stay safe and make the most of your final trip.

Roy E · Senior Member

Hello Phil,
I have enjoyed your posts over the years and wish you well. I hope you cover many miles and enjoy your travelling in your RAV4.
Cheers,
Roy

Magnarc · Guru

Gday Roy, thanks for your post.

The car is a hybrid very nice to drive, but getting my head around all the gadgets is taking some time. When we first got it I spent quite some time trying to get into it even though the salesman had shown how it worked, before I realised that you have to have the key in your pocket!! It sure is giving my old brain a workout.

Stay safe on your travels mate.

-- Edited by Magnarc on Monday 24th of March 2025 08:30:53 AM

rmoor · Senior Member

Magnarc wrote:
Hi Alan, it has certainly got tougher this last year hence the decision. We share your views on the upper Murray area the last time we were up there we parked up at the Colac-Colac park ( pronounced Clack=Clack by the locals), and did day trips from there. Beautiful country.
Stay safe and make the most of your final trip.

Thanks Magnarc.

Your post prompted me to look at Colac Colac (Clack Clack) that I had never heard of. It looks to be an ideal location.

Also looks a modern or re-furbished van park.

The thing that raised my interest was (I always google golf courses nearby) that the nearby Corryong Golf Course is 9 holes synthetic greens golf course just like my home club. When I magnified it (no pun intended Magnarc) I saw their greens were surrounded by a small heavier synthetic grass on the approaches. We have been having a lot of issues with the approaches to our new synthetic greens so I am keen to travel there for a look at their golf course and stay at Colac Colac and try and torment a few trout at the same time.

Thanks. Much appreciated tip.

Magnarc · Guru

You are most welcome mate.