Should we lobby the government for shorter summer holidays?

One of the strangest things about retiring is getting used to Xmas. We’ve had jobs in the food industry where we worked liked navvies until Xmas eve then fell onto a plane utterly exhausted and arrived in Tassie looking like stunned mullets. Then came jobs where everything eased off the closer that we got to Xmas allowing for big boozy champagne breakfasts and office parties. With both types there was always a huge buildup to the big day. Being retired is somewhat different. It all starts towards the end of November with the Caravan Club Xmas Titanium Knees Up. An … Continue reading Should we lobby the government for shorter summer holidays?

Who’s overweight?

Weight is one of the most contentious issues of all. Husbands blame wives for carrying too many clothes and cooking utensils, wives blame husbands for carrying chainsaws, fridges and beer. We know one bloke who lights campfires with a lawn blower. On one trip we carried a seven kilo fold up fireplace half way around Australia and never used it once. The first leg of the trip was during fire ban season which lasts until March 31st in WA. The rest of the trip as we were heading north it was far too hot to even consider a fire. Would … Continue reading Who’s overweight?

April Showers

April 2014, Lake Boga, Vic Our caravan club members met at Lake Boga for an autumn muster. One couple arrived quite late after losing the back window of their car when they excitedly drove off with the power cord still attached to their Waeco fridge…whoops. They may have gotten away with it had another club member not been driving by their house at the time. On the topic of caravanning mishaps it probably should be recorded that on the same weekend yet another member of our club paid a quick visit to her caravan toilet, without realising that hubby was … Continue reading April Showers

An Open Letter to the newly retired

You’ve just retired, bought a caravan and want to travel Australia? Here are a few things to ponder: Your time is short, make the most of it. If you get the chance to see something or go somewhere, do it. You may not get another chance. Don’t rush. You no longer have to be back at work next week or next month. You probably don’t have to be anywhere. Take your time and explore. Each year you will feel your energy and strength slipping away. On the other hand RV’ers are happier and healthier than those who stay at home … Continue reading An Open Letter to the newly retired

Oddities of Oz

Australia has more winter snow than Switzerland. Think about that one, what our Alps lack in altitude they gain in area. The Ghan is the world’s longest passenger train. 1.1Kms in length. It travels between Adelaide and Darwin, a distance of 2979kms. Now that would rock you to sleep. The Murray River is the third longest navigable river in the world (from Hume Dam to Lake Alexandrina). It is the 15th longest river in the world and to residents of south eastern Australia it is more than a river, it is a spiritual being. Our capital city is not Sydney … Continue reading Oddities of Oz

Life’s a Beach

I know I have my favourites but how do you judge a beach? The colour of the sand or the softness underfoot? The angle short and steep like some in the south west or the barely sloping in the north west like 80 Mile beach and Barn Hill where the tide goes out forever. Tiny hidden coves or great sweeping arcs, powdery soft dunes or iron rich red cliffs. Blinding white silica sand like Whitehaven in the Great Barrier Reef or a perfect curving arc like Apollo Bay in the south. Continue reading Life’s a Beach

Where you go, I’ll follow

Ever since we met a couple of blokes who were doing east west zig zags across New South Wales (because everyone else seems to travel north and south dashing between Victoria and Queensland) I’m fascinated with the routes that people plan for their trips. Some follow rivers like the Murray from source to sea. Others explore an area like The Cape (Cape York) or the Eyre Peninsula. Many follow the music festivals, oldies kicking up their heels at Tamworth and Gympie and Port Fairy. Yet others tootle about from one gold region to another with metal detectors at the ready. … Continue reading Where you go, I’ll follow