I often get asked, when folk here about my adventures around Australia - Did I get bored? Did I feel safe? Driving so long on your own, how could you do it etc. Read another post about Lake Argyle.
Let me explain what I planned, and for the most part did. I had quite a few rules for myself. I had daily limits of driving. I didn't rush to leave in the morning - 9 am or thereabouts was fine by me, as I figured then that most of the kangaroos might have left the side of the roads by then, and as I didn't rush I could be, would be, more relaxed.
I had my laptop with me, and most nights I'd download some radio talks onto a USB, to listen to in the car. I'd also select a few CD's. I'd do any washing I needed to do soon after I arrived at the caravan park, (often around 3 pm), giving it plenty of time to dry late in the hot afternoon. I would also organise my snacks. I would nibble on nuts, dried fruit, fresh fruit - and always bottled water. I would buy my drinking water, not always sure that I could trust the local water. In any case I felt that with bottled water, I was drinking "fresh" spring water. My favourite radio interviewers were Richard Fidler and Margaret Throsby - both ABC folk.
Each night I would study the map, and made rough decisions about the distance I would travel, and where I might plan to stay. I seldom phoned ahead to book accommodation, and I knew that calling into the local Visitor Information Centre, they could always help me find accommodation. That system only failed once, when I was in Carnarvon. There was a major event on in town, and the only accommodation was in a crappy room in an old hotel. Still, it was a bed, relatively clean and safe.
I didn't drive at night (except locally in the town, and rarely did that).- other than the night I returned from a sunset cruise. I did not go to hotels etc at night for a drink, and I was careful who I befriended. Single blokes in an adjacent cabin at Denham were friendly and gave me some fresh fish, but I refused to go drinking with them when they knocked on my door after 10 pm!!!
I stopped frequently to take photos - sometimes adding an hour or so to my day's travel. Just awesome photography!!!
As I drove I would (a) listen to the local and international news on the ABC first thing in the morning, listen to one of the interviews, and often put on a CD with great old time music when I would sing and "dance". Dance, you might ask? I do this when driving - moving my upper body around and "singing" along with the music. It somehow brightens me up, and after 30 minutes or so of crazy movements I feel refreshed.
I also stopped frequently. Often pulling into roadside parking areas, just to get out and walk - after taking great care to see if anyone or anything is there. Snakes? Strange men? I'd often grab the camera and take a short walk (not into the bush) and take a few photos.
Never at any time did I suffer from driving fatigue - except on my very last day when I overdid it to get back to Brisbane!!!
Arriving at my destination around mid afternoon was my goal most days - sometimes though I did have a longer drive and didn't get there until late afternoon. I'd visit the Visitor Information Centres, to get local maps and information.
I had a rule that I would not stop for anyone - not an accident, or anything. I had learned that some nasty people create "accidents" to get people to stop - and the helpers would then become the victims. I did stop at an accident once. As I passed a quadbike with two young boys on it, in a paddock a short distance from the road, I did do a "u turn" and go back to see if they were all right after it flipped!!! I saw it happen so it wasn't contrived and they were two teens. Luckily we were all safe and uninjured!!
I did carry a two-way radio, (which I seldom used and only then to listen in to truckies so that I had some idea of the road ahead), I did have a first aid kit, a fire extinguisher, and a visi vest. None of the latter did I have to use. I of course had a mobile phone and a dongle, so that most nights I could access the Internet.
I also carried a cooler - with ice bricks that I froze each night - to keep fruit, milk, water etc cold for the day.
I knew when I set off that there was an element of vulnerability with doing what I had planned, but I took great care. I did stop and get my car checked occasionally too, and always carried water, just in case.
Though, I can confess, that I did have a great sense of relief when I arrived back in Brisbane safely - even to buying a bottle of champagne some 150 kms from home, as I was determined to celebrate.
Would I do it again? In a heartbeat!!!
Let me explain what I planned, and for the most part did. I had quite a few rules for myself. I had daily limits of driving. I didn't rush to leave in the morning - 9 am or thereabouts was fine by me, as I figured then that most of the kangaroos might have left the side of the roads by then, and as I didn't rush I could be, would be, more relaxed.
I had my laptop with me, and most nights I'd download some radio talks onto a USB, to listen to in the car. I'd also select a few CD's. I'd do any washing I needed to do soon after I arrived at the caravan park, (often around 3 pm), giving it plenty of time to dry late in the hot afternoon. I would also organise my snacks. I would nibble on nuts, dried fruit, fresh fruit - and always bottled water. I would buy my drinking water, not always sure that I could trust the local water. In any case I felt that with bottled water, I was drinking "fresh" spring water. My favourite radio interviewers were Richard Fidler and Margaret Throsby - both ABC folk.
Each night I would study the map, and made rough decisions about the distance I would travel, and where I might plan to stay. I seldom phoned ahead to book accommodation, and I knew that calling into the local Visitor Information Centre, they could always help me find accommodation. That system only failed once, when I was in Carnarvon. There was a major event on in town, and the only accommodation was in a crappy room in an old hotel. Still, it was a bed, relatively clean and safe.
I didn't drive at night (except locally in the town, and rarely did that).- other than the night I returned from a sunset cruise. I did not go to hotels etc at night for a drink, and I was careful who I befriended. Single blokes in an adjacent cabin at Denham were friendly and gave me some fresh fish, but I refused to go drinking with them when they knocked on my door after 10 pm!!!
I stopped frequently to take photos - sometimes adding an hour or so to my day's travel. Just awesome photography!!!
As I drove I would (a) listen to the local and international news on the ABC first thing in the morning, listen to one of the interviews, and often put on a CD with great old time music when I would sing and "dance". Dance, you might ask? I do this when driving - moving my upper body around and "singing" along with the music. It somehow brightens me up, and after 30 minutes or so of crazy movements I feel refreshed.
I also stopped frequently. Often pulling into roadside parking areas, just to get out and walk - after taking great care to see if anyone or anything is there. Snakes? Strange men? I'd often grab the camera and take a short walk (not into the bush) and take a few photos.
Never at any time did I suffer from driving fatigue - except on my very last day when I overdid it to get back to Brisbane!!!
Arriving at my destination around mid afternoon was my goal most days - sometimes though I did have a longer drive and didn't get there until late afternoon. I'd visit the Visitor Information Centres, to get local maps and information.
I had a rule that I would not stop for anyone - not an accident, or anything. I had learned that some nasty people create "accidents" to get people to stop - and the helpers would then become the victims. I did stop at an accident once. As I passed a quadbike with two young boys on it, in a paddock a short distance from the road, I did do a "u turn" and go back to see if they were all right after it flipped!!! I saw it happen so it wasn't contrived and they were two teens. Luckily we were all safe and uninjured!!
I did carry a two-way radio, (which I seldom used and only then to listen in to truckies so that I had some idea of the road ahead), I did have a first aid kit, a fire extinguisher, and a visi vest. None of the latter did I have to use. I of course had a mobile phone and a dongle, so that most nights I could access the Internet.
I also carried a cooler - with ice bricks that I froze each night - to keep fruit, milk, water etc cold for the day.
I knew when I set off that there was an element of vulnerability with doing what I had planned, but I took great care. I did stop and get my car checked occasionally too, and always carried water, just in case.
Though, I can confess, that I did have a great sense of relief when I arrived back in Brisbane safely - even to buying a bottle of champagne some 150 kms from home, as I was determined to celebrate.
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| Silverton, New South Wales |
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| Vineyard at McLaren Vale, South Australia |
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| Old building at Gladstone, South Australia (I spent holidays in Gladstone when I was younger) |
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| The Great Australian Bight |
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| Walking above the treetops in WA. |
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| Pinnacles in WA. |
Would I do it again? In a heartbeat!!!
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