ACT has a long weekend for ANZAC Day so my daughter and I are off on a test run for her little car. Its a Suzuki Jimny and she has put in a slightly bigger engine, a drawer in the back, fridge and Lithium aux battery.
I am going to give my camper a bit of a run too, it has only been out once in the last twelve months.
Only going to Cowra for couple of nights. Cowra was the site of the Cowra Breakout during WWII.
After my daughter goes back to Canberra on the Monday (she has to work) I might move further north and make a week of it (depending on the weather).
It is going to be cold inland down to 3’C at night and only getting up to 20’ during the day though it warms up a bit as the week goes on.
As I said this is a bit of a shakedown test for her car but it is also a tryout for our trip in May when we are going to Cameron Corner in the Sturt Stony Desert where the border of Queensland, NSW and South Australia meet. There is a lot of dirt road to traverse to get there - it is about 1400km north west of Sydney. Let’s hope the state borders remain open.
Sounds absolutely spectacular Bruce! I hope the Camper tests well after all your recent upgrades- share some pictures if you can please!
There’s nothing better than the great outdoors. Heals the soul :hug:
That weekend has been and gone it was just a practice run that my daughter insisted on. However next weekend we set off in the freezing cold for the top left corner of NSW basically we are just doing a big lap of the state.
We have a few things that my daughter wants to see as she hasn’t been that far west herself:
Broken Hill
Camerons Corner
Menindee Lakes
White Cliffs
Personally I have never been to Camerons Corner or Menindee Lakes so am looking forward to that, the latter has water in it after the fish kill (drought) and the last season rains. Our trip is restricted to three weeks as that is all the leave she has for this trip (left over from her cancelled ski trip to Japan). I think we will cover about 3000km plus side trips.
Our visit to Camerons Corner depends on the weather, if it rains then the roads will be closed (200kms of dirt) because they don’t like people tearing up the roads when they are wet. However it is in a desert so lets hope it stays dry. I will be carrying 60 litres of water and 30 litres of fuel just in case.
Bruce, some people casually call their road trips “adventures” but in your case, that is definitely the proper term to use! It looks fantastic, and I am sure you are thoroughly enjoying having your daughter with you.
If you are deterred by rain, will you try other locales?
Yes, we can drive north into the warmer weather of outback Queensland. In many ways my daughter is a more experienced “free” camper than me. Her vehicle has an awning that spreads round three sides of her vehicle, she sleeps in a swag under this awning whereas I sleep in my camper which I have to tow. She and her husband and/or girlfriends spend just about every weekend in the bush somewhere.
She is going to cook for me, usually I go to a pub or club for food or cook very simple meals (like boiled eggs or rice based). She cooks lovely meals I wouldn’t even dream of
With the borders closed there is a lot more demand for local travel for example it was reported on the news yesterday that there is no accommodation available for love nor money in Darwin even this early in the dry season.
The apple didn’t fall far from your tree, Bruce! I imagine that like here, one could spend a lifetime exploring new places. Having some hearty cooking will be a real treat; I buckled down and really learned how to perfect camp cooking when we went to Alaska and we wanted to camp remotely for several weeks. It takes quite a bit of creative planning and shopping, but I am sure you will enjoy the fruits of her efforts!
Your daughter sounds like she has a good setup for sleeping. I remember you showing us her single combo tent/sleeping bag. Do you all have an issue with insects and needing screens? My favorite piece of equipment is a screened canopy that fits over standard picnic table; I wouldn’t travel around here without it.
Domestic travel here is likewise expected to be through the roof through the summer because of international travel restrictions and people spending the lockdown chomping at the bit to get outdoors again. My understanding is that it is all but impossible to get camping spots, and even reservations just to enter some parks.
The swag is just like a tent in that it has “doors” backed with flyscreen gauze. Yes we do have insects, mozzies that could fly off with you in some places but at this time of the year they won’t be a major problem I suspect. Mice might be more common at the moment.
She was telling me on the phone last night that over the weekend she and some girlfriends went camping in a national park (I think it was) so she was able to test some new thermals and a new sleeping bag.
They were camped quite high up in mountains (that is relative, Australia is very flat compared to younger continents) She told me she woke up about 2am a bit too hot even though it was freezing outside.
Personally I have not owned a swag since I was in my 20s and working in the bush, they were very different affairs in those days, but if I did have one now I think I would prefer a couple of doonas (duvets?) to a sleeping bag in a modern swag.
This is a bit of info about them from a camping retailer so you can see different styles, these days getting in and out would be a problem for me.
All interesting, Bruce. I watched the video and realize why your daughter would like the swags - easy set up, all one unit, no bugs.
I have to confess that for a me, a tent and an air mattress are my preferred way to camp. I tend to like the air circulation and size of a tent, and the quality and ease of use with air mattresses just can’t be beat.
Swimfeeders I hope you are getting outdoors soon! Nothing wrong with leaning towards more civilized forms of travel. I am not one for roughing it too much myself anymore, but give me a way to shower and a hairdryer and I am happy enough.
Actually I have a self inflating air mattress but these days it is mostly used when I stay at friend’s houses without a spare bed. My daughter and her hubby do use a tent as well when they go bush depends where and for how long.
Personally I would not be without my daily shower no matter where I go. I have an ensuite tent for this purpose (12v shower pump) but this trip I am experimenting with a tent on the side of my camper. It was designed to go on the back of an SUV but I am hoping to modify it.
It was on special for $119 so if it doesn’t work then I give it away. No great loss.
Having said all that we will probably stay mostly at caravan parks which of course have power, showers, camp kitchens etc and for about $30 a night are pretty good value for money. However we are prepared to free camp too.
I am loading up today and setting off for Canberra tomorrow
Nice, Bruce. That looks like a good setup for a shower. I was lucky to pin this one down locally and unused for $60. It works well, but in our part of the world, it doesn’t dry out easily, so it’s not great when it’s hot and humid.
Full-service campsites definitely have their advantages. Unfortunately they will be packed to the gills from now through the summer. Reservations are already hard to come by.
I hope the roads are dry, the kangaroos are few, and the scenery is interesting on your Canberra trip! Looking forward to the report!
Fridge is on and full (beer, marg, cheese and eggs), 20 litres of diesel to the right, 60 litres of water just visible at the back, table, chair, awning, poo bucket (getting too old to squat), some food and air pump behind the fridge. Recovery equipment and tools in the drawers, clothes, maps and books on the back seat.
Leaving the car out in the sun so the solar can charge the aux battery, tyres and fluids checked.
Just my daughter’s swag and 10 litres of petrol to be added when I get to her place.
