Drive around the world?

[DiscoMick]

Loved the piece on the home page about the pommy lawyer who chucked it in one day and set off to drive around the world.
The older I get the more I feel like doing it. Of course, there are considerations, such as money, but even so the idea is growing on me. And we already have the Disco and camper so we're set up with the perfect vehicle to do it.
I lived in the camper and Disco for eight months when I moved to Bundaberg a while back to start a new job and I loved the feeling of life being stripped back to the minimum needs.
Anyone else feel like that? Anyone done it? If not, why not?
Where would you like to go?
In my case, I'd like to start in Jakarta and head north, although a few countries could be a bit dodgy I imagine, particularly Burma.
China appeals, also Russia (in summer), Siberia, Japan, Europe, could check out the rels in England, then across to Alaska and down the Americas...

Dreaming, dreaming I know, but why not?

[broonski]

mate, sounds like a great idea!!!

but i don't think i'd go the whole world, too many logistical problems and unfriendly countries...

i know exactly what you mean though, it's very tempting!!! (and i'm only 20!!!)

i'd mainly like to do all round Australia, and i'd love to travel around the mother country too!!! (England) i absolutely love getting back to basics for a while, which is why i love camping so much!!!

but mate, i know exactly where you're coming from!

cheers,
bryce

[spudboy]

I have always wanted to drive from Cape Town to London and then on to Moscow. Spent 3 years living in Kenya, and just loved Africa.

Costs are pretty high though. Freight to South Africa $3000, then you need your airfares too. You have to leave a deposit to take you car out of Australia (Carnet du Passage) which I think is equal to the value of the cars. Then there are all the visa costs, fuel, bribes, sightseeing, etc etc.

It woudl be good to go with another vehicle, but no-one I know is the slightest bit interested in doing such a trip. I read through this site and it inspired me to think seriously about how I could do the same:
http://www.url.co.nz/african_trip/

When you get to where you are going, you still have to ship the car back to Australia, so there goes another $3000 + flights.

The main issue though (for me anyway) would be getting time off from work obligations. Think you would need a year. Being self employed, it would be hard when I get back to just pick up again and get my old clients back again.

I'm 44 now, so I better get onto it in the next 4-5 years or I'll be too old!

[akitda]

How about finding Land Rover to sponser the trip? I am not sure but I have seen quite alot on the discovery channel

[Jamo]

Originally posted by akitda
How about finding Land Rover to sponser the trip? I am not sure but I have seen quite alot on the discovery channel

They've already got G4 so they mght not come at it. You could try Australia Geographic or National Geographic. AG sponsored a couple who took their Defender though China.

[DiscoMick]

I think I read their online diary a while back - it was great!
I'm reading the one recommended above and it is also great. I'm currently with them in Uganda, after they survived Kenya 8O

[CraigE]

Would be awesome, but to do it properly a fair amount of cash would be needed.
Have not done the world thing, but when I was 22 me and my wife (girlfriend at the time), my brother and his girlfriend, my mum and dad (with little brother) and my Nanna took off for an around Australia trip. Sold my Duplex paid off the Nissan MK at the time bought a pop top and off. Best thing we ever did. Would have liked longer and more money, but it was fantastic. Sold the van when we got back and bought a block of land. Would love to do it right now, itchy feet. But have to think of the kids futures as well.

[timberwolf_302]

Hey, lets all get together and do the Amazon Camel Trophy trail...during the wet season!

Got a Shovel?

[DiscoMick]

Malaysian Rainforest Challenge?

Or we could just meet in Kuala Lumpur and head north. Might need guards in Burma but what a great trip.

It was interesting with that pommy couple on that link that they had all sorts of fears about Africa but they got robbed in Spain before they'd even left Europe. 8O The most dangerous places are not necessarily the first ones you think of.

Actually, Tennant Creek felt about the most dangerous place I've visited in recent years - I feel safer in Bangkok than in Sydney. :?

[tombraider]

U want scary...

Try Pt Headland or Wilcannia.

I didnt feel safe fueling up at Willcania 8O

Cheers
Mike

[spudboy]

I'm with you TombRaider! Wilcannia had a really bad feeling about it. All the shops boarded up with metal grilles.

My uncle got his hubcaps nicked off his car there. He went in to pay for petrol. Got back after 2 mins away - all gone!

[VladTepes]

Originally posted by timberwolf_302
Hey, lets all get together and do the Amazon Camel Trophy trail...during the wet season!

Got a Shovel?

Actually retracing a Camel Trophy route is a great idea.


And there WAS a Camel Trophy held in Australia Cairns to Darwin I think it was.


Has potential as a big LR Club get together and gain publicity trip dontcha reckon ?!

[CraigE]

Would be nice. Just need to get LR to sponsor us with parts etc. We have the vehicles.

Pt Hedland and Wilcania, mmm very nice places. Actually Port Hedland is not too bad, South Hedland is where the action is at. I have never been in a place I felt so intimidated except in Bali when we were wondering around the back streets and there was not another foreigner in sight for about an hour, just hundred of Balinese. Really had nothing to fear they were all very nice, long before the mad terrorists.

Try Halls Creek some day's especially pension day. We pulled into one van park and before I could say anything my brother had turned around and was gone. About 500 drunk slightly sunburnt brothers. Most are harmless but it only takes one or two.

But then again just look at Australia at the momment. If I was Asian or Middle Eastern I would not want to holiday here at the momment with some of the drunken half wits that call themselves Australian.

[cewilson]

Originally posted by VladTepes+--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(VladTepes)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteBegin-timberwolf_302
Hey, lets all get together and do the Amazon Camel Trophy trail...during the wet season!

Got a Shovel?

Actually retracing a Camel Trophy route is a great idea.


And there WAS a Camel Trophy held in Australia Cairns to Darwin I think it was.


Has potential as a big LR Club get together and gain publicity trip dontcha reckon ?![/b][/quote]


I like that idea.


Unfortunately Mick - an overseas trip would be absolutely brilliant - but the cost of it is something most of us couldn't afford. I figure by the time you get through this country, and quite possibly New Zealand you will have had a bloody good time!

But it is nice to dream too!

[DiscoMick]

Cairns to Darwin retracing the Camel Trophy sounds excellent. When can we do it? Need to plan ahead about a year I'd say. How long would it take - two weeks? Might have to get the Disco out of storage.

I know what you mean about Wilcania. We were warned not to stop there but I stopped for fuel. Had to lock the vehicle with the wife inside to stop the kids nicking stuff.
Shops boarded up and the caravan park had a 6ft mesh fence with barbed wire on top.
Each side of Wilcania about 15km out are really excellent rest stops with showers, toilets, playground, poicnic tables etc. Apparently they were put there to give travellers a safe place to stop so they can just drive through Wilcania.

Another place didn't feel right was Tennant Creek. Lots of youths hanging around the streets looking for trouble. We stayed at the caravan park and the manager was very on the ball stopping anyone not welcome coming thru the gate. Whole park was securely fenced. At the mine display they had guards in the car park.

Mind you, guards in car parks are standard practice where we are in Thailand. The security is nice. I go thru 4 sets of guards a day just to drive from home to work and back. Being saluted is nice for the old ego.
I visited a city office block the other week and they ran bomb check machines under the car.
Strangely enough, I now feel safer in Bangkok than in parts of Sydney.

[matbor]

Check out the DVD, Long Way Around (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0403778/).... not bad, give u an idea of what is involved even though they are on bikes.

Matt.