Grey Nomads - things I've learnt in the last few days.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by robbotd5

Let's just take a breath and enjoy the trip.
Regards
Robbo

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Sure,i appreciate some people for whatever reason drive below the speed limit(van or no van),pull over and try their best to not inconvenience others.

But there are many that do not do this,the common thing is to doodle along at 80k in the 100 zone and then when an overtaking lane appears,speed up to 100.I cannot work out why they do this:confused:

Many people on here(including myself) drive long distances for work,where time is money,we haven't got time to 'enjoy the trip'.Not everyone on the road is on holidays.And no we don't stop at the next servo for some junk food...no time for that!

I must agree with the Caravaners here. It is not always safe to do 100, no matter what you drive. I found particularly that going down hills with my small trailer on was more comfortable at slower speeds.

My vehicle simply can't do 100 all day long.

This thread was not about driving at all, so most of you have missed the point entirely.

This is the last word on driving I'm going to say on this thread, it was, as was seen by some as an observation on human behaviour, not on ones perceived driving skills.

If it continues in this vain, I'll just have it deleted. No skin off my back.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by bacicat

I must agree with the Caravaners here. It is not always safe to do 100, no matter what you drive. I found particularly that going down hills with my small trailer on was more comfortable at slower speeds.

My vehicle simply can't do 100 all day long.

This thread was not about driving at all, so most of you have missed the point entirely.

This is the last word on driving I'm going to say on this thread, it was, as was seen by some as an observation on human behaviour, not on ones perceived driving skills.

If it continues in this vain, I'll just have it deleted. No skin off my back.

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You are correct, sorry for trying to to put my point across regarding human behavior on the road :p

Going back to caravan parks, camping grounds and Grey Nomads, during my stay in the Moore Park caravan park few years ago while I was building my home one sunday morning a middle age couple come with their caravan and falcodore.
Before unhook the van the first thing that they have done was to setup the TV antenna.
After sever adjustments and unable to get reception they called a antenna specialist who rewired it :o. Being Sunday for sure it was not cheap.
About half and hour after the service person left we have a blackout.
The woman was complete lost because the microwave did not worked so they were unable to prepare a meal :eek:
I cannot understand some people that go touring and instead of have a change or their daily life routine they continue having the same way as they were at home :confused:

I'd think caravans have always been a part of motoring and always will be, personally I don't see what all the fuss is about.

Hate to think what would happen if you got stuck behind one of these ;)

Well, I've been following this thread with interest because for three years up here I was teaching driving, and every tourist season was so bad that I started to incorporate tourist driving into my lessons.

The first thing I told students was to avoid caravans like mad. Don't go near them, don't get too close behind them, and stay away when they're trying to go around corners.

So I've always wondered how they all made it up here in one piece.

Anyway - since I'm trying to stay on topic here - we had friends living in a caravan park here for a bit, and a while ago we dropped by to see other friends passing through and staying in the same park, and the stories we heard were just like the first post of this thread. TVs on, people gawping while someone was having trouble with their gear instead of helping, and so on. I understand what some are saying here about a well-deserved retirement, but the sheer self-indulgence and ignorance was a real eye-opener. I don't think I'll ever understand why many of them left home.

And I'm not even going to mention the parking . . . :eek:

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Originally Posted by jerryd

I'd think caravans have always been a part of motoring and always will be, personally I don't see what all the fuss is about.

Hate to think what would happen if you got stuck behind one of these ;)

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nice photos!!

AND, i think a great deal has been learned here. we all do our own thing which is comfortable and safe to our selves, family, friends and vehicles. we are all in this together hence the huge feed back to the original post. we all move to our own beat, and some times that upsets the faster/slower ones. lets just all respect others on the road, and in camp sites, wether slleping in till luch or going to bed early with no tv and no supper. we all pay taxes, we all enjoy the road/off road and all at out own pace.

i love it all.

dont sweat the small stuff, save the stress for a blown engine or a busted tie rod.

cheers.

dave.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jerryd

I'd think caravans have always been a part of motoring and always will be, personally I don't see what all the fuss is about.

Hate to think what would happen if you got stuck behind one of these ;)

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I think your right about them always going to be a part of our life. And in your pics showing that beautiful old van, with what I see as gorgeous lines, I'll just bet there was no TV in there,, probably not even a radio,, :eek: But they'd have had an awesome time every night, just talking to each other, maybe with neighbours if they were in a park, or if someone was close by. They'd share stories, meals and just generally appreciate what they were doing and where they were. :cool:

I think these days, with all the mod cons you can get, and I'm just the same ;), we all want the very best, but inadvertently I think we then miss the very point of what we were aiming to do in the first place,,,, get away from it all :eek:

We've all been out together at various times, yet still, when we're out and about, and even in the deep bush/outback, we manage to pull laptops, ipads etc.

Well I wasn't going to mention any land rover owners out bush sitting with their laptop computers, tuning in to aulro ;)

Not much difference to watching tv really

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Originally Posted by Deltacharliepapa

but the truck drivers usually dont pay for repairs/maintanance/fuel on their own rigs, we do.

:o

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Slightly off topic, but I couldn't let that go by without telling you about my neighbour, a genial giant of a man, truck driver most of his adult life. Independent drivers drive during the day, & work on their trucks at night, sometimes until the wee hours of the morning. They have a network much like AULRO, helping each other out to keep the trucks on the road. My neighbour & his brother have almost finished refurbishing an old truck, in his front yard, over the past 18 months. When finished, they will be running it 24 hrs. a day, [ servicing/ maintenance aside] , one driving nights, one days, trying to make a living. All done with their own money, and a lot of help from their friends [ much like AULROians] So, next time you see a truck on the road, cut them a bit of slack, they are just hard working people trying to make a living in a cut throat industry. Better still, move off the road & let them pass by, they do appreciate it. Sorry about the hijack, but as far as caravans go, they are here to stay, we all have to learn to get on, like it or not. [ If you are feeling stressed, pull off the road & brew up, life's too short to fret about minor matters. :D] & don't forget :spudnikwaving:occasionally , Bob