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

You do realise that pulling over regularly to let vehicles pass and then moving off again is likely to chew the fuel you saved holding traffic up in the first place!!!

Sorry, but 100km/h on the roads people...
It's the speed the trucks can do, by doing it yourself you prevent a load of heart ache, risk, hazards...

One older bloke we met in outback NT. with his off road mini caravan had his dish out one night and I asked him why he brought his tv and was soon informed he didn't have one but used it for his internet as he needed it because he was writing a book and sending it to people in the bike city.
Others we saw had caravan's with the generator going so they could watch tv in the airconditioned comfort of their leather lounge while using the microwave to cook dinner.
Some grey nomads were great to talk to but most were a PITA as didn't like noise after 7pm as they were in bed and were up at 6am to go and get a paper.
One fellow we camped next to in Darwin said he had been coming to this park for 17 years and his ritual was up at 5.30am drive to get a paper, breakfast, wash the car and van, lunch and dinner at 6pm bed by 7pm and he did this for 3 months of the year and had NEVER ventured ONCE out to any tourist spot or look around the town and wondered what we did all day going out. UNBELIEVABLE.

Back in 2005 we did a two up motorbike trip from Cairns to Brisbane, to Charleville, Longreach and back to Cairns.

In Charleville, they gave us a spot in the back corner, didnt need much space.
We got our tent out and set up, I set up the single burner shellite stove, a single candle and we cooked dinner for two quite comfortable, just like we had done for the last 8 nights and plenty other times before.

A couple from the trailer nearby came over and offered us an electric light and we could wash up our dishes in their hot water if we wanted and even cook dinner in ther trailer.

We declined and I feel they were almost offended.
we had two pots, two spoons and it was a full moon!

(not bragging about only two pots and two spoons, just how we do it)

Hay Ewe

i think if they are living in the van long term there should be no issue watching the tele in the van park, out bush they likely watch the stars which is what i plan to be doing.
i do not see doing 90km/h as being an issue, thats what overtaking lanes are for, even says so on the rta website.

Speed limits

Drive at or below the posted speed limit. Slow down more in wet weather. The Police regularly conduct speed checks using fixed and mobile speed cameras, radar and lasers along all types of roads.
Driving < Tourists and visitors < Using roads < Roads and Maritime Services

"Terry and Sue" are ubiquitous!

I must admit that I just bought a Kogan 16 inch TV with DVD and it runs on 240 or 12volts.
I have an antenna that I set up on the camper when we are near enough to a station .
SWMBO likes to follow her dancing with the Friggin 2nd class nobodies, The bachelor, ETC ETC.
The TV also has a PVR ability with a USB so that she can record , when I work it all out.LOL
I Used a laptop previously but it was tedious with separate speakers needed because of the poor volume, dongle for TV tuner etc., lead for Iphone as modem( i have an old 3, probably one of the last still going)

I also just got with the program and bought a Telstra prepaid mobile wireless modem so I can take my ALDI tablet rather than the laptop. They are good in the bush as you can stick em up a tree or whatever .
A happy SWMBO is a joy.
Regards Philip A

I drive at 90 - 95 when towing the van and at that speed any competent following driver should be able to overtake safely and even keep within the limit if it's 110.
I also slow down and pull over if there's room, for trucks to go past as they haven't the capacity to accelerate as cars can.
Quite frankly if you can't get past a single van (we don't travel in a flock) when there's 15 or 20 kay before reaching the limit, should you be on the road?
AlanH.

PS. This site is getting as bad as exploroz with it's constant rants against van tuggers, nearly as bad as all those he-men with their big big Toyotas showing everyone how it should be done.

Originally Posted by Tombie

You do realise that pulling over regularly to let vehicles pass and then moving off again is likely to chew the fuel you saved holding traffic up in the first place!!!

Sorry, but 100km/h on the roads people...
It's the speed the trucks can do, by doing it yourself you prevent a load of heart ache, risk, hazards...

Hopefully, one day, I can be a PIYA.