Category: Preparation

Four Wheel Driving · Home on the Road · Preparation

disaster averted

S and S2 Comments

The trip is fast approaching. Shaun is already on leave and undertaking some last minute vehicle preparation.

Today he was working on the Colorado and he happened upon this little nasty with potentially big consequences.

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Shaun was rotating the tyres and spotted a broken spring. Panic set in because of time frames and $$$$$ but as per usual we get things sorted.

After ringing around half of northern NSW and SE QLD he finally ordered the parts and hopefully they will arrive in the coming few days.

In all fairness, the springs have been on the vehicle since we purchased the Colorado 190,000km ago.

It certainly isn’t something we need right now, time-wise or financially but it sure is better than being in the middle of nowhere and having something happen.

Thanks to Shaun’s attention to detail and thoroughness, potential disaster has been averted.

S & S

Budgeting · Destinations · Finance · Motivation · Preparation

5 ways travelling Australia has changed our life

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Our lives have changed, we have grown and our relationship has shifted.

What’s to blame? Our travel filled gypsy lifestyle.

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Here are 5 powerful and positive changes that have come our way

Our finances are better!

Say What! Yes, it’s true?!?!?! It is hard to believe that our finances are better while travelling!! BUT our finances are in better order than ever before. Why? Because we set a goal and we achieve what needs to be done. We have a purpose. It’s the difference between thinking about what we want to do and doing it. So if we have two months to save X before we head off again, we do everything we can to make it happen. If you want to upgrade the tent, camper-trailer or caravan along the way you can! As you know we do work on the road and this also assists our finances but it also allows us to travel slower. To stop in certain areas for longer and enjoy what each place has to offer. We were never “savers” but we are now. But we don’t hoard our money, we exchange it for experiences. Life is short and you cannot take it with you when you go!

We genuinely enjoy the simple things.

Before it took bells and whistles to impress us. We would go on holidays and stay in fancy hotels which would constantly disappoint us. Now if a hotel has running water and air-conditioning we feel spoilt by good fortune. The simple things are appreciated ten-fold; sunsets, weather, good people, each other, the list goes on. Whether we are sitting around a campfire with friends we have just met, exchanging stories or if we are standing at the top of a mountain we have just climbed. These moments are special…….magical. We have learned to enjoy them and be present. Living in that exact moment. Not in the past, not in the future. In this precious life altering moment.

Travel has pushed us out of our comfort zone. 

I have suffered from anxiety as many residents of the modern world currently do. It can be debilitating and even worse it can hold you back from your full potential and living a life you love. Travelling has pushed me out of my comfort zone and while I may not ever bungee jump or eat a pickled peacock heart. I have tried so many new things, tasted many new things, experienced once in a life time experiences – multiple times. I can tell you, living out of your comfort zone is A-MAZING!

Our relationship is that much stronger.

It is something we didn’t think of very much before we headed off into the sunset. The reality of being stuck in a car or working in each others pockets. Or the reality of being the only people you interact with for days or weeks on end. We have spent so much time together during our time on the road; travelling together, working together and playing together. Our lives are more intertwined then ever. We thought we were bests friends before we left on our trip of a lifetime and travelling together has only strengthened that bond.

Travel has provided us with so many new and diverse opportunities. 

When you are ready to embrace opportunities, they find you. They come knocking. We have stumbled upon multiple opportunities along the road and have been in the perfect frame of mind to grab them with both hands. It is win-win. We have worked for one of Australia’s richest men, we have built an online following, we have been published in various publications. The biggest thing for us is we now embrace these opportunities. Instead of fretting about the opportunities thrown our way, we embrace them. We take them head on.

And you should too. Embrace life! Live the life you love. We only get one!

Sarah

we have only one life
Australian Travel · Health & Wellness · Motivation · Preparation · Words of Wisdom · Working on the Road · Writing & Reading

we have only one life

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Life is full of wonderful highs and devastating lows.

We have one life and one life only.

It is important to make the most of everyday. Appreciate the little things!

Live a life you love. Surround yourself with people you love and people who love you.

Do something that makes you happy every single day.

Yes there are going to be things that happen that break your heart and knock you down.

Cherish the good times and hold on to the precious memories you have accumulated thus far to get you through.

AIM HIGH.

DREAM BIG.

Let go of your burdens and live simply.

Don’t hold onto things or people who bring you down.

Surround yourself with people who raise you up.

Don’t let people scoff at your dreams.

If you can dream it you can live it.

Again, life is full of ups and downs.

But you can live a life you love.

We have only one life.

No regrets.

Never give up.

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no excuses
Attractions · Camping · Caravan Parks · Destinations · Finance · Four Wheel Driving · Free Camping · Home on the Road · National Parks · Preparation · Random Thoughts · Words of Wisdom · Working on the Road

no excuses

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Haven’t been away for ages?

Do you feel like your Facebook news feed is full of friends, family and random travelling and flitting about everywhere? Meanwhile you are sitting on the couch, watching re-runs of Mash and daydreaming of your next holiday. Or you are so busy you haven’t had time to think straight when one day you realise it has been 6 months since your last weekend away?

STOP!!!!

You can be out there too.

No excuses.

We are the makers of our own misery and by the same token the makers of our own happiness. Chose to live a life you love.

Money tight?

Why not go for a cheap camp-out? National parks are great, low-cost and are quite accessible for most no matter which town you reside in. There are also endless free camp sites dotted across Australia. Keep meals simple and easy to reduce costs further.

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Time poor?

One night away is better than none? A night at the coast sounds lovely doesn’t it. Or why not hop in the car for a drive and see where you end up. Stay the night and enjoy the sites and head back home the next day.

Day 59: Our Time in Griffith is Ticking Away

 

Too busy at work/school/study/life?

It will all be there when you return. Our lives are forever fast-paced but we have earned at least one to two days here or there! Haven’t we? You don’t need to head off on a 12 month voyage to have a good time. Plan around your schedule! Fit in some time to getaway. Make the time.

Day 88

 

a clean slate
Australian Travel · Budgeting · Four Wheel Driving · Preparation · Random Thoughts

a clean slate

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We finally SOLD our beloved camper-trailer. Talk about mixed emotions. We have been to so many places and experienced so many good times since purchasing it back in 2012. The trailer has been our home on wheels and has treated us very well indeed. However, although there may be a few nostalgic tears it is still VERY EXCITING!!!!! Why? Because it means we now have a clean slate. It means we can start to seriously look forward to the next chapter, WHAT NEXT?…………

Watch this space…….. there is change in the air…..

Australian Travel · Budgeting · Free Camping · Preparation · Queensland · Travel Photography

low cost camping – glebe weir

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We don’t know about you but we love LOW COST CAMPING!!

Please don’t get us wrong, we love FREE CAMPING too, well who doesn’t?

Why do we like low cost camping? 1. you get a few more facilities and 2. you are injecting funds into the local community.

Just around the corner from our current location is a hidden little gem of low-cost camping and it is on the water. WIN WIN!

The Glebe Weir is situated between Taroom and Theodore in QLD and falls within the boundaries of Banana Shire. From Taroom you are looking at a 54km drive and about 94km if heading South from Theodore. The road is all bitumen which is great for those who don’t like heading too far off road. It is quite a scenic drive in but beware of roaming cattle as the road is unfenced.

There are plenty of sites available for tents, camper trailers and caravans. Amongst the camping areas there is quite a few places to plug into power. First in best dressed. The facilities are basic but mostly clean. There are cold showers, flushing toilets, sheltered picnic tables and BBQs. Fires are allowed when there is no fire bans but travelers must bring there own wood. All this for $7 a night per vehicle!

The camp-sites over look the Weir and the Dawson River so water based activities are a must. Kayaking along the water at dawn and dusk is a must! While the keen fisherman can take out the tinny and have a flick around. Don’t forget the yabby pots!

If you are heading this way stop in and take a look for yourself.

plans unravel but plan anyway
Australian Travel · Budgeting · Camping · Finance · Preparation · Random Thoughts · Reader Interaction · Working on the Road · Writing & Reading

plans unravel but plan anyway

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We often get asked about our travel plans. More commonly we get asked do we plan?

The answer is yes and no.

Throughout our travels we have had itineraries planned down to the letter and other times we have had no plans at all.

Now for the honest truth. Neither of these two options suited us.

Itineraries that were too planned suffocated & stifled us while when we had no plans at all we felt we had lost our purpose. How? We are meant to be super nomadic, gypsy-like people who head where free love is and fly with the wind. We tried but in reality it wasn’t us. Free Love is great, free anything really! But it wasn’t going to keep us on track.

This line of thinking confused us. To think we couldn’t hop in our vehicle and head for the sunset no thoughts at all. We wanted to be carefree but we couldn’t! Why! For those of you who know us well. Sarah is a Planner (with a capital P) and LOVES lists but spontaneous! (yes, crazy right?) and Shaun is careful and thinks about consequences but leaves planning to Sarah (Yes, scary right?)

So what was the solution for us. We PLAN, PLAN, PLAN!!! It’s so fun who wouldn’t? There are lists and more lists. Maps are checked, doodled on and re-checked. To counteract this we have become flexible. We have learnt to follow the ebb and flow of travel which is wonderful to embrace. If we change our plans we are okay with it. We even plan for the unexpected. We have all the time in the world for planning, so why not!

A perfect example is our recent trip across the Simpson Desert. We were joined by several other couples raising money for the RFDS. This trip had to be planned, well planned and it was. However, even this trip had hiccups due to weather and so forth but we kept on going, changed itinerary, made adjustments and you know what the world didn’t stop turning.

Our advice

When planning your trip of a lifetime, go your hardest! Check maps, write lists, fill spreadsheets, research and more! Why? 1. because it is fun. 2. a well researched traveller is a good traveller and 3. what better way to count down to your BIG trip then by living it through countless hours of planning. As you set off out your driveway you will have purpose, you will have direction and it will feel GREAT! Remember though even the most carefully made plans can unravel and as long you’re aware of this, WHO CARES? Plan anyway!

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