how decluttering at home can help you travel easier

October 24, 2015November 1, 2015 S and S5 Comments

If you live simpler at home it is easier to travel.

Bold statement I know!

But it is true.

How can you live simply at home?

declutter, declutter, declutter

Get rid of any excess stuff or white noise from your home! Do you have 50 frypans but only use one or two? OR do have a favourite outfit that you haven’t worn for 15 years but will wear it again “one day”? We don’t need all this STUFF to live fulfilled lives. When we travel we strip our life back, why not live this life at home?

The more we live simpler at home the easier it is to experience the best travel can offer. Travel is about collecting moments not things.

To live we need minimal “things” like shelter, food, water etc

At home it goes a bit further than this we need/want a bed, cooking appliances, clothing, some luxuries and so forth!

Here is how we have been de-cluttering at our placw these past few weeks:

Culling our clothes. (Vinnies now have 6 BIG bags of our clothes!)
Cleaning out our kitchen of excess items and double ups.
Culling out our pantry!!! Do we really need that can of whatever from 1999?
Removing our DVD collection from DVD cases and placing them in DVD wallets. Same with the CD collection.
Giving away our myriad of books.
Selling items which haven’t been used….. do we need 3 DVD players? NO! A second TV?
Setting our bills to e-mail to cut back on how much paperwork we have lying around.

What do you need to de-clutter at your place?

Next job for us is our linen closet and office/study !!

Australian Travel · Health & Wellness · Motivation · Preparation · Words of Wisdom · Working on the Road · Writing & Reading

we have only one life

October 17, 2015October 17, 2015 S and S4 Comments

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.

Australian Travel · Destinations · Finance · Queensland · Random Thoughts · Reader Interaction · Travel Photography · Words of Wisdom · Working on the Road · Writing & Reading

to Longreach with love

September 30, 2015October 2, 2015 S and S1 Comment

To Longreach with love,

We all love a sunburnt country, but we really need our rain.

As we drove by drought-stricken paddocks, we saw your heartache and your pain.

With each mile of endless dryness, and each dusty patch of dirt.

We pray you get the rain you need, and pray it heals your hurt.

You are strong and resilient, though this drought has pushed you far.

Your strength and perseverance, shows us what Australians really are.

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

September 28, 2015 S and S3 Comments

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.

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.

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.

Australian Travel · Health & Wellness · Random Thoughts · Travel Photography · Words of Wisdom · Working on the Road · Writing & Reading

stuck in a rut

September 16, 2015 S and S4 Comments

There is often something new and exciting in the life of the travellers. However, like with all others on this beautiful Earth, there are trying times filled with ruts and slumps. “I’m stuck!” is currently my catch-cry. I cannot suppress the whinge! I’m sick of hearing about it so I am sure those around me are F-E-D up!!!

Why you may ask? No reason really! It is what is!! My itchy feet have kicked in and they are as itchy as hell. My indecisiveness is working overtime. So I am in that place…. I’m sure you have all been there!?!? Please tell me you have?! These are just feelings you have to push through or do something about. I’m undecided (dang that indecisiveness!) which way to go? So at the moment I’m pushing through and will see what happens.

Let’s talk about some positive things coming up for us Norris’!

We are off to one of our favourite Western QLD towns in a fortnight: Longreach! The Longreach region has been gripped by devastating drought conditions for years. The people of the region are losing hope and walking off the land. We will be attending a drought relief concert featuring Paul Kelly, Dan Kelly, Troy Cassar-Daly and Mick Lindsay! In case you are unaware we are BIG Paul Kelly fans, don’t worry we love Troy as well! We are going to splash some cash around the region while we are there. So if you are around the area or even quite a few 100 kms away like us (800km people!!!) why not head to Longreach and help inject some money into this lovely Western QLD town. For more details contact the Longreach Info Centre

The next weekend we change it up from the bush to the beach. A much-needed break on the Noosa River. A nice relaxing long weekend (plus a few extra days) with sun, salt, family and water! We LOVE you Spring!!

Let’s hope these two upcoming weekends away help to dig me out of my rut!

What are your plans for the October Long Weekend?

Sarah xo

Australian Travel · Budgeting · Camping · Finance · Preparation · Random Thoughts · Reader Interaction · Working on the Road · Writing & Reading

plans unravel but plan anyway

September 2, 2015 S and SLeave a comment

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!

Australian Travel · Four Wheel Driving · Preparation · Random Thoughts · Travel Photography · Words of Wisdom · Working on the Road · Writing & Reading

OffRoading online magazine

August 29, 2015 S and S2 Comments

Did you see our article in OffRoading Online Magazine? Head across and check out our article and others about all things off-road. Click on the screenshots and we’ll take you to the OffRoading Online Magazine.

Attractions · Australian Travel · Camping · Caravan Parks · Destinations · Four Wheel Driving · Free Camping · National Parks · New South Wales · Preparation · Reader Interaction · Working on the Road

we haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on our list

August 27, 2015August 28, 2015 S and S4 Comments

It has been a long while since we updated our travel map of big old Australia. So here it is…. this is our travel paths since the commencement of our blog & indefinite travels back in 2011. As you can see we have barely scratched the surface! This country is well and truly AMAZING!

Where are you up to in your travels? Share your maps with us on our Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/norrisaroundaustralia

Bush Cooking · My Life Without Sugar · Random Thoughts · Working on the Road · Writing & Reading

Self-Prepping for your BIG trip

August 15, 2015August 15, 2015 S and S2 Comments

We are well-practiced at trip preparation. The vehicle is always primped and preened, our camping supplies are continuously stockpiled but what about us? Are we always ready?

I don’t know about you but there is so much incentive to up the health antics before embarking on an adventure. Obviously, we should try to lead healthy lives consistently but life get’s busy and we forget what we “should” be doing and just get by.

So what do I do before heading out on a trip?

Get EXERCISING – I love bush-walking and exploring by foot when we are off adventuring so I need to be fit. However, here’s my hurdles. I live in the middle of nowhere. No gym. I commute a fair way to work so spend most of the working week either at work or getting there. I study full-time (cue crazy person music) It’s now coming into WINTER. My days are shorter and I get home at night-fall. On the flip-side I have miles of country side to walk and explore but not enough time to do so consistently. I use the Wii-Fit. Our place is small so I don’t really have room for a treadmill or my favourite; the cross-trainer but the Wii-Fit takes up NO ROOM and it tracks my progress. I love the step classes and the yoga! It’s like having your own gym with a cartoon character as your instructor. PERFECT.

DRINK more WATER. I don’t drink enough water. I don’t know why I just don’t some days I forget to even have any at all. I know, I know what am I thinking? I have started to segment my water into portions. I divide the day in four and drink 500 mls in each quarter. It seems more manageable. I add some fresh lime juice to give some extra taste if I’m struggling and go for some carbonated water after dark 😉 to spice things up. I have cut out soft-drink all together and NO sugar-free alternatives. I don’t feel as lethargic and it sure “flushes” out the system. My kidneys will thank me!

EAT carefully. In normal life I try to follow the 80/20 good food 80% of the time while allowing “bad” food 20% of the time. However, lines do become blurred and 20% turns to 30%, 30% – 40% and well you get the point. So at the moment I’m resetting. No SUGAR and limited processed foods. I am trying to go for whole foods where-ever possible. I am lucky because we live in the middle of no-where, I have to cook so I’m responsible if it’s a healthy meal or an unhealthy one.