Sometimes
Submitted: Friday, Feb 07, 2014 at 21:35
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Vesko P
Sometimes I just get in my Freelander 2 and drive until I am at least a thousand kilometres away. I don’t stop – while cruising on top of the speed limits, I nibble snacks, drink coffee and very often the destination is not important. I fall into some kind of a driving trance, the world as I know it disappears and all my senses are focused on the road.
I cannot explain the pleasure I get from the endless driving hours, sitting in otherwise comfortable
seat of my Landie. After all, it is tiring and expensive with the current prices of fuel, especially when I have to fill up again after some 700 km. It feels like I paid a hundred dollars five minutes ago and I have to pay another hundred again.
I often wander why I enjoy it so much. There is something in the movement perhaps, the constant change of space. And I suspect it’s also because when I travel like this life is simple – I know where in the car I packed every single item that I’ll need for the next few days and I don’t need much, it is easy to grasp all the elements of my immediate existence. This gives me I guess, the sense that I am in full control of my destiny. Everything depends on me and if I make a mistake, I would blame only myself.
Vesko at
Rainbow Beach.
Reply By: Michael ( Moss Vale NSW) - Friday, Feb 07, 2014 at 21:40
Friday, Feb 07, 2014 at 21:40
You're not a Land Rover salesman... are you?? :) Michael
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Follow Up By: Vesko P - Friday, Feb 07, 2014 at 21:43
Friday, Feb 07, 2014 at 21:43
Nope, sorry if it looks like it.
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Follow Up By: Michael ( Moss Vale NSW) - Friday, Feb 07, 2014 at 21:47
Friday, Feb 07, 2014 at 21:47
Vesko! Sorry, just joking. There is something about getting away! They say the journey is as exciting and just as important as the destination! regards, Michael
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Follow Up By: Ross M - Friday, Feb 07, 2014 at 23:09
Friday, Feb 07, 2014 at 23:09
My dreams are different to that!
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Reply By: mikehzz - Friday, Feb 07, 2014 at 23:02
Friday, Feb 07, 2014 at 23:02
Hey Vesko, 700kms every 5 minutes, you are relaxing way too fast. :-)
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Reply By: equinox - Saturday, Feb 08, 2014 at 02:14
Saturday, Feb 08, 2014 at 02:14
I can fully understand that Vesko.
To me its the sensation of movement, doesn't matter where I have been, or where I am going - as long as I keep moving!!!
Don't need to eat, don't need to drink, don't need to listen to music - as long as I keep moving!!!
Fever
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Follow Up By: Member - John (Vic) - Saturday, Feb 08, 2014 at 02:37
Saturday, Feb 08, 2014 at 02:37
No wonder you don't own a fridge :)
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Follow Up By: equinox - Saturday, Feb 08, 2014 at 02:41
Saturday, Feb 08, 2014 at 02:41
John, John - how many years are you going to advertise that bloody fridge in your profile? Give up mate - just send it over here, I'll pay postage - It's a win win situation!!! :-)
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Follow Up By: Member - John (Vic) - Saturday, Feb 08, 2014 at 03:05
Saturday, Feb 08, 2014 at 03:05
In your dreams :)
You wouldn't know how to turn it on LOL
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Follow Up By: Ross M - Saturday, Feb 08, 2014 at 12:15
Saturday, Feb 08, 2014 at 12:15
equinox
You didn't happen to work for a Road Marking crew did you? It's hard to kick the habit.
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Follow Up By: The Bantam - Sunday, Feb 09, 2014 at 17:23
Sunday, Feb 09, 2014 at 17:23
A mate of mines brother is a line marking contractor.
He dreams of marking lines on the road at 100Kmh.
The trucks that could be baught where just to slow.
He has built a truck, that in theory, can mark lines at 80Kmh......if the boys can keep it straight....best effort so far is a bit over 60Kmh on a dead straight, dead flat road.
Even then the boys puttin down and pickin up the witches hats cant keep up, and there is a truck following just to keep the piant hopper topped up...they can only go soo far before they run out of paint.
Puts a different perspective on a white like disaperaing into the distance.
OH and remember...the best thing about
Victoria is the road heading north.
cheers
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Reply By: Member - PJR (NSW) - Saturday, Feb 08, 2014 at 08:14
Saturday, Feb 08, 2014 at 08:14
Mum, Dad, my brothers and I would just get in the car and let it take us where the traffic was the least. That was when I became addicted.
My wife is much the same. We will get in the car and just go for a drive. Once we went as far as
Surfers Paradise for a milkshake and then just turn around and come back (we lived in
Sydney then!!!!!) . Just the pleasure of being in our own little world inside the car and watch this great wide land pass.
Yes. There were those nights when it was too hot to sleep. That was before domestic airconditiomers for you younguns.
Right now our interest is in destinations quite a way away from
home but the drive there and back, all-be-it non stop, is still as pleasurable as it was back in those family 1940+ drives in the old Armstrong Sidley with Mum and Dad. (says Phil smiling).
Phil
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Follow Up By: SDG - Saturday, Feb 08, 2014 at 11:24
Saturday, Feb 08, 2014 at 11:24
I remember doing similar when I first got my license. Have been known to drive to
Adelaide from Wagga, just to get a coffeee, then drive back home. Can't do that anymore. My body thinks it requires sleep more often.
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Reply By: Echucan Bob - Saturday, Feb 08, 2014 at 10:36
Saturday, Feb 08, 2014 at 10:36
Vesko,
nice piece!
I am similarly afflicted. Most recently I have just jumped in the car and set off from
Echuca for
Lake Mungo, and on another occasion the
Border Track after a cruise through the Wimmera and Mallee. For no particular reason.
I always prefer the road less travelled, and will avoid the Hume Freeway at all costs. When I commute to
Canberra I try to find a different way each time. The longest trip took in
Hay, Booligal,
Hillston, Lake Cargellico, West Wyalong - luckily I had all day!
Not only do I love the actually driving and just being off the beaten track, I somehow find an excuse to surround myself with a host of electronic gadgets and radios, my other passion.
One of the best feelings is heading off on a long trip, vehicle set up, and not a care for two weeks.
I seem to have a preference for flat open arid and semi arid country. But the rolling farm lands of western NSW and the Wimmera aren't bad. I often head west from
Echuca to the Terrick Terrick area. Nice rocky outcrops, native white pines, no people.
Bob
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Reply By: Old 55 - Saturday, Feb 08, 2014 at 12:24
Saturday, Feb 08, 2014 at 12:24
Ah Vesko know the feeling.
Recently bought a Prado and decided to drive from Lilydale to Marysville to visit the Bakery for morning tea, After morning tea we decided to drive to
Woods Point for lunch and after that
Walhalla for afternoon tea then home via Moe.
Arrived back at about 7PM and had a great day. Good music, great country, no time frame just enjoying the drive.
Keep up the travelling.
Cheers Rod
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Reply By: mikehzz - Saturday, Feb 08, 2014 at 13:46
Saturday, Feb 08, 2014 at 13:46
Vesko, as you know I feel the same but a little word of warning. The last 2 years in a row I've driven back from the arid lands in
South Australia to
Sydney and ended up with blood clots from sitting too long. I've never had that problem before but now I have to be really conscious about taking frequent breaks not for fatigue but for circulation. The clots ended up in my lungs and put me in intensive care.
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Follow Up By: Michael ( Moss Vale NSW) - Saturday, Feb 08, 2014 at 16:18
Saturday, Feb 08, 2014 at 16:18
G'day Mike! That's interesting, we normally associate that complaint with flying at altitude! Something to think about as we all age! regards, Michael
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Reply By: steved58 - Saturday, Feb 08, 2014 at 17:00
Saturday, Feb 08, 2014 at 17:00
white line fever could be the result of our driving addictions used to drive
Tom Price to
Perth non stop when I was younger and worked there 1600kms always loved it Have cut back on those distances but still regularly put in 800 to 1000kms at once Its such a simple uncomplicated process with no one interfereing with you once your away from the city that is but city driving aint driving is it?
Steve
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Reply By: rodnirene - Sunday, Feb 09, 2014 at 09:49
Sunday, Feb 09, 2014 at 09:49
To Dubbo & back to the Illawarra yesterday. Why? To see the grandchildren
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