First day on tour – Do you have a ritual?
Submitted: Wednesday, Feb 18, 2015 at 08:08
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The Landy
Perhaps ritual isn’t quite the right word as it may invoke images of a pagan ceremony.
So let’s call it a tradition, yes, that’s better!
How good is the first day on tour, freed from the normal bounds that life often hems us in with.
Like leaving work on a Friday afternoon, it is the furthest time before you head back on the Monday morning…
For us, when we head west, which is the norm, we make our way from
Sydney to
Nyngan,
camp by the Bogan River and head to the local RSL for a couple of beers and a meal – I can’t think of a time we haven’t when heading westward!
And if not westward,
well it is the local pub, a couple of beers and a meal!
So what about you – are there any traditions you follow on the first day out on tour, or are you just happy to be out there?
Cheers, Baz – The Landy
Reply By: Sigmund - Wednesday, Feb 18, 2015 at 08:46
Wednesday, Feb 18, 2015 at 08:46
Stop just down the road for decent coffee. Relax. Remember what we've forgotten. Go back for it!
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Follow Up By: The Landy - Wednesday, Feb 18, 2015 at 15:47
Wednesday, Feb 18, 2015 at 15:47
Yep, been there!
Cheers, Baz
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Reply By: Member - Serendipity(WA) - Wednesday, Feb 18, 2015 at 09:23
Wednesday, Feb 18, 2015 at 09:23
Yes there are some things I do.
After about the first 50km at hwy speed and all the running gear is warmed up I will pull over and
check the tyres and hubs for temp. They should be warm and even hot on summer days but I should still be able to put my hands on. If either the tyre or hub is too hot to touch there is a problem.
Other than that the usual thoughts of what I packed. And yes there have been times of pulling into remote country towns looking for odd things -
camp chairs, coffee, etc. Essentials really.
Cheers
Serendipity
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Follow Up By: pop2jocem - Wednesday, Feb 18, 2015 at 12:24
Wednesday, Feb 18, 2015 at 12:24
Yep, same here, stop and
check hubs and tyres, general walk around and visual.
The last trip, about 100 k's up the road I said to the wife/navigator
"Do you see anything missing from the front of the ute?"
She, peering through the windscreen "Nothing obvious comes to mind. Why?"
Me "What's normally sticking up from the 'roo bar?"
She, after a few seconds "Where's the 2 way ariel?"
Me, A little, actually a lot, sheepishly "Sitting safely on
the bench in the shed at home"
She in a rather exasperated tone "So, you going back for it?"
Me "Nope, I'll see if I can pick up another one in one of the next major towns we come to".
I won't
bore you with the rest of my tale of woe (:=(( ariel wise, but we enjoyed the next 6 months muchly (;=)))
Cheers
Pop
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Reply By: OBJ - Wednesday, Feb 18, 2015 at 09:46
Wednesday, Feb 18, 2015 at 09:46
Our rituals are similar. We also head for
Nyngan as our first stop on any western based journey, and we
camp on the Bogan River, at the
Riverside caravan park.
Then I spend some considerable time trying to find all the things I need that I know I have packed, but cannot locate. After about 4 days I am able to remember where everything is once more.
OBJ
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Follow Up By: AlbyNSW - Wednesday, Feb 18, 2015 at 10:14
Wednesday, Feb 18, 2015 at 10:14
OBJ I do the same, I generally avoid van parks but love that one and stay there often. Have a meal at the RSL and a bacon and egg roll and coffee at the BP on the way out in the morning.
It takes a few days of packing and unpacking before you get back into the swing of things again.
Once I turn off the M7 and start heading west I have this massive sigh of relief and feel like I am carefree again, even if it is only for a couple of weeks
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Follow Up By: The Landy - Wednesday, Feb 18, 2015 at 15:48
Wednesday, Feb 18, 2015 at 15:48
Very popular place, always a pleasant say...
Cheers, Baz
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Follow Up By: Member - Scott M (NSW) - Wednesday, Feb 18, 2015 at 17:59
Wednesday, Feb 18, 2015 at 17:59
Funny,
Nyngan must do
well out of this. We usually leave from the mid North Coast of NSW around 7-ish, and aim to
camp in Riverside with a meal at the rissole that night. We try to knock up some k's on the 1st day then ease off after that.
Suspect
Nyngan is popular as it's :
1. about a good days drive from the coast and
2. it's the decision point for going SW (
Broken Hill) or NW (
Bourke).
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Reply By: Steve in Kakadu - Wednesday, Feb 18, 2015 at 12:23
Wednesday, Feb 18, 2015 at 12:23
We have a first day ritual that we have done over the last 15 years, in fact it is our last night ritual as
well, we always stay at
Daly Waters pub either camping or in one of the cabins, we arrive set up and then spend the rest of the afternoon/ evening at the pub.
We also have a second night ritual and that is
Devils Marbles, and were possible it is our second last night ritual too.
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Follow Up By: pop2jocem - Wednesday, Feb 18, 2015 at 12:30
Wednesday, Feb 18, 2015 at 12:30
Ain't that a top little watering hole?
We stopped overnight at the adjacent CP. Not the worst CP (;=)) but the band and meal were bloody good. Wound up staying 'til stumps.
The Mrs even got dragged up onto the dance floor. Not by me though.
Cheers
Pop
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Reply By: Rick (S.A.) - Wednesday, Feb 18, 2015 at 12:24
Wednesday, Feb 18, 2015 at 12:24
[Always happy to be out there]
Well, two traditions, depending on who is with me:
Tradition 1
Be polite with cabin occupants & tell 'em what's in store for the next few days
Light the fire - a fire can't be beat for company & cooking
Tradition 2
Drive with the windows down
Get the stereo cranked with good ol' country music (which seems to be un-allowed in the 'burbs & at
home)
Swear copiously at everything if it's an all boys trip
Get some drinks on board after we stop
Light the fire - a fire can't be beat for company & cooking
PS - Truly, I'm not an Aussie yobo all the time.
Cheers !
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Reply By: Rod - Wednesday, Feb 18, 2015 at 15:47
Wednesday, Feb 18, 2015 at 15:47
We eat the same meal on the first night of every trip away. We have a menu of about 6 -7 evening meals that we rotate through, and often mix up, but night #1 is always the same easy one. Part convenience, part ritual.
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Follow Up By: Ann H3 - Friday, Feb 20, 2015 at 00:21
Friday, Feb 20, 2015 at 00:21
Come on, we have to know that it is "if legal"
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Reply By: Member - Terry W4 - Wednesday, Feb 18, 2015 at 18:26
Wednesday, Feb 18, 2015 at 18:26
Been to
Nyngan a few times in the past but not since I bought my Prado and Cub camper. Always stayed in one of the motels (driving a Honda).
Have planned a big trip up through
Flinders Ranges - NT - Qld through to the coast and
home over 6 weeks from late April.
First stop is
Nyngan - intend to stay 2 nights and intend to
camp by the Bogan River. What's it like?
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Follow Up By: The Landy - Wednesday, Feb 18, 2015 at 20:00
Wednesday, Feb 18, 2015 at 20:00
Hey Terry
I reckon it is great!
Camp at the Riverside, dinner at the RSL, have a look around during the day, you can't go wrong.
In fact recently I have come via
Tottenham, and that should work for you, more interesting drive I think (via Parkes).
Cheers, Baz - The Landy
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Reply By: Member - tommo05 - Wednesday, Feb 18, 2015 at 20:16
Wednesday, Feb 18, 2015 at 20:16
Macca's for breakfast. Now I can imagine some people turning their noses up at this, but it's the only time we ever eat it and it's become our traditional start to a road trip. It's perfect because we always leave before sparrow's and want to get on the road without wasting time having brekky at
home, and I can eat it while driving.
It started when we lived in
Broome, and Macca's brekky was the only thing you could get first thing in the morning. It's tradition now, starting a road trip without it just doesn't feel right.
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Follow Up By: The Landy - Thursday, Feb 19, 2015 at 06:28
Thursday, Feb 19, 2015 at 06:28
We've found them a good fall-back when travelling!
Cheers, Baz - The Landy
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Follow Up By: Frank P (NSW) - Thursday, Feb 19, 2015 at 11:49
Thursday, Feb 19, 2015 at 11:49
"Macca's for breakfast. "
That's us too. By the time the domestic goddess has the place fit to return to (I think she sets an unreasonably high standard, but I'm just a bloke so my opinion on that subject doesn't count :-)) there's no way anyone's going to mess up the kitchen or dirty a pan.
Cheers
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Reply By: SDG - Wednesday, Feb 18, 2015 at 20:47
Wednesday, Feb 18, 2015 at 20:47
My good akubra gets packed away, and my old camping hat gets put on.
House gets locked up, kids get told that if they have forgotten something, tough luck.
Drive for the next hour thinking about what i might have forgotten.
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Reply By: Member - Graham N (SA) - Wednesday, Feb 18, 2015 at 21:42
Wednesday, Feb 18, 2015 at 21:42
Hi Baz,
For us if heading to the N.T. or Qld its finding a
camp site along the
Oodnadatta,
Birdsville or Strzelecki tracks, or if heading west
Ceduna Hotel for a meal or a
campsite on the Nullarbor. To the east we usually make
Cobar Bowling Club, in the old days of using cabins we actually made
Nyngan and had a great meal at the R.S.L.
Still I suppose we are spoiled for choice, but you easterners have only one direction out of there. (go west
young man).
Cheers
Graham
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Follow Up By: The Landy - Thursday, Feb 19, 2015 at 06:30
Thursday, Feb 19, 2015 at 06:30
Howdy Graham!
Must say I have had a meal on occasion at the bowls club in
Cobar, but these days stop at
Nyngan!
And yes, west for sure!
Cheers, Baz
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Reply By: Gone Bush (WA) - Wednesday, Feb 18, 2015 at 23:12
Wednesday, Feb 18, 2015 at 23:12
Once we settle down into the drive I have my first sip of coffee from my travel mug. Just the nicest thing.
That means we are shrugging off the shackles of suburbia.
When we have
well and truly left the metro area and on one of the major highways into the country I select my "travel music". That is Crocket's Theme from Miami Vice.
That means we are "on the way", and that always deserves another sip of coffee.
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Follow Up By: The Landy - Thursday, Feb 19, 2015 at 06:31
Thursday, Feb 19, 2015 at 06:31
And isn't it a great feeling removing those "shackles".
Cheers, Baz
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Reply By: nickb - Thursday, Feb 19, 2015 at 03:44
Thursday, Feb 19, 2015 at 03:44
The missus always pre-makes a spag bol for this first night, so it is just a case of reheating for a nice meal. This has saved us a few times when delays have occurred, just heat it up on the side of the road and all is
well!!!
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Reply By: Member - Allan L2 - Thursday, Feb 19, 2015 at 11:13
Thursday, Feb 19, 2015 at 11:13
Our first day ritual is also similar to many of the above replies. As we don’t tow we usually
check into a cabin at a van park. First job is to suss out a good pub/club nearby for dinner & a drink or two. It seems that after arriving at our first day destination and winding down with a drink & nice meal that we are now on actually our holidays/our trip. We get the feeling we are now disconnected from our regular duties, whatever we have left behind or failed to do is too bad. Tomorrow morning we will get up relaxed and set off on day two at a leisurely pace. Yesterday we were still rushing around trying to get way. We don’t seem to completely relax until sitting around having a drink and dinner on that first night.
Cheers,
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Follow Up By: The Landy - Thursday, Feb 19, 2015 at 11:25
Thursday, Feb 19, 2015 at 11:25
Hi Allan
And I think that sums it up for us as
well…!
Cheers, Baz
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Reply By: Zippo - Thursday, Feb 19, 2015 at 11:32
Thursday, Feb 19, 2015 at 11:32
Not a ritual, but a custom. After that "integrity check" (wheels, tyres, load) after the first half-hour or so, we take a "before"
pic or two of the vehicle. You can't have "before-and-after" shots without the "before", and later could be too late. Sort of like Applied Murphy's Law or the AllBran Principle.
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Reply By: birdnerd - Thursday, Feb 19, 2015 at 14:52
Thursday, Feb 19, 2015 at 14:52
Finding a good coffee and muffin for morning tea! Then once
camp is set up, open some bubbly and celebrate a month off work and an exciting trip ahead.
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Reply By: Member - John T (Tamworth NSW) - Thursday, Feb 19, 2015 at 18:58
Thursday, Feb 19, 2015 at 18:58
Baz
Whenever we are heading west from
Bourke (after driving from
Tamworth to
North Bourke the day before) we always drive to the end of the blacktop, pull over to have a coffee and let all the tyres down to gravel/ sand pressures. To us that means we are really beginning the trip away - tyres down, speed down and cares left at the end of the blacktop until hopefully 1000's of is later it time to come
home. That's our little ritual.
Cheers
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Reply By: Ann H3 - Friday, Feb 20, 2015 at 00:30
Friday, Feb 20, 2015 at 00:30
Reading these I simply can't wait to work out what will be my tradition and I'll sure let you all know once I have my "second trip" haha ps I haven't had my first yet but soon, when I have the confidence up.
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Follow Up By: The Landy - Friday, Feb 20, 2015 at 06:37
Friday, Feb 20, 2015 at 06:37
Hey Ann
Enjoy it, that's the main bit!
Cheers, Baz - The Landy
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