To What age can we keep Touring ?
Submitted: Monday, Feb 05, 2007 at 14:54
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Robin
Attended a 100th birthday sunday.
It was a great event, full of goodwill, and made one come away thinking
there is still hope for the human race.
At entrance to the venue was an original car of the type the guy
drove, think 1924 chev.
Talk was around adventures driving rough tracks around
Melbourne's
Yarra river banks in
places that are now suburbs.
This chap stopped driving in late eighties and I was wondering what is a
reasonable age expectation we might have to still be "Out there ".
Robin Miller
Reply By: Des Lexic - Monday, Feb 05, 2007 at 15:08
Monday, Feb 05, 2007 at 15:08
My father was still driving up until he was 92. He probably caused more accidents than he had and he had a few.
When he was in his early 80's, he went on a caravan trip on his own and got as far as
Coffs Harbour before he lost it coming down a
hill and totalled it. Luckily he was the only vehicle and no one was hurt except for a lot of pride.
We were mainly worried about other people when he was driving but it was difficult to get his licence cancelled.
You can still do it later in life but the risks are far greater now with greater traffic volumes around now.
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Reply By: Member - Norm C (QLD) - Monday, Feb 05, 2007 at 15:37
Monday, Feb 05, 2007 at 15:37
Well I'm into my 50s and I reckon (with luck and health) I've got at least 20 years to go. Hope so, as I've got at least 20 years of
places left to visit (or visit again).
Certainly safety in driving is an issue, but I'd have thought the body would be telling you to slow down with the set up / pull down etc before driving became the major issue. Keep fit and healthy and continuing
well into the 70s should not be a problem.
Like anything. Keep using and maintaining it (body and mind) and it should give long service.
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Reply By: Member - Jack - Monday, Feb 05, 2007 at 16:29
Monday, Feb 05, 2007 at 16:29
I am 60, and now believe I still have another 40 years left ... if I choose to believe that "60 is the new 40".
It *must* be true because I read it in the Woman's Day last week at the doctor's waiting room.
Jack
PS. As an aside ... when are doctors going to realise that they also have male patients who would prefer more "blokey" reading material.
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Follow Up By: On Patrol - Monday, Feb 05, 2007 at 16:31
Monday, Feb 05, 2007 at 16:31
On Yah Jack, come the revolution comrade!!!!
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Follow Up By: Member - MUZBRY (VIC) - Tuesday, Feb 06, 2007 at 12:40
Tuesday, Feb 06, 2007 at 12:40
Gday Jack
I am in that era as
well, almost the last trip to the doc ,there were no man type books,so always having to wait, i jumped in the bomb and went
home to get some books to read. Trouble is that when you go back next time ,all the good books are gone..
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Reply By: Tia Maria - Monday, Feb 05, 2007 at 16:36
Monday, Feb 05, 2007 at 16:36
I'm 75 this year and am in the process of selling the motorhome and getting a camper trailer so we can go to
places not visited in the motorhome,
Gibb River, Bungle Bungles, etc.
As long as you accept that your senses and reaction times are not what they were then I reckon you are OK. I certainly am not a slow driver but I'm a lot more carefull than I used to be.
So I'll keep going as long as I feel able, who knows? Next year, 3 years, 10 years whatever.
Cheers
John L.
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Follow Up By: Des Lexic - Monday, Feb 05, 2007 at 17:03
Monday, Feb 05, 2007 at 17:03
With your attitude
John, you should be able to chalk up at least another 25 years.
I hope I can get another 40 years of touring in before I have to stick to the bitumen.
That will get me into the high 90's by then. LOL
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Reply By: Member - Phil G (SA) - Monday, Feb 05, 2007 at 17:08
Monday, Feb 05, 2007 at 17:08
I was flagged down by an older lady on the QAA Line last year. She asked me if I had any diff oil, which we did, so I turned off the track to find their RangeRover with an icecream container under the diff which was leaking because bolts had worked loose. I fixed their problem, and while chatting, found out that her husband ( a retired doctor) was 84 years old and she was almost that age. They had no intention of not travelling in the desert. they were accompanied by a slightly younger couple (about 70+)
I remember another couple in their late 70's in a troopie around
Innamincka a few years back. They were retired farmers.
I've had people in their mid 70's come on club trips.
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Follow Up By: Robin - Monday, Feb 05, 2007 at 19:45
Monday, Feb 05, 2007 at 19:45
About 84 each and still going, that sounds like a target to aim for Phil , I will be applying every health angle I know to get there , but I guess so many of these things are beyond our control.
Robin Miller
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Follow Up By: Member - Phil G (SA) - Monday, Feb 05, 2007 at 21:35
Monday, Feb 05, 2007 at 21:35
At first I thought "What are these fools doing out there" and then I started to think about it, and if I were to be out there at their age, it would be a great achievement - I've been travelling the outback on and off for 30 years now, and in another 35 years, I'll be their age.
Good health certainly helps, and some of that is the luck of the draw.
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Follow Up By: Member - JohnR (Vic)&Moses - Monday, Feb 05, 2007 at 22:55
Monday, Feb 05, 2007 at 22:55
Great attitude isn't it. Good to be able to get on and just do it. Take the pills every day so you can.
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Reply By: Footloose - Monday, Feb 05, 2007 at 18:18
Monday, Feb 05, 2007 at 18:18
Your body will let you know when it's time to stop travelling. Mine has already told me that my beloved tenting is going to be a painful experience in the future. Everything is too low down :((
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Reply By: Max - Sydney - Monday, Feb 05, 2007 at 18:21
Monday, Feb 05, 2007 at 18:21
Having experienced both my Dad and Pa-In-Law who "knew" they were doing fine
well into their eighties I have made a resolution that I will cut up and cancel my licence the day I turn 80 - if I make it.
They were both terrifying to drive with and resolutely refused to face facts - their reactions had slowed right down, Dad was
well down the Alzheimer's path and Pa-In-Law advanced Macular Degeneration. Doctors could do nothing they said - and the 85 y.o.
test in SA ludicrous.
PIL is still going strong at 95, blind and deaf but amazingly active, Dad made it to 86. That's great, and if I make it to 80 and still want to see the great outback, there are plenty of tour operators to take me. I WILL NOT put my kids and friends through the years of worry that we experienced.
I've got 15 more years to drive as far and as much as I possibly can.
Max
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Reply By: Willem - Monday, Feb 05, 2007 at 18:57
Monday, Feb 05, 2007 at 18:57
We met a 75yo lady driving a Daihatsu Rocky, on her own, along the CSR in 1994.
She told us that she had attended a diesel mechanics course(light) before she set off on her adventure. She had all the necessary comms and recovery gear.
I would expect to go for as long as I could, health prevailing. You have to go with the flow. I sold my roofrack recently as arthritic pain is too much, lifting stuff on to the rack. I am carrying less gear and now have virtually nothing the truck and everything in the trailer.
I am now 3.5 years of age(You start counting at 1 again every 10 years). Have started 6 times now.
I will stop going on adventures when I lose confidence in driving. If they take my licence away at any stage I hope that I will still be able to go
places with alternative transport.
Cheers
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Follow Up By: Robin - Monday, Feb 05, 2007 at 19:51
Monday, Feb 05, 2007 at 19:51
Might be time to get one of those chinese import 50cc motorbikes and put it in long term storage Willem - I second thoughts , my son is riding his right now and its annoying me and impressing a couple of teenage girls , so maybe I should impound his for the future.
Robin Miller
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Reply By: Sand Man (SA) - Monday, Feb 05, 2007 at 19:18
Monday, Feb 05, 2007 at 19:18
I think the only difference is that you are safer out in the mulga and not necessarily because of your own driving skills.
As we get older, slower reaction times may cause us to get into more trouble in "the big smoke" but cruising the outback is a bit more of a leveller.
At least I hope so. I've got heaps of
places I want to travel to, but working for a living keeps me from doing this at present, apart from a couple of short weeks or so at a time, or the occasional weekend trip. So I'll have to wait until I'm retired to increase the time away from
home.
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Reply By: Motherhen - Monday, Feb 05, 2007 at 23:29
Monday, Feb 05, 2007 at 23:29
At the rate we are going, we'll be in our 80s or 90s before we get to doing the Big Lap.
A couple of years ago in the
Esperance caravan parts
shop, there was a couple in their 80s. They thought they were too old for driving with a caravan so had sold it. They were
buying a TENT to continue their travels.
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Reply By: Member - Matt M (ACT) - Tuesday, Feb 06, 2007 at 13:10
Tuesday, Feb 06, 2007 at 13:10
My Grandfather drove until he was
well into his eighties.
When I die I have decided that I want to go just like he did, pecefully in my sleep. Not screaming like all the other people in his car were.
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Follow Up By: Robin - Tuesday, Feb 06, 2007 at 18:28
Tuesday, Feb 06, 2007 at 18:28
Bit of a sad sting in that reply Matt.
I believe I can appreciate the rammifications
Robin Miller
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Reply By: Member - Royce- Tuesday, Feb 06, 2007 at 23:51
Tuesday, Feb 06, 2007 at 23:51
My Dad's 84 and still driving around Williamstown, Altona North..... look out! He has had several toes off and artificial veins in his legs cos he smoked. [idiot]... but he still drives to do the shopping and go the quack etc. He still looks after my Mum in a wheelchair [MS].... If he hadn't had the ops, I reckon he would have gone on for another decade... but will soon have to ease off.
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Reply By: Member - Beatit (QLD) - Wednesday, Feb 07, 2007 at 09:02
Wednesday, Feb 07, 2007 at 09:02
Interesting question Robin and I know I’ve also been thinking about this. I now find myself planning a hefty expenditure on a caravan and off course the total $ spent should relate to the amount of use I expect to have out of the van. So my thinking is that I’ll get about 20 years out of a van in retirement and this will depend on a lot of things working in my favour in that time. The most difficult question is, if you are married, will your partner still have good health etc because even if you are able, their health will also stop you. BTW my brother in law’s grandfather drove into his late 90’s – he was 103 when he passed away and he probably stopped driving about 5 years before.
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Follow Up By: Robin - Wednesday, Feb 07, 2007 at 10:56
Wednesday, Feb 07, 2007 at 10:56
Hi Beatit
Caravan is a big expenditure for sure , and I have seen now two lots of friends buy one for there big trip and basically sell it soon after as health has interferred.
I'm the "never got sick" type until just recently at 58 got pluresy , which I never really even heard of , went from chainsawing trees and building tracks on saturday to "stuffed and couldn't even drive for a month" in 48 hrs.
Sorta makes you think along these lines. For me I got over everthing and won't change what I'm doing but it will cause some changes long term.
For example in posts like these I have argued the case for manual 4wds over auto's but my arguements never considered the health angle.
The sickness I got caused severe pain if you put any pressure on your chest.
I just couldn't change gears as arm movement stressed the chest , however I could easily drive my wife's auto RAV 4wd.
A bigger factor in car / caravan type descisions for me in future will be the ability to react to changing circumstances and so get products that are easier to re-sell.
Robin Miller
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Follow Up By: Member - Beatit (QLD) - Wednesday, Feb 07, 2007 at 12:17
Wednesday, Feb 07, 2007 at 12:17
I think that health is a major factor – the odds are working against you all the time as you get older. However it is not only the issue of getting some health issue it is also old age. I have been travelling with a couple in their 70’s and they were doing fine but last year they decided to move away from a camper trailer to a caravan for comfort. He said his old bones just couldn’t take the off road travel any longer.
Hi Robin,
The resale value is only good if the van suits your purpose in the first place. I take your point but being an optimist I really have to stay positive on the 20 year period otherwise I would make a totally different decision to accommodate a possible sale in say 5 years. For example a five year layout could include cheaper options rather than those that will last a lot longer.
In fear of getting a little too philosophical, but isn’t it interesting as we arrive to retirement age that we get concerned about our health etc and how much time we have left. The power of positive thinking may not help to depress that clutch pedal but I don’t like contemplating the alternative. Mind you, I have an auto with cruise control and so long as I can still see OK and have the brain communicate effectively I feel relatively safe.
Kind regards
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