Outback Travel....Where to now?

G'day mate,

yes I noticed in another post you mentioned "planning for 2009" and it brought a smile to me. But, yep, maybe we need to to "cast our nets" out on the other side of the boat.... I am trying for an Anne Beadell/Gunbarrel/Connie Sue loop in 2009 but it may not eventuate. There will be a trip to the Western Deserts either way as I will visit my Father so it may just be AB and the Trans Access, with more time spent in Cape Arid.

have a nice day, love to Judith and Jeddah.

Willem,

Perhaps the trick is to slow down and spend more time on the road. Travel the same distance but at a slower pace and let the pension keep up with the travels. A few people that I know on the road are doing just that and tend to be enjoying the time much more as they are more relaxed as they go.

I was to be on the road now as well but due to things beyond my control am still siting at home. My time will come though.

Best of luck mate. Take what you can and enjoy.

We have friends in a similar $$ (or lack of) situation to you and also have meet some pensioners while travelling recently.

The ones we met while travelling would travel 200km and then wait for the next pension in 2 weeks time, then travel 200km. it would take a long time to do 12,000km and this is not practical where there is nowhere to stop for 1,000km. They would use free camping where possible to minimise costs - but they were doing the dream on a pension only.

Alternately, the option is to work while you travel. My wife and I both work but were offered jobs while we were on our 2 week trip in the outback.

There are also employment agencies that specialise in casual workers for outback stations (and I do not mean fruit picking). These jobs may be gardener, handyman, cook, etc, etc. Have a search on the net and see what you can find.

Good Luck and good travels

Stevesub

Hi Willem,
I don't know your circumstances but weigh up what is important to you. if you have a house sell it and hit the road or look into a reverse mortgage? We have no kids and will be doing that as we have no one to leave anything to.

Petrol is still cheap compared to $4 for a can of beer that I was paying last night.

cheers

Willem,

I have just finished doing the receipt's for the Canning Stock Route for this year.
Fuel for this year was $2686.
That is from Sydney to Ayers Rock, GCR to Laverton and then Wiluna, Canning Stock Route, Billiluna, to Alice Springs via Tanami Track.
30 days of travel.
That works out to be about $90 per day for fuel.
I have left the Troopie in Alice Spring and fly back to Alice tomorrow to pick it up and then do the Kimberly.

Fuel would have been the biggest expense and one that you can not do with out. Camp fees can be reduced by bush camping and food is an expense, camping or at home.

You might have to look at the Vic High Country in summer. I don't know how much you have done down there but it would be close to where you live (Compared to remote WA or Cape York) and there is a lot to see with out doing the big kilometers.

Wayne

firstly,convert your vehicle to dual fuel,at worst you'll pay is around $50 to fill a 72 liter tank. thats our worst so far and that was at kings canyon,everywhere else is $30 to $40 dead full.
then as suggested earlier,drive more slowly,see the world and relax here n there, swap travel stories with other travellers stopping for the same reasons.
takes longer but youre much more relaxed,learnt more and saved heaps. everything we buy is long life stuff ,even powderred milk.and its all home brand...you can and will do your favourite places just take a little longer.. happy trails.. Rod

Got any used machinery for sale (cheap) ?

I could be interested in a metal detector :-))

G'day Willie,

One good thing about the price of fuel v my current cracked chassis dilemma.........

The cost of the repairs will just about be covered by the fuel I'll be saving by not driving it!!!!! hahahaha

My plans for retirement in the next 12 months will be put on the back-burner for the time being; partly due to the price of fuel, but also the rather nasty turn of events on the stock market which has adversely impacted my super-fund!!!!! Double whammy!!!

Mate, I feel for you, but I guess at least you'll appreciate your travels even more if they are fewer and further between.

Cheers and enjoy the rain/cold.....

Roachie

>>> There is no way my 12,000km journey will be affordable unless there is a drastic reduction in the price of fuel which is, by all accounts, a pipe dream...

But everytime I say this you say suck it up and get on with it ;)

I'd hate to live in a *town that relies on tourism* to survive.. Your dead if you do.

Still got that Turfor if you still want it :)

Hi Willem

I understand the problems, re Pensions and earning extra Dollars ect,
and having to declare, but have you considered approaching
Magazine Publishers of various types, or even Camping Equipment
Manufacturers or Dealers, ect, the list is long as your imagination,
and possibly Writing and Photographing your Adventures, from what
you have provided on the Forum and the way you put Pen to Paper
it would make interesting reading, some publishers use Ghost Writers
ect and take the credit them selves, getting back to the
Remuneration side of things, this can be over come by using there
fuel cards ect and other non cash deals, that don't show up on your
bank account.

Cheers.
Daza

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This might be the way to go, maybe down the Cooper :-))

An experienced bushy like yourself Willem should have little trouble offsiding as a tour guide or tail end Charlie, then claim all your vehicle expenses back. As already suggested one could take a few photo's & write an article for a magazine, they are always looking for trips to remote areas.
Plenty of empty seats heading to the desert too so rent yourself out as a navigator :-)
Can always return to your back yard for trips. The Flinders & Victoria's deserts have plenty to keep one interested.
Cheers Craig..........

Willem,

I have been sitting down trying to work out if it is financial viable to travel to the Pyrenees. Going on the fuel usage etc for the Innamincka trip I would be looking at around $1800 just for fuel at the most. It makes for and expensive week away, I may have aquired a passenger for the trip now on a similar arrangement to John T if not my BIL may come down if I get the time off work.

Cheers Kev

I know what you mean. We didn't keep records but estimate $6000 for fuel on our recent trip. Didn't help that we had a head wind from Geraldton WA to Toowoomba Qld. Will have to think seriously before any more long trips.
Geoff

HI Willem,

There are only 2 sides to the equation – income and expenditure. Given that you desire to travel certain routes and no doubt you bush camp etc to minimise costs there is probably not a lot that you can do to reduce costs. So focus on income. I acknowledge from your post that you are on a pension – but is there anyway to earn a little extra income during the year to use on your treks?
I know of a number of pensioner couples that make extra money at the local Sunday markets (selling crafts, home made jams, plants, garden produce etc etc). If you live in an area where there are no markets see if you can supply a stall holder at a market in the nearest town that has one. I know of a pensioner that has make quite a lot of money propagating plants and selling them at a market (and remember its all cash sales so it won’t effect your pension).
Another option is that you have a vast outback travel experiences (from reading your posts) over large number of years so maybe sending of some travel stories for publication in a magazine or newspaper may be an option. I think there would be overseas mags that would love to hear your outback experiences. And at least you use the internet which many pensioners don’t
I do not know your personal circumstances but I guess what I am suggesting is see if there is some way of earning extra income. It’s a pity if you can’t travel the trips you desire to do – we only have one life and we all need to make the most of the resources we have. Be positive and focus on earning extra income and enjoy your travels.
Good luck – hope you can do the trips you want to do,
Cheers,
Glen

Of course a bloke could always write a book, get it published and that would finance his travels.

Yeah, I know, nag nag nag.

Hi Willem

After fighting thru 4 downed trees on our way to our front door saturday , when for the first time in years I forgot the chain saw,
it seems to me it might be worth considering a different approach,

So here is a challenge, there are over 6 hundred known tracks within a few of hours of Melbourne.
You can get , more lost and stuck in either snow, sand, big mudholes or rock ledges than anywhere else I know and you can even have a fire almost all year round unlike other states.

Start exploring them all in a big loop, ticking them off one by one, you'll use a lot less fuel.

If still alive then you can start on the ones we don't tell people about !

I need to live till at least 100.

Willem last week at Tjukayirla diesal was $2.50/l and Opal $2.10. Needless to say I didn't say fill her up.

Having just got back from the GVD there are countless breakaways and ranges, hills and knolls that have never seen a white man that still need exploring.

The spinafex was over bonnet high and silver in the sunlight, the marbel gums glistened and the red sands never looked prettier.

Leave and staff comitments next year I'll be back. Was looking at doing the Simpson but the GVD is to big not to further explore.

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Hi Willem,

What are you like at reciting 'bush poetry' or 'Tall (true) Stories From Beyond The Black Stump' or 'A Gathering On The Cooper ? You could always go half way on your trek and park up at a CP and spout poetry for a few months in return for free parking till the next chq arrives :-)

How about this for starters -

An audience of grey nomads sitting around a camp fire waiting with baited breath for the esteemed and well published outback traveller from the Flinders....

There was an old man named Roachie....

or

Let me tell you a story about my mate Bonz.....


Then you hold your hat out for donations :-))

Gday Willem!!
One thing in your favor is your proximity to the outback... You have to feel sorry for us Eastern seaboarders!!! We have a 2 day drive to get even off the beaten track!!! Michael.

I'd like to echo the thoughts of a "book", though your responses to that Willem don't seem all that....enthusiastic? :)
You obviously have a passion for travel, and a talent for writing about your experiences, which seem many and varied.
I don't know how difficult - competitive? it is to get a book published , but hey.....if fuel prices DO keep going up ridiculously then perhaps the only thing those of us with itchy feet will be able to do is to sit and read about it, while we ponder ways of making more money so we CAN do it!
While it is wonderful to sit and read some of your stories (just read "the scar" - great! - though the lion story has always been my favourite! :)) that you have up there for "free", I can't help feeling that your contribution in a book form, of such unique Australian experiences would surely be something others would be prepared to pay for.