The things you see...

Submitted: Saturday, Oct 01, 2011 at 15:33
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I was recently privileged to attend a very productive and meaningful two week course at RAAF Wagga (unlike the many other courses I have been coerced into attending!). I drove from Adelaide to Wagga and back again, and during the two weekends we had off, I drove to the coast to see family.

During this little trip into the countryside, I saw quite a few interesting things...

* The six German tourists (male, sadly) in their hired camper which had shed a dual rear wheel near Picton. Nobody hurt, no great damage, no sign of six wheel nuts.
* The Falcon towing a large, dual axle caravan with three tyres, the forth having conspired to destroy itself over the preceding 5-odd km. HOW he didn't know this is beyond my comprehension as the shredded Dunlop was the lead tyre on the drivers side. The issue was communicated up the road via UHF but I don't know what the end result was.
* The sheer number of people who do not wave to others. Come on, folks, it doesn't take that much effort!
* The sheer number of car and caravan sets looking REALLY low in the rear end. Check your towball weight!
* The immense storm which rolled across the Hay Plains. When I left Hay I had a stiff wind from the NE. When I got into the storm front it went from afternoon to midnight within 2km with a gale wind and driving tropical deluge rain. I heard on the UHF that the two B-Doubles behind me were having a ball with the cross winds.
* Having dinner at Balranald after said storm. The town had no power at all until very late that night, so the Services Club was doing take aways and was taking orders by gas camping light!
* The friendly interaction between all the truckies on UHF 40. Oh the memories of 27MHz CB from years ago!

The next "big drive" will be house moving at the start of next year. Thankfully, the Department of De Fence will pack up the house and we are happy to drive and take it a bit easy on the trip. But hopefully we'll get a few more friendly waves!
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Reply By: Life Member - esarby (NSW) - Saturday, Oct 01, 2011 at 15:46

Saturday, Oct 01, 2011 at 15:46
Hi Ironman. Waving, had the same experience driving to Silverton from Sydney. Perhaps it is a problem of paying too much attention to driving. We experienced the sand storm on the Monday. 40 to 50 k winds at Silverton but I think it picked up more as it travelled across southern NSW and Victoria. Enjoy the House move. I only did it once, never again. Cheers...

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Follow Up By: Sir Kev & Darkie - Saturday, Oct 01, 2011 at 15:53

Saturday, Oct 01, 2011 at 15:53
Steve,

"I only did it once, never again"

I think I did it about 14 times in my 13 years in the army and we lived in 1 house for 8 years LOL

I think I will only move house a couple more times, it gets easier the more times you do it ;)

We have a small breeze here at the moment 50km/h gusts with a constant breeze of 25-30km/h

Makes pruning trees with the chainsaw extremely difficult so I have retired for the day and have Bundy Bear keeping me company now hehehe


Cheers Kev



Russell Coight:
He was presented with a difficult decision: push on into the stretching deserts, or return home to his wife.

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Follow Up By: Member - henpecked - Sunday, Oct 02, 2011 at 16:45

Sunday, Oct 02, 2011 at 16:45
What?

Not out flogging raffle tickets?
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Follow Up By: Sir Kev & Darkie - Tuesday, Oct 04, 2011 at 08:32

Tuesday, Oct 04, 2011 at 08:32
Ted,

I could COD some Tickets down to you LOL

Cheers Kev
Russell Coight:
He was presented with a difficult decision: push on into the stretching deserts, or return home to his wife.

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Follow Up By: Member - henpecked - Tuesday, Oct 04, 2011 at 20:18

Tuesday, Oct 04, 2011 at 20:18
Hi Kev,

That is a good idea...Why didn't I think of that?

I will let you know when it is pension day.


Cheers

Ted
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Reply By: Member - John and Val - Saturday, Oct 01, 2011 at 15:59

Saturday, Oct 01, 2011 at 15:59
Hi Ironman,

Re waving:

In the cities people don't even make eye contact let alone speak to each other if they are in a public place, so don't expect any waving there or anywhere that city folk drive. That means much of the eastern seaboard and hinterland. Along the nominally country road where we live - on the edge of a city - it is pretty rare to get a wave and then only from an acquaintance.

We do wave when we travel but its only when we get fairly well west that we seem to be in waving territory. Also we are unlikely to get a response from a sedan towing a caravan, and even a 4WD towing a van may not return a wave.

Cheers,

Val

J and V
"Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted."
- Albert Einstein

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Follow Up By: Bigfish - Saturday, Oct 01, 2011 at 16:05

Saturday, Oct 01, 2011 at 16:05
Waving used to be the norm. Having ridden motorbikes for many years it was customary to wave at a fellow rider. NOT now. Sad really. Even in town here I wave to any rider regardless of machine size. Scooter to harley. I ride a harley but treat all riders as fellow countrymen. When in the 4 wd I often wave out of habit...many people dont share this habit.
Oh well...their loss!!
Keep waving...at least you know that your enjoying the journey!!
cheers
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Follow Up By: Life Member - esarby (NSW) - Saturday, Oct 01, 2011 at 16:07

Saturday, Oct 01, 2011 at 16:07
Hi Kev. I only did it once , was when I moved from the UK to Oz. Never again. Enjoy your Bundy Bear.

Ironman. At least I will get a wave from you when we pass on the road.

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Follow Up By: Member - Bruce T (SA) - Saturday, Oct 01, 2011 at 16:08

Saturday, Oct 01, 2011 at 16:08
Val,

Not quite true:

In the cities people don't even make eye contact let alone speak to each other if they are in a public place.......

Certainly not as much interaction as in a country town but then you know so many people. We now live in a city and do speak to people; just a hello, or even just a smile and nod.

We've just come back from WA and were surprised at the number of people who did not wave as we crossed the Nullarbor. We almost got sick of waving, but each time we were about to give up we had a people who came by and waved.

Di
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Follow Up By: Member - Boo Boo (NSW) - Saturday, Oct 01, 2011 at 16:43

Saturday, Oct 01, 2011 at 16:43
My wife and I both wave big time when we see a caravan etc coming towards us.

It quite often wakes the other driver up. Most times we get a wave back even if they are a bit late.lol

The funniest we have seen is a young couple with those 'wavy hands' on a stick.

They were having a great time!!

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Reply By: Andrew & Jen - Saturday, Oct 01, 2011 at 16:59

Saturday, Oct 01, 2011 at 16:59
Hullo Ironman
Re waving, I find it is very area / class of road specific.
For example, on a main highway, there is not much waving except perhaps between particular classes or makes of vehicle.
Once off the main roads and away from the cities, waving increases, particularly, but not only, in the less populated states. Recently I was in the Rylston area in NSW and on the local roads, waving was almost 100%, even though I was clearly a stranger with an interstate vehicle.
Rural SA off the main roads and well away from Adelaide is the same.
In Vic, really need to be in the rural western areas for a wave.
And of course, in the outback, very prevalent.
Many years ago, a wave in the bush meant OK ahead, while a quick flash of the lights menat danger - stock on the road, fallen tree, water across the road, etc
BTW, remember all generalistions are false :-)
Cheers
Andrew
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Reply By: eighty matey - Saturday, Oct 01, 2011 at 18:26

Saturday, Oct 01, 2011 at 18:26
A couple of weeks ago, on a trip back from Birdsville, I noticed the waving stopped east of Walgett.

I might see if there's some Government money around to do study on this subject. A PHD might come in handy for something.

eighty matey
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Reply By: Crackles - Saturday, Oct 01, 2011 at 18:47

Saturday, Oct 01, 2011 at 18:47
"The sheer number of people who do not wave to others"
I've posed this very question before after being abused on the CB for not waving. What is the protocol & when should you start waving Dig?? As you leave the base? As you hit the 100KPH sign? 50 km from the nearest city? Perhaps as you leave a sealed road?
To me it appears a remote area thing so really I'm not surprised you didn't get many waves as the route you took is on main highways :-)
Cheers Craig..................
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Reply By: Member - John Baas (WA) - Saturday, Oct 01, 2011 at 19:31

Saturday, Oct 01, 2011 at 19:31
Remote areas only for mine.

Cheers.
AnswerID: 466511

Reply By: Alpaca - Saturday, Oct 01, 2011 at 20:32

Saturday, Oct 01, 2011 at 20:32
Living in a country town, saying G'day to people that you see is the norm. One of the things that I enjoy doing when I visit the big smoke is to step into a lift, don't turn around to face the door and say G'day to who ever is in the lift. It's good to see them feel uncomfortable and squirm not wanting to look you in the eye and respond. It gives me pleasure anyway.
AnswerID: 466521

Reply By: Motherhen - Saturday, Oct 01, 2011 at 23:38

Saturday, Oct 01, 2011 at 23:38
Hi IronMan

Being from the country, we wave at other caravanners, and on more remote routes, at everyone. When you go on a road with very few cars, you can get hailed to stop for a chat and a cuppa by a passing motorist!

With a suspension like ours, you cannot tell when you have lost a tyre (we debated getting tyre pressure monitors but never got around to it). The van stays level and when the tyre is spinning in the mirror it still takes the same round black form.

Motherhen
Motherhen

Red desert dreaming

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Follow Up By: Rockape - Sunday, Oct 02, 2011 at 07:17

Sunday, Oct 02, 2011 at 07:17
Motherhen,

I also have no chance of seeing what my tyres on the van are doing. Being single axle though, you will soon know if you have done a tyre.

Have a good one,
RA.
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Reply By: Rockape - Sunday, Oct 02, 2011 at 07:20

Sunday, Oct 02, 2011 at 07:20
Ironman,

This is how we could fix the waving problem once and for all.

State governments put in signs with either a waving hand symbol or one with the line across it telling you it is a no waving area.
If you are found waving in a prohibited zone, 3 demerit points and $150 fine.

Problem solved.

Have a good one,
RA.
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Reply By: Echucan Bob - Tuesday, Oct 04, 2011 at 08:23

Tuesday, Oct 04, 2011 at 08:23
Got a wave between Gundaroo and Canberra yesterday! (maybe mistaken identity)

On some less than remote highways you can get RSI returning waves..

On the other hand some people think we're waving when all we are doing is absorbing the shock of the shower of stones directed at our windscreen. I don't know if this actually helps but it feels better to be doing something rather than just sucking up several hundred dollars damage inflicted by oncoming vehicles who are too important to slow down occasionally.
AnswerID: 466746

Reply By: Whitewulf - Tuesday, Oct 04, 2011 at 09:15

Tuesday, Oct 04, 2011 at 09:15
We have a family joke about waving and some drivers, that started about a year and a half ago. A lady we meet up near sapphire/qld told us a story that she was asked for a cappuccino once by a 'city folk', he did not get one as the pub did not do them - hehehe

So since we often call those that drive strange or don't wave a cappuccino, it makes for some fun and giggles with the kids on the long roads.
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Reply By: Meggs - Wednesday, Oct 05, 2011 at 00:11

Wednesday, Oct 05, 2011 at 00:11
Ball weight? WDH? never heard of them. Borrowed a mates caravan and traveled about 1000 miles still here to tell the tale.
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