27 May 2021
As our travels continue and we settle into the slower pace of life it becomes apparent that there is a rhythm to daily life on the road.
The Rhythm of Life
Packing up camp has become an almost automatic process. Little is said as we work inside and outside the van putting things away, winding things up, folding things, sweeping things and finally hitching to the car. The more times its done the quicker we are.
At the other end of the day comes the unhitching, rolling out, setting up and turning on. This process is followed by the official opening of the beverage.
I have left out the reversing on to your site. This is a fraught process and is best enjoyed as a spectator sport.
Conversations with fellow travellers also follow a rhythm. There are standard questions that must be asked; where are you from; where are you headed; what’s the roads like out there. Answers to these questions then open up a plethora of questions like where did you get fuel; are there many vans down that way; you’re going home why. The more current conversations involve comments that we have had our COVID vaccination and are planning on where we can get our second shot.
Arriving in town also follows a pattern. There is the glance at the SatNav to see how far you have to go that day and then a check on your range. Then it’s the question; do I need fuel or will I make it to the next town; is there a baker and a coffee shop in town; is it time for a coffee. As you might appreciate this is the tough part of the day.
SatNav in the Distant Parts
We have achieved the situation where the SatNav system knows where we are and recognises our destination. It just can’t find the road that joins the two points. I would add we are driving on a perfectly formed, sealed road. It’s gratifying to know the AI doesn’t know everything.
Your friendly message at least once a day is ‘turn around when safe’ and ‘route recalculation’. These messages induce a response by me as I talk to the technology in a raised voice explaining it’s wrong and it doesn’t know what it’s talking about. I worry that the technology is listening and will respond at some undisclosed time in an unhelpful way.
The People Out Here
Everyone it seems has a story to tell and the time to tell it. There was the young man who had scored a job in Normanton. He was driving from Melbourne to Normanton a distance of 2800 kms where he was to meet his new employer for a 1.5 hour drive further on to the property. He was doing this trek on his own but with strict instructions from his mother including that he call her every evening.
There was the truck driver who was in command of a three trailer road train with a Kenworth prime mover. He had started in Longreach and was headed to Roma with 300 head of cattle on board. A seven hour trip which for him was a short day.
The retired crop duster pilot had crashed 8 times in his career. He assured me he wasn’t very high up as crop dusters work close to the ground. Regardless, it seems like a risky business. He had landed a plane on a highway when he ran out fuel and had ferried a plane from Victoria to Kununurra which involved refuelling stops on some remote cattle stations.
There are so many more stories out here.
The Artesian Basin
We continue to enjoy soaking in hot baths, spas and pools, some Olympic in size. These experiences are all compliments of the Great Artesian Basin. It’s very relaxing soaking in a steaming hot pool as you chat with fellow travellers or maybe a local.
Other Challenges
Two weeks ago our one set back was our mirror being blown off by a passing road train. That was easily remedied with a sprint back down the road before someone ran over the mirror. This time however it looks like one of my batteries has given up the ghost. There is a Plan B in place and when we arrive in a bigger town a new deep cycle battery will be installed.
Tomorrow we are off to follow a sculpture trail with a destination at Lake Dunn, that’s north of Aramac for those with a map.
A Traveller's Tale 
Great Blog, which I always enjoy reading.
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