Post by: trevc on December 27, 2014, 08:30:50 PM
Having been home for a few days I thought I'd throw a few stats up from our journey. I can't believe we were gone for 12 months it only seems like last week we departed on our trip of a lifetime. Australia is a large and beautiful country and we feel like we only scratched the surface.
I did heaps of research from the info swaggers have posted over the years and would like to give a little back, so if you have any questions about our experience that could help you, ask away!
We departed Brisbane 7/1/14 in a 150VX V6 Prado and 'bitsa' 9 ft soft floor off road CT.
Days on the road: 350
Total Klm's: 43,000
Number of separate camps: 129
Days in:
QLD: 17
NSW: 43
ACT: 4
VIC: 38
TAS: 30
SA: 46
NT: 47
WA: 120
Accommodation type:
Commercial Caravan Parks: 90
Private Camp Grounds: 45
Council Parks: 37
National/State Parks: 100
Free Camps: 59
Family and Friends: 20
Budget:
Average daily cost of:
Grocery Food and Booze: $55.63
Fuel: $39.54
Accom: $18.67
Entertainment: $5.26
Takeaway / Counter Meals and Drinks: $17.02
Camp Items (Gas refills, Laundry etc): $4.58
Total Daily Average: $140.70 (Budgeted $135)
Vehicle Repairs:
4 x Prado Tyres (new)
2 x Prado Tyres (2nd hand)
3 x Trailer Tyres (2nd hand)
4 x UHF Aerials
3 x Trailer wiring plugs
Favorite Places:
Trev: The Olgas NT, Cape Range WA, Cape Leveque WA
Bec: Karajini NP WA, Tunnel Creek NP WA, Great Ocean Rd VIC
Sam: El Questro Resort WA, Bell Gorge WA, Grampians NP VIC
Olivia: Windjana Gorge WA, Litchfield NP NT, Adelaide Zoo SA
Trev
Post by: D4D on December 27, 2014, 08:34:23 PM
Post by: Bad Scott on December 27, 2014, 08:37:50 PM
Welcome back :worthles:X2
Post by: trevc on December 27, 2014, 08:40:02 PM
We had a travel blog on FB, Cummings & Goings - that's were the daily pics and travel reports live.
However if you have any questions, ask away!
Post by: jmorgan1981 on December 27, 2014, 08:46:13 PM
Wish I was you.
Post by: vicandug on December 27, 2014, 08:50:04 PM
I followed you on Facebook.
Post by: xcvator on December 27, 2014, 09:07:04 PM
Post by: trevc on December 27, 2014, 09:09:45 PM
My back yards not on your list of favourite places :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'(
Keithy
We wanted to keep your and Bronnys fabulous hospitality our own little secret.
Definitely best roast chicken in Australia, without question!!!
Merry Xmas from me, Bec and the kids
Post by: xcvator on December 27, 2014, 09:16:05 PM
Post by: trevc on December 27, 2014, 09:24:57 PM
We kept track of every dollar spent, sounds a bit anal but we didn't have a bottomless bucket of cash and it wasn't hard to keep receipts and whack them into the spreadsheet every few days. We don't feel we missed out on anything and in fact was a great to live within a tight budget.
Post by: xcvator on December 27, 2014, 09:30:14 PM
Post by: DannyG on December 27, 2014, 09:36:14 PM
Seriously though, I was just ready your stats on Facebook, I am very envious :worthles:
Post by: firefox on December 27, 2014, 09:38:30 PM
Glad to see you guys got back. Sounds like you've had lots of fun.
Post by: trevc on December 27, 2014, 09:40:48 PM
FF - we had a ball and could of just kept on driving past Brissie and gone around again if we could.
Post by: jeeps on December 27, 2014, 10:29:16 PM
Post by: trevc on December 27, 2014, 10:53:46 PM
Myself, wife Bec, Sam 12 and Olivia 9.
Numbers had no affect on fuel but obviously everything else.
CP's charge anywhere between 3 and 10 bucks/per kid per day and NP's vary but usually around 2 to 5 per kid.
The 12 year old eats as an adult so all in all we did pretty well $$$ wise
Post by: speewa158 on December 28, 2014, 06:21:03 AM
Post by: Moggy on December 28, 2014, 07:02:39 AM
Sent from my SM-G900I using Tapatalk
Post by: KingBilly on December 28, 2014, 07:12:59 AM
Those stats are pretty impressive. Calculated the total cost, wow!! Quickly adds up :D
I too would appreciate a link to your FB blog as I'm a bit of a numby with FB
KB
Post by: terravista on December 28, 2014, 08:21:31 AM
You had a pretty low ratio of free camps. Was that by choice?
Cheers
Post by: trevc on December 28, 2014, 09:27:31 AM
Can you post a link for the blogs. I dont have a fb (took awhile to work that out) account
Sent from my SM-G900I using Tapatalk
Not sure how to post a link, try this: https://www.facebook.com/cummings.vagabonds (https://www.facebook.com/cummings.vagabonds)
The blog was primarily for family, friends and interested strangers so we thought Facebook was the best medium for that.
Post by: trevc on December 28, 2014, 09:33:59 AM
So which was the Best Camp fire you attended at a Swaggers Catch up ??? :cheers:
Jamie you know you Mexicans put on the best campfire not just in Australia but the world. The Eildon fires made all the rest look small.
The kids still talk about our Nagambie adventure and the firetruck.
Looking forward to catching up with the Vic swaggers again.
Trev
Post by: KingBilly on December 28, 2014, 09:38:08 AM
Not sure how to post a link, try this: https://www.facebook.com/cummings.vagabonds (https://www.facebook.com/cummings.vagabonds)
The blog was primarily for family, friends and interested strangers so we thought Facebook was the best medium for that.
That worked. Thanks
KB
Post by: vicandug on December 28, 2014, 09:46:21 AM
I had better start saving more $$$$$ >:(
Post by: trevc on December 28, 2014, 10:02:18 AM
Hi Guys and thanks for the info.
You had a pretty low ratio of free camps. Was that by choice?
Cheers
Good question TV. Before we left I thought about 1/3rd each in Free, NP CP's, and did budget for an overall daily cost of $20 so even though we had a lot less free camps than projected our daily spend was less than forecast. Also the numbers are a little skewed as I included all nights spent in National and State Parks although out of those 100 we didn't pay for 28 of them.
Some places, like Tassie and SA, there seemed to be heaps of free camps whereas the NT and WA were less so. If we were in a caravan and wanted to spend nights in roadside stops that would be a lot different but that wasn't the type of travelling we were after.
Some areas were there is little free camping around the 'attraction' like the gorges on the Gibb River road you can camp some klm's away but it can be a false economy if you have to drive 40k's each way to save $20. Particularly if you want to spend a few days in the area.
We preferred not to use Caravan Parks but sometimes they do serve a purpose, particularly in southern WA where the weather was unsettled and having games rooms and camp kitchens took some pressure off the 4 of us living in a 3x3 meter space.
Also you need to access washing machines and 240v to recharge batteries from time to time, and we stayed in heaps that were only $20'ish a night so it's not a bad compromise.
But all in all most of my favorite camps were free; on the banks of the Gibb River just past the Kalumburu turnoff from the GRR, Boat Harbour Beach in the north of Tassie, Ophir just out of Orange, and my all time favorite was Quongdong Point on the Dampier Peninsula north of Broome where we had our own private headland and beach for a week.
Trev
Post by: trevc on December 28, 2014, 10:09:22 AM
I just calculated how much the total cost was.
I had better start saving more $$$$$ >:(
Vic/Dug its not a cheap holiday that's for sure. Worked out to be about $1100/week for us - we could have done it a bit cheaper but we were not extravagant by any means. Fuel is a big expense so the slower you travel, the less you spend. We met plenty of nomads that spent 3, 4 or 5 weeks in the same spot, we didn't have the luxury of time to do that.
I believe there are are lots of employment opportunities along the way, I suppose it depends on what you're after. For me it was to take a year to reconnect with my family after quite a few years of stressing out with work and not really being 'present', and not ticking boxes and trying see everything.
Trev
Post by: HEM19X on December 28, 2014, 01:28:36 PM
As for the $$'s, many have said they can do it much cheaper, but you are probably only going to be "there" once, so why not enjoy yourself.
Hem
Post by: callmejoe on December 28, 2014, 03:34:17 PM
I'll get there 1 day.
I think the costing part is quite good.
Any trip, driving holiday. Cruise holiday any type of holiday really I have always budget on $100 per day.
I have tried the skimp and save style but found you miss to much. Having then to do something again will cost then double.
Thanks for putting up your cost though Trev. So many people shy away from this very important and ralative part of travelling. I do think that sometimes people budget to low for there own expectations. Its a good check up for future peoples travels.
Do it once do it right I think.
Joe
Post by: trevc on December 28, 2014, 04:15:30 PM
Trev
Post by: speewa158 on December 28, 2014, 05:54:56 PM
You & the whole fan damily will through out their life reflect on the time they have had out there . in time to come the convocation will turn to ( where ever you have been ) & thoughts will flood back . Been There Done That .
Eventually somebody will tackle you & say " Everywhere l mention you say you have been there " & you can say " Yes l have " . This will become your family's common link when ever somewhere is mentioned . Revile in it , as others that have only thought about it in their Wildest Dreams & haven't got past the letter box cant connive of what you have seen . m
Well Done
Now Back to Reality sadly or go again :cup: :cheers:
Post by: vicandug on December 28, 2014, 06:09:19 PM
Vic/Dug its not a cheap holiday that's for sure. Worked out to be about $1100/week for us - we could have done it a bit cheaper but we were not extravagant by any means. Fuel is a big expense so the slower you travel, the less you spend. We met plenty of nomads that spent 3, 4 or 5 weeks in the same spot, we didn't have the luxury of time to do that.
I believe there are are lots of employment opportunities along the way, I suppose it depends on what you're after. For me it was to take a year to reconnect with my family after quite a few years of stressing out with work and not really being 'present', and not ticking boxes and trying see everything.
Trev
We will be keeping the option of work open..... When/if we go. Ug is a carpenter and a bit handy. I have always worked in offices and nod do child care so we shouldn't find it too hard to get some sort of work. Ideally, though, we would like to try and avoid the 'w' word.
We have no kids to take. I am 54 next year so I don't want to leave it for too many more years. I want to still be able to do EVERYTHING!!!
Vicki
Post by: speewa158 on December 28, 2014, 06:39:07 PM
& any body else that reads this
lf you want to go traveling , GO , The Longest Journey starts with the !st step . When you have committed to your life outside your comfort zone your Comfort Zone will expand to the size of your Life & Dreams .
Always Remember nobody gets out of this Gig Alive , So Make it Count . Have a go You Mug .
Let those that are left in their Comfort Zone be happy but secretly envious of you Bravery .
Treg Up & Make Dust
:cup: :cheers:
Post by: tobie on December 28, 2014, 09:21:19 PM
thanks for a great write up and break down
one of the first that I have seen that allows for everything
bit of a personnel question and understand if you do not answer fully
what do you do for the 12 months with your current residence ? rent it out
how do you service other commitments while on the road and have the expense of living on the road ?
rego for the car ? pay before you go
did you do it in a camper trailer? what sort
last did you all get along well or have your moments
great to see you did and enjoyed it
Post by: Hodgies on December 28, 2014, 09:35:59 PM
now to read your FB.
Thanks for the link :D
Post by: hutchie62 on December 29, 2014, 05:36:18 AM
Those 350 days have gone really quick, it was only like yesterday that you were down our way.
Cheers Hutchie
Post by: trevc on December 29, 2014, 08:56:41 AM
Vicki
& any body else that reads this
lf you want to go traveling , GO , The Longest Journey starts with the !st step . When you have committed to your life outside your comfort zone your Comfort Zone will expand to the size of your Life & Dreams .
Always Remember nobody gets out of this Gig Alive , So Make it Count . Have a go You Mug .
Let those that are left in their Comfort Zone be happy but secretly envious of you Bravery .
Treg Up & Make Dust
:cup: :cheers:
X 123456789
Post by: Bad Scott on December 29, 2014, 09:10:46 AM
VickiTo infinity and beyond:cup:
& any body else that reads this
lf you want to go traveling , GO , The Longest Journey starts with the !st step . When you have committed to your life outside your comfort zone your Comfort Zone will expand to the size of your Life & Dreams .
Always Remember nobody gets out of this Gig Alive , So Make it Count . Have a go You Mug .
Let those that are left in their Comfort Zone be happy but secretly envious of you Bravery .
Treg Up & Make Dust
:cup: :cheers:
Post by: trevc on December 29, 2014, 09:14:11 AM
hey trev
thanks for a great write up and break down
one of the first that I have seen that allows for everything
bit of a personnel question and understand if you do not answer fully
what do you do for the 12 months with your current residence ? rent it out
how do you service other commitments while on the road and have the expense of living on the road ?
rego for the car ? pay before you go
did you do it in a camper trailer? what sort
last did you all get along well or have your moments
great to see you did and enjoyed it
Hey Tobie
We actually tried to sell the house before we left as we wanted to get rid of all our debt and free us up a bit more, but no buyers so we rented it via an agent and it's pretty much neutral ? Wise.
With the other expenses I probably used some creative accounting and didn't include those in the cost breakup. I had another expense column, 'home expenses' which included car and trailer rego, insurance and services, as well as the few clothes, shoes, books and birthday pressies along the way. I don't have the sheet in front of me but badly under estimated vehicle costs - didn't account for all the tyres and aerials and a few other things we busted along the way.
Our CT is 15 years old and is a very solid and well put together off road trailer, with a 9ft tent and custom storage boxes etc. Cost me $3500 5th hand and I spent another $6k'ish on new suspension, wheels, storage, electrical, cover etc. it was pretty much only used for sleeping and the occasional 'Doona Day' where we lazed around reading. Only ate in it twice in 1000+ meals due to flies.
We all got along great although there was some niggle between us. Kids are 9 and 12 and were very good, iPods OK on travel days but stayed in the car pretty much. Bec and I had a couple of moments that we now look back on and laugh but conflict is inevitable when we all live together in a 3x3 tent 24/7. Certainly don't regret a thing and we'd be off like a shot for another lap if we had the chance.
It's a great lifestyle that allows freedom that life in 'reality' can't provide.
I hope that adds a bit of colour around your questions
Trev
Post by: trevc on December 29, 2014, 09:18:30 AM
Welcome home, don't know if that is a good thing or not. ???
Those 350 days have gone really quick, it was only like yesterday that you were down our way.
Cheers Hutchie
Thanks mate, reality is we have to come home so might as well embrace it. I'm having a career tree change and have taken a leaf from your 'brother' in Nagambie and will be building a business and working outside. In fact have to take off now to check out a mowing trailer.
Hope to catch up with you guys agin.
Trev
Post by: firefox on December 29, 2014, 09:24:04 AM
I vaguely remember having a conversation with you in VIC about that.. Doesn't surprise me that you've come back and need to try something different..
Congrats... I'm sure you will succeed...
Anyone whom can live in that 3x3 for a year is brilliant. You know how big ours is and we still have our days..! (at least it's nice and sunny and i'm camped on a beach in QLD!!)
JD
Post by: alnjan on December 29, 2014, 10:03:14 AM
Post by: Nay-DMAX on December 29, 2014, 10:33:56 AM
Post by: trevc on December 29, 2014, 06:37:03 PM
Hi Trev sounds like a great trip did you have any pets before you left? We would love to do some bigger trips even if not as big as yours but with 3 horses 2 dogs and a cat not sure what we would do. Renting a house out isn't too bad but finding someone to look after the animals can be even when we want to do short trips. I would probably want to take the dogs with us which I realise limits where you can stay and you would miss out on seeing some things that way but would rather they were with me. I think if we could find someone to stay here and look after the rest then it is hard to find someone who would take the same care of them as you do yourself and then do you not charge rent because they are taking care of the place which then would mean we still have to make the mortgage repayments. Just wondered if this was part of your considerations or didn't have pets? We don't have kids but did you just school them on the road and were there school good about it I am sorry haven't had a chance to read the blog if it is in there.
Hi Nay
No pets for us so no real issues, there are plenty of people travelling with dogs and yes it limits you somewhat but if they're part of the family so be it. Met a few people who regretted taking them but I reckon they would be in the minority. Can't say I saw any horses on the road though!
We home schooled the kids, just the three 'r's and they had finished by August. You can buy workbooks for the school curriculum and we had no structure, some days they might have done a few hours and some weeks none at all. Because it's all one-on-one they get through stuff pretty quickly.
Good luck
Post by: trevc on December 29, 2014, 06:38:41 PM
You're not going to make a video diary of your trip and flog it off in a three disc set to recoup your money back (and more)?
Can't begrudge him if people are buying it good luck to him. Personally I would have found it a pain in the arse, I was flat out getting the GoPro working.
Post by: alnjan on December 29, 2014, 06:47:38 PM
Can't begrudge him if people are buying it good luck to him. Personally I would have found it a pain in the arse, I was flat out getting the GoPro working.
Yeah good luck to them and well done for doing what they did. I am glad I never paid for the discs I watched. I watched it with great wonderment. I wonder how long they continued filming before they realised the jockey wheel was down though.
Post by: trevc on December 29, 2014, 06:50:05 PM
Yeah good luck to them and well done for doing what they did. I am glad I never paid for the discs I watched. I watched it with great wonderment. I wonder how long they continued filming before they realised the jockey wheel was down though.Mind you I tipped my trailer over in Adelaide, would've been interesting to hear the audio back on that!
Post by: alnjan on December 29, 2014, 07:05:53 PM
How did you manage that
Post by: Nay-DMAX on December 29, 2014, 07:06:10 PM
Hi Nay
No pets for us so no real issues, there are plenty of people travelling with dogs and yes it limits you somewhat but if they're part of the family so be it. Met a few people who regretted taking them but I reckon they would be in the minority. Can't say I saw any horses on the road though!
We home schooled the kids, just the three 'r's and they had finished by August. You can buy workbooks for the school curriculum and we had no structure, some days they might have done a few hours and some weeks none at all. Because it's all one-on-one they get through stuff pretty quickly.
Good luck
Thanks for the reply yes would make it a bit harder with the horses unless I trained them all to go in the cart and they took us lol. I think it is fantastic that the kids have had that opportunity I just wondered how you went as you hear some really negative stuff about taking them out of school etc but school of life there really is nothing like it. Yep the dogs are part of the family asleep on their beds in the lounge room as I type this.
Post by: trevc on December 29, 2014, 07:19:07 PM
ha ha could be interesting.
How did you manage that
Doing a u-turn, drivers side trailer wheel jumped the gutter and just wrong angle / wrong speed and she tipped over. It was a 3 lane arterial road so plenty of traffic so plenty of people stopped and about 5 of us tipped it back onto the wheels. Did a fair bit of damage to it but didn't take us off the road. Off to the insurance assessment tomorrow, they're talking about writing it off...I don't know how I feel about that she's part of the family
Post by: alnjan on December 29, 2014, 08:01:32 PM
Post by: ako on December 30, 2014, 02:11:19 AM
Was there anything you packed and took around the country that should have stayed at home?
Or something that you wished you had the extra space for?
Could you give a basic breakdown of fridge size, solar panels, batteries, etc that your camper has.
Post by: chester ver2.0 on December 30, 2014, 10:03:07 AM
Sounds like a great trip.
Was there anything you packed and took around the country that should have stayed at home?
Or something that you wished you had the extra space for?
Could you give a basic breakdown of fridge size, solar panels, batteries, etc that your camper has.
Ako
Im sure Trev will give more details but from my half lap experience we took may to much clothing in the cold you live in the same jeans and jumper and in the summer you live in the same board shorts and t shirts
Post by: trevc on December 31, 2014, 09:07:10 AM
It was a great trip!
Most of the stuff we took was used at some point or another. We had some spares that we didn't use ( which is a good thing), but generally just about everything else came into play at some point or another. As we didn't have heaps of space we had to be very selective in what came on the trip. Also having researched Chesters blog and others we thought we're better off adding stuff along the way if needed. Clothing was a good example, we travelled light and bought at op shops and target etc if we needs to add anything.
CT: 2x105ah AGM's running 1x70L evakool fridge, 2 x 500mm LED strips and a CPAP, iDevices
Car: 1x105ah AGM aux running 1x 47L ARB fridge, inverter for Laptop and Camera
Solar: 160w folding panel with Juta MPPT controller - chased the sun during the day - would run solar into car and trailer simultaneously via a Ando Plug double adapter.
240v: 1 ea CTEK charger in trailer and car (forget the models)
Longest period between 240v charging was 70 days, so combo of good panels and controller, driving (hence charging) every few days and awesome weather kept us going. I was very pleased with this.
So car and trailer had there own fridge, battery, charger which offered some redundancy.
I did all the electrical setup myself and though envious of others wiring arrangements kept it super simple with a self made battery box with heaps of Ando plugs and some hard wiring of the trailer.
I thought about DC-DC but decided to run with what I had and I could of added along the way but clearly wasn't necessary for my needs, even with a ****ty 'smart' alternator and Voltage Booster only giving out 13.8v.
Hope this helps
Post by: StrvnMrvn on December 31, 2014, 11:08:11 AM
Just reading your thread and it looks like you had a blast!!
Will have to catch up for that beer and a chat about your trip!!
Post by: Barry G on December 31, 2014, 11:24:45 AM
Doing a u-turn, drivers side trailer wheel jumped the gutter and just wrong angle / wrong speed and she tipped over. It was a 3 lane arterial road so plenty of traffic so plenty of people stopped and about 5 of us tipped it back onto the wheels. Did a fair bit of damage to it but didn't take us off the road. Off to the insurance assessment tomorrow, they're talking about writing it off...I don't know how I feel about that she's part of the familyHow did the assessment turn out?
If they write it off can you purchase the salvage and fix it up?
Post by: Black Diamond on December 31, 2014, 11:40:48 AM
Post by: trevc on December 31, 2014, 12:25:10 PM
Welcome back Trev!!
Just reading your thread and it looks like you had a blast!!
Will have to catch up for that beer and a chat about your trip!!
For sure!
Post by: trevc on December 31, 2014, 12:28:07 PM
How did the assessment turn out?
If they write it off can you purchase the salvage and fix it up?
Work in progress but looks like $7.5k damage so they will cash pay out the repair value to me and I keep the trailer. Then up to me to get repairs which they need to see before re-insuring.
Not a bad result.
Post by: Cage on December 31, 2014, 03:24:53 PM
Sounds like you had a fantastic trip.
I'm hoping to do a big lap next year and am getting the tug and camper sorted.
Looking at your running repairs I noted 4 x CB aerials. As I intend to fit a CB radio I wondered what you learnt about the best aerial for this sort of trip. My research seems to lead me towards fibreglass jobbies nudging $200.00.
Post by: speewa158 on December 31, 2014, 04:30:04 PM
Post by: Cage on December 31, 2014, 06:00:18 PM
The Tanami Track is on my bucket list and from what I've read, it is an aerial destroyer, among other things. It's for spots like that I want to get it right.
Maybe I should be looking at satellite phones?
Post by: Reddirtroaming on January 01, 2015, 09:07:44 AM
We found your Facebook posts very valuable in our travels as you guys were a bit ahead of us as you know, so thanks for that. Also for posting your money & travel figures, it really helps & we have tried to do the same so others can see the "real" costs of taking a year off.
Question for you.
Do you have any regrets?
1. In your travels is there anything you regret not seeing or doing?
2. Did you regret missing out on anything that happened at home while you were away?
Been thinking about this a bit ourselves & wondering if you had any regrets?
Post by: trevc on January 01, 2015, 10:39:14 AM
Question for you.
Do you have any regrets?
1. In your travels is there anything you regret not seeing or doing?
2. Did you regret missing out on anything that happened at home while you were away?
Been thinking about this a bit ourselves & wondering if you had any regrets?
Hey Red
Yeah we saw you guys were a little way behind us, I trust you're enjoying it as much as us.
We spoke a bit about this towards the end and honestly we wouldn't have changed a thing about the trip. We didn't do a lot of touristy things or 'experiences' but we weren't about ticking boxes so didn't feel we missed out on things.
An afternoon sitting under a tree watching the kids play down the creek was worth far more than heli-trips around the Bungles, Mitchell, horizontal falls etc. for me.
I should have put 17" rims on the Prado (18" standard) with LT tyres, that's the only change I would make with the setup.
We didn't miss any major event at home, no births, deaths or marriages.
Trev
Post by: trevc on January 01, 2015, 10:47:27 AM
Hi Trev,
Sounds like you had a fantastic trip.
I'm hoping to do a big lap next year and am getting the tug and camper sorted.
Looking at your running repairs I noted 4 x CB aerials. As I intend to fit a CB radio I wondered what you learnt about the best aerial for this sort of trip. My research seems to lead me towards fibreglass jobbies nudging $200.00.
Hi Cage
I started with a GME base and screw on aerials and I changed to a big GME base and broomstick model, arguably too late as we'd done most of the gnarly stuff by the time I finally replaced it.
No I'm back home it's far to long and so I've taken it off and will either get a short one or put some type of waterproof cover over the mount.
Trev
Post by: speewa158 on January 01, 2015, 02:35:43 PM
Post by: ako on January 01, 2015, 05:34:04 PM
Ako
It was a great trip!
............
Hope this helps
Thanks for the detailed response. :cheers:
Better start saving for the next trip now I guess ;D
Post by: Cage on January 01, 2015, 06:30:25 PM
I was looking at the ZCG Scalar Heavy Duty 6.6dBi UHF CB Bullbar Antenna ZN3-77-11 to go with an ICOM IC440N, the one with the readout on the mike, so I can tuck the main unit out of the way.
And thanks for the tip speewa
Post by: lilstookie on January 02, 2015, 11:30:52 PM
The Bicentennial Trail would keep you busy for a while and plenty of horse stops along the way too!Vicndug, just do it! Neither of you would have any trouble getting work. Do the rounds on stations and you'd be knocking people back. Advertise yourselves on Gumtree...a lot of stations recruit from there.
Sent from my fingertips using my brain
Post by: Nay-DMAX on January 03, 2015, 01:07:07 PM
Nay, I keep saying you just need a gooseneck
Vicndug, just do it! Neither of you would have any trouble getting work. Do the rounds on stations and you'd be knocking people back. Advertise yourselves on Gumtree...a lot of stations recruit from there.
Sent from my fingertips using my brain
You never know someone has to win tonight's lotto haha :cheers:
Post by: BaseCamp on January 03, 2015, 02:35:53 PM
From your costings - I understand you spent a tad under $50K...
But let's call that $60K+ ...because you mentioned the $50K didn't include the op shop birthday presents and expatiation apparel; equipment breakages; insurances - (house back home; health; CT; Tug; etc); back home rates and utilities etc...
So if the costs were circa $60K - I recon that works out to 5 years of hardcore savings religiously every week of $240!!!
(5 years x 52 weeks x $240 per week... = $60K)
Who can do that?? Sure as heck not me...
So; How???
(You mentioned you had attempted to liquidate the family home prior to the trip) - Was that the plan re: the funding...
Have you come back with any big credit card bills... ouch!! - etc ??
Thanks....
:cheers:
Post by: lilstookie on January 03, 2015, 10:59:41 PM
I get us down to around $550/wk average all inclusive (we don't have a house, own our car and camper and no credit cards) for 2A3K1D.
Lil
Sent from my fingertips using my brain
Post by: trevc on January 04, 2015, 10:13:22 AM
Just a quick question about the total cost of your trip - and how to fund such a venture..
From your costings - I understand you spent a tad under $50K...
But let's call that $60K+ ...because you mentioned the $50K didn't include the op shop birthday presents and expatiation apparel; equipment breakages; insurances - (house back home; health; CT; Tug; etc); back home rates and utilities etc...
So if the costs were circa $60K - I recon that works out to 5 years of hardcore savings religiously every week of $240!!!
(5 years x 52 weeks x $240 per week... = $60K)
Who can do that?? Sure as heck not me...
So; How???
(You mentioned you had attempted to liquidate the family home prior to the trip) - Was that the plan re: the funding...
Have you come back with any big credit card bills... ouch!! - etc ??
Thanks....
:cheers:
Yeah mate $60k is just about spot on. We pretty much decided on the trip in May 2013 and were off Jan 2014.
Funding will be a challenge for anyone doing this type of trip. Our situation combined Debt (used some equity from the house) and Equity (Long Service Leave) and we were comfortable doing that.
We maintained our trip budget religiously and knew how we were tracking and when we had to tighten our belts.
So yes we have come back to a bigger debt (about $40k on the house) and don't regret a cent of it. Initially we wanted the house sold and we'd have come back to some $$$ in the bank but upon reflection it doesn't really matter one way of the other to us. It's revenue neutral and we didn't have to try and re-enter the market after paying RE fees on the way out and Stamp Duty on the way back in - that alone would have amounted to ~$50k.
Hope that helps a little
Trev
Post by: V8CRSA on January 04, 2015, 11:09:12 AM
It was great to be able to spend a weekend with you guys in nagambie with both xcavator and speewa. We too have been following your travels on Facebook and living your dream too.
We often often speak about speewa's tour of his area that we where lucky enough to share with you guys.
Looking forward to sharing a fire and a drink next time your back in Victoria.
Cheers Matt and Brooke.
Post by: cucinadio on January 04, 2015, 11:27:28 AM
Post by: trevc on January 04, 2015, 01:34:19 PM
Tassies a Beautiful place and would go again in a heartbeat, having been there twice now. If pushed I'd put Boat Harbour Beach, Coles Bay and Dunalley (for the fish and chips) as my three.
We have hundreds of favourite places, listing three probably saves a lot questions about where our favourite is.
In fact it's far easier to list the least favourites as there is less than a handful.
Matt, we are all very fond of Camp Nagambie and the weekend we spent there with new friends on Bec's birthday. I hope you, Brooke and Ryan have a good year and you get back on the road and out and about again soon.
Trev
Post by: cucinadio on January 04, 2015, 01:42:37 PM
Tassies a Beautiful place and would go again in a heartbeat, having been there twice now. If pushed I'd put Boat Harbour Beach, Coles Bay and Dunalley (for the fish and chips) as my three.
We have hundreds of favourite places, listing three probably saves a lot questions about where our favourite is.
In fact it's far easier to list the least favourites as there is less than a handful.
Matt, we are all very fond of Camp Nagambie and the weekend we spent there with new friends on Bec's birthday. I hope you, Brooke and Ryan have a good year and you get back on the road and out and about again soon.
Trev
Yep.. Can't wait for our five week tour from December ;)... I hope Brook and Ryne do too.. but this i probably not the Matt you're thinking of ;)...