I'm just home from a 350 day, 43000 klm around Aus trip - Ask Me Anything

[trevc]

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

[HEM19X]

Sounds like an epic adventure Trev, certainly one for the memory banks.

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

[callmejoe]

What a trip.
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

[trevc]

Couldn't agree more guys. Your a longtime dead and I don't think anyone regrets spending more time with their family and travelling as opposed to having a few more bucks in the bank when they shuffle off this mortal coil.

Trev

[speewa158]

trevc
       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                                 

[vicandug]

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

[speewa158]

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 



                                                                                 

[tobie]

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

[Hodgies]

welcome home,
now to read your FB.
Thanks for the link

[hutchie62]

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

[trevc]

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 



                                                                               

X 123456789

[Bad Scott]

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 



                                                                               

To infinity and beyond:cup:

[trevc]

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

[trevc]

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

[firefox]

HI Trev,
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

[alnjan]

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)?

[Nay-DMAX]

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.

[trevc]

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

[trevc]

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.

[alnjan]

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.

[trevc]

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!

[alnjan]

ha ha could be interesting.   


How did you manage that

[Nay-DMAX]

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.

[trevc]

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

[alnjan]

Bugger, doesn't take much at times