Well that's us.

Meandher

Member
Jun 22, 2020
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The Vines
The curmudgeon and the optimist are fimally off on a jaunt in the morning. Its been some 30 months since we both retired. We thought we would get all the overseas trips done first, but this bloody virus saw to that. Then we get locked down here in WA and could go nowhere in the 'van. Then they opened the place up.Thought we would just wait out the school holidays and let the madness subside and have the pick of the parks and good spots all the way up the coast to as far as we can get until we have to be back in October. Boy did I get that wrong, as we are struggling to get into caravan parks or station stays anywhere within 1000km from Perth at the time we are going to be there. Looks like we will just have to wing it and do a fair proportion of bush camping until the silliness stops. We are sorted in Port Denison for tomorrow and Friday night and then it is anyone's guess where we will stay Saturday night. Maybe Nerren Nerren or Billabong. Don't particularly care.
Wish us luck. Off at a sparrows fart tomorrow morning. Hi - hoooo!
 

Drover

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Nov 7, 2013
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So how is the Meandering going, hope you found places to just sit back and enjoy.......................
 

Meandher

Member
Jun 22, 2020
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The Vines
It is sort of going okay, but extremely problematic getting caravan sites. Was trying to be spontaneous and stop where we want and when we want. Never wished to be too tied down to being anywhere at any point in time.Too old and cranky for that nonsense. I know now that methodology of travel is as impractical as turning me into a politically correct person - ain't ever going to happen.
We are attempting to do, perhaps 250km a day in between stopovers. That is a do-able 2 1/2 hours easy drive. We spent an unplanned 4 nights over the weekend in Port Denison, had several caravan sites/station stays in Kalbarri region that all started the answer to the question of " any room at the inn guvnor?" With either a short intake of breath , or with a hearty chortle and helpful advice like " you shoulda booked months ago mate". Not helpful at all. Managed to get into Port Gregory for 3 days. The site is a little old and decrepit, but was okay for what it was. We ended up driving the 60 km into Kalbarri for the day and did the new skywalk thing, which is very well done. To be honest, Kalbarri, has never and, still doesn't float my boat. Truthfully there really is bugger all there to be spending any time in that locale, but Perth people in the best auspices of, "well it is north and it is only 5 hours drive,so why not?", still beat a well worn path to it's door. I don't find the place all that friendly and once you have seen the couple of things that are there, it is time to get out of Dodge.
Port Gregory is a little gem of a place and though it doesn't have the drawcard of the couple of things Kalbarri has, it is what it is. Quiet,relaxing and a nice place to be. It isn't pretentious. What it does have, but doesn't know it however, is my drone. Tried to take an artistic, aerial shot of the pink lake like you see in the guidebooks and the next thing i know is the drone has has gone whizz and whir, shot up and off into the wild blue and pink yonder ignoring my repeated expletives and the hammering of multiple banana finger digits on the control panel buttons to get its little electronic tushy back to my feet. Last seen over Geraldton, i believe. Good job it was only a cheapie, or maybe it was because it was a cheapie that it refused to drone where i wanted it to commence and finish droning. Who knows? All i know is, it has gone to a watery grave somewhere in the middle of said pink lake to be either retrieved by aliens at some point in the distant future, or some intrepid and bearded archeologist resplendent in whatever future generations use as wellies, centuries from now. Pink Lake 1 : Drone 0, with no chance of a return leg in Division 4 of the drone operators league of duff operatives.
Spent a night at Billabong Roadhouse, just for the hell of it and still catching up on sleep with the constant road trains. Won't do that again in a hurry.
Currently sat in Carnarvon and there is the latest tale of woe. My missus is the Dunny emptying queen chez nous. A volunteer position, because yours truly cannot abide bad smells and will throw up at the slightest whiff of anyone else's fart but my own. So, not willing to quash a spirited spouse's enthusiasm for toilet duties, I figured it was a fair swap for doing all of the driving duties. Not that anything brown ever goes down our Thetford's finest. However she earns her name in our house of Mrs Tidy on a regular basis. You would think that a 3 tonne elephant with a prostate issue regularly goes for a leak in our lavvy, because she is out there doing the walk of shame to the dump point,a seemingly impossible number of times in a caravan park stay. I just let her.
To get to the point, she familiarises herself with the location of the dump point, then sets off with purpose in her step dragging the wee receptacle behind her. In broad daylight. Does this woman actually have any shame? Apparently not. The next thing I know she has returned, as upset as I haven't seen since we lost a goldfish last. Seemingly, the little door on the top of the cassette, is just the right size and shape, if you hold it the right way, to slot straight down the dump point hole when it falls out through all of the enthusiastic jiggling. David Beckham couldn't have bent a football as accurately as my missus can drop a Thetford sliding cover down an 'ole. Now here is the conundrum. We are 1 1/2 weeks into a 3 month trip. It was 15.20hrs, in naval parlance. It is a country town where the outdated Western Australian concept of shops being open on Saturday afternoons still holds fast. To even find an RV sales place, let alone find one open until Monday is something of a lost cause, but we try.......and we fail. So, assuming we can find one on Monday, i am pretty certain that we will never find a spare this side of Caravanland Maddington.
It's gonna be a long trip without a lavvy.
Watch this space for further tales of disasters.........
 
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BJM

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Sep 29, 2018
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Yamba
Well we set off from Yamba in drizzle ,drove through a couple of cane fires which put paid to the clean van,.Stopped for new tyres at Casino ,Falken235-75 15s ,fitted $200.00 ea.7 hours later got to the cv via Tenterfied ,Toowoomba.Nice quiet park sealed drive through sites,that was until the packed pub 300 yards away got going for the night,damn noise until am,no covid 19 out here ,! On to Cania Gorge today.
 

Drover

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Nov 7, 2013
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In regards to camping you sound a lot like me @Meandher , your Thunder Can is still alive, the slide flap is just like a dust cover, when you push the can into its home it will slide out of the way so don't panic about it.
 

Meandher

Member
Jun 22, 2020
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27
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The Vines
In regards to camping you sound a lot like me @Meandher , your Thunder Can is still alive, the slide flap is just like a dust cover, when you push the can into its home it will slide out of the way so don't panic about it.

Woohoo! Don't have to wander across the site at 04.00hrs when i need a pee. Thanks for that.
 

Crusty181

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Feb 7, 2010
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Mentone, VIC
Woohoo! Don't have to wander across the site at 04.00hrs when i need a pee. Thanks for that.
Many years ago after i stumbling over the part prices for dunny cassette spares, my emptying ritual starts with removing both that slide along with the screw cap, before i even open the dump lid, and putting them on the ground at arms length away. Youve just vindicated that long practised ritual. Thankyou
 

Drover

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I have never worried about the slide but the cap is always on the ground before I open the lid .............. I have a spare slide since the door to hell broke once, whole replacement unit was $80 thankfully at the time I had my spare thunder can with me, saved the day, one of those things that was on a super special at CaravansPlus, I thought that could come in handy, so I bought it.... A spare that got used, amazing.
 
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coys 53

Active Member
Oct 13, 2019
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perth
Which chemical works best as in the thretford products or a napisan napisan derivative
 

Drover

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I been using the Aldi DiSan stuff in purple container for a few years now, works very well and at around $3 a kg which lasts a month cheaper than the other stuff, breaks stuff down well and actually keeps the inside of tge thunder can cleaner....safe for septics as well and thats proven by me in ours at the old homestead....plus the odd nappy bucket.
I reckon it works better actually.
 
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Crusty181

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Feb 7, 2010
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Which chemical works best as in the thretford products or a napisan napisan derivative
Sodium Percarbonate is active ingredient, which youll find is in higher concentrations in the no-name laundry soaker for 1/5 of Napisan $$$. It remains active for around 6 hours, then it does nutt'in, so dont add it until your about to do a 'postal vote' or your just wasting it. It only works for a big job, for the other minor contracts we just also add a few drops of eucy oil.
 
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Meandher

Member
Jun 22, 2020
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The Vines
Many years ago after i stumbling over the part prices for dunny cassette spares, my emptying ritual starts with removing both that slide along with the screw cap, before i even open the dump lid, and putting them on the ground at arms length away. Youve just vindicated that long practised ritual. Thankyou

Luckily the Coast to Coast dealer at the tackle shop in Carnarvon stocked a clone brand lid and, it fitted perfectly. $30 - bargain.
I met my missus 47 years ago today. Has to be a first to give your wife a toilet cassette sliding cover on such an auspicious occasion. That is, however , what I did and she thought it was just the best present. She needs to get out more :)
 

Meandher

Member
Jun 22, 2020
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The Vines
Well, our 3 month trip ended up less than 3 weeks. Things got really mental. Way too many people with ño 'van sites to be had. All the major spots booked out for months, so had to miss out most places. Ended up in Bullara Station, inland from Exmouth with 100 or so other 'vans for 3 days. Seems to be the unofficial overflow site for Exmouth, and that was as far as we got before we raised the white flag. Trying to go onwards and staying at 'van sites was impossible. We were offered one night in Karattha in 3 weeks time and a quick ring further north meant it was going to be free camping all the way to Kununnurra. Wasn't prepared to do that, so we turned around and did a short few days doing the wildflower trail around Mullewa, before driving back to Perth last Sunday in torrential rain.

Casualty list :-

- Somebody reversed into our rear bumper. Lovely indentation of a tow bar. Bumper needs to be changed.
- Another somebody reversed into our bullbar. Felt better about that one as we had a bent bar, but judging by the amount of white paint and plastic, the perpetrator wrecked his bumper.
- Cracked 'van window in two places- no idea how, or why.
- 2 off Horizontal cracks in another window.
- Slight crack in the door window.
- A Bunnings finest jerry can split and dumped diesel. Luckily it was in an old dive tub and was contained. I took it back today. Not interested in a replacement. Bloody Chinese crap.
- Spare portable battery thingy decided to die. Had it 20 years so not that bothered.
- Some antisocial lunatic bloke in Port Gregory picked a fist fight with the wife over a back handed comment about Donald Trump. Apparently, she is an effing Socialist and needs to be shot and proceeded to go nose to nose and pull an imaginary trigger of a finger pistol he placed on her head. Charming man. I missed it all.
- Drone disappeared as previously documented.
- The slide on the toilet canister disappeared, as previously documented.
- Tight 'van site at one place saw me hit the BT50 rear light on the stone guard reversing. 15mm bullet hole. Lost plastic but it doesn't seem to leak in water.
- 'Van rear vision camera packed up 50km from home. Hopefully it was just a bit damp in the storm.
- Have a water puddle appearing from under the Thetford toilet bowl when connectec to mains. Hoping that it is easy to fix. No problem previously, so will have to pull it apart and have a look see.
- Washed the car and found one of the spotties dangling. Seems it had shaken off the nyloc nut. Either that or someone tried to nick it and was disturbed.

It seems like I have knocked down a whole heap of Chinamen. Aren't caravan holidays super fun?
 
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Drover

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Bluddy hell and you made it home :o .................................... :clap2:

Friends over here had the same experience trying for a coast run, made it 2 weeks before giving up and coming home for same reason, our run out SW QLD didn't have that problem though we did a bit of both off grid and parks....... I have the remedy for the trigger finger moron............a real one.
 

BJM

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Sep 29, 2018
485
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Yamba
Well I have just decided that Aust has gone mad ! Called into Jayco Townsville Wednesday to pick up a door latch,people everywhere looking at vans, and buying them according to a sales person ,record sales! Aren’t we going into the worst recession for god knows how long ? Staying at Rollingstone CP nth Tville packed.plenty of younger people ,new vans everywhere.C Park owner here said more people asking for drive through sites ,reckons many can not reverse into sites .Too busy here for us ,3 nights enough ,next stop Bowen.
 

Bluey

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Mar 31, 2014
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Australia
Well I have just decided that Aust has gone mad ! Called into Jayco Townsville Wednesday to pick up a door latch,people everywhere looking at vans, and buying them according to a sales person ,record sales! Aren’t we going into the worst recession for god knows how long ? Staying at Rollingstone CP nth Tville packed.plenty of younger people ,new vans everywhere.C Park owner here said more people asking for drive through sites ,reckons many can not reverse into sites .Too busy here for us ,3 nights enough ,next stop Bowen.
Going up north once i pulled off hwy at Rollingstone and stoped under the hwy bridge over the creek great spot for a swim 5 stars
 

Boots in Action

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Mar 13, 2017
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Ferny Grove, Queensland
Well, our 3 month trip ended up less than 3 weeks. Things got really mental. Way too many people with ño 'van sites to be had. All the major spots booked out for months, so had to miss out most places. Ended up in Bullara Station, inland from Exmouth with 100 or so other 'vans for 3 days. Seems to be the unofficial overflow site for Exmouth, and that was as far as we got before we raised the white flag. Trying to go onwards and staying at 'van sites was impossible. We were offered one night in Karattha in 3 weeks time and a quick ring further north meant it was going to be free camping all the way to Kununnurra. Wasn't prepared to do that, so we turned around and did a short few days doing the wildflower trail around Mullewa, before driving back to Perth last Sunday in torrential rain.

Casualty list :-

- Somebody reversed into our rear bumper. Lovely indentation of a tow bar. Bumper needs to be changed.
- Another somebody reversed into our bullbar. Felt better about that one as we had a bent bar, but judging by the amount of white paint and plastic, the perpetrator wrecked his bumper.
- Cracked 'van window in two places- no idea how, or why.
- 2 off Horizontal cracks in another window.
- Slight crack in the door window.
- A Bunnings finest jerry can split and dumped diesel. Luckily it was in an old dive tub and was contained. I took it back today. Not interested in a replacement. Bloody Chinese crap.
- Spare portable battery thingy decided to die. Had it 20 years so not that bothered.
- Some antisocial lunatic bloke in Port Gregory picked a fist fight with the wife over a back handed comment about Donald Trump. Apparently, she is an effing Socialist and needs to be shot and proceeded to go nose to nose and pull an imaginary trigger of a finger pistol he placed on her head. Charming man. I missed it all.
- Drone disappeared as previously documented.
- The slide on the toilet canister disappeared, as previously documented.
- Tight 'van site at one place saw me hit the BT50 rear light on the stone guard reversing. 15mm bullet hole. Lost plastic but it doesn't seem to leak in water.
- 'Van rear vision camera packed up 50km from home. Hopefully it was just a bit damp in the storm.
- Have a water puddle appearing from under the Thetford toilet bowl when connectec to mains. Hoping that it is easy to fix. No problem previously, so will have to pull it apart and have a look see.
- Washed the car and found one of the spotties dangling. Seems it had shaken off the nyloc nut. Either that or someone tried to nick it and was disturbed.

It seems like I have knocked down a whole heap of Chinamen. Aren't caravan holidays super fun?

Sorry to hear of all your misfortunes @Meandher . It is a tough way to start too. Don't think you are on your own in the west. No bloody different on the East Coast in Queensland either. But maybe less Chinamen! Don't get too disheartened. It will get better in a few months...maybe 12 or 18 or so!! Maybe.....
 

1DayIll

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Apr 26, 2016
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South Morang, Victoria
Let me put it this way, at least you have the chance to get away. I am stuck at home and waiting for the chance to get on the road one day again. I must admit though, I would not be happy with all of those crowds.
 
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