Weekly Mailbag


Landlubbers Rule, Okay!

Welcome back to another opinion-filled, often- wacky, always-interesting Weekly Mailbag.

Goodness, what a busy week we’ve had. First up, our ‘Nomad’ story about the rise and rise of cruising, and its tongue-in-cheek threat to our wonderful wheel-based grey nomad lifestyle, caused quite a stir.

Jim probably summed up the collective mood best.
“To each his own,” he wrote. “The grey nomad lifestyle that we enjoy so much is not everyone's cup of tea and there are many who love cruising ... I have good friends who enjoy both.”
Aha ... sounds like a dream compromise everyone, doesn’t it? Could we all handle six months a year on the road and the other six months cruising the coastline?

Hmmm. But Jim is not so sure about the huge cruise ships that seem to be the norm these days.
“My preference for cruising the Kimberley would be in a much smaller ship as they can go in much closer to the shore and some have zodiacs to go ashore,” he said. “These are often more expensive but I'd prefer them to a floating gin palace ... some even offer fishing in some places.”

Blimey! That does it. I’m heading for sea. Anyone want to buy a much-loved, much-used caravan? It’s the life on the ocean waves for me.

Right, while I make up my mind which ocean-bound adventure I’m going to head off on first, a quick word from Peter who is in no doubt about his dream destination.
“My wife and self recently returned from Bundaberg and would recommend to any one of any age to visit the town as the sites to visit are never ending,” he writes. “Within a few hours’ drive you are in the wilderness of Cania Gorge, and have all the wildlife to make friends with.”
Sounds good, Peter. Actually, maybe I would miss life on the road too much to go on a permanent cruise life. There’s still so much to see and do on terra firma. So, I reckon it’s Bundaberg next, for sure.

One couple who most certainly reckon the on-the-road lifestyle is the only way to go are John and Wendy, who picked up their first van almost exactly two years ago.
Happy anniversary, guys.
The couple fondly recalls that first ever trip as they drove their pride and joy the 250 kilometres to Melbourne from Cobram.

“Apart from driving very, very carefully,” the couple writes. “Our main memory is our surprise and delight when we realised that all the vans going the other way (and there were quite a few heading north on that Queen's birthday holiday weekend) gave us a wave, and that we were from then on part of a community.”
And what an absolutely fantastic, welcoming community it is!

Oh, and just before I go, our article on the backpacks and bags with solar panels on them had you queuing up to sign up for the ultimate in ‘power’ walking.
Sandra was first in line.
“How do I get one?” she asked. “I have been trying to find them for ages.”

Check out www.voltaicsystems.com/ Sandra, and all you other solar bag converts.

See you all next week. Happy ... um ... sailing!

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