Two's company ... three's a crowd
Dear Jaclyn and Heidi,
My wife Elly and I are committed bush campers. We don’t like the crowds you get at caravan parks or at some national parks and popular roadside stops. Our favourite thing to do is to take off up some bush track and park up out of the way for a night or two. We don’t do anything to attract attention and we’ve never had a problem in the 10 years we have been doing this full-time. The only issue we have – and it seems to be happening more and more now – is when a fellow traveller unexpectedly turns up and cheerily says: “You don’t mind a bit of company, do you?” I feel like screaming “Yes, we bloody well do!” …. but I always smile and have a brief chat. Would it be rude if I said: “Actually, I’d prefer it if you found another spot!”
Josh
It can be a bit awkward when other people force you to change the evening you had planned, Josh, but that’s the Big Lap … we don’t know who our neighbours are going to be from one night to the next. However, given that you go to so much trouble to find some solitude, it’s a shame you sometimes have to share your space with others. It is a big, big country out there …. but some travellers just feel a lot happier camping near other grey nomads. I imagine most nights you still find the ‘aloneness’ that you and Elly seek, so I should concentrate on enjoying those nights and just make the most of the times you do have a bit of company. You never know, you might even end up glad that some of people did pull up for a night!
Jaclyn
Would it be rude if you suggested they found another spot? You’d better believe it, Josh. You had better believe it! Has it crossed your mind that the new arrivals would prefer it if you weren’t there, either? Maybe they’ve been visiting the same spot for years and their little hearts sunk when they saw you. If you are so mad keen on your solitude, why don’t you and Elly pack up and head out. Travelling for 10 years doesn’t give you any sort of ownership of certain spots or mean that you are entitled to more than others who might be just starting out, Josh. Far from it. It sounds like travelling Australia has been very good to you. How about ‘paying it forward’ and enriching some other people’s Big Lap experiences? You really could make a real positive difference.
Heidi
