'Our very first rig ... what else could you possibly need?'
As grey nomad numbers continue to surge, so too it seems does the size and luxury of the various caravans and motorhomes made available to them.
However, the amount of money spent on a rig, the size of its sound system, or even the capacity of its water tanks are not ultimately what makes a Big Lap special. It is not the vehicle, but the people inside it – and their attitude to the adventures of the road – that defines a trip.
Keith T and Denise W are living proof.
Having been travelling full-time for the past 17 years, they have never owned a new vehicle in their lives, probably never will … and they are way too busy loving life to care.
Ever since they first met, the couple shared the same dream of travelling around Australia and they were determined to do it as soon as they possibly could. They bought a second-hand Millard caravan for less than $400 and Keith, spent every spare moment refurbishing it.
It was April 20, 1999, when the couple – along with their dog ‘Lady’ and their 16-year-old son finally hit the open road … and they haven’t looked back since.
Although their son has long since stopped travelling with them, they are now on their third dog, their third caravan, and their fourth towing vehicle … and the open road is as inviting as ever. As they go, they regularly help out on farms, showgrounds, caravan parks and anyone who genuinely needs a hand.
“We originally thought that we could easily explore Australia within ten years but as we are now on our seventeenth year and still exploring, I guess we were wrong,” said Denise. “We have experienced temperatures inside the vehicles from -8C, where we had icicles hanging on the inside of the caravan windows, to 61C where the poor old truck just wouldn’t run due to the heat.”
After their Millard, the couple bought a Viscount caravan, and they now have a Regal. Their tugs have included a Bedford van, a Transit van, a 4×4 Discovery, and now a Rodeo Dual Cab Ute.
“All of our vehicles and our caravans have been sturdy, second-hand models because of the places we take them and what we put them through, like driving thousands of kilometres of dirt and 4WD roads,” said Denise. “While at these out-of-the-way areas, we have seen some amazing things like huge monuments to local farming families, 12 dead foxes hanging on a fence, and twice we have come across a tree and a fence covered in all types of footwear, plus many other memorable drives.”
Although they spent the first couple of years staying at caravan parks, Keith and Denise now love bush camping and staying at the back of country pubs.
“During all of our years on the road, we have only had one night where we were disturbed and this was by two 13-year-old girls who had obviously been drinking and decided to throw small stones onto our roof,” said Denise. “No damage done and, when our dog barked, they took off.”
And so, what next?
“Hopefully, we’ll continue to enjoy a few more years exploring this wonderful country of ours,” said Denise.
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