While millions of current and former grey nomads have ‘completed’ the Big Lap of Australia, it’s often said that no two trips are ever the same.
And, of course, it’s true. Even though travellers may follow similar routes, they will inevitably meet different people, deal with different circumstances … and, critically, have a different attitude.
Even if it was actually possible for two different sets of grey nomads to have exactly the same adventure, they would each identify different places, incidents, or people as being among their trip ‘highlights’.
Big Lap beauty then may well be in the eye of the beholder.
For example, even after many years – and many adventures – on the road, Norm and Sue Austin, still look back with a perverse fondness on their very early days of tenting in Tasmania when they were hit by snow and torrential rain!
The Austins’ camper landing at Seisia, Cape York.
And so, it seems, that real trip ‘highlights’ aren’t necessarily appreciated at the time. While sitting in a campchair with a ‘cold one’ looking at the sunset is sort of what it’s all about, it’s the puncture on the Oodnadatta, or the big barra Good or bad … it was memorable that got away, or the night of the noisy neighbours that often create the most vivid memories.
The Austins’ Tassie tenting ‘nightmare’ spurred them to upgrade to a camper trailer … and the joy of discovering that extra camping comfort still remains a joyous memory many, many years later.
“The camper came complete with comfortable foam mattress, slide-out kitchen and a water tank … total luxury to us,” said Sue.
Again, it’s interesting to speculate how Norm and Sue would have felt about exactly the same camper trailer if they had been ‘downgrading’ from a motorhome or caravan instead of ‘upgrading’ from a tent.
The Austins added a small ‘tinny’ to their rig and, over the next few years, travelled to every state of Australia … accumulating memories as they went.
Highlights included tackling the sand dunes of the Simpson Desert, having several ‘up close’ encounters with crocs in their tinny in Kakadu, sailing from Cairns to Cape York on the cargo ship ‘Trinity Bay’, and watching the sun set at the NT’s Rainbow Valley.
“Other amazing memories include the glorious early morning chorus of butcher birds soaring and echoing from the cliffs at Ruby Gap Gorge in the East MacDonnells,” said Sue.
Screw Pegs Australia is offering Grey Nomad members the chance to win one of two Fully Stacked Starter Packs – each valued at $117. The pack includes:
Click here to learn about GN member benefits, how to join … and how to win!
