On the road.

[John 13]

In 1984 we emigrated to the west, No relatives here, consequently we have completed numerous circumnavigations of the continent by road. Often going one way over the top/ across the Great Australian Bight and returning by the other. I have done some research of random data and found evidence of approximately 150 over night motel stays and 30 + trips via the Bight. In the early days an overnight motel stay for up to 5 people was as low as $45.00 and fuel (petrol)price was considered high at 65 cents/l.
Had many interesting experiences; black soil near McKinley, Victoria River in flood and in about 1987 buying petrol at Top Springs at $1.00/l. It was pumped out of a 44 using a Macnaught quart stroke pump and measured in a 20 l jerry can. In the early days there were virtually no caravans on the road, unlike over the recent three years when the roads are polluted at least till 3.00pm.

[Itsme]

In the old days caravans most likely would not handle the roads quite well, tents and camping gear was much easier & cheaper.
From my experience I look at caravans not being a big problem, trucks are bigger problem for travelers, just saying.

[prydey]

Have been a passenger or driver of a road trip at least once a year for pretty much all of my 47years on the planet so far. The joys of having dads family in qld and mums in SA.

Due to this I'm a big fan of road trips and I've passed the love on to at least one of my daughters. For me, while the destination is often what we looked forward to, the journey itself was part of the holiday.

Never really understood those who get upset at other road users. If you travel enough you come across a wide range and in the big scheme of things they don't really cost you too much.

Exploring this great country was already on the rise prior to covid but the whole international border closures thing simply forced people travel locally more instead. It never really eased once borders reopened.

I think it's a good way to be brought up and a great way to raise your own family. So many memories get created.

[Trevor 57]

The number of caravans on the road is just a testament to a prosperous country, I travel a lot and it is not just boomers in the flash caravans being towed by a Next Gen Ford Ranger or a 200/300 Series Land Cruisers.

[XR Martin]

I remember as a kid going on trips and forever being stuck behind a caravan doing well under the limit on a single lane highway. Actually what I mostly remember is my dad screaming out "bloody caravans, shouldn't be allowed on the road!" as he tried to find somewhere to overtake.

Oh and I also remember every diesel blowing dirty plumes of smoke.

[FTE217]

very true XRMartin re the vans and single lane Hwy back in the day.
'70's was my young era driving up or down the Pac Hwy north or south.
Always vans holding up countless cars, you'd wait for that unbroken white line and whoooossshka try and over take 3/4 cars and then the van lol, great driving days got to say.
My fam never was a vannie traveller, we always booked beach house's, I get the van/camping hang around and the road travelling.
I think great good on them, glad we have dual carriage ways now so you can get beck with ease.
John 13, as much as the ol days we're brilliant, less crowded, cheaper life moves on.
Its still great doing road trips pity the open road has become a revenue raising excercise mind you And might I add whereever you park etcetc where once beach parkign etc was FREE.