bruce t

It's all in the future. Folks have been promisingvthe battery "revolutions" for decades. Yes we are a bit closer but they always over promise. And under deliver. Ask yourself how many older state and national parks have the power infrastructure that could cope? FWIW those followings Dakar rally will see some interesting concept vehicles. Audi battery powered cars. Hydrogen cars and trucks. It will come but only after it becomes a commercially viable option for manufactures, users and facility providers. ie will every gas station remove several gas pumps so you can take an hour or two to recharge your battery. Lots of questions. Not to mention ejat to do with the old batteries. My money's on hydrogen.

Barbraok talking down to someone doesn't help. Because you believe in one scientific theory doesn't mean the other theory is wrong. If all the 'science' out there was the same we wouldn't be having this debate. The fact is that there are numerous theories and beliefs. We need to respect the fact that folks are entitled to their beliefs. Telling someone they "Clearly don't understand" doesn't help.

You can't expect change when the biggest offenders are doing squat. Change? Yes for sure. But it's how we change that matters. And killing off some economies while others benefit isn't something I want to explain to my great grand children. Take the politics and hypocrisy out of the debate and we may achieve something. Calling each other names because we have different views is childish. But that seems the way of the world nowadays. The UK waves it's green credentials while propping up it's economy from the fossil fuels in the north sea. Just one of many many many examples of how SELECTIVE facts get in the way of REAL facts.

Climate has changed for millions of years. The ability for us now to film it and measure it has changed. Sure it's changing. It always has and always will. Humans contribution is what the debate is all about. But don't let us rich folks dictate what poor countries can't have even though we have it. It never ceases to amaze me how rich folk preach to those who aspire to be just like them. How we have to change while China continues to give the rest of the world the middle finger. Rather than rant on social media go and protest outside the Chinese embassy. Change China and we will ALL benefit. Keep it all in perspective.

My brother in law had a knack of starting an argument every Christmas at the family get together. So much so the father in law started to begin the argument in the morning so it was all done and dusted by lunch time. Oh fun days. Politics. Family. Envy and a belly full of beer. Bring it on a i say.

Kirk there is insurance and there is insurance. Like all insurance every policy is different depending on what box you tick and how deep your pockets are. Years ago we had a large #55000 bus conversion towing a 4x4 pickup. We split a radiator in the middle of nowhere. Nearest tow truck that could handle us was about 1500 k away. Nearest town about 160k away. Long story short the roadside service guys rigged the radiator and we drove the 160k to town. Took the radiator out and rebuilt it. All for $00.00. True. But it was a $2000.00 a year policy. Maybe the couple's travel lifestyle dictated a policy that included recovery. Not uncommon here in Australia.

OK here's the end of the story. Insurance paid. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-12-21/sa-campervan-to-be-returned-to-wa-family/100715708

There's more to this than 'collectables' etc. Us old folks wanted stuff based on usability and sentimentality. The younger generation aren't interested in sentimentality or collect-ability. They just want the newest trendy stuff. Then throw it away for the next new gimmick. How many young folks have a side board full of family photos? Years ago I studies the generations. Well 15 years ago. The lecturer broke up every generation since 1900. In 10 year blocks. From 1990 on it became the 'me' generation and the 'I want it now' generation. No saving, just put it on the credit card. Our first house came with a 20% deposit and the bank only counted one income. And mortgage could be no more than 30% of net income. Those darn women got pregnant and left their jobs!! Now a 5% deposit and both working. New car? Just add it to the mortgage. Times have charge but our memories haven't.

I've got tens of thousands of dollars worth of collectables squireled away. Worth sqat until you get a buyer for them. And FWIW the cheap throw away items are the ones that increase in value. Because most folks threw them away. Need a good example of dud collectables just look up Franklin Mint stuff.

What do I want for Christmas? Oh the usual things like good health for me and everyone else. But the one biggy that I would love to see is the decommercializing, (is there such a word?), of Christmas. Why the mad rush to spend spend spend? Many going into debt just for what? Do gifts make the receiver or the giver feel good? Have we all become so gullible that we believe all the hype? I guess the answer to that is yes. As a kid we had HUGE Christmases. Lots of presents. Lots of relatives. Lots of food. Lots of booze. Now just the two of us sit by ourselves because everyone is in a suicidal rush to cram as much into Christmas, and their credit card, as is possible. No for Christmas I just want the family to get together and laugh and enjoy each others company. This year and last year and the year before we lost dear friends. We can't laugh with them because they are no longer with us. Christmas should be about making the most of what we have and not about giving stuff we don't have let alone want. Merry Christmas to everyone. Smile and appreciate what you have and who you share it with. bruce

There's no secret to cassette toilets. It's a mind over matter issue. Yes that sort of matter. But in reality it's no worse than using a toilet at a restaurant. It's only in the USA that big black tanks are common. (Yes I'm generalising). The rest of us just deal with it.

With all the CCTV cameras now days who would try?

They won't be billed for the rescue. That's a community expense that Australians accept. But the recovery of the camper may sting a bit. But if it dries out enough it may just be a bit of work on the shovel.

I'll start by saying they have been airlifted out by chopper. Apparently the 3 year old was having tantrums so they took up the offer of rescue. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-11-16/sa-zavros-family-relieved-after-rescue/100624030 FWIW Oodnadatta is a HUGE town miles from nowhere with a population of less than 200. Kirk I can't give you an exact answer. But here in Australia if it's deemed an 'accident' then the gov picks up the cost. ie tax payers. However if they think there is negligence then the gov/organization can take action to recover the costs. There a many examples of rescue that the gov pays for. Years ago a French solo sailor way way down south sent out a distress call. Long range RAAF planes eventually found him. They then had to send a navy ship to pick him up. No cost to him. Foreign tourists in rental 4x4s often get rescued. Folks are often stranded in the outback. Even locals. The government picks up the account. (Rental companies don't like rescuing their vehicles so there are big invoices for those folks). Here in Australia we have a large organization called the Royal Flying Doctors. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Flying_Doctor_Service_of_Australia A not for profit organization. They have about 80 planes. They service a vast area. My roads are also air strips. When I was a director of the local motorhome club we donated many dollars to them. They have rescued hundreds of RVers who have taken ill while traveling.

An update. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-11-16/helicopter-heading-to-rescue-perth-family-in-simpson-desert/100623514

For those with the time and interest I suggest looking up Nowherebound.com.au. Try their youtube channel. They have a modified 4x4 Isuzu towing an off road caravan. I'm with you Dutch. I get annoyed by age and health issues. But think of the memories these folks have. Oh to be young again.

Using Kirk's map I drew in the 'only' main roads around and across Australia. On the east there are way more other roads. On the far west coast there are 2 main roads. The big holes in the middle have no black top roads. None. All subject to weather and a good reliable vehicle. You can't drive from say Brisbane in the east to Perth in the west without going way north or way south if you are in a conventional vehicle. You need a fuel tank with at least a 300 mile range. This is what makes RVing in Australia interesting and different.

Both the USA and Australia are unique. Our differences are what makes us different but we have a common bond. Most Australians have no idea of what makes the USA tick outside Las Vegas and Disneyland. Likewise most Americans think we are all Paul Hogan or The Crocodile man. Australia has the same land area of the USA yet just 60% the population of California. By American standards Australian RVing is very 'crude' and basic. But by American standards we are way ahead in self sufficiency. For Americans a cross country trip on I80 is a big adventure. For Australians a big adventure is not getting bogged! Yet in all the years we lived in the USA we came across very few 'real' off road and back country campers. Sure there are some tricked up 4x4's. But few, very few, of road camper trailers or trailers. Here's 5 minutes entertainment. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95x67XJgKEMNot for me but 'typical' of those looking for extra hair on their chest. bruce

Dutch I understand the various GPS setups. But folks get caught with a system that falls short in the outback. A navigation system isn't necessarily a GPS system. But aren't we all becoming to reliant on technology?

Rule #1 for these types of folk is a sat phone. i thought they would have one also. But they are EXPENSIVE! GPS can fail without cell service or satellite service. Large areas of Australia only have basic sat service. We have often had our in car nav system freeze and not comeback until it picks up a new signal. Keep in mind that if it's big in Texas it's way bigger in Australia. Our largest station, (ranch), is over 9000 square miles. Long way to the front gate! Kids on those station do their school work via limited sat internet and short wave radio. Much of Australia has no services at all. You're on your own. We do have the Flying Doctor which will rescue you where ever you are. Trucks can carry 600+ gallons of fuel because of the distance between gas stations. Distance is the killer. 90% of our population lives on just 3% of the land. To go RVing anywhere away from 'civilization' is an adventure. The majority of our RVs are equipped to go off grid. Mind you not everyone does. I guess the majority still need/want their hook ups every night. But that's a good thing because the free campsites are less crowded. We have what Americans call a B Class. We are set up with 100 days of LPG/Propane. 12 days of water. And depending on the sun, limitless power via solar. Without the sun we need to start the engine every 3 to 4 days to recharge the batteries. (Smart alternator via a dc to dc changer).

Guys there are no roads out there so you make your own. GPS? There's no phone signals to use the phone. So no GPS. Car cars navigation doesn't work without a signal. That's why most folks carry a satellite phone. They say they dropped one to them. They set off their emergency beacon which works via satellite. They will need help because when it dries that camper will be stuck in concrete!! I'm sure 95% of Americans have no idea of how remote parts of Australia can be. Imagine Australian is the USA. You have highway 1 in California on the wet coast. No freeways. You have I95 on the east coast from say Miami to Washington DC. Then single lanes to Boston. Dirt from there north. And north south there is only one road in the centre. . Single lane. From say New Orleans to Duluth. No other north south road west of I95. East west? One single lane across the top that is closed for much of the wet season. One single lane road across the country along the south coast. There are no roads across the country. Only the road at the top and the bottom. There are a few other roads that require 4x4. The Tanami track is 'interesting' for the venturous. The Great Central road is also a venture. You need permits for that road. Here's a web site that show a popular track. https://www.hemamaps.com/plan/trip-preparation/how-to-cross-the-simpson-desert I put the post up just as a comparison of the RV life here in Australia. Not as a criticism of the USA. Hell no. We would be back in the USA in the blink of an eye if we could. It's just the difference.

OK want some off road RVing? It is reasonably common in Australia to go off road in a modified RV. YouTube is full of examples. Here's a news story about a family who got caught when it actually rains in the desert. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-11-13/family-campervan-stranded-in-simpson-desert-after-heavy-rain/100618224 Here's just one of many commercial sites that provide for the market. https://slrvexpedition.com.au/ Next time you think about complaining about your RV park then consider doing it with nothing but your RV and a compass.

FWIW in Australia you always pump then pay. If they tried, and they did, to make you prepay then folks just go up the road to the next station. In all our years in the USA will always prepaid with cash. Yes even for our DP. Try wandering into a Flying J with $200.00 cash for pump 4 and watch the attendants face. Just make sure they aren't all new crisp notes. That's a whole nuter story. Many many many years ago, when first in the USA, I couldn't figure out why no fuel was coming out the pump. I asked the guy on the next pump how to get fuel to come out. He had a look of terror on his face. Pulled the hose, jumped in and drove of without a word. Strange? I heard a knocking on the glass of the station. The cashier motioned for me to come inside. Then it was made clear to me why I wasn't getting fuel! But I could write a book on our gas station experiences.

Lift your foot off the loud pedal by 5mph and you wont spend anymore because of fuel consumption gains.

We left our motorhome at a dealer storage lot. Did so for years. They always took care of the winterizing. Put a sticker on the windsheild to indicate that it had been winterised. One year we returned and when we turned on our pump it ran continuously. On inspection they had left water in the lines. The hard freeze during winter split many lines where they joined or turned. At elbows. Moral is not only drain your tanks but also your lines. (FWIW the dealer replaced all out lines no charge).