On this weeks show we start the show in Valla Beach and meet Donna a solo traveller from Wy Yung in Gippsland Victoria. Now Donna is amazing towing a caravan solo round this country of ours and is seventy two years young.
Donna has been travelling for about 8 years and decided to get out on the road on her own. Donna bought a Karacamper at the Melbourne Caravan Show and had on built, its a nice compact van with single beds complete with shower and toilet. Donna has travelled across the Nullabour with friends or with her sister and seen much of the country. Donna is now widowed and has four children who have encouraged her to get out.
She has learnt to reverse and can get the van off and on, on her own which is the reason for selecting the van she has. She has had the odd man give their tips while they stand there watching. Or the daunting happy hour where everyone watches.
She does not get lonely as there is so much to see but does enjoy it when she has her sister travelling with her. Donna mainly sticks to caravan parks but has stopped and done a little free camping but finds it safer when there are more vans around.
Advice to single women out there, don’t be afraid just get out there and travel, there are so many places you can see and things to do.
Next on the show Phill is chatting with Paul and Leanne who are volunteering at Charlotte Plains. They have been on the road for the last six or seven years. Paul came home on day and said he wanted to retire but they had a compromise to work while on the road. Paul and Leanne have volunteered before, their first being a station stay north of Alice Springs.
We met Leanne as we drove into Charlotte Plains, she was relaxing in one of the bath tubs and as we neared the entry gate she jumped out , wrapped a towel around herself and met us at the gate. Charlotte Plains is amazing where you can camp and of course make use of the Thermal baths there. Their volunteer duties include meet and greet, the rubbish run, collect firewood, and mow the lawns. We met Paul after he was bringing a small bus back after taking a tour round the property. They found out about Charlotte Plains on Facebook, and took on the job for 4 weeks. Its not paid but does include your accommodation (bring your own van) and its a great way to meet fantastic fellow travellers and each evening sit around the campfire. If you are travelling and have a talent like singing or poetry you can maybe provide Happy Hour entertainment.
Paul and Leanne love the work and the meeting and greeting new fellow travellers on the road.
Charlotte Plains is a cattle and sheep station but have branched out with a camp area. There is a toilet and shower, but they do have shearers quarters where you can stay. These are located closer to the homestead so you will need to travel to the bathes area.
Some of the many activities on the property are, bathing, swimming, star gazing, bird watching, yabby catching, walking, relaxing, exploring, tours, animal feeding, observing farm work, delving, camp cooking and the list goes on. There are many things to do and observe depending on the time of the year, however the most popular are the crisp clear nights for star gazing by a campfire or having a warm therapeutic bath by day. Just relax and enjoy the space.
