There are many parts to planning a road trip filled with style, comfort and adventure. This week I am planning an epic road trip.
10,000kms over 4 weeks taking in the only stretch of open highway in Australia with no speed limit, the Red Centre Nats car show (http://www.redcentrenats.com.au/) , the desert, the Great Ocean Road between Adelaide and Melbourne, a whisky tour of Tasmania and then a final cruise along the length of the East coast of Australia to home. The first step in planning a road trip is to sit down with a map and plot out the route. What towns will you go through, where is the mobile service, where sells fuel, do any of the communities have restrictions such as no alcohol, what are the accommodation options in each town, are any of the roads not sealed (dirt) and have you checked the weather and road conditions for this time of year? Are there any sights you want to see on the way that require a small detour or a particular time for you to be there (you can’t see the sunset if you are driving past in the morning) or do you have a friend you want to visit but you need to check if they will be home? I headed to the RACQ trip planning website (http://www.free2go.com.au/travel/planning-your-trip/trip-planner) and entered my departure location and destination with a number of “via” locations. The map in the image above is a rough guide to my route but I will likely detour regularly to look at shiny things. Between now and when I depart I will be planning vehicle choice, what to pack, who to visit on the way, where to sleep, snacks and exercises on the road, and making sure the itinerary ties in with events and the optimum weather conditions. Tune in regularly to learn more about what I plan and why. If you have a specific question let me know. I will be leaving Cairns on August 29th . If you would like to catch up for a beverage as I travel past you drop me an email to lara@wildedrive.com
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If you have ever taken a road trip outside of a capital city you are sure to have seen some big trucks. They come in all colours, shapes and sizes and they all have a job to do. The majority of freight is moved by trucks and that includes your groceries, your fuel, livestock, and building supplies just to list a few.
The life of a truck driver is not something you can understand just by reading a blog. Long hours, unpredictable work schedules and all of the dangers that the road has to offer are a part of their day to day. As a car driver there are a few simple things you can do to make their work day and their rest time a little more pleasant. Car shows are moving art filled with vehicles of beauty and outlandish design. As a rule, they are held on beautiful sun blessed days in the great outdoors. The colours of the paint sparkle and dance in the sun beams while chrome glistens and shines. A car show is a delightful, stylish social event if you have prepared well but heaven help the unprepared. For those who are unprepared a car show results in sun burn, sore and filthy feet, chapped lips and sore muscles.
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