Reflection on the Eve of the Event.

Just set the out of office message at work….

That’s something I’ve never done before to that magnitude, and if I’m brutally honest, unlikely to do again in the near future!

Finishing up on Friday was quite the surreal experience. On one hand it was very exciting and there were well wishes and messages of support and on the other hand a sense of apprehension. There’s quite a lot of change going on in my work place, and it’s always a matter of opinion on whether or not that’s a good or a bad thing.

But change is here, and for me, I’m going to focus on the positive aspects of it.

As I sit here camping in my lounge room (as all the furniture is in storage), it’s safe to say, change is upon us.

Whilst we were hoping to get away tomorrow, with a grand plan of a fanfare departure picking the kids up from school, unfortunately the pure logistics of change was a bridge too far.

We decided to spend Saturday down at the Little Athletics Championship day, which on recollection was the reason we chose this weekend as departure week anyhow. Seeing the kids excel in their sports of choice was brilliant, and well worth the sacrifice of packing more boxes.

Evie getting gold in 60m, to go with a silver in high jump... Neither events I would have thought my baby giraffe would have excelled at. Brilliant stuff. 

Sam collecting gold in the Turbo Javelin, to go with a second in the 400m and bronze in the 60m hurdles. Oh, and just a lazy 23 PBs set over the season... Just wait until he grows!

So rather than try and rush, force the issue and stick to the “plan”, we’re already adjusting to the lifestyle and making sure that we are comfortable and prepared for the next leg.

The kids were disappointed as they were hoping to leave tomorrow but alas, they’ll have one more day to hang out with their mates at school. I reckon by 10am on Tuesday they’ll be over it.

But it gives me time to reflect at least….

One of the interesting things people, and with absolute best intentions, have said to us along the way is how “lucky” we are. It’s something that is of debate in the house at the moment and trying to teach the kids about the difference between “lucky” and “deserved” or even “earnt”. We came to the definition that “lucky” is when something good happens to you which you either weren’t expecting or had very little control over. Deserved was when you worked hard or dedicated time to something and have it eventuate.

So relating it back to the trip, we asked the kids if they were lucky to be going on the trip. And they all agreed they were. And I believe they are correct. Kids are, at the stage of their lives ours are, generally lucky or unlucky as most things are out of their control. Their lifestyle, the clothes, their food, their education, the examples they’re set, morals they are taught… all largely out of their control. So yep, the trip, a decision by B and I, was out of their control, and I’d certainly agree that they are lucky to be going on it.

But what about B and I….

5 years ago (give or take a bit here or there) we decided that we’d like to travel around Australia. Having travelled prior to kids, and to an extent with them afterwards, we knew it was something we wanted to continue. So we forecast into the future, looking at ages of kids, school years and potential resources. And 2017 or 2018 came up as a window. And the snowball started rolling… the ideas, the spit balling, the afternoon dreaming.

Around 3 years ago, when the hard decisions needed to be made. Disillusioned with a particular work situation, B and I were trying to work out how the financial situations of the trip could eventuate under a huge amount of scenarios. In the end, a commitment to the trip was made, and a sacrifice of dare I say sanity, time, potential career development was made.

Fast forward on, the work situation improved, a few financial injections were provided and the stars aligned on some minor bits and pieces. All were, for all intents and purposes, lucky.

But at the heart of this, this trip, this adventure, isn’t luck. It’s a culmination of many decisions, many sacrifices, a lot of dedication and commitment to something we wanted to do not only for ourselves but our children. Luck for me has played a part in shaping how the trip was undertaken (i.e. caravan vs camper, Colorado vs Pajero, etc.) but it has very little to do with the trip actually happening. I think I’d be just as happy undertaking the trip in a camper with a couple of swags, as I am with the Big Green Lizard. But I’m happy creature comforts can be afforded.

And whilst I’ll never be offended or off put by someone calling us lucky and I know the sentiment is genuine (I hope!). But I know deep down, that B and I have made this happen, not luck.

So, for those we hope to inspire and entertain on this trip and to those who have said “I wish we could do something like that” we simply say… make the call. Make the choice. Make the decision. It might not be a trip like this or on this scale… it might be to learn an instrument… do some renovations… change your job… lose weight or get healthier…

…but life waits for no one. No one has yet to cheat death (depending on your interpretation of some religions) and rarely does change work in your favour without your influence. If it does, it’s just luck…

To quote my favourite movie of all time:

Not Long Now...

It's now dawning on us that this trip is actually eventuating. Like really happening. Not something that we've been talking about doing for the past 5 years (which has also been happening). It's actually freakin' about to happen.

I probably shouldn't say that.

Meh. Let's stay postive.

I think the kids are starting to realise that this is happening too. Maybe it's the ever increasing pile of boxes mounting in the house as we prepare to settle the sale and move our gear into a non-descript shed on the other side of town.

Which is another thing. If you ever want to know how much crap you have accumulated over the years, the only true way to know this is to move out. This is the longest I've ever lived in a single dwelling over my years and at 6.5yrs we've managed amass a huge pile of "stuff"

A quick snapshot of my shed at the moment

Anyhow, Gumtree is your friend. And people's need take stuff that is free.

So the countdown clock on the calendar today says 34 days. That's working on an assumed departure date, but it's good enough for us.

I think we're travelling OK with our prep but I suspect it will be like planning a wedding. You do a heap at the start, sit idle for weeks thinking you're on top of it and then run around like a crazed maniac the last week screaming "arrgh... we got so much to get done".

Still....

But at least the clock is ticking! :)

The Marshians - Our Political Party

So you’ve met our home, our trusty steed but how well do you know The Marshians?

The Marshians

In the time of such political upheaval and uncertainty, I should introduce you to the most important political cabinet in our live.

Matt – The Minister for Finance, Labour, War and Peace and Nacho’s

Matt, a Civil Engineer by profession, has had a passion for many things over the years. Hawthorn Football Club, basketball, golf, camping, travelling, The Reverend James, and old school F100s. For a man who really can’t stand avocado, he does make a pretty mean guacamole. He’s a self professed nerd, loves numbers,  and will be loving tracking the many variables of the trip. Money. Distance. Fuel Economy. Weather. Different types of road kill. At the end of this trip, you can be assured, there will be stats.

Bethan – The Minister for Domestic Affairs, the Arts, Education and Mangos

The Heart and Soul of this political party. The Glue. Holds it all together when the other 4 are going off in different directions. A primary school teacher by trade, Bethan (or B as she’s known to some) is a passionate and avid traveller. Growing up holidaying in caravans as a kid, it started early before progressing to backpacking, globetrotting and now coming full circle to take her own kids on an epic caravan adventure. A colourful and cheerful personality provides a great “ying and yang” to Matt’s numerical orientation. And yes... she loves Mango’s. Like REALLY like Mango’s. There’s a theory amongst some, that that’s the real reason she immigrated from Wales. Oh.. and to catch some gnarley tubes as well...

Sam – The Minister for Accuracy, Statistics, Transport and Lego

Sam (or Sausage as he was once and occasionally still known) is our thinker. A contemplative 9yr old, has always had an eye for attention to detail, ever since he started lining up his matchbox cars across the carpet so that all wheels were next to each other. A brilliant reader, Sam will no doubt have the tourist boards downpat and will hopefully become our travelling Historian. Loves all things planes, trains and automobiles like most boys, so I suspect he’ll be keeping tabs on the fuel bill. The trouble will be getting him to decide which lego comes, and which stays....

Evie – The Minister for Creativity, Fashion, Agriculture and Story Telling

Evie, or Moo, could often be described as The Opposition Leader as well. The dynamics, the effectiveness and the overall mood of the family easily revolves around Moo. If she’s good, we’re good. If not... well God help us all. An amazingly passionate 7yr old, Moo lives every minute of every day with ferocity. An avid writer well beyond her years, life is never dull around her. The trip could possibly cause the Universe to explode from trying to contain her imagination being constantly stimulated on the road. Or it could implode by the sheer tension caused by living in a small box with her for 9 months.

James – The Minister for Flexibility, Adaptability and Chuppa Chups.

James, or Bob is a typical 3^rd child. He’s incredibly flexible and malleable. An upbeat 5yr old, he’s just as comfortable studying lego with Sam as he is pretending to be a pet dragon in The Magical Land of Evie. He goes with the flow, but speaks up if he feels the need. He can sit quietly and loudly all at the same time. He’s possibly going to go around the country being in the most trouble and yet earning the most “specials” as we go. One thing is certain though, he out of all of us, is most excited about going on this trip if his “are we going around the country now?” constant badgering is anything to go on.

So that’s us...

I think we’re pretty unique, just like everyone else....

We’re looking at seeing how such an adventure and experience will affect us. Perspective. Focus. Clarity. Inspiration. Appreciation. Wonderment. Seafood. All things we’re hoping to get out of the trip in spades.

It’s been quite a while in the planning/sacrificing, but the trip is (nearly) here. I can’t wait to wake up in a couple of months to finally tell James....

“...today is the day mate. We’re going around the country”.

The Plan to not Plan

Many have asked us "so what's the plan?" Or "so where are you going?" Or "are you planning on going to (insert strangely named Australian locality)?" My personal favourite is "when are you going to be in (insert another strangely named Australian locality)?

Quite simply. We don't know.

Like no idea.

Honestly the only place I know I really need to be is Bathurst next October for the annual pilgrimage with my brothers. Other than that, no idea.

And I tell you, it's pretty weird. As most will know, I'm a 'reasonably' structured kind of person. Sure, I might have spreadsheets for our house budget. Maybe one (or two) to follow our mortgage. OK, so I might have one to track the fuel consumption of The Rock Truck. And yes, it is true that I have quite the spectacular Excel extravaganza to monitor my golfing scores (back when I actually played).

I like routine. I find it easier to manage. I like symmetry and straight lines over curves. I think it helps with the kids too, but I'm sure others could mount a case for spontaneity and randomness on that front as well.

So when the trip was becoming a reality, naturally we (sorry, I) busted out a spreadsheet, got out google maps and thought here we go! B and I sat down to start lining up places to go and a rough timeline, consider travel times, school holidays, daylight savings, wind direction,  airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow and other important factors.

And all of sudden we just look at each other and frowned.

This didn't seem right. It didn't feel right.

What if we got somewhere we loved and wanted to stay for a week and explore? How could we do that if we had to be 400km down the road to meet our next booking? Alternatively, what if we booked in for a week because it was a "must see" and find that it didn't suit us?

So then we discussed the idea of, wait for it..... not having a plan?!??!? Oh sweet baby Jesus.... could we, could I... actually do that. Part of me was going:

But the more we thought about it, the more it made sense. And I heard it more like this:

So when people ask "what's the plan" I simply answer "head down to the highway, turn right (that's West) and that's it".

A plan to not plan.

Don't get me wrong, we'll have a rough outline from perhaps week to week, but nothing long term. Maybe something locked in around a long weekend here or there. But really, we'll just seem what comes.

And I tell you.... it's refreshingly and positively nerve-wracking. In a good way. A very good way.

The Big Green Lizard

Well, after introducing you to the Rock Truck, it's only fair that I introduce you to her best mate, and what will be our home away from home. Affectionaly known as "The Big Green Lizard" (BGL), is a New Age 19ft Gecko.

Sunrise over Keith, SA, on our way to the Flinders Ranges

We had originally thought that our first van (at Jayco Expanda for those that care) would be the one that would see us through our trip. But through our use of that van, and as we thought about the length of the trip we decided that there was "holidaying" vans and there are "living in" vans. And as much as we loved our 'Panda, there was just going to be too many compromises in life to have us live on top each other for 9 months.

So off the van shows we went and came across the Gecko as it was released to the public in Feb 2016. Astounded with the amount of space, storage and build quality on offer, when we realised the price was also very competitive, well, it was pretty much all she wrote.

Our Gecko is a little different than most, with a custom design by us (B's idea with my sketching) proposed to New Age. We asked to replace full length robes and triple bunks to loft style bed and double bunks and they agreed it could be done. A nervous few months waiting to see if our design would work, we couldn't be happier with how it turned out. The agents who sold us the van were very impressed and suggested it was a very unique design.

How the van at the show looked, with triple bunks and robes

Our final design, with each of the kids in their own piece of the van

Through the last few months we've been going on "shake down" trips progressively testing things out. Whilst it hasn't been 100% smooth sailing as we iron out some issues (which is why you do shake downs) we are really impressed with the van. Its layout works as we hoped, it provides enough space to live in and build quality of the fittings and fixtures is exceptional.

We survived the massive storms in SA last September as rain, hail and 100km/h wind battered the van from pillar to post. 2 days on end holed up inside, we were as comfortable as we could probably be, and we knew we'd made the right decision.

Board games to pass the time when outside turned to pot

It has most of the mod-cons of the van without having some of the bling other prefer. We tend to use the van as a "base camp" and prefer to spend more time outside of it than inside, and it's got pretty much everything we need (maybe a diesel heater would be nice.....)

She's a big girl too, and you certainly know when she's hooked on the back, but it's stable and not too big for The Rock Truck.

So we look forward to touring the country with The Big Green Lizard and plonking her in a variety of spots, where the kitchen window has an ever changing view.

 Replace the colouring with "Homework Hour" in a few months!

 Sam in the only bed of its kind in Australia (that we know of)

 Evie reading to James on her bed. Probably not possible in the triple bunks so good choice!

 The BGL on it's second trip, a quick run down to Ocean Grove. James keeping an eye on it all.

The Rock Truck

So the trust steed for the trip will be the Rock Truck so I thought I better introduce it as it will be practically be our second home (we'll be spending enough time in it) and our Tug Boat for the Big Green Lizard.

For those interested in specifics, The Rock Truck is a 2015 RG LTZ Colorado.

Some think it's named the Rock Truck as it likes bouncing off rocks. But the kids actually named it early on in it's life as it constantly plays rock music inside and none of "Mum's music". Whilst I'm sure that's been the case for most of it's life, I think once we all pile into it for 9 months, I might have to concede it will play some more variety...

We've had her for 2 years now, after finally calling last drinks on our first 4WD (a NM Pajero). This trip was always a focus for buying the Colorado as we wanted something that was affordable, reliable (hopefully), and widely supported across the country both in servicing and modifying.

When we picked her up she looked like this:

And I don't believe it's ever been as shiny.

Since then we've added quite a bit in preparation including:

• ARB Ascent Canopy
• ARB Deluxe bar
• Driving lights
• Snorkel
• EFS Suspension upgrade
• Roo System exhaust upgrade
• Speedliner tubliner
• UHF radio
• Brake controller
• Wiring for Thumper battery (our 2nd battery)
• Ezi Reach Cargo Tray
• HPD Catch Can

She now looks a lot like this:

There's still a few things to come before we leave, most notably a new pair of shoes and possibly roof rack. Overall though, she's just about ready to roll. She's been proven to be a reliable and capable vehicle, if a little agricultural in refinement. It's no 200 series Landcruiser nor F150 (my dream 4WD) but she's a ripper and teams up well with The Big Green Lizard.

And as you can see below, she's already been on some ripper adventures. She'll be a integral part of our trip and hopefully will allow us to enjoy it as much as we can.

Bathurst 1000 - twice

 Flinders Ranges

 Even locally to Mt Franklin, Vic

 4WD Trip up to Blue Mountains

 

 High Country, Vic

In the beginning...

OK,

So it's 2017 so we can officially launch this Blog. I've been waiting until the New Year as I feel it's the turning of a page of sorts, wanting to wrap up "life as we know it" and focus on "life as we don't know it".

The blog's title is a twist on my favourite Dr Suess book, "Oh The Places You'll Go". Unsuprisingly that blog address was unavailable, so this was a nice little tweak. For those who don't know the book (and your life isn't complete until you do) it is a book I love reading to the kids for the messages it contains. It's go messages of empowerment, inspiration, confidence and adventures. It's about taking chances and following your heart. But also about the tough times, slumps and lurches. It perfectly aligns with the messages we want to pass on to our kids and supports what we are trying to achieve with our upcoming adventure.

You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself any direction you choose.
You're on your own.
And you know what you know.
And YOU are the one who'll decide where to go...
Dr Suess

Our adventure (and not a holiday as some call it) is a 9 month sojourn away from our normal town of residence in Bacchus Marsh (you'll hear us refer to ourselves as Marshians) and hitting the road to explore this vast and diverse land of ours.

How far will we go? Where will we get to? Who knows...  But I'm sure it'll be exciting, enriching and hopefully entertaining enough (from a blog point of view if nothing else) to make it worth the effort.

Now the countdown to departure is on....

“It's opener, out there, in the wide, open air.”