Retire, buy a Motorhome and travel Australia, simple? Ask Liz who will quickly tell you that after seeking out a suitable Motorhome over two years to no avail, Liz was of the opinion that Jim was no more than a tyre kicker, so to speak. Even their children had given up on them ever purchasing a Motorhome.
Even when informing Jim that there was a Motorhome coming up for auction there was little response, unbeknown to Liz the advertisement did not go un-noticed. The following week Jim inspected the Motorhome and thought this was the one.
Jim then embarked on a tour of various Motorhome establishments to get an idea of Motorhome values.
On auction day Liz was invited to go for a drive, being none the wiser about the auction that day, when arriving and seeing the Motorhome and after inspection; agreeing this was the one for them. Liz became disillusioned when bidding started as there were no bids forthcoming from Jim.
This of course changed and they became the owners of a Ford Trader bed over cab Motorhome having only travelled 38,000 kilometres, though since then they have added a further 160,000 kilometres in their travels.
The first weekend after taking ownership they toured the West Coast of Tasmania where they ran into many C.M.C.A. members after the 1997 Pontville National Rally who spoke highly of their club suggesting they join, however the paperwork for membership had been forwarded two weeks earlier. It was on this trip they started making plans for an early retirement from their work commitments and considered their travel plans for the future.
In 1998 they travelled to the C.M.C.A National Rally at Roma and then went on to travel up as far as Cook Town in Queensland which they stated was excellent having (cold water) warm showers each morning on the local wharf due to the winter temperatures, they also visited the Daintree rain forest and took the river cruise where they had their first close up look at crocodiles in the wild plus all types of snakes and bird life. Since that initial trip they leave their home in Tasmania during the winter months and travel to areas throughout the Country, which they have come to like immensely.
Asked their favourite area they both agree the outback with the star filled nights and cool evenings around the campfire. They have visited Darwin in the Northern Territory on four occasions and list this as their favourite city with its cosmopolitan way of life and winter temperatures.
Jim always had visions of catching Baramundi from the outback rivers though to no avail until he arrived at one river and was told by an elderly bloke that all his gear was rubbish and he couldn't expect to catch fish with that lot. After picking himself up Jim tells us that after taking lessons and using different gear he caught 21 Barramundi with the biggest being 18 pounds, he was to return two years later to fish with the same bloke and caught only four; the biggest 7 pounds, though he assures us that the old bloke did no better. Though having a tendency to travel to the outback they both have been in all States of Australia and have completed the loop around the Country, which took them five months, they have not had a bad incident whilst on the road and have met and cemented many friendships with fellow travellers, many they come across again in their travels Interstate.
They indicate that they have enjoyed the wild flowers of Western Australia, the wildlife of the Northern Territory with the exception of Crocodiles, their Jack Russell dog was named "Crocodile Jack" who travelled all over with Jim & Liz, unfortunately now deceased and they both miss him sadly.
They maintain a map board in their Motorhome which shows their extensive travels if you come across them have a look you will surely be surprised at the area they have covered in Australia without travelling the same roads twice, though they admit this has been by design though they don't expect that to last much longer as they intend re-visiting some of their favourite spots in coming years.
So if you come across them have a cuppa or knockagrogalong and get to know them and their future inspirations for travel.