Entry 2 – 2024 – Collection of new caravan
We were very excited to be heading off to collect our new Bushtracker Caravan. It was a drive of about 2,500 kilometres from our home to the factory.
Bushtracker Caravans were a unique Australian custom build caravan manufacturer without any agencies west of the Australian eastern coast line. Thus, we were required to attend their factory located north of Brisbane, for collection of our new caravan. For us, we thought their attention to quality warranted the effort.
There was the need to pack as much as possible into our 4wd tow tug, for fitting out our new caravan. This included all the kitchen equipment, bedding, clothing, bathroom gear and much more.
We laid out all our chosen gear and quickly realised we needed to conduct some culling. What we thought to be minimal requirements didn’t match the available space within the confines of our 4wd.
We reduced to one plate, fork, knife and spoon each. And so on.
We had spent several months, collecting cardboard boxes for packing purposes. When in Bunnings hardware stores to purchase some screws, we would leave with a couple of large boxes and so on.
We played Tetris in the back of the 4wd with our large box collection, obtaining a best-case scenario utilizing available space.
There was packing to the 4wd roof rack with gear usually stored away at lower levels.
(Our tow tug was packed that tight there was not one squeak from the load during the 2,500-kilometre drive.)
Heading off on our caravan collection run, we had our first rest stop at the Port Pirie information centre. It had come to our attention (thankyou Grahame & Nerilee) we could/should participate in a shark cage dive, where you get to experience a great white shark encounter. It was based on a great white shark (Shakka) caught nearby. It was a VR (virtual reality) experience. Our clothing didn’t get wet but one’s undies could easily be soiled.
It was a great experience; one we would recommend to others.
Up the road a bit we deviated to Spear Creek (about 300 kilometres north of Adelaide) which was located near Pt Augusta in South Australia. There was a group of 9 Bushtracker Caravans at this location for a “mini muster gathering.”
We stayed for two nights in the Shearers Quarters. It was an enjoyable time, catching up with other like-minded people. We knew many of the attendees, relishing in lots of chatter.
Leaving Spear Creek we spent three days driving. Our first night was spent at Cobar (850 kilometres,) second night at Moree (650 kilometres) and a third night at friends’ home (Ian and Kathy) located nearby the Bushtracker Caravan Factory (700 kilometres.)
The following morning Ian provided us with a hardy breakfast and we were on our way to collect our new caravan.
We arrived at the factory to see our caravan out front in the presentation bay for new pick-ups. It was hard to contain our excitement, seeing our caravan for the first time.
We backed up to the caravan and before we could alight from our tow tug people streamed out of the factory guiding us back to our caravan. Technicians checked all lights and connections were correct with a tweak on the tow tug with two wires in the wrong connection. Meanwhile two others attended to setting up all the coupling requirements pairing the caravan to the tow tug.
We were at the factory for about 5 hours. Bronwyn guided us through all the caravan features. We videoed much of her descriptions. She answered all our questions and had other technicians providing information when she was unable. She also used this time as a quality control check and had various technicians to attend to a few items for tweaking.
We left the factory with our brains in overload. We were exhausted from attempting to take in so much information revolving around technology new to us.
We parked the caravan back at Ian and Kathy’s home where we all enjoyed our own personal inspection of our new home on wheels.
We spent the following day transferring gear from the tow tug into the caravan. More playing Tetris, with placement of various items throughout the new caravan. Its internal storage layout was very different to our previous caravan.
Kathy and Ian were exemplary hosts providing us with meals and other assistance when needed.
After three nights at their home, we reversed out of their driveway.
It was time to commence a shake down run for our new caravan. We were required to clock up about 1,000 kilometres and acclimatize ourselves with its operation.
We spent five nights travelling through the North Burnett region, at various different locations enjoying/learning how our independent creature comforts operated in our new caravan. It felt good with all our power needs obtained from the sun’s rays.
One week after collecting our new caravan we were back at the factory where they conducted an inspection, checking all was correct with our caravan. They helped us with an understanding of some IT issues we were experiencing and fixed a couple of minor things we had identified for attention.
We were very pleased with our caravan build and the friendly helpful staff at Bushtracker.
We were hoping to head home once we were finished at Bushtracker. Thankfully, the Bushtracker technician who fitted our provided tow hitch identified an issue with it’s operation.
Prior to taking delivery of our new caravan we had implemented some upgrades on our tow tug. One of the technicalities was a requirement to use a specific tow hitch (Lovell’s) for compliance. This hitch we provided to Bushtracker Caravans on collection day for our new caravan and they set up this hitch matching the caravan and tow tug.
There were several phone conversations with a Lovell’s representative over a period of days. To expediate a resolution we stayed at a caravan park nearby a Lovell’s agency (just down the road from Bushtracker) waiting for someone to attend and change over the faulty caravan hitch.
We were happy to be heading home, thankfully with only a two-day delay.
2020 we all remember as the beginning of the world wide covid-19 pandemic and its impact of virtually closing down freedom of movement around the world. This included the cancellation of our daughter’s Canadian wedding. Into the second half of 2020 some movement was permissible for the less impacted Australian States. We were one of the lucky ones, able to get out and about with our caravan. During this short period, we met three couples at different locations and have become life friends with them all. 2020 had its turmoil and provided us with exposure to some very special people.
Ian and Kathy, very nice people who hosted us during our new caravan collection period. Tricia and Michael who lived down the road a bit. We phoned them the night before our departure to head home. Yes, they were currently home with their caravan at the repairers for warranty work. After some excitable conversation we decided to meet up the following day. We set camp at Toogoolawah and they drove to meet us (1 ½ hour drive.) It was non-stop conversation from 10-15 am to 5.30 pm when Tricia spotted the time and said we have to go. It was close to dusk and the approach of the “witching hour,” with kangaroo’s coming out to play with cars driving along the roads.
Couple number three, Petra and Jeff, lived about 75 kilometres from our home base, whom we have caught up with at least three times each year including camping outings together.
We were onto “take three,” hoping to get a move along to our home. A check on the predicted weather forecast, showed we had some more deliberation. Our chosen route was expecting a significant weather event with up to 80 millimetres of rain and a prediction of possible flooding. After viewing the rain radar, we decided to head directly west, travelling inland for about 800 kilometres, hoping to detour around the predicted weather affected area and then head south towards our home.
We were driving by 7.30 am the following morning hoping to out-run any of the predicted weather events. It had rained most of the night. For the first 150 kilometres the roads were acceptable. We were within about 30 kilometres of the township of Dalby. There had been no weather warnings for this area.
Before we go any further, we will comment, “Queenslanders are different!” Yes, we were in Queensland and many of their bitumized roads are just level with the surrounding landscape and often below it. We live in South Australia, “the driest state in the driest continent.” And South Australian roads are all built higher than the surrounding landscape. South Australia don’t have rain events like Queensland regularly incur.
The following pictures show some of what we incurred over a distance of about 30 kilometres. We were in need to travel at a slow rate along this section of road, with a regular need to slow to an almost stop and access the many flooded sections before progressing.
A couple of water incursions we hit a bit fast and one of the roads our GPS directed us down we ignored.
We managed to “soldier on,” with a big day of driving, stopping at the township of Bollon at about 5.30 pm. We had driven around 600 kilometres with one rest stop in the middle, (afternoon siesta.) The storm front tentacles had been reaching out at us most of the day throwing splatters of rain.
We could see blue slithers of sky as the clouds above Bollon seemed to have given up on chasing us.
It was a beautiful setting at the Bollon free camp. Admittedly we were in bed at 7.30 pm and were woken by a noise at our door at 7.30 am. Some mob, were requesting to be fed. Guess who was the noisiest one.
We were in no rush after the previous days long drive. We were enjoying the great scenery including an added bonus of a lovely blue sky. Feeling relaxed we eventually departed, continuing on, down the road.
Down the road a bit we spotted signage promoting Charlotte Plains Hot Bore Baths. This was a location we had yet to visit and we thought it an opportune time to experience Charlotte Plains.
It was several kilometres along a dirt track. Our nice clean new caravan was clean no more.
We booked in and initially thought the $40 per night to be a bit much. (Pilliga had spoiled us at $5 per night.)
At the end of the day we thought Charlotte Plains Hot Bore Baths, to be a most acceptable location, one we would visit again. The attached photographs were taken at sunset and the following morning, we spent time in the hot baths watching the colourful sunrise with the occasional kangaroo’s bounding past, between us and the sun. It was a special Australian setting.
We could have easily stayed three or so days but we had some further driving dead lines to adhere to.
After a couple more days of just driving (covering around 900 kilometres) we arrived at the town of Broken Hill setting camp nearby at “The Sculptures,” in its primitive campground.
We were about 10 kilometres north of Broken Hill at the Living Desert State Park. There was a small basic campground, a flora & fauna sanctuary with some walking trails and with a highlight of 12 sculptures strategically located on a peak with 360-degree views of the surrounding country side. The sculptures were promoted as a great sun-set viewing location. At the time of our attendance there was a bitterly cold wind blowing letting us know winter was approaching.
The Living Desert State Park was another great bush setting, colourful sunrises, peaceful with only the sounds provided by nature and an all-round lovely setting. The first below picture was taken of our morning view from the nice warm environment of our bed.
We enjoyed the walking trails in the living deserts with its provided information whilst circumnavigating its undulating landscape. The terrain was dry and rugged. The average yearly rainfall was 240 millimetres. Yet there was much to see.
We spent two nights at the living deserts campground providing our bodies with some rest/recharge time from just driving duties.
Once again, the following two days was devoted to just driving. Our next strategic stop was to be at our home base where we had planned for some further fitting out of our new caravan.
There was another important stop prior to arrival at our home base. Steve’s parents had requested a viewing of our new caravan. Naturally we abide d.
