Entry 12 – 2024 – SUMMARY of our Australia retirement travels.
Our cost summary for 2024.
All costs have been rounded out to the nearest $100.
Days spent travelling = 132
Expenditure averaged out = $98 per day
Kilometres travelled = 14,000
Food expenditure = $3,100
Fuel expenditure = $6,000
Accommodation expenditure = $3,300
Other living expenditures = $3,300
We spent 66 nights in National Parks, 11 in caravan parks, 31 at free camping locations, 22 at showgrounds / low-cost camping areas and some nights spent at motel type accommodation during our drive to collect our new caravan from the manufacturer about 2,500 kilometres from our home base.
This year, 2024, we noticed a substantial increase in accommodation costs. The NT national park fees had more than doubled since our last visit and there were very few low cost camps in the Darwin/ Litchfield/Katherine vicinity.
Below is a brief overview of our 2024 travels, primarily
for our reference, though we are happy to share our life’s perspective thoughts
at that point in time.
2024 was another one of those “different,” years. We had sold our 20-year-old caravan in November 2023. It felt like we were in a holding pattern, waiting for the build completion of our new caravan. It felt strange not having the option to take off in our caravan whenever.
We were still kept busy. There were a number of upgrades/alterations required on our tow tug to cater for the needs of the new caravan. Our new caravan build included a more technologically advanced equipment list, very different from our old caravan. Whilst at home we spent a lot of time attempting to get our heads around, understanding all the unique equipment fit out with the new caravan.
As we were home for an extended period, this enabled time for completion of other home maintenance requirements. One example, repointing of the roof tiles.
There was time spent on our personal maintenance. Dealing with aging bodies requiring a bit more tweaking with the passing of another year.
There was a lot of excitement when we collected our new caravan in mid-April.
Our new caravan build criteria was for a comfortable off grid lifestyle. Without the need for mains supply of electricity or gas. The caravan roof was covered by the maximum number of solar panels that would fit. We had an extra-large battery system installed for storage of the solar generated power.
Once we took possession of our new caravan, it took several months to adjust our mind thoughts to the operation of the new caravan. Our bodies, much appreciated the advanced level of comfort with the new caravan build. We loved it. It had exceeded our expectations, including an improved level of comfort provided by a different suspension, when driving. Whilst travelling, occasionally we incur some very rough sections of road, jostling us about in the tow tug. Remarkably the new caravan seemed unaffected during these periods.
The new caravan build did come at a cost. It was the most amount of money we had committed to in our 44 years together. We were still, “mentally,” coming to terms with the outlay of money. It was our first brand-new big-ticket item we had purchased.
Once our caravan travel days are over, with the sale of our caravan, we should obtain a return of 50-75% of our original cost. This thought process, helped with making it a more palatable outlay?
With 2024 available travel time diminished, waiting for the completion of our new caravan build, influenced with our choices of travel locations.
We decided to assess our new caravan’s capabilities at some of our favourite Australian locations, whilst keeping within a coo-ee distance of the manufacturer (around 4,000 kms) just in case there was a need for some tweaking with the manufacturer.
The increased level of comfort provided by our new caravan, provided a huge boost with our well-being. Thus 2024 with the arrival of our new caravan, delivered a gigantic impact with our positive neurotransmitter receptacles.
Unfortunately, Steve incurred a hernia injury, late in August, requiring us to terminate several months travel plans. We returned to our home base to get him “stitched up.”
After several medical appointments, Steve was provided with a surgery date.
Four days prior Steve’s hernia repair surgery date we were provided with another curve ball with Steve diagnosed with prostate cancer and was advised to cancel this hernia surgery.
If Steve was to undergo prostate surgery, the hernia repair surgery would have been compromised due to its location in the same area of his body.
Aging can be a bugger at times.
Our caravan was put away into storage. Mary imposed some tight restrictions on Steve’s activities. He needed to keep his body in as good condition as possible, to be mindful of his hernia condition and not exacerbate his future health.
We were in need to be positive with life. It was time to let the medical specialists, “action their knowledge.”
After another month of various medical assessments for confirmation of Steve’s cancer prognosis, his prostate was ejected from his body.
We were once again in a holding pattern, this time on Steve’s recovery from major surgery. Recovery was an individual thing, with our research showing it could be up to 18 months before we will know his maximum potential of mending.
Though we were hopeful of resuming some caravan travel early 2025.
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