Ever wanted to travel this great country by car/caravan but you don't have a 'partner' or close friend to do it with? Especially as a solo female?
Would YOU do it? We met up with the most amazing lady at the free camp at Jugiong NSW - Sandra who has been on the road for about 18 months now all alone - well actually she's not alone!
She travels with a small dog for company PLUS is a great communicator so manages to make many friends along the way....
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BRIAN:
Would you ever consider travelling solo around Australia? Would you do that?
KAYE:
Ummm maybe… I didn't win that Powerball the other day… that wasn't me that won the $107 million!!
BRIAN:
OK… but what if something ever – heaven forbid happened to your partner? Maybe you decided to go your own separate ways? … and it happens - so after a period of time and giving you happen to love life on the road, would you consider travelling by yourself?
We had a lovely chat with a lady named Sandra that we met at the Jugiong free camp recently in New South Wales, but after chatting for a while it became obvious Sandra was travelling with just herself and her little dog… We asked Sandra how she got started…
SANDRA:
Well I bought the Jayco van in February last year and I’ve been on the road since. And I'm actually enjoying it! … I’ve got my four-legged baby. She's the boss!!
KAYE:
So what was the thing that prompted you to do it? …
SANDRA:
I just woke up one day and thought I didn't want to die in a house that's it! …
KAYE:
That's the thing isn't it?... there's too much in Australia to see right?
SANDRA:
Yes… so I’ve been to Queensland, Fraser Island, Kangaroo Island and been to Stradbroke Island and all the way over to Perth… been up the top of Cairns. I really really like travelling in the car and just staying in motels sometimes or camping ‘off-grid’ and things like that and I thought there's just so much to see and you can't see it if you've got a house… you can't see it!
BRIAN:
So you've been on the road what… 20 months or so now? What's the highlight of that experience.
SANDRA:
I reckon the people… yeah the people teaching me stuff. Of course I’ve met some proper mothers! Also met some proper nutters but I have met some very very lovely people and everybody is willing to help you… yes it doesn't matter of you’re female or male, people will help no matter who you are but sometimes you've got to be like…. I'm a talker and I'm friendly so you have get involved.
If you're shy and withdrawn you'll find it very hard because you've got to be willing to take people on face value and be willing to talk to people!
BRIAN:
We've actually noticed there's a lot of females single or divorced or whatever I think there's more men out there travelling solo…. but what's it like as a female single female?
SANDRA:
Yea… there's always a bit of fear and trepidation of say being in the outback or wherever by yourself but I don't think there's any difference in being in a house on your own okay?? Because there's nothing to say that you're not going to get broken into or you're going to get raped or killed or anything!... there's really no difference in being in a motor home on the road.
I’ve gone to some places and I’ve been the only person in that area no one else around for four or five days and not had any trouble. I’ve not lost one thing yet!
KAYE:
Great!... but have you ever felt scared?
SANDRA:
Well not from people but from a storm yes!... I was at one place in Victoria… I can't remember the name the camping ground, but I was about eight days out of town and they told me if it rains you cannot get out!... and I was the only one there and it came over really jet black and the wind came up and I thought I better get packed up… we're not staying because if it rains I’ve been told you can't get out! So I think you don't put yourself in that situation.
BRIAN:
Ok.. so I'm intrigued… you said you've met some ‘nutters’ … what's the funniest thing or weirdest thing you've come across?
SANDRA:
Oh yea!... the funniest one I would have to say with the first week I was on the road… She was a single lady. She was in a very old motorhome and she was so jealous that I had a fairly new motorhome because her fridge didn't work, her batteries were dying and she kept on coming over to me and saying “listen it's not right!”… and I’d say “what's not right??” … she’s say… “you've got no problems!
And I said “yeah” and I said “but yours is older… she said I still shouldn't have all these problems she had to have a running running generator and all that!...
She was an alcoholic. so alcohol came first not the van… and I thought that's where your money's going!
She would go into town two or three times a week for alcohol and I thought if you cut that back you could buy yourself a new battery and get it working and you'd be right, but she couldn't do that.
Alcohol was the main thing in her life and she really bitched about that, REALLY bitched about it and I thought… that was her so, okay you've got a good van yeah what are the priorities for you with your van and your free camping and the way you're travelling?
Is it is it fuel? is it water or power? What's your problem?
Look. I've only had been in one area where I had to actually start the motor home up because we had three days of rain and the solar panel wasn't charging and I had to stay at that so I could run the fridge and everything properly but, as long as there's sun and all like even like now, my solar panels are charging.
I’ve got a three-way fridge and the hot water services are two-way and touch wood I’ve had no trouble.
KAYE:
OK… but let's say you're in the middle of nowhere… being devil's advocate here - and all your tyres blow out, your engine clogs up whatever what do you do?
SANDRA:
Well I’ve got the emergency number on my phone which will tell them exactly where I am and I have the NRMA roadside assist as well, so I’ve got the two of them to fall back on actually but I’ve not used the NRMA yet and I’ve not used the emergency options either yet!
BRIAN:
So you're not in the hurry?... So what's the longest time that anyone you've met has been on the road?
SANDRA:
45 years! - one couple has been on the road for 45 years. Brought their kids up on the road (wow) but she's had enough he hasn't 😊
KAYE:
Yes well we met a couple recently, he had been on the road 10-12 years or so…
So how many years do you think you'll be on the road?
SANDRA:
As long as I can do it… as long as my health holds out and I can still drive and I can see 😊
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