Getting Started - click on photos to enlarge
17th March 2006
We had been looking at travel options for about twelve
months, I was keen on camping and Fiona’s idea of camping
was a 4 Star Motel, no way was she going camping. Fiona was
discovering the benefits of the internet and apparently, had a
real good look at options for the photographer to travel
around in.
This research gave her some ideas and she offered to buy me
a new camper trailer so I could travel around the countryside
with my photography.
The first idea was to check out a few places around the
Penrith area such as All Terrain Campers (Off Road
Specialists) at Seven Hills. ‘Lets go and have a look, if it
dosen’t suit then we can look elsewhere’ and the seed had
been planted.
One good look and I was hooked, Glen (All Terrain Campers)
went to great lengths to demonstrate setting the camper
up, I took photos while Fiona listened to what Glen had to
say! We travelled back to Seven Hills twice more to get a few
extra lessons and it was obvious to everyone, but me, that
Fiona must travel with me or every trip would end in
disaster. And that is how our travel bug was set in concrete.
The following day we took a quick trip up to Macquarie
Woods to meet up with like minded close ‘rels’, the Family
Schmich, who really are campers so they could check out the
new camper and provide the newbies with some tips & tricks
to get started.
Jo pointed us towards the Lake Burrendong arera as a
starting point and a week or so later it was off to
Mookerawa Waters Park, in the rain, Carcoar Dam &
Bakers Shaft for experience, and, to wet the canvas.
At that time I didn’t know anything about wetting the
canvas, not to worry Fiona had done the research and
she knew about the entire procedure. You live and
learn. Without Fiona I reckon I would have given the
camping caper away long before we upgraded.
On our first camp site it rained steadily during the night,
and while I was enjoying the sound of rain on the canvas, Fiona
was up and tending to the sagging canvas! How come I didn’t get
up you ask, I love listening to the rain and I knew the water could
not get in. Fi could see welling up in the sagging roof, I needed
sleep, let me tell you I would be in big trouble without Fiona when
on the road!
We didn’t know it at that time, but, we had started a travel bug
that just keeps growing!
The Start - and so the journey began; and all is well .....