Captain's Log

As you may have realised, the blogs so far have been written by the First Mate, so I thought I would add a few words.

I really enjoyed returning to Singapore after a period of forty years. In those days when Malaysia and Singapore couldn't decide if they were one or two countries, Singapore still had the colonial air about it. Now Singapore has developed so much to become one of the major tourist centres and a commercial capital of the Far East. I was slightly disappointed that the sense of adventure has diminished somewhat. A shopping trip to Change Alley used to be an exciting experience, when you were relieved to arrive at the other end with your watch and wallet intact. Now it is probably safer than going to Lakeside. Orchard Road was once a road with lots of individual airconditioned camera shops owned by Asians, and it is now a street full of Bluewater type shopping malls, with most of the shops selling designer goods.

It was really good to have the opportunity of travelling around the NT Top End. The only part of NT we visited during the 70s was the Centre, when we got to Alice Springs and Ayers Rock (as it was called). Arriving at the beginning of November, we missed the peak season, which coincides with the "Dry Season", but were ahead of the Wet Season. This meant that the campgrounds were all pretty quiet and the roads were virtually empty apart from the road trains. It also meant that the crocodile cruises were on the smaller boats allowing us to get closer to nature!

Within hours of arriving in Darwin we were joined by our Navigator, Bruce (well actually TomTom). Just round the corner from our campervan pickup in Darwin, there was a Dick Smith Electronics where we bought an Australian satnav. Having already down loaded a lot of Australian POIs, we can readily find our next campsite or Coles Supermarket. Interestingly it appears that some of the Australian mapping has been simplified or is still being developed. When we travelled North along the tortuous route along the coast, from the Daintree River Ferry, to Cape Tribulation, the satnav would suggest that we should Turn Right in 80 metres. This was a bit worrying as any right turn off the twisting coastal road would have taken us over the cliff into the sea. The satnav has also been very useful for planning the different legs of our journey, working out our daily itinerary.

During my stints at the communal BBQs cooking the evening meal, (when Sheila says I am networking), I have met several interesting characters. At Hayes Creek RoadHouse Campground, I was chatting to a Road Worker, who drove a Grader. He was complaining about the fact that the Wet Season would mean no work in the Top End of NT for three months, so he was travelling to Alice Springs to find continuous employment.

At Katherine Gorge campground I met an Asian from Sydney with a Kea 4wd camper on some relocation deal that meant he had to get from Cairns to Darwin in less than five days. It is strange to hear the Chinese guys with a strong Aussie accent.

Then in Ayr I joined a lot of Japanese students who were envious of my Sirloin steaks as they cooked their noodles and beans.

During our trip, we have met many different nationalities. The people we meet travelling appear to fall into one of about four different categories. Firstly there is the definite backpacker brigade with vans or station wagons of varying vintage, or Wicked campers.

At the other end of the spectrum there are the Grey Nomads who may or may not have a fixed base somewhere. These Aussie pensioners have often either sold or rented out their home and taken to the road. Most seem to have come from the South and travelled North to benefit from the warmer weather.

There is another group of Australian travellers who seem to be economic migrants, like the road worker above. These are generally young families where the menfolk are often working close to the campsite, and in a couple of instances are hoping to get a house locally.

Then there are the SKIers like ourselves, recently retired and are taking time out. I think some of the Grey Nomads are SKIers who have already spent their kids' inheritance. Like the old chap at Hayes Creek who has told his children that all they will inherit is a clapped out Winebago.

- Peter