Camping in a prickly field 100 kms from Tibooburra.
Three months in the outback, travelling around in 4WD, pulling our camper trailer behind and throwing off all the constraints of everyday life, work and routine. Sounds lovely, doesn’t it? Put four kids in the mix, add one car-sick mother and wife, a decidedly un-outback like husband and a healthy spoonful of inexperience and what we actually have is, possibly, a recipe for disaster!
Of course, I’m hoping our outback adventure will be wonderful and amazing. But when my husband Mark first suggested it, my brain and body went into complete shock and instant rejection. Mark and I have four beautiful children: Beth (9 years old), Sarah (7), Sam (4) and Amy (2). Now, I love my kids and I love my husband, but really, do I want to spend every living, breathing moment with them all for three long months...that is the question?!
All the negative aspects of such a trip immediately flew threw my head... my kids start fighting before the seatbelts go on, I get hideously car sick and can’t turn around to yell at them to be quiet; there are crocodiles, spiders and snakes in the outback; the outback toilet is a hole in the ground; what am I going to do to entertain the kids in the car; how can I get my husband to stop singing in the car; what are we going to eat, wear, do with school; I’m going to miss my friends, my family, my bed! AAAAHHHHH!
Ok, calm down, deep breath and think clearly. Once I started to do that, a few little positives began creeping into my head. No routine, no school runs, no housework, minimal washing, quality time with the family... no stress other than where to camp and how long to stay, beautiful places to see. After many, many discussions about how it was all going to work, we finally made the decision to do it. Just do it. I only had a few conditions: I must have internet access where possible, I am not camping beside a river that crocodiles inhabit and there is to be no hanky panky in the tent where the kids are right beside us. Yes I know its three months but bad luck buddy!
Once the decision was made, instead of just freaking out about all those issues I thought might arise, I started to plan for them. I started seeking out families who have done it before and asked them a million questions. I also started to pray to the crocodile gods that they might look favourably upon me, and not send any big ones my way.
Of course, we didn’t actually own a 4WD or a camper trailer. Thus began the hunt for the perfect pair, which in the end proved not as bad as you would think. Nissan Patrol, check. Camper trailer big enough to fit our family, check. Experience with 4WD and camper trailers...not so much.
With Christmas thrown in and multiple social events, we had the 4WD and trailer sitting there and hadn’t used it once. Time for some test runs...
Test run 1
Trialled the camper trailer in the park two doors up from our house. We pulled out the camping chairs, invited some friends over and had afternoon tea and a few quiet wines. We then attempted to put the trailer back down again. Two hours later, called my mum and dad for help. Not a raging success.
Test run 2
One night in Yea. Mark left earlier in the day and set up the trailer by himself. He did a surprisingly good job. I joined him with the kids later and we had a lovely relaxing afternoon. Forgot most of the cooking utensils and the fact that you can’t have a campfire in a caravan park, so ended up getting fish and chips. Less washing up already. Bonus.
Sleeping in the camper trailer for the first time proved interesting. We are up on the trailer bed mattress and the kids were in camping bunks right next to us on the floor. The trailer tent was so dark, the kids were freaking out and I began to think I could hear something swishing outside in the grass. Croc? In Yea? Possible.
After much excited chatting between the kids and repeated reassurances that there were no crocodiles lurking in the dark, they finally fell asleep. I however, did not fall asleep. Every little noise was magnified. Somewhere in Yea, I swear a cow was either giving birth or desperately in need of milking. There was a party on the hill and no, I didn’t want to come, or bring a bottle of rum... just please be quiet so I can sleep! I became convinced there was a murderer lurking outside, or perhaps a werewolf (hopefully getting in the way of the croc) either way I wasn’t getting up to go the toilet no matter how bad the cramps got.
All up, we were feeling pretty confident really!
