Are you towing something?

If you are driving to your new posting in Defence, one question is always asked by your workmates, ‘Are you towing something?’ Defence provides a generous daily allowance to drive to your new posting as well as a reasonable number of days to make the trip. If towing, the daily distance allowance is reduced, thus increasing the number of days that you are entitled to travel and therefore the allowance. In 2014 we returned from Darwin with an ancient and character filled 1984 Jayco camper trailer, affectionately known as Matilda. This time we have gone up market with an Avan Cruiseliner Adventure Plus known as Morrie; the name deriving from the fact that it is a van and one of our favourite singers is Van Morrison.

Morrie is proving to be a good investment. Compact, light to tow and easy to set up Morrie is providing convenient, inexpensive and homely accommodation. With all the mod cons, microwave, air con, three-way fridge, running hot and cold water we are living like royalty in our 4.4m (14 feet) mobile tiny home.

Many Australians retire, buy a van and travel around Australia. We are doing things in reverse; buying the van, travelling around Australia but all while being on the ‘Queen’s shilling’. We are very blessed. Our two Canberra grandsons who have been serious adventure campers in the NT, are a little bemused that we have joined the dreaded ranks of what they call ‘Grey Nomans’. The type that clutter up the local Woolies carpark during the dry season in Darwin.

At the back of a showground caravan park in Lakes Entrance, Victoria, we eat our dinner behind Morrie, sitting on fold up chairs, facing the river, enjoying baked beans, sausages and rice. Keeping us company are a family of black swans; cob, pen and three cygnets. It doesn’t get much better!