Freelance Nomad Episode 3:
What I have learnt since being on the road:
Car Parks are my friend - but I always thought they were just somewhere to put your vehicle whilst otherwise occupied by going about a “normal” life.
An interesting feeling, to get your PJs on, brush your teeth, in what is basically a car park, to live in a car park . . . Make your tea, wash up, put the telly on - in a car park . . .
Sounds awful but not that bad actually considering its free and also considering the the alternative of “normal living”.
At least I can move on, I can change the view, I can change the neighbours.
Feels surreal that I can release the hand brake and go . . . . take my home anywhere I choose.
Stop, stay, enjoy, move on, explore . . .
Top Tips from the frontline:
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| Rays Rest, Miranda Thames |
Time: Take your time it’s not a race, it’s a way of life, a journey . . .
NZMCA: NZMCA parks, read the rules and abide if at all possible, at all times . . . seems some people have a hobby to find fault with any and everything, a newbies worst nightmare!
Planning: Plan ahead over tea n toast in the morning, rough out a plan, plus plan B.
There is more than a few times already I have kept driving not just because I like driving my VW but because the planned stop felt uncomfortable for an unspecified reason. Then you gotta find a dump & fill up water again, so planning ahead pays off.
Thinking: Don’t over think it . . . not had a problem yet finding a safe haven. Once the blinds are down, the lights on, you are as snug as a bug - does it really matter where you are ?
Laundry: A definite need - find a laundrette or pull into a campsite and spoil your self with long hot showers and all the other facilities maybe once every week/10 days or so.
Shopping: Go Shopping in new towns, new places - it can be fun . . .
Explore the town, take time to see whats there, no I mean really there . . . . we breeze through too fast too often.
Exercise: Break out the bike or walking boots, enjoy fresh air and exercise, if nothing else gives you an excuse to chill out later.
Social: Be brave, go out say hello to the neighbours, it usually results in an interesting conversation at least.
Or possibly an advisory telling off in the nicest possible way at worst (so far) . . . In my case for parking like the last occupant of that space (parallel NOT perpendicular to the boundary - OMG!) A most heinous crime in the book of NZMCA, doesn’t matter that this was NOT an NZMCA park but a public space in a TCDC area . . . I was still tarred with the rebellious brush of an infidel. Giggle . . . hides and runs away . . . .
Grumpy: Ignore the grumpy Gits who could spoil anything, even a fresh fruit salad, you will meet them in all strata of society and walks of life.
Damage: A stone chip, a lorry flipped me a stone or two, on the way back from Raglan, I heard it but didn’t notice anything until Hamilton. Huge stone chip mid windscreen, COVI came to the party and covered it. A BIG thanks to Novus Hamilton for fixing it super fast.
Water: Why is potable water from a decent tap hard to find and or hard to reach . . . Whats with the stupid press button taps? I got 300 lt tank, guess how long I will have to lean on that button . . . . I’m not doing it, gone else where, just maybe, that is what they want?
Dumping: Other peoples poop, look now there is no getting away from it, thats what your looking at . . . please folks who ever you are wash down the dump station before leaving - groan.
Neighbours: Sorry got to mention it, I have a new pet hate - Noisy whizz bang tourist camper vans, that creep in after I have settled in for the duration. Sounds snooty and elitist I know, but, for the love of what ever gods are appropriate out there, please, do you really have to open and close that fecking sliding door so loudly 100 times a night and talk so loud. Also when there is acres of space to park up just inches from my rig?
On the road: Letting the impatient masses pass, travelling happily along at 85kph to reduce speed to almost nothing at the glimpse of a suitable pull over, feck no, you have a chance if I’m currently doing less than 60, I’ll consider it but when barrelling down the road at full pelt do you think its a good idea to stamp on the brakes? Wrecks my fuel consumption if nothing else.
Food: Cooking from scratch, is a joy with ingredients sourced locally, seasonally, and with plenty of time to plan & prepare.
Rubbish: Recycling, not been so good of late. Once upon a time I was the diligent type to separate everything, even the organic waste to top up the compost heap. No longer, it seems very hard on the road to find bottle banks or recycling stations, never mind basic rubbish bins sometimes.
Respect: Have seen it three times now in just 6 weeks, a local (non camper) pee in the bushes instead of using local facilities nearby, no wonder it’s the campers who get the blame.
The Worst so far:
Dump station pressure, yes, it happened again, another impatient camper pressurising, causing me to forget to empty my rubbish and not completely filling my fresh water tank.
The Best:
Waking to sunlight & bird song when I am ready, opening the blind to a vista of natural loveliness or the occasional car park. Walking in nature and having time to enjoy.
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| Sunset in Raglan Rugby Grounds |
