Hi i’m Tania! My husband Steve and I travel with our children in a 40ft. Custom “Steve” built motor home along with our children, now 9yrs.old, Jordan and Maddison. When I mention the buses name I’m sure people will go “ We’ve seen that bus” called Synchronicity!
I remember the decision to travel – long term, and with our kids. Twins no less! Family and friends were horrifi ed and supportive at the same time. “You don’t take off around Australia with your three year olds”.. But we discovered you can you know!
It doesn’t matter what age, 3 or 13, the road can take you or your family anywhere your heart desires. And that’s the key, DESIRE! You have the desire so make it happen. For us travelling around for 5 1⁄2 years with our children has been an amazing journey. The trials and tribulations of our times on the road i am most willing to share with you.
I may inspire a few to start saving, or packing! Spark a desire to see this great country of ours up close and personal. Most importantly introduce you to a whole different community of people that roams the country with you, that gives you the courage to keep on travelling…
It’s the family you can’t take with you when you need a cuppa or a chat, a hand, a smile or a surrogate grandparent for a hurt child. Wether you travel for 2 weeks or 2 years your experiences on the road with children will leave you with unforgettable memories and a view into Australia’s biggest backyard.
What an experience!!
Speaking of experience its not all-smooth “sailing” or travelling in this case! Most stories are good ones; I’m leaving you with a story that’s good
but based on bad happenings.
Just to be different.
On this occasion we are 2 weeks into our travels after having a long stop catching up with family and friends. We are usually unsettled after a visit
as it takes a while to get the kids into routine. The bus kept breaking down. Firstly, with a split fuel line, which we had already repaired twice. Once in Burra and then again just before Coober Pedy as it split again. If that isn’t enough to try your patience we thought we were good to go, to fi nd the alternator packed it in! All this takes place on the side of the Stuart Highway with our bus going absolutely no- where. Luckily it was in a gravel rest stop so we had some room to move. (The kids need to get out and about or the mum goes crazy!)
It was high 30 “s during the day and low 3”s at night. No power to plug into so no air-conditioning!
I home school the kids in the morning as its too hot in the afternoon and too hard for them to concentrate. Steve each morning went off in our Rav 4 to drive the 85km. back to the nearest roadhouse to check on and order the relevant parts needed. No mobile phone reception meant he also spent time on their phone. They got to know him and his stranded family well! They gave him free coffees and offered water for us back at the bus. (That wouldn’t happen anymore i don’t think.)
In the afternoons to help time go by, Steve took the kids in the Rav 4 to collect wood.
The fi rst time they came back the kids had their heads out the back windows whooping and yelling like Indians on the warpath in a bad western! A great big log swaying along behind like an overgrown snake
on steroids, very freaky!! “This is for our fi re mum”. They had a ball. This became a daily ritual for the FIVE DAYS we were there!! We built a friendly fi re and every so often a traveller would pull into the stop and we would wish that they would stay and keep us company. The first night we had 2 “friends” (as the kids put it) stay and sit around the fi re with us. I have to tell you we met so many people who contributed to our fire with songs, music, funny stories and most importantly companionship.
One bloke stayed to help Steve put the alternator in,” thanks Bill” and a great old guy on his own, after his wife sadly passed away, entertained the kids during the day and shared fresh whiting at night that he had caught with his grandson in Ceduna. Yum! That was the worst breakdown we ever had but one of happiest times we shared with fellow travellers. (It kept me from packing up and going home that’s for sure..) As for the kids they became great fi re makers and made the best ‘mud cakes’ and gravel ‘cairns’ to mark the spot ‘Synchronicity’ had rested for fi ve days. This story continues but that will be the next issue to catch up.
Happy travels, regards Tania.
