From an old worrywart

Thanks for that Footy... I tend to think the worst before tackling anything, the idea being that when it doesn't happen, you're pleasantly suprised... So far though, it seems I should have expected the worst, then doubled it... Luck is not my friend... Google on the other hand... But that's another story.

I agree with you entirely... good to find someone I agree with .....could you come over and have a chat?? Just come down the Eastern freeway out of Melbourne. By the way - it can be tough... poor visibility in fog, water sits on it after torrential rain, people crashing nearly every day.....maybe you should just email me :-))

If we are talking about the same troopy,,,bearded young guy,, last June.....???
I saw the damage of that roll over and the conditions and there was nothing he could do....
He waiting quite a while for help also and that was in peak times...

Hi Footie,

Interesting post. I consider myself a thinker and that gets me the job of planning our group trips. It truely amazes me when people leave their travel to "luck" alone but I can remember doing this myself when I was young so mybe it is something to do with age? It is a lot easier to plan these days as the resources (like EO) are just so good. It is also a lot easier to be prepared as well with the equipment available but this is limited to one's financial capacity.

There have been posts of people doing the CSR on bike and succeeding - he didn't succeed just on luck, a lot of planning is required. Some people would like the adventure that some uncertainty of a journey might provide, I just like that uncertainty to be limited as much as possible to things that bring pleasure.

It is sometimes also difficult to convince people that they need to be a little better prepared, going through this at the moment. A new traveller wants to come along on our next trip, his gear is OK but he needs to try some of it out. He is taking a camper trailer, one he has not towed before, and the trip involves some sand driving so I've suggested a trial weekend or 2 on Fraser to see how he goes but he is not concerned. There is just so much to learn but we have a couple of months to sort this out.

Kind regards

Even basic preparations get ignored by some.

I met a guy with his young family in a brand new twin cab hilux in the Vic high country in January. He had driven off the edge of his photocopied tourist map and was wondering how to get back to civilisation. 45º day, getting on to late afternoon, no visible gear in the truck, no spare water or fuel and they were looking pretty worried, but they were *still* driving! (away from the way out as well)

We stopped and helped them out, but where is the common sense? Rule 1 in navigation in the Navy was when in doubt, stop and think it out. If you are unsure of your location, keeping on driving is not likely to help the situation.

Hoping others can help is risky as well. We were well stocked up for a week away, but the Paj is petrol - so we couldn't lend diesel. We had UHF and a GSM Mobile, but no HF or Satphone if he was really desperate for assistance. We were OK for comms because we were sticking to well used tracks, had good paper and electronic maps, a compass and two GPSr's and the knowledge to use it all. (plus supplies to stay put for one week in comfort and 3 weeks at a pinch.)

I still remember meeting this yacht 400 nautical miles out into the Indian Ocean heading for the Cocos Islands. They were out of petrol and water because they had been becalmed for three days and had banked on the wind to get them there. One days motoring had used up their fule and they had only loaded water for 6 days. No HF or Epirb and not nearly worried as they should have been given that they were still at least 4 days sailing from anywhere IF the wind came up. We filled up their water but couldn't help with fuel (even our outboards were diesel). Coastwatch were flying in the area and we asked them to keep an eye on them until they reached Cocos - which they did eventually.

We always look at worst case for where we are going and do our risk analysis from there.

goodfday all
personally whether a day out or our 4 weeks holiday we always prepre for the worst ie all recovery gear (not nessacarally on top but murphy gaurantiees you need it if you havent got it) a day out normally enough food for 3 1spare jerry of fuel (can always break a fuel line )and uhf, hf and mobile phone and these days even a little portable uhf cause you just never ever know
try to leave nothing to luck but if something happens you have still left something you need at home
we travel a few solo Ks but it is nice to have company in case of problems
steve