In Reverse

Now, while the basics of a Happy Big Lap are pretty much self evident … a positive attitude and a reliable rig that suits the sort of travelling you want to do, some grey nomads do like to treat themselves to a ‘toy’ or two just to add a fun, extra element to their adventures. In this week’s podcast, host Oliver Gough talks to two veteran travellers who – almost by accident – discovered very different accessories which transformed and enriched their on-the-road adventures. Graham Cupitt now wouldn’t even contemplate pulling out of his driveway without a kayak aboard, and Mark Forsayth says stashing a drone in the van is the only way to go.

Australians are now finally free to fly overseas again but who would want to leave behind the red dust, the Happy Hours, and the adventure of the Outback? And why? In this week’s podcast, host Oliver Gough talks to veteran grey nomad Kerry Bruty who loves to park his rig here for a month or two while he heads off to explore the US in an RV.  And Oliver also talks to travel addict Steve Jones and finds out why taking the Big Lap in Australia is every bit as memorable as camping with penguins on the Falkland Isles and being robbed at gunpoint in Colombia!

Back in 2013, Colin Caudell was living the grey nomad dream as he and wife Suzanne travelled Australia full-time in their luxury fifth wheeler. Then, in an instant, everything changed. In this week’s podcast, Colin talks to host Oliver Gough, about the dreadful accident that claimed the life of Suzanne, and turned his life on its head. And he talks of how writing and dancing helped him slowly to come to terms with his loss … and eventually to re-discover his love of the open road.

Now, there’s certainly no shortage of grey nomads who throw in a rod and reel as they pack up the rig for the Big Lap, and imagine themselves at some idyllic waterway landing a monster fish, and later being the envy of the campsite as their catch cooks on the campfire. To find out if those freezer-filling dreams are naïve, or a realistic possibility, host Oliver Gough talks to Neil Hawkless, a full-time grey nomad who’s given it a go … and to the editor of Fishing World magazine, Scott Thomas.

For many grey nomads, life on the open road is an absolute breeze. Things work out, plans come together, and the only challenge is deciding which part of paradise to camp the night in. However, others are not quite so lucky. In this week’s podcast, host Oliver Gough meets two solo women travellers who have both had their adventures interrupted by extremely serious health issues. Yet it’s hard to believe there could be two more positive, more inspiring, or more happy people on the Big Lap. 

The vast majority of grey nomads have the time of their lives on the open road, but not every trip goes perfectly smoothly. People do have accidents, do have breakdowns, and – sadly – they do very, very occasionally find themselves in genuinely frightening positions. This week, host Oliver Gough speaks to one of those hugely unlucky, one-in-a-million travellers who found themselves in quite a terrifying situation. And, as Julie Dryden explains, it all started with a dream camping hosting position in a magical part of WA.

For most 73-year-olds, travelling around Australia in a caravan or a motorhome is more than enough adventure … but not for Ken Pisichko! In this week’s podcast, the amazing solo traveller explains why doing the Big Lap on a bicycle is the only way to go (and termite mounds are a big part of that!).  And he also tells host Oliver Gough about the reactions he gets when meeting more conventional fellow grey nomads … and about the incredible generosity he has encountered along the way.  All truly remarkable!

In this week’s podcast we’ll be talking to a grey nomad gold detecting ‘addict’ and a gem fossicking expert. So, join us as we share part of their journey ... and find out why treasure hunting is the perfect Big Lap hobby.  

It’s a manoeuvre so treacherous that some caravan parks have started offering a ‘marriage saving service’ to save hapless grey nomads the stress – and potential embarrassment – of attempting it. This week, we look at the trials and tribulations of reversing a caravan into a tight campsite. First, grey nomad couple Jim and Jennifer explain who’s to blame for their reversing problems … each other! And then, reversing magician John reveals his secret technique for perfect parking every time.