Quondong Point to Tom Price

Thursday 11 July – Barn Hill Station

Leaving one of our favourite bush camps so far, Quondong Point, we travelled the 50 klm back into Broome to check on mail, top up shopping and fuel then headed south to go to Barn Hill only around 140 klm away.  We had to stop at roadworks on the way out of Broome and the signage on Wickedcamper stopped in front of us kept us amused.  

Road into Barn Hill

Turning west off the Northern Highway we travelled the relatively good dirt road for 10 klm to arrive at the pretty and very busy Barn Hill Station Caravan Park.  We jagged a powered site right at the front of the park overlooking the red cliffs and ocean beyond.

I connected up to the water and power which was followed by several trips back to the power box after the power kept tripping off.  After speaking to our neighbour I was informed the power is only 4amps (instead of 15amps) so that it is insufficient to run anything with a heating element.  Our hot water system, kettle, microwave and air conditioner were all banned substances for our time at Barn Hill.  Our hot water system is gas or electric so I switched it over to gas so we could have showers and hot washing up water.  Having hot shower water was a good outcome as the amenities block here are a little different – they have absolutely no roof/ceiling/overhang or anything else that provides overhead protection of any sort.  All sounds, scents and singing go up and out all around the park.  I assume that one carries an umbrella and waterproof toilet paper and soap to the toilet and shower when it is raining.

With the van set up we set off down the red cliffs onto the wide beach out front.  We walked for a couple of hours along the beach timing our return to coincide with yet another beautiful orange sunset over the ocean.  Like Broome, this event is enhanced by enjoying ones favourite drink while waiting for the inevitable sinking of the sun into the Indian Ocean around 5.35pm.  Whilst we didn’t have a drink ourselves we still drank in the beautiful event with the many people gathered with us.  The following are some photos from Barn Hill:

Friday 12 July to Sunday 14 July - 80 Mile Beach

Leaving Barn Hill we set sail south again travelling a couple of hundred kilometres before turning right again and travelling another 10 klm over good dirt road to 80 Mile Beach Caravan Park. Knowing we wouldn't get a powered site due to the school holiday crowds we took an unpowered site and were placed one row back behind the sand dunes – just perfect.  We have tap water and a large perfectly grassed site.  The weather remains beautiful with balmy days, cool nights, light winds and cloudless skies – just as it has been for most of this trip since Wyndham. 

We booked for two nights, extended by another and could have easily stayed a week.  The combination of great beach walks, beautiful weather and a little local community of friendly campers around us made for one of those classic beach-side holiday atmospheres.  Each night eleven of us would gather after dinner at Ian and Barb’s annex for a hilarious game of 30 year old Trivial Pursuit, Boys v’s Girls.  During the day we would catch up around the campsites swapping travel stories and ideas and stirring the other team about how bad they were.  Long walks on the beach each morning were rewarded with unusual shells and beautiful views.  Lots of large thread-fin salmon are being caught along the beach as well as numerous sharks and large sting rays.  It is not a place for swimming here.

Again the beauty of this special place is best shown through some photos we took:

There is no phone or internet connection here except intermittent phone reception sometimes late afternoon or late at night.  To obtain this requires the right timing and to stand on the highest rock on top of the sand dunes in front of the van park.  Space is at a premium when the signal arrives.  On Friday sometime a message came through to call Amy’s partner, Jamie.   When I finally got through some hours later, I was overjoyed to find out that Jamie was asking me for Amy’s hand in marriage.  Through the static, I think he heard that I couldn't be happier as next day there were multiple messages on my phone from Amy and when I finally got through she filled me in on the proposal and her excitement was contagious.  We’re so happy for them.

Monday 15 July 2013 - Albert Tognolini Lookout

Leaving 80 Mile Beach this morning was sad as we said goodbye to the lovely people we had met and friends we had made over the last three days.  Handshakes and hugs over with, we headed off with hula dancing and waving going on in our rear view mirrors.  We will certainly catch up with at least one couple from the group, Ian and Barb, as they live just 10 minutes from us on the Gold Coast and are due to return home much the same time as we are.

260 klm south of us is Port Hedland, a very busy and large mining port.  Tourists are not at all well catered for here and van parks charge $50 per night for sites with no shade and all bitumen surface.  We stopped here for food and fuel and headed off at noon towards Karijini NP in the Hamersley Ranges. 

The road to Karijini is very sparse as far as bush camps go although we had three options in our sights.  The first one was empty and close to the road, the second (Bea Bee) was good, down a sand track beside a dry river bed with just one caravan in, whilst the third was just right. 

Albert Tognolini Lookout is located 17 klm south of the Auski Roadhouse, the last fuel stop before Karijini.  Perched high up along a ridge, the lookout has spectacular views over the iron laden ruby red mountains covered in golden spinifex.  Given we didn’t arrive until 4.30 pm we were expecting the worst as far as site selection was concerned, however we jagged a great site on a little ridge jutting out into the valley.  With 270 degree views of the scenery below, we set up camp, got out the chairs, put dinner in the oven to cook, cracked the top off a beer and a bottle of champagne, toasted family and friends, all of whom we wished were here to experience this with us (but you would have to find a camp somewhere else) and realised that this was living.

As expected, the sun again set in the west this time creating a silhouette of the ghost gum tree located just behind our camp.  The stars came out, the beer glass emptied; our dinner was cooked so inside we went after a long but rewarding full day of travel. 

Tuesday 16 July – Day 1 Karijini NP

Up early to watch the sun rise over the eastern range at our Albert Tognolini Lookout campsite, we set up our chairs and had breakfast as the morning sun started to flood the valley below us. The yellow coloured spinifex carpeting the deep red iron laden ranges slowly lit up under the clear blue sky above.  This bush camp has been one of the most picturesque we have had on this trip. 

Site 51 Kangaroo Loop - Karijini

Packing up and leaving around 8am we headed down the mountain into Karijini NP.  With WA school holidays only half way through we were concerned about getting one of the 112 campsites in the Park.  A couple of days ago the WA ABC radio advised travellers not go to Karijini as it was overfull.  We arrived around 9.15am and sat in a queue to get into the national park.  As it turned out we had no problem getting in as there were 65 sites turning over that day.  We were allocated a good sunny and private spot in Kangaroo Loop site No. 51.  We ended up camping two sites from a lovely couple we met at 80 Mile Beach, Dino and Rose.  They were out sightseeing for the day but we spent a very pleasant afternoon and evening with them later in the day. 

Karijini has two sightseeing areas in a T shape.  We are camped at Dales Campground with Dales Gorge just 400 metres away.  At one end is Fortescue Falls with Circular Pool about 1 klm at the other end.  Day one we did a three hour walk along the ridge looking down into the Gorge.  We have already decided to extend our planned 2 night stay into a 3 night stay.  There is absolutely no phone or internet reception so by the time we leave we will have been over 3 days without contact with the outside world.

Wednesday 17 July – Day 2 Karijini NP

Up early and dressed for a solid walk, we spent 3.5 hours in Dales Gorge going up and back.  We arrived so early we had both Fortescue Falls and Circular Falls to ourselves.   The sky was cloudless, the temperature was moderate, and a cool wind kept us very comfortable as we explored Dales Gorge from one end to the other and back again with a short trip to Fern Pool at the end.

Dales

A little waterfall

Circular Pool

Thursday 18 July – Day 3 Karijini NP

Flooded track to Handrail Gorge

Knox Lookout

Weano Gorge - Kirijini NP

 Up early once more, and with temperatures quite cool, we set off to drive the 43 klm of mostly dirt road to the Weano Recreation Area, still part of Karijini NP.   We started off to walk Hancock Gorge only to find we were likely to get wet doing so. Not deterred, we set off to walk to Handrail Pool only to find that due to recent rains we couldn’t find a way through the water to the Pool.  Still not deterred, we walked along the base of the beautiful Weano Gorge and and along its ridge.  We then stopped in at Junction Pool then Oxer Lookouts for further breathtaking views.  Oxer Lookout provided magnificent views of the junction of Red, Weano, Joffre and Hancock Gorges 130 metres below. It was here we found a rock to sit on right on the very edge of the gorge and had morning tea.

Oxer Lookout

On our way home, we decided to call in to Knox and Joffre lookouts only to find they also had walks available.   Given we still had plenty of energy, after looking at the views from Knox Lookout, we drove to Joffre Waterfall Lookout and walked/ climbed/ scrambled/ slid our way down a Class 5 (bloody hard) walk of 3 kilometres return to the very bottom of the waterfall and back.   

Most of the other walks we’ve done over the past three days have been Class 3 or 4 walks so this was quite a bit more challenging particularly once we left the marked track to inch our way along a very narrow ledge above the water just a few metres below.  We were rewarded by standing in the base of the cathedral like plunge pool with the waterfall tumbling down the rocks in front of us.  We felt quite exhilarated by the end of the days walk and returned back home for a late lunch. 

Joffre Gorge - almost to the waterfall

Lonely Planet states that Karijini NP is “arguably one of WA’s most magnificent destinations” and we can support that sentiment.

  

Friday 19 July – Karijini to Tom Price

Leaving Karijini, we travelled to Mt Bruce (Punurrunha) lookout.  Mt Bruce is WA’s second-highest mountain because there is another mountain higher.  Below us was one of the numerous mines in this region with a kilometre long iron ore train lumbering past us.  Given we had plenty of time for our short (110 klm) drive to Tom Price we pulled into a roadside stop signed as a photo opportunity.  It turned out to be very unusual in that it was basically a large circle of memorial stones on top of a hillock overlooking the Pilbara plains.  The stones were ordinary rocks containing various messages about departed loved ones. Initially we thought the place was badly graffitied but a close look showed how special this place was for so many people.

Nameless Mountain - Tom Price

We drove to our caravan park in the mining town of Tom Price to start our chores after a week or so without power and with limited water.  The washing machine got a workout and the car and caravan a hose down. We finally have phone and internet so quite a while was spent going through nearly 100 emails and several phone messages.   

Nameless Mountain - Tom Price

After braking the back of our chores we drove a 4WD only track up to the top of Nameless Mountain to look down on the town of Tom Price and the iron ore mines in the hills around us. This drive is the highest drive in the whole of Western Australia.  The day was clear and cold with high winds.  They weren’t joking about it being 4WD only – the steep, rutted, rocky and windy track required low range 4WD for the duration of the journey however the views were magnificent and the drive was a “boys own adventure” experience.

 Saturday 20 July – Day 2 Tom Price

The wind started howling through the rigging over night (aka caravan awning) so we were both up during the middle of the night in the cold (5 degrees) taking in washing then putting the awning away.  

This morning we drove the 70 klm, including 30 klm of dirt, road to Hamersley Gorge and walked a short way to a stunning gorge with a small waterfall and enticing pool.   The waves in the rock formations tell of turbulent times in the past as the rock wall of the gorge formed and reformed over the last 2500 million years.   

Morning tea spot - Hamersley Gorge

Once back at the van we finished off our chores including trying to rid ourselves, the van and the car of the red dust and soil which permeates everything.  

Our plan is to start heading towards the coast from here, some 650 kilometres away.  It will take an overnight stay somewhere before we head into Cape Range NP, south of Exmouth.  The distances between things to see is quite staggering up here.

We both remain healthy and are still enjoying our time on the road.

Kununurra to Broome then Quondong Point

Wednesday 26 June - Keep River NP to Kununurra

Hidden Valley, Mirima National Park, Kununurra

We crossed the Northern Territory/Western Australia border, handed over our fruit & vegetable peel rubbish and wound our watches back 1.5 hours to drove the relatively short distance to Kununurra - the "Eastern Gateway to the Kimberley".   Driving through the western gate we stayed at the Ivanhoe caravan park located in town which is a big, busy yet spacious & green enough park.  After visiting the tourist information centre, we drove to Hidden Valley, Mirima National Park and took the relatively short yet very scenic walk up and over rocky dome-like outcrops.  We then visited Kelly's Knob lookout and saw more of the expansive plains and the irrigated areas from the Ord River project in the background of Kununurra and over the township.

Hidden Valley, Mirima National Park

Kelly's Knob Lookout, Kununurra

Thursday 27 June - Day 2 Kununurra

Ivanhoe River Crossing

We spent the day pottering in the local area which included shopping for bits and pieces then visiting the Ivanhoe River Crossing, which was closed due to a half a metre of water flowing over it.  Numerous teenagers were trying to walk over the crossing while a large freshie lay sunning itself on a rock half way across.  Saltwater crocodiles are also common here so we left before Julie was called on to use her doctoring skills and me my fainting skills.  

We enjoyed a lovely lunch at a local cafe near Ivanhoe Crossing before we took a drive over and below the Diversion Dam that holds back the massive Lake Argyle.  The day was capped off with a fine shopping experience at the local Coles supermarket.  

The weather remains quite hot with overnight temperatures dipping to 23 degrees at 6am before rising to the mid-thirties during the day.  It's hot enough for everyone in the caravan park to find a cool shady spot or the air-conditioning of their vans from early afternoon before committing  to the regular afternoon happy hour from about 4pm.

Friday 28 June - Day 3 Kununurra

Lake Argyle is Australia's largest freshwater lake of 2,000 square kilometres.   The Dam has created extensive and very fertile farmlands in the middle of the northern nowhere.  We decided not to do one of the many boat trips on the Lake but to take the scenic drive ourselves to the Ord River Dam and Lake Argyle which was very impressive.

Lake Argyle

 If we travel this way again I would do a boat trip as Lake Argyle is far from a boring expanse of water but is dotted with numerous islands creating a very pretty backdrop.

Saturday 29 June - Kununurra to Wyndham

Heading north for the short drive to Wyndham (100 klm), we arrived at the Wyndham Caravan Park which is grassy, treed and comes complete with a resident donkey wandering freely between caravans and with the biggest Boab tree "in captivity".  Wyndham is the most northerly town in Western Australia and was once a thriving port although those days are long gone with the unofficial capital of the north moving from Wyndham to Kununurra when the Ord Dam was completed.

The old port area of the town has a brand new award winning fishing jetty for the two local fishermen to use. There's not much else here other than a rather good cafe - the Rusty Tin Shed - where we had a nice lunch.  The new part of the town also has a good cafe and a giant crocodile and giant indigenous sculptures.  

Warriu Dream-time bronze statues 

The main attraction is the Five Rivers (Bastion) Lookout which we visited twice - once to find it and the second time for the mandatory sunset photo opportunity.  This provides a birds-eye view over Cambridge Gulf including the surrounding Durack, Pentecost, King, Forrest and Ord Rivers and expansive mud flats and sandstone escarpments.  The area has featured in movies such as "Australia".  So as the sun set rapidly in the west just like most places we have been to, we photographed then travelled the windy and steep road home.

Sunday 30 June - Day 2 Wyndham

I spent a while doing handyman work on the caravan's white goods - the fridge has just started to struggle with the heat and the washing machine no longer empties.  Two hours later when I finished my tinkering, the washing machine no longer empties and the fridge is struggling with the heat.  Climbing into the car we took a rough dirt road drive along the meandering 22 klm rocky King River Road which led across salt flats and alongside the King River to the Moochalabra Dam (drinking water supply for Wyndham), an Aboriginal Rock Art site and The Prison (Boab) Tree.  

Returning back to town we visited the Warriu Dream-time bronze statues which depict an Aboriginal family and native animals complete with graffiti and in a somewhat now run down location.

We both liked Wyndham although  initially it seems there is little here.  A couple of days poking around is very rewarding.  A bonus is that the town has the cheapest fuel in northern Western Australia which wouldn't be too hard to achieve as we are constantly paying above $1.75 and up to $1.99.9 in some places.

Wyndham Van Park - "Fuzzy" the park donkey

Wyndham Van Park - "Fuzzy" the park donkey at our door

Wyndham - the large crocodile

Monday 1 July - Wyndham to the Bungle Bungle Range in the Purnululu National Park

We're back to our bucket list again with the Bungle Bungles being a major item for us.   At the moment it's very busy and very expensive.  Having only booked 3 days ago, we could only get in to an unpowered site at $35 per night prepaid - and that only gets us to the caravan park one kilometre off the highway requiring a further 52 klm drive over very windy, corrugated and rough, rocky roads to the Bungle Bungles themselves.  

The Domes

The afternoon we arrived we set up the van then took a scenic helicopter ride which provides an ideal way to see and appreciate the whole area and put the Bungle Bungle Range into perspective as part of the overall Purnululu NP. There were three of us plus the pilot in a helicopter with no doors providing a wonderful viewing and photographic experience.  For over 30 minutes we flew over the domes, escarpments and gorges of this unique  World Heritage Area landscape.   

Bungle Bungle Van Park - our van in the centre of picture

Tuesday 2 July - Day 2 Bungle Bungles

We set the alarm for 5.00 am and set off at 6.00 am taking an hour and a half to travel the Spring Creek Track which was 53 klms of corrugated and rocky road, blind crests, sharp dips and four creek crossings to get to the Bungle Bungle ranger station and information centre.   Suffice to say, with our early start, we beat most of the traffic and the track was apparently as good as it gets thus our shorter than anticipated drive in.  

Echidna Chasm - Bungle Bungles

We ventured 24 klm to the northern end of the NP along good dirt roads to walk the spectacular Echidna Gorge right to it's narrow end.   We drove to a few lookouts nearby then travelled 50 klm on good dirt road to the southern end of the park to walk to the Cathedral Gorge and Dome Circuit.  

Cathedral Gorge

Cathedral Gorge

Cathedral Gorge is so spectacular and the beehive Domes are intriguing black and yellowish striped rounded rocky outcrops.   We had a quick lunch at the airfield watching the helicopters take off and land. To finish the day off we visited another lookout that overlooked the whole escarpment before we made our way home arriving back at 3.00 pm exhausted and delighted by our day's adventures.    

Kungkalanayl Lookout - Bungle Bungles

Wednesday 3 July - Bungle Bungles to Fitzroy Crossing

Two days ago we were hot overnight - a week or so ago we were sweltering.  Last night we had the doona on top of the blanket and bed spread and were comfortable waking up to 6.2 degrees this morning.   

Leaving the Bungle Bungles today we travelled 400 klm along very good highway to Fitzroy Crossing.   Our plans have had to change a little as we need to arrive in Broome four days earlier than planned in order to take our caravan to the only repair man who can service our washing machine north of Bunbury (just below Perth). He's heading off on holidays this coming weekend for two weeks which would mean we would be without our washing machine for 2-3 months.  To achieve this timing change we have had to sacrifice Tunnel Creek ("Yeah!" says Julie as the thought of walking thigh deep in water 750 metres though a dark cave with bats and freshwater crocs for company could not be made to sound attractive no matter how I described it) and Windjana Gorge (more freshies).

Arriving at Fitzroy Crossing I was amazed by the transformation since I was last here 16 years ago when the place was seriously scary with most of the windows boarded up and a recommendation to stay out of town.  This time around the houses appear new and well maintained and there is a supermarket and a nice feel about the place.   Our experiences were enhanced by the three indigenous women we encountered working in the tourism industry who demonstrated a good understanding of the local history and natural beauty of the area and each of them providing us with great service.

Geikie Gorge

Thursday 4 July - Day 2 Fitzroy Crossing - Geikie Gorge in the Geikie National Park

Geikie Gorge Freshie

What a perfect day it was today with the beautiful weather making the boat trip through Geikie Gorge on the Fitzroy River complete. We had sightings of many sunbathing freshwater crocodiles scattered along the shores and rock outcrops.  The east (Darngku) and west walls of this 30 metre high gorge are an interesting mix of colourful cliffs and sculptured rock formations which are all part of an ancient limestone reef system - the Devonian Reef - created some 360 million years go.

Friday 5 July - Fitzroy Crossing to Broome

We had a big day planned today - drive to Broome, remove washing machine and leave with repairer, collect mail and check into van park.  Leaving at 6.30am to start our drive, we headed west travelling the 400+ klm to Broome with nothing specific to report other than the road was excellent and the scenery ever changing.  The huge boab trees became fewer and fewer and skinnier and skinnier.  Evidence of the recent heavy rains also started to become evident with lots of roadworks happening for 30 klm into Broome.   

All our plans worked out as planned with the washing machine fixed, mail collected (replacement camera) and set up in the van park.  Arriving in Broome is quite a milestone as we have now crossed Australia from east to west although we are not yet at its widest point.   

Cable Beach sunset, Broome

Broome is full!  Caravan sites are at a premium and everything has the tourist "discount" added to it - another 25% on the normal price.  That said, the weather is just perfect with cloudless skies, a light easterly breeze and cool nights.  Cable Beach is beautiful and we take a walk along it each morning. It is obvious why it is rated as as one of the top 5 in the world.

We are staying at the Tarangau Caravan Park in their Emergency Site until a normal site becomes available in two days.  As it turned out we grew accustomed to our Emergency Site and stayed the whole time there.  Morning and afternoon the Cable Beach Camels walked right past us.  If we didn't hear them we soon became aware of them as we were downwind.

Saturday 6 July - Day 2 Broome

A beautiful beach walk in the morning was followed by a return visit to watch the sun set dramatically over the water in the west over the flat aqua ocean.  A big day!

Sunday 7 July - Day 3 Broome

After our morning beach walk, we visited the port area of Broome and the dinosaur coastline with Anastasia's Pool and rocky outcrops.   Another big day!

Anastasia's Pool

Cable Beach sunset

Monday 8 July - Day 4 Broome

After our morning beach walk, we went out for fish and chips at the Port then into the town centre to do the supermarket shuffle.   Broome historically is noted for its pearls and the pearling industry - and will struggle on for a while longer as we only looked and didn't buy.  

Tuesday 9 July - Broome to Quondong Point

Reading about Quondong Point and recalling that Dad camped there years ago, we decided to chance our luck by driving the 49 klm north of Broome, about half of which was on a corrugated and sometimes sandy dirt track, which the car and caravan handled well.   We arrived at a free camp at Quondong Point and what a beauty it is 10 metres above the beach with spectacular ocean views, a bit of shade, no neighbours and it's totally free which is  very pleasant change from the peak season priced caravan parks we've stayed in recently.   Unbelievably, we have phone and intermittent internet connectivity - could it get any better? 

Quondong Point - view from campsite - tide in

Rock Art

In this relatively isolated area, imagine our surprise when we saw dozens of people on the beach walking towards us.   Out came the binoculars and we worked out that there was a television crew filming indigenous people possibly showing bush tucker options around the ocean.   At least that explained some of the people.   The others just kept walking past on some type of safari.

View from camp - tide going out

Tide nearly fully out - late afternoon Quondong Point

Huge thrashing in the ocean about 100 metres offshore from where are camped caught our eye early afternoon.  A pod of whales were upset about something thrashing about for a while before moving further out to sea.  For the rest of the day numerous pods of whales frolicked just offshore with spectacular tail and flipper splashes combined with huge full breaches.

Our campsite

Happy Hour - just the two of us 

The tides up here have a differential of over 8 metres, so what was a small beach when we arrived turned into a broad rocky beach late afternoon at low tide.  The sunset was just beautiful made all the more special by the fact that there were only several other campers within cooee to see it with us.

Sunset out front of our camp - Quondong Point

We'll stay at Quondong Point for two nights.The place is just perfect with whales frolicking out front all day, light off shore breeze, sea birds, beautiful sunsets and mild nights.  We've taken some long walks on the beach, and will read and soak up the beautiful views from our campsite.  The mozzies are here but not in plague proportions - same as the flies.  Overnight 100's of hermit crabs wander the camp cleaning up any crumbs.  By day they are all gone.

So this is the end of this post.  We now return to Broome to fuel up and start heading south towards 80 Mile Beach and Port Hedland.  All is going well with both of us, the car and van.  We love the life and the adventure of travelling Australia.


 Life on the Road Lessons for Caravanners:

The Wave

There are many travellers on the road in all sorts of outfits from caravans to pop-tops, campervans to camper trailers, 5^th wheelers, rooftop tents, 4x4’s, swags,  tenters, Britz to Maui hire cars and vans, buses: large and small, the list goes on and on. 

If you are towing a caravan, soon after leaving the city at the start of your travels you will notice that some cars wave at you. At first you stop on the side of the road fearing something is falling off the caravan.  It will finally dawn on you that the oncoming cars are waving hello.  This feels good, so you wave back … then the problems set in.

As a caravanner you are in a ‘special’ club.  Caravanners only wave to each other.  You don’t wave to camper trailers or, heaven forbid, a bus and absolutely not a Britz or Maui hire car or van.  These ‘non-members’ do try to engage you with a wave but you cannot succumb to these ‘associate only’ members. 

How to wave: a single or double finger lift of your right hand located between 12noon and 1 o’clock on the steering wheel is the minimum.  A full facing palm lift is very friendly and is best used when you are off the beaten track a bit.  When the spouse in the driver’s seat also waves that creates a dilemma as, if your spouse doesn’t wave too, then an argument starts in your car about why she didn’t wave too!  The next 15 minutes in your car will be somewhat tense all because the other car's spouse chose to wave or was it because your spouse didn’t wave, the tenseness returns again.

You cannot wave too profusely for several reasons; there are lots of vans out there and you have to save your strength, RSI is becoming an issue as will arthritis, you still have to set up the van when you arrive at your destination so you need to save your strength, one arm gets bigger than the other and you will look like a professional tennis player and, as we know tennis rackets add weight and weight needs to be minimized and, as happens to us, you think something is falling off your rig so you keep on stopping every time a profuse wave is encountered.

Wave Timing:  this is a real art and a lot harder than you think.  Remember the caravan coming the other way is driven by a Grey Nomad who in all likelihood is visually challenged in some way.  A wave too early is a wave wasted - he just won’t see it.  A wave too late is an insult, I know as it has happened to me many times and it is nearly as bad as your spouse not waving. 

You have to allow for your speed, their speed, road conditions, type of van (same brand and model as yours can receive a thumbs up included in the wave), wind shear and you fitness level.  The ultimate wave timing is when both fingers in both cars raise at the same time.  There is nothing better than the “Yes …nailed that one” feeling as the car and van zoom past you safely.

Duration of the Wave:  the longer the wave the greater the respect that is shown to your oncoming traveller.  This does have a major impact in the timing of the wave.  There is nothing more embarrassing than the commencement of the ‘lowering of the fingers phase’ and you see theirs are still up and arching back even further.  To get around this take the number plate of the vehicle and complete Form LFTE (Lowered Fingers Too Early) found in your caravan registration pack and send to the Transport Department in the State the offence occurred who will then forward your apology on.

Complex Wave:  the complex wave is tiring and is often fraught with disappointment and does not qualify for a Form LFTE in any way.  The Complex Wave occurs when two or more vans are travelling in convoy and is made more complex if a non-authorised wave receiver, something like, say a Camper Van, is also in the convoy.  The closer together the vehicles are the more complex this wave becomes. 

My advice, provided it is safe to do so, is to leave your fingers up for the duration of the convoy using small dips between cars and just accept that you have wasted a wave on non-authorised wave receiver but probably made their holiday as they received acknowledgement of their existence on the road.

There is a lot more to this topic and I have just scratched the surface really.  But for now that should do you all as too much information on this topic will just cause confusion.