Lynda was asking how we are going to manage this sort of lifestyle, so here's a bit of info.
The bus will be set up for freedom camping. We will have tanks for about 300 litres each of fresh and grey (from the sink, shower, etc) water, and for 80 litres of black water (the toilet flushes into this). We should be able to go four or five days without having to empty the two waste tanks and fill up with fresh water.
Our power will be supplied by an impressive array of solar panels and gel batteries (which will also charge off the bus engine). Most things like the lights, TV and fridge will be 12 volt so will run straight off the batteries, but there will also be an inverter to run the 240 volt stuff - like the microwave, the printer and such. We're putting a fair bit of money into the electrical system - much more so than if we were just setting up a bus for weekends and holidays - so that we can be completely independent. The sun would have to not shine at all for several days for the solar panels not to keep up with our power demands - and then we can always just go for a drive to charge the batteries.
We don't intend to stay in camping grounds at all. At a cost of between $26 and $40 a night that is just too expensive. The exception to this will be DOC sites - we can get an annual pass to use any of these for $150. In most parts of NZ there are plenty of places to freedom camp - the exception being the Coromandel which has outlawed it. When freedom camping you can only stay at most places two days and have to be fully self-contained. There is also a network of members of the caravan association who make their land available for parking for a small fee.
There has been quite a lot of negative publicity about freedom campers lately - basically some of them are behaving like complete pigs and leaving all sorts of mess behind them. We will not be behaving like this and will certainly speak to anyone we see doing it. The caravan association has very strong policies about it too.
This week I have managed to buy an old-fashioned wringer off TradeMe - one you have to turn the handle on to get the water out of your clothes. That way we can do all our own washing as well, without having to pay for laundromats. Apparently a good trick is to fill a big bucket (with a tight-fitting lid!) with your washing and the water and detergent, put it in the shower and go for a drive. The movement of the bus does the 'agitating' for you. Sounds like a plan!
It's taken me a bit to get my head around the idea of things like doing washing by hand. It will take so long! But, of course, time is something we will have plenty of - I'll have to get into the habit of spending time, not money.
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5 comments:
It all sounds like a dream come true and an amazing adventure. It's exactly the sort of thing I can see us doing one day. I cannot wait to read along (if you'll still be blogging!)
As Kate said what an adventure:-)We totally loved our taste of camping earlier this year. We met up with some amazing people like the pair of you that had opted for this as a way of life. While we opted for mainly camping grounds some of the DOC areas were great. Sounds like a lot of thought has been put into it all.
We also saw evidence of some freedom campers when down South and some are really disgusting, no toilets, showers in their vans at all.
Also thanks for your comment re the Interferon - reassuring:-)
Not literally of course, but when I read your post I envisage Toad, Rattie and Mole from Wind in the Willows singing the open road for me as they set off in a gypsy caravan. Sounds very exciting and well planned.
Oh what fun you will have!! It turns out that a friend of mine up here in Auckland is doing the exact same thing with her husband. They have bought a big motorhome and next year plan to go on the road. Their intention is to work for three or so months at a time. They told me about joining up to a club that gives you all the names of places to stay etc.
How exciting!!
Sue, this is so exciting! I can't wait to read more about it and see pictures.
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