Many years ago in Africa, a fellow lady traveller on a safari trip commented “If the back cover of a book says she is Beautiful and he’s Handsome, then you know you won’t enjoy the story!!” Well in this story she was beautiful, but that’s where the similarities end, this is real, it’s got great joy and great sadness, creativity and dumb luck, life holds no guarantees and must be embraced daily. “It’s all about Love”.
The concept of “Truckin Livin” was born out of the need to have a vehicle to promote an essential oil,” Kanuka” that we were producing off our 40 acres in Jindivick Vic, following the devastation of the Black Saturday Bushfires. A vehicle to house and carry us to markets so we didn’t need to get up early and tear around, we would arrive onsite, all prepared, the evening before, it was essentially a lifestyle choice.
So, in 2016, the old 1974 Mercedes Benz 1418 was purchased locally from an old friend Bill, he had been my school bus driver when I was a teen, only ten years my senior, we had become mates. He drove and I was bus captain, a glance in the rearview mirror from Bill was the sign that things were getting a bit tardy and I had to sort it.
I saw the old truck as a restorer’s “dream!!”, possibly I had rose coloured glasses on.
Read on or move to a specific section
Anne’s Vision!!
We drove it home full of dreams then our world fell apart. My wonderful wife Anne, the creative genius of our partnership was diagnosed with terminal breast cancer. She had fought it 6 years earlier and been given the all clear, but now it was back with vengeance. For the next 3 years the truck sat in its purpose built shed with repairs and modifications progressing extremely slowly whilst I nursed Anne around the clock, until she died in July 2019, she was the love of my life.
The morning that Annie died, at home, I sat bewildered by her bed holding her now still hand and I said to her, “So what am I supposed to do now?”, we had been together essentially since we were 16. I raised my foggy head and through teary eyes I looked out through the window and saw the truck. “Ahh Ok, I get it!!” I said, her answer was crystal clear, as if she was sitting speaking to me.
Part two of our plan had been to travel around Australia, selling the Kanuka Oil to pay our way, clearly without Annie this part was no longer possible however I knew my mission was now to build the truck and travel. Anne had done a couple of small, coloured pencil drawings of what the finished product may look like.
An old photo from many years ago but just one that I enjoy as Annie is giving me a hug! Something that we were known for!!
Anne’s vision
The Old Truck
My engineer mate, Pete, drew up a frame sketch on CAD (computer aided design), to ensure integrity. I had done my apprenticeship under Pete and he remains my brains trust to this day. Armed with very little information but a belief that I would be inspired to create as each stage of the project unfolded, I set about building. I had previously built our house and I’m a fitter by trade so I guess I had the skills, but creativity was never my strong card.
It appears that the old truck had a few previous lives, originally a prime mover, then a superphosphate spreader, a sheep truck and before us, a water cart. As a result, the poor old chassis was beyond repair. With professional assistance from my mate “truck man Geoff” the chassis was repaired. Geoff had done his apprenticeship back when the Romans were racing chariots, he has forgotten more about chassis works than most have ever learnt. We removed the rear axle and cut the chassis clean in half about a metre behind the cab, then welded in new sections extending the total length without altering the wheel centres. I also carried out extensive repairs to the cabin, cutting out 45 years of rust. This much was done whilst Annie was still alive and she chose the “Kanuka Blue” colour, which our friend Adam, the man who can create a Holden Monaro out of a pile of old beetroot cans, applied.
As if somebody had hit fast forward, progress took off and within 6 months of Annie stepping into the next realm, the tray was fitted, mechanical works were carried out and the truck was roadworthy and registered. This is all another story for later!!
So with the Truckin part completed it was time for the Livin to Begin!!
Previously at a clearing sale I had gone halves in a pack of steel. This was to become the frame work for the Gypsy styled tiny home. Our property is 100% off grid, we were forced 26 years ago to adapt to alternative energy, as mains power was financially unavailable. It would have cost us hundreds of thousands to get the power grid bought to our boundary, and then it was another 300 metres to the house. We could see power lines on the adjacent hill. We initially fitted a steam engine and spent our Saturdays firing up the boiler to run the engine to charge up our battery bank. This proved to be very labour intensive and as I learnt more about boilers, I came to realise that essentially, they can be a bomb so we began transitioning to solar.
Due to inclement weather, (insufficient solar power), my very good friends John & Mary, offered me their workshop to weld up the frame. I need to emphasise the very good friends, Mary had assisted me endlessly in caring for Annie, and John is my auto electrical and solar guru, primarily though, a great mate. The plan that I had in hand was an A4 sheet that showed structural requirements, no provision for doors or windows, essentially, I welded up a box with a floor, and the bed section protruding out the front. I left sufficient clearance to miss the air horn on the roof of the cab. For some un-explainable reason I decided to leave the horn where it had always sat. I never use it, but my Grandsons Ollie 8 & Kai 5 love it, I guess that’s a good enough reason!!
Wes, my brother in-law then arrived with his excavator, and we lifted the steel frame onto the back of the truck, and strapped down, I drove it home. Anne’s drawings showed it with a wagon style bowed roof, so I had a local engineer roll up some bows and I welded them in place.
The Bows
My kids, Tom Cody and Elianah were all still living at home at that time, so I dragged them out one morning and we all stood in the frame on the back of the truck and in the space of about 10 minutes designed the basic layout, and where the windows and doors had to go. I then made the relevant framework adjustments to accommodate the windows, took some precise cardboard cut outs and dropped them off at the local glazier for construction. My doors are made out of leftovers from the external timber siding, which is stringy bark hardwood. The front bedroom window wasn’t so easy. For stability I’d welded two triangular braces that met at the base in the middle. One Saturday morning just before closing I was at a local fabricators and I asked him how tightly could we roll a bit of 25 mm box, his honest answer was “Not sure let’s find out!!” So, we went to his roller and rolled it to the point of yield. He handed it to me and wished me well, no cost. This formed what I like to call the sun between the hills and I simply welded the “rays” in to form the frame of the window. It’s a bunch of complex angles that hurt my head too much to consider how to glaze it.
The Roof
Too impatient to wait for rolled corrugated to run crossways on the roof, I ordered sheets to run the length. My eldest son Tom and his lifelong partner in crime, and great mate Trav and I rolled thermal break out over the framework then screwed the roof directly to the cross bows.
The Windows and Cladding
The windows arrived and thankfully fitted, again Anne’s drawings showed timber and mini orb on the sides. I’d heard of a mill in south Gippsland that radially cut hardwood boards to different profiles. I chose shiplap for no good reason. This time my Dad, who is 85, and requires tea and fruitcake at ever shortening intervals to continue working, and I, lay the thermal break then screwed these boards directly to the frame. The height of the boards was serendipitous in that the mini orb ran seamlessly on around the bedroom, purely by chance.
The front window loomed again and was solved by the receptionist Lady, Kate, at the local glazier. She suggested attaching glazing bead to the existing frame to support the clear polycarbonate sheet that I cut to size, then sealing the last edge with Sikaflex, its black gooey sticky stuff that hardens when exposed to air, a bit messy but functional, it also remains flexible. Left to my own devices I would have just sikaflexed them into place. Apparently, Sikaflex will only bond to polycarbonate for about 3 months if it has to support the weight. It then would have released the bond and dropped my window clean out. Thanks for that good advice Kate!!
The rear stained glass is real and quite old, it was a piece purchased by Annie specifically for the truck. I built a timber frame and sandwiched it between 2 pieces of poly carbonate so it really carries no load. I also realised that the total weight was building so decided to run with a pine interior. The finished product, including the truck is 11.5 tonne, 3.5 tonne under the trucks limit.
The Gypsy wagon suspension system
The Gypsy wagon is supported by its 4 corners on a small suspension system to allow the trucks flexible tray to flex under the wagon frame to minimise stresses, each corner can move independently.
The Insulation
Insulation was always a priority and I eventually settled on polystyrene sheets in the walls, cut to size to fit snuggly between the steel frame, then held in place with silicone to form an air lock between the thermal break and the styrene. The roof is lined with household roof batts to account for the curve. Trav was learning by the time the insulation was finished that hanging around our house was akin to slave labour, like so many others who freely gave their time, lots of wonderful positive energy was being encompassed into the Gypsy truck.
Powering the Truck
Tom and I screwed timber battens length wise to the underside of the roof cross bows in order to attach ply to create the ceiling. Before we could fit the ply, we had to fit the solar panels. Their brackets are drilled from above through the corrugated roofing and the cross bows, and held on by long bolts and nuts. This was a two-man job, Tom was on the roof, drilling, applying sealant and pushing the bolts through, whilst I was inside tightening up the nuts. All 16 panels had to be all firmly attached before the ceiling went up thus hiding the fixings forever!!!??(Hopefully they never require maintenance).
Once Tom and I had finished mounting all of the solar panels, and run a main conduit down into the “house”, John, the solar guru, turned up and used his exquisite wire joining techniques. The likes that can only be achieved, after a lifetime of lying under dripping cattle trucks with your mouth and eyes squeezed tightly shut, and probably holding his breath as well. All to avoid ingesting any cow excrement, whilst performing electrical miracles. To witness what he is capable of with his eyes open is pure art, especially when solar panels, controllers, inverters and batteries are involved, it is his passion. So I have 16 solar panels providing a touch under 2kw of solar input, 6 Gel batteries that accumulate to 8.6kwh but realistically offer 4.3kwh of usable storage. It’s a 24volt system. Following 12 months of usage I upgraded from pwm (pulse width modulation) solar controllers to Mppt (maximum power point tracking). Essentially this means that pwm controllers switch the solar on and off at incredibly high speed as required to try and top up the batteries to 28.8 volts fully charged. As the voltage of the batteries climbs during charging, their ability to accept charge gradually diminishes a little like getting the last bit of air out of a tank as you fill it up. Imagine having only flat out and stop to get those last few drops in the tank. With the mppt controllers they manage their input voltage and current, to match the battery, so in a gentle and regulated manner, they more efficiently fully charge the batteries. Using the same principles when the batteries are low, they again match the battery voltage, and maximise the filling up, to achieve the greatest good in the shortest amount of time. I am using a Chinese made 8kw inverter (converts 24volts DC to 240volts AC; mains power), that John recommended, as he has had great results using these in the solar pumps that he now produces. My thought is to be able to weld off the system should a need arise. I have a number of charging backups to cover inclement weather when the solar input is diminished. I can charge off the truck alternator when I’m travelling, I can plug my generator in, and run my John built battery charger, alternatively, if I’m near mains power, I can power the truck and battery charger directly off that.
The Interior
The walls are lined with pine lining boards, and all of my electrical cabling runs in internal timber conduits, this allows for easy access and is very much in keeping with the Gypsy feel. The floor is simply pine floor boards. Cody, my other son, and Eli, my daughter, surprised me by helping me lay the floor, they’re both much more like their Mum, design, concept, intuition and decoration and a whole lot-a-love, rather than practical like Tom and Me. On this occasion however my half of their gene pool seem to rise to the fore and they were troopers. In writing this story, as I am currently on the road travelling, I defer to Cody regularly for his literary advice, Eli and I chat probably every 2nd day about life’s idiosyncrasies, where Tom and I speak only when there is a purpose, they are all fantastic.
I had built an extra kitchen bench year’s earlier when Id replaced the kitchen at home and it had always been earmarked for “The truck”. My neighbour Archie, was a timber miller and upholsterer, he had some messmate boards milled locally that he hadn’t been able to sell as they have to many knots, sap holes and imperfections. He gave them to me, stating “this is beautiful timber, it’s a crime that folks don’t appreciate nature”, quite ironic given that one of the first things people comment on is the beautiful timber in the kitchen cabinetry. On returning home from work one day, I discovered that Tom & Cody with a desire to make some room in the house, had carried the bench out to the truck and sat it down where the kitchen was to be. It was too heavy for me to move so I was extremely grateful and it hasn’t moved since.
I purchased a composting toilet, an “Air Head”. Many years earlier I had built a composting toilet for the house. Whilst it had been functional it was never really a success and eventually, we fitted a septic system. It had proved problematic for a few reasons, odour control, ease of changing the receptacles and ease of cleaning. The truck loo was to fit in a small enclosed area and I felt that a proven product was a good plan. I chose the Air Head, as it seemed to have the smallest footprint and I can remove and empty the liquid waste without exposing the solid waste. To date I am extremely pleased with the unit. I custom built a shower base to fit the shower area. It was important to have a good draining shower no matter what angle I was parked on so the base is marine ply, cut and glued to form a very shallow funnel, and then set to the floor and the whole area was thoroughly water-proofed. I chose some small tiles that hopefully would withstand a bit of movement then locked it all with epoxy grout. At the rear of the base of the shower, laziness played a part in a touch of creativity. Another row of tiles was needed to fill a gap but it would have required cutting 32 tiny tiles, that wasn’t about to happen. So, I found my Grandsons marble collection and laid 43 coloured marbles instead. Like most of the creativity in the truck, I like people to believe it was planned, but in reality, it’s usually just a shortcut that comes alive.
A set of 5 simple and probably quite large steps create the pathway to the bedroom, they serve two main purposes, access to the bed and a favourite play area for Ollie and Kai. The supporting structure forms a set of draws that hold all of my belongings, you really don’t need much.
I have a small household fridge, a repaired gift from my “Fridgy” mate Steve, I rang him one day asking which fridge was the most energy efficient for the truck, he replied that probably the old Fisher and Paykel one in his shed, needs a bit of Love but once I fix it, its yours. True to his word it serves me well.
I also have a full-size couch that Annie had purposely bought for the truck because its blue, but it had been absorbed into the house, so I borrowed it when the kids were all out one day, I also have a tv and sound bar.
My little table holds a long dear connection. Many years ago, when Anne and I bought our very first home, a period miners’ cottage in Kalgoorlie, it was a deceased estate and came largely fully furnished. The little antique table was a work of art and work bench in the old kitchen and it’s just a ripper. It took us many hours to strip the layers of paint to show its real character. To me it feels like a part of my life story is coming along for the ride and still faithfully serving a purpose. We actually sat at this table, where I now sit writing, and had our first solo Christmas dinner together, separated from our families by the vast width of Australia. Will the table sense a Deja vu when I pay my respects to that little house in Kalgoorlie?
Carrying fuel other than diesel seemed unnecessary, so I chose a diesel cooker, diesel hot water service and diesel heater. In fact, there is a story there too. Lying in bed one evening scrolling through eBay, I came across a diesel stove. It was 2nd hand and about half price which is still a lot of money. I put a silly bid in for about half of what they were asking and thought no more about it, in fact I had totally forgotten I’d done it. Two weeks later I received the notification that I had been successful, so the die was set, diesel it was to be. Other than a couple of teething issues, the technology is great, they’re very fuel efficient, there are no fumes and whilst I keep the truck tank full, they never run out. My sons have taken a few liberties of syphoning some diesel on occasions to run the pool heater, so the full tank bit is most successful when I’m not parked at home.
I also have a conventional split system that will run off the solar, a complete luxury, and I love it!!
Meeting Tina
A recent addition has been a fold down deck out the back of the truck, accessed through the rear double doors. Both of the rear doors house an Annie inspired port hole that she had purchased and simply had to go somewhere. The deck is a great spot for that morning cuppa, or a bevvy in the evening, or just somewhere to go outside without getting muddy feet in inclement weather. My entrance stairs can attach to the side door or the deck depending on what works. I have a lovely photo of my new partner Tina, relaxing in a deck chair on the deck sipping wine overlooking the Gippsland Lakes.
Meeting Tina happened about two years after Annie died. I was sitting in the house one day when Eli blew in like a blustery whirlwind, propped in the chair opposing me and said, “that’s it, I’ve had enough of these local boys, think I’ll try my luck on Tinder!” “Ok Bloss” I replied “I might just do that too”. Looking at me like I was insane she said “don’t be stupid Dad, folks your age don’t use Tinder, they use eHarmony!” So, a few months later, charged with the courage of a few reds I signed myself up to eHarmony. Scrolling through the prospective Ladies, using my fat thumb on my phone I invertedly was hitting the “like” button each time. It took me quite a bit to undo all of that carnage, and after a couple of false starts, I found myself texting with Tina late one evening. Those that know me, well understand that I seem to fall asleep at 10pm. That very evening mid conversation with Tina, was no exception, I’m embarrassed to admit that I fell asleep. When I failed to respond to the conversation, and now totally disgusted with all males, Tina swore herself off men for the foreseen future. I woke up the next morning and, in my sleepiness, glanced at my phone, the pennies slowly dropped as I realised what I had unwittingly done. I penned a very apologetic text with a seemingly lame excuse, suggesting that maybe we could meet up for coffee that very morning. Thankfully, she begrudgingly agreed and over many walking dates and dinners a romance grew.
Another tentacle in this story
Another tentacle in this story and this one is a story within a story. Way back before I registered the truck, I had purchased the tray, and we needed to get it home. We borrowed a tip truck and trailer off Dads good friends Rob and Carol and set off to pick up my tray. I mentioned to Dad that I thought the truck was running a touch warm, he rang Rob who duly instructed us where to put more water. We duly did this and carried on though it didn’t appear to help. Any way the next day we were refuelling the truck and another one of dad’s mates wondered up to check on what we were up to. The conversation led to Mercedes trucks and he told us that he had an old one at home and it was too good for the scrappy, how’s about I buy it? I really didn’t want another one but he was insistent, so I said I’d have a look but wasn’t prepared to pay any more than $500.
On returning the truck to Rob I mentioned that I’d put more water in, and it hadn’t seemed to have any effect, Rob is a very gentle man, a true Gentlemen, and as he looked at me the blood drained from his face and he said, Oh dear, wrong truck, I told you the wrong thing, the later model the water goes there, that one it’s the oil fill, It was just a screw cap mounted up behind the cab. Quickly we drained the oil and refilled it, thankfully no damage done.
The other old Mercedes turned out to be a gold mine, the body was a rusty mess, but many of the cabin fittings were largely good and the engine ticked over like a Swiss watch. I have since transplanted that engine with rebuilt heads, and a 9-speed overdrive road ranger gearbox. Once again at John and Marys and with the assistance of Wes on his excavator and his team of landscaping workers. Along with Tom, we managed to wriggle it in and get it all sitting on the mounts, the generosity at times has been astounding.
So as I wander through life
There are many more stories that I could add in, all part of the build, and the many folk that assisted, maybe in time I will document them all. The finished Gypsy Truck is now my fulltime residence, the kids are now responsible for the family home and I’m out livin’ life. I have a very keen understanding of the need to live every day, not to wait for all of the ducks to line up before making a move.
In Annie’s final days as she drifted between this and the next phase she said to me in a moment of complete clarity, “Don’t worry about all the other stuff,” (as she waved her hand around the room, referring to all our earthly chattels), “Its all about Love”. We were always a very close couple and if Anne could have given me a spot of the great knowledge from the other side, then I’m very confident that she did.
So as I wander through life now, I’m about experience and satisfaction with what you have, rather than striving for what you perceive you want. I completely get that this is my truth and not anyone else’s, so I do my best not to judge others, we are all on our own pathways.
I have also realised that I’m presently driving a giant billboard around the country and we attract a lot of attention from curious folks. I assure you that it never crossed my mind that it was so unique until the first time I drove through a town. People stopped, stared and pointed. I initially imagined that some catastrophe had occurred to the Gypsy Truck that I was unaware of, thankfully no, it’s just an old truck with a Gypsy wagon on the back that grabs a lot of interest.
So, thank you for taking the time to read the story and please send me feedback with thoughts and ideas of what else we can do or where we should go, or how I can improve this site?
Cheers Rod.
The Gallery
ABC Radio Changing Tracks:
Dave cedes the stereo for Annie
Visit ABC Changing Tracks to listen to Raf Epstein read the changing track by Dave my brother dedicated to Anne. Listen to Barbra Streisand sing – Memories
Beautiful, Rod.
Hi Rod.
Great content. How to build a truck is the smallest part of it. The stuff of love, life, family, friends and the tapestry of life brings color, hue and life to the whole thing and makes it really interesting and relate-able. The gallery is great. I’d say that coupling this site to a facebook account with travel updates will help capture a following. At least this will give you an indication of the appetite for such content in the form of youtube vidoes
Super cool truck 👍
Hi Rod,
Me and my partner Reagan came across your truck on Tractor Beach Campsite in Streaky Bay not too long ago (we were in a rooftop tent further down from you), after reading your story we really wished we’d stopped for a chat!! What a beautiful life you’ve had/are living. Inspirational. We both loved reading your journey and the pictures are great.
If you and Tina would consider setting up an Instagram page I reckon you’d get a huge following of people wanting to follow your journey. You can upload pictures and videos of the places you visit in your Gypsy Truck. We certainly would love to follow long (many people get paid for doing this too by working and promoting brands along the way!).
All the best to you and Tina, wishing you lots of love and happiness on your travels!
Hi Cat & Reagan, Thanks for your response, i remember watching you set up in the wind and admiring your persistence. Westall Loop is well worth a drive, we really enjoyed the coastline. Next time definitely stop for a chat!! It is our intention to do some Blog/Vlog Instagram stuff, its just a case of old dogs learning new tricks. Thankyou so much for the encouragement. My “I T” friend is doing his utmost to try and bring me up to speed!!
Cheers Rod
Great Adventure so far Rod. I really enjoyed the read of how “The Gypsy Van” came to be. Sorry I didn’t get to get a Coffee this morning before we left. We were running late & hubby was ready to go. Safe travels. Looking forward to read about Tina & your further adventures. Annette & Chingo
Wow! I knew this would be good, I just didn’t expect it to be absolutely magical!!!
Don’t change a thing on your website Rod, it’s perfect in every way. From buying the truck, to restoring it, loosing your best friend and wife, to finishing the truck, to meeting Tina. It really is all about love isn’t it!
You both not only make great coffee, you put a tear in my eye! So glad we had the opportunity to meet you
Shannon and Lisa, Jess and Chloe xxx
Thanks very much Camp Winnie, it was a treat to meet you all and to share a wine in the evening in your lovely home.
Enjoy your travels and don’t
get to caught up in this crazy world…….Stay Free!!!
Merry Christmas Rod and Tina! Glad to see your blog is getting some of the attention it deserves. Looking forward to sharing a coffee some time soon…
Dave xx (on ‘tother side of the globe)
Hey Dave, Wishing you a very Merry Christmas too, either i need to get to Canada, or you folk need to get here…..
Take Care
Lovely meeting you both great story Rod hopefully we will get to catch up again with you both on the road somewhere in this beautiful country 😀
Hi Velette & Rod, its Tina here. We’re so glad we met, and got to know you guys in Streaky Bay. Lots of laughs, stories, wine and good food!! Not to mention great haircuts and styling advice (the curling wand works a treat) Look forward to catching up again, and Iluka is definitely on our bucket list 🙂
Hi Rod, It sure is a magnificent looking bus. We’re camped next to you right now in a slightly smaller blue Merc 😄 Was great (and a bit sad) to read your story. I’m glad you’re out travelling and living the dream now though.
Evening Kym, I’m glad that I stepped out this evening to check my water level, and that you said Gday!!, Its always a treat to chat to folks like you, and hear some of the different ways that you can earn a living on the road. Male primary school teachers and Mermaids are always in demand.
Enjoy the travels in your blue Merc, they are the only way to get about.
I was one of those curious folk that came across your beautiful gypsy van in Border Town outside the lovely parkland as we were heading home to Ocean Grove. What an amazing and up lifting read and can’t thank you enough for sharing. Happy travels. Belinda
Hi Belinda, seems we created a bit of interest in Bordertown
yesterday. Thankyou for your kind words, its nice to hear that people appreciate the story.
Cheers
Such a beautiful read. I hope we get to meet you on the road. Have fun making memories and enjoy your travels in this beautiful country of ours.
Joan & Tony from SA
Thanks Joan, I hope that we get to meet too. Travel safe!
Hi Rod,
I absolutely loved reading your story, It touched me with huge sadness losing your beautiful Annie. Loved your inspiration of cracking on despite grief to finish the dream of the Gypsy truck. I cannot see the sign across the bonnet. ANNIE’S DREAM!😏It was awesome everyone was onboard to keep you uplifted & fulfill the labour of love & with the love, you certainly deserved.
It’s really nice you have found new love in Tina to share this dream with.
It’s your time to now enjoy the fruits of your labour & I hope life deals you a better hand on your new journey.
Safe & happy travels, may our paths cross in our travels!
💛xx Jenni & Chris
Gday Jenni & Chris, Id always planned to call the truck simply “Annie”, but maybe “Annie’s Dream” is more appropriate? Maybe a bottle of red over a dinner with the family might be a good way to make a plan!
Enjoy your travels and i hope we get to cross paths sometime
Hi Rod, just came across this site. Wonderful read. Loved reading about the truck story from beginning to end and everything in between. Missing Anne as always🌟
All the very best and safe travels!
Thanks Lisa, you best saddle up Mick and hit the road too, life is not to be wasted!!
Cheers Rod
Hi Rod , met you and partner at the Noojee Heritage Centre. Today .
lt was great meeting you all with YOUR grandkids . Love you passion in what you do . Well done . Hope the future is filled with adventure and excitement. Best of luck and stay safe and follow your dreams
Gday William, Thanks for your reply, its always nice to hear peoples comments when we have been out and about.
Im thinking that you are the train man so hats off to you as well, a great job well done!!
I came across this today, it’s beautifully written Rod, so inspiring and heartwarming too. It’s wonderful to see you and Tina adventuring 💐💕
A beautiful, poignant story of love and life. A great message to all of us to go out and enjoy life. My husband and I had the trip of a lifetime recently touring Europe and the UK for three months. The timing was perfect as we were both well enough, I am in my fourth year of being breast cancer free. Your story really touched me. Thank you
Gday Sal, Thankyou for your kind words, it warms my heart to hear that you are well, embrace life and dont live in fear.
Cheers Rod
Saw your gypsy truck today in Lakes Entrance, Vic & then came across your story on Facebook. How inspirational.
Happy & safe travels & hope to come across you when we do our solo lap next May. Regards Julie
Hey Julie, good luck and hope to see you on the road
Hi Rod. Saw you at Balranald today after camping the night alongside you both. Would loved to have chatted with you but morning very cool & non of us ventured out. Hope we catch you again somewhere. Fantastic restoration & conversion – absolutely amazing. Have just read your excellent moving story and send you safe travels, enjoy life. Regards Marina & David
Thanks for the chat in Broken Hill Racecourse stay..fabulous coffee the next morning…you both are living the best life…good on you…fabulous truck..fabulous built..fabulous coffee and your both just gorgeous ♥️♥️ from the Pink haired lady from FNQ