Every year, a group of old-timers pack their bags and houses to go on a road trip to Queensland from the southern states looking for warmer surroundings. This custom practiced by the ‘glamping’ grey nomads, as they are called, has existed approximately 10 to 15 years ago and the voyagers have increased well over time.
Glamping, as it is called, is credited due to the fact that these older travelers make their journeys in style furnished with hot showers, fully equipped kitchens, and large beds.
Glamping ‘antique teenagers’
Husband and wife Kay and Dennis Buitenga, both residents of Adelaide, have been travelers for well over five years. They are joined by their cat, 13-year-old Silver.
“It’s been wonderful; she just enjoys happy hours with us — she’ll come out and sit in her own chair,” Ms Buitenga said.
“People bring their dogs and she just does not care.”
Once they both decided to spend retirement travelling in their mobile home, Kay said they spent a well amount on their RV to be able to travel in style and modern convenience.
“We needed something that we would be comfortable in [and this way] we still have our own home,” she said.
“So we’ve bought a caravan that has a kitchen, a lounge, a bedroom and an en suite.”
However, despite possessing the traits of glamping grey nomads, Kay said she did not consider herself one.
“I think we’re just antique teenagers on the road enjoying ourselves,” she said.
Like Kay and Dennis, campers Craig Mullavey and Val Andrews have also been enjoying comfort beyond life’s necessities. Their campervan is equipped with a rotisserie to enjoy the occasional roast meal.
Cooking is so much easier
“When you’re younger, I think you cope a little bit more with bush bashing or camping out in the bush with not too many facilities,” Val said.
“We’ve done that but as you get older, you need to have a few more facilities.”
From primitive to glamorous camping
Other travelers like Carol and Steve Donald are proud to be among the glamping grey nomads.
“I do remember the old days of tents, or even our first trip back in 2000, where we had an old bus,” said Carol.
“We had no running water, no toilet, and showers were done outside in tents.
“We’ve come a long way since our first trip.”
Fully functional kitchens
Grey nomad company pleasure
Husband and wife Betty and Bernie Bishop have been road travelers for 20 years although they’ve been on and off the road. They started to become devoted glampers after retirement three years ago.
According to Bernie, their mobile home, a converted 1996 bus, has all the comforts of home and in addition is solar powered through the roof panels.
Betty said that ultimately, she enjoyed the grey nomad scene.
“You’ll pull up of an evening out in the bush and the next thing you know, there’s another motor home or a caravan,” she said.
“Most people are very friendly and we all get on very well together and have happy hour together of an evening.
“We talk to each other the way we would at home; it’s lovely.”
Glampers hang out during happy hour
Happy hour is also a part of life on the road for the glamping grey nomads. They take pleasure in the chance of socializing with their co-retirees.
According to Pam Wall, despite not being a drinker, she enjoys the happy hours held daily around the campsites.
“The ladies sit around with their wines and the men sit around with their beer or wines or whatever they drink,” she said.
“[They] just chat and talk about their experiences.
“Wherever we’ve been, there’s always been a group of people sitting around doing it.”
Full Article by Blythe Moore courtesy of ABC Western Qld
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