Wednesday 10 June 2020

Destination versus Journey

Travelling along National Highway 1 at 110 kilometres per hour is a bit of a novelty, but seeing as this trip was about getting to the destination as quickly as possible, then speed was essential and Delvy not the vehicle to do it in.

It’s two thousand kilometres from Airlie Beach to Church Point where we had to pick up a yacht, which amounts to about 24 hours of driving time. With two drivers swapping in and out and a pre packed picnic bag, plus overnight stops in the Sunshine Coast and Lake Macquarie, the mission was accomplished in two and a half days.

This was far quicker than we have ever done the Australian east coast road before, but we had an appropriate vehicle to do it in.  In contrast, it would take Delvy a week to travel that distance.

Which would I prefer, fast tracking or taking the slow lane? 

East coast Australia road trip
Road trip fun - always something to look at even in the boring bits.

Standard motor vehicle

It’s been awhile since I’ve driven a modern motor vehicle so the automatic diesel Kia Carnival was a real treat. Comfortable supportive seating with good visibility, clear dash lights and no road noise, it was easy to settle in and just drive. For an 8-seater weighing about 2 tonnes, it didn’t feel like driving a large vehicle at all.

Bruce Highway rest stop
Roadside rest stop but toilets were closed!

The adaptive cruise control has the ability to set the speed and distance to the vehicle in front, automatically deaccelerate, including the applying of brakes, and provide lane detection. These are all features of Level 1 of Driving Automation. Can’t wait to see what Level 5 does!

The fuel economy was excellent at 6.6 litres to the 100 kms compared to the 15 litres that Delvy drinks, and with the current cheap fuel prices it cost about $120 to cover the distance.  Got to be happy with that!

bridge crossing in Rockhampton CBD
Perfect weather for a big drive

Recreational vehicle (RV)

There’s plenty to like about the Kia but it’s not Delvy. Yes, you can recline the seats and have a nap but it’s not the same as lying down on an inner spring mattress looking out through the dark tinted windows at the world going by. Sleeping in your own bed is far cheaper than having to stay in a hotel or impose on rellies.

With a standard car you can’t just pull over and boil the kettle for a cup of tea when you feel like it: you’re reliant on outside services unless snacks and a thermos is at hand. You have to use public toilets (well a girl has to at least) which are often not real savoury and don’t appear when you need them.

Bacon and eggs in the RV
So easy to stop and cook something when in the motorhome, and use your own bathroom.

As a 5 tonne Toyota Coaster Delvy warrants going slow (around 90 km per hour is a comfortable speed), much to the displeasure of other motorists, and heavy vehicle driving skills apply. Whilst she is an older vehicle and heavier on the fuel, she makes up for it by being our home as well.

The modern motor vehicle is a pleasure to drive and can get you to your destination comfortably in a timely fashion, but it doesn’t have the sense of exploration or wonder like a motorhome. For a start, we don’t usually have a destination – just a vague idea of direction – we make it up as we go along. Stopping for a cup of tea, a bike ride, a book read, or visiting friends and relations. We can take as long as we like to do whatever we wish, as well as be independent.

“It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end.”
― Ursula K. Le Guin, Author

Sunset in the canefields

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