Street Talk - a secret campsite revealed

Out in the open

Lighting in RVs has benefited hugely from developments in the domestic/business world, particularly in energy efficiency and brightness. There was time (yes, many years ago) when most caravan lights consisted only of round, 240V ceiling fittings. Now, of course, most are 12V and can be either (roughly in order of efficiency) incandescent, halogen, fluorescent or the newcomer, LED. Generally speaking most RVs usually have a combination of two of the last three.

Whilst it's good to get the most energy-efficient lighting, it's just as good to be happy with the light level and colour - halogens and incandescents have fairly warm light, fluorescents are often a cold white (actually greenish, but the eyes deceive) and LEDs are bluish in tone.

It was the latter that started these thoughts. At a recent CMCA (Campervan and Motorhome Club Australia) rally I was using a Paradise Free Time motorhome, which has a mixture of LED general lights and halogen reading lights. A good combination, I discovered, because my eyes were not particularly comfortable using the LED lights for reading, but I didn't have a problem with them for general use.

When I mentioned this to a fellow CMCA rally goer, he concurred, but his wife disagreed and was happy to use LED lights for reading. Obviously it's a personal preference. So, if you get a choice of lighting in your RV, keep in mind energy efficiency and eye comfort.

SECRET CAMPSITE
Every now and then in my travels I come across a little campsite that is just something very special. I normally like to keep them a secret, but this one is so big that there is room for all. On our visit to the aforesaid CMCA rally, which was held at Bingara (between Inverell and Narrabri in northern NSW), I and quite a few other campers discovered the riverside camping area along the Gwydir River. Not only did this spot offer a quiet little area for swimming, fishing or simply doing nothing, it was a real gift for a CW photographer who was looking for a selection of background shots for RVs. The town of Bingara is just a short walk away for shopping, and has a very interesting tour of the fully restored Roxy Cinema (watch out for Marilyn Monroe). Further afield for exploring are the aforementioned towns of Inverell and Narrabri plus Mount Kaputar National Park.

SECRET MEN'S BUSINESS
I've been to quite a few CMCA rallies and have often observed that while there were craft activities of all types being undertaken by the CMCA women, there wasn't something similar for the men. At Bingara, however, the organisers had set up a Men's Shed, which although small, did offer some practical activities that appealed to men. You may have noticed a Men's Shed appear nearby where you live. Also on offer at the Bingara Men's Shed at certain times during the rally, were serious men's health checks of something we know is often neglected (or ignored)... All round, not a bad initiative, I thought.

FINANCIAL MATTERS
As I write, the world continues to go through major financial upheavals, which will have an effect on the Australian RV industry to one extent or another. I know this is not a financial advice column and I don't claim to be an expert, but it seems to me that it is in part a financial crisis feeding on itself.

I wonder whether the best way to handle it is to take off into the Australian outback for several months, leave the radio, internet and TV off, and cease buying newspapers. Perhaps during that time the whole thing will have settled down and we won't have worried for nothing - or do something rash that we might later regret...

As I said, this isn't a financial advice column.