Great & Crap Driving Roads
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Divergence from the Happiness Thread ...
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@mariner4life said in Happiness Scale:
@MN5 said in Happiness Scale:
@nzzp said in Happiness Scale:
This is a great thread, thanks everyone for sharing. Everyone struggles with 'happy' and how to to get there.
I'd recommend taking a listen to 'the happiness lab' (https://www.happinesslab.fm/). Series of podcasts by Dr Laurie Santos from Yale, talking about why people don't feel content or happy. Lots to unpick, but really interesting and challenges ideas and perceptions.
One of the key takeouts I had was that happiness isn't a place you can go and build a house; you' can't live there. What you can do is recognise when you are happy, and make sure your brain recognises it -- and there are things you can do to increase the number and duration of trips to 'happiness'.
That said, christ there's some struggle mentally. I keep saying to people I know that there's no success without sacrifice, and the older I get the more I believe it to be true. Success takes a toll - it's almost always tied to responsibility, and having to deal with stress in an ongoing and challenging way. Personally, while the last few years for me have been very successful professionally and financially, it's taken a massive toll on my mental health and having to adjust to the stress. Shit's hard y'all.
Don't underestimate burnout either. I saw three elements of burnout being
- exhaustion,
- cynicism (less identification with the job),
- feelings of reduced professional ability
All of these can drag you to a place you don't want to go to.
So, all of that, and things I've done that help: turn off email outside work hours, be less available, try to live in the moment, avoid social media like the plague (except the Fern), and allow yourself to feel less than 'ok'. Open up to people if you can -- it really does help.
Kia kaha everyone
I love my job and they look after me.....but I’m fucken shattered and I need a break. Holidays are so important for the soul, I can’t wait to lie on a hammock and do nothing for a few days
Boxing day we jump in the car and drive to.the Gold Coast. House on the beach for 10 days. I am going to do 3/5 of fuck all
Probably a bit late for the heads up but there's a fuck ton of roadworks, particularly either side of Rocky (from somewhere in the middle of nowhere to about Benaraby - but I repeat myself).
They may have eased up some of the 60km sections as they shouldn't be working.
P.S. where are your overnighters?
(We're in Bowen and Rocky on the return, but GC is another 5 hours on us.)
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You guys know those really noisy things overhead are planes right? You sit in them and have a beer whilst you go really really fast .... Which means you could have breakfast in Cairns then an early lunch at your new spot on the GC ....
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@MajorRage said in Happiness Scale:
You guys know those really noisy things overhead are planes right? You sit in them and have a beer whilst you go really really fast .... Which means you could have breakfast in Cairns then an early lunch at your new spot on the GC ....
Its not about the journey, its about the destination
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@MajorRage said in Happiness Scale:
You guys know those really noisy things overhead are planes right? You sit in them and have a beer whilst you go really really fast .... Which means you could have breakfast in Cairns then an early lunch at your new spot on the GC ....
Can't speak for @mariner4life but for me part of the deal was to see bits of QLD that I hadn't previously.
Not sure if it makes sense but it is
A.
FUCKING.
BIG.
COUNTRY.Back in the day Mrs Boo and I had a map of NZ and used to highlight the roads we travelled. In the 6 or so years we were together in NZ we covered probably 90%* of the NZ State Highway network. (IIRC, we missed Gisborne to Whakatane, Greymouth to Wanaka, The Catlins and Mt Cook. Colour in the rest).
- estimate only
Colour in the bit on the Aussie map from Hervey Bay to Cairns, then stand back and look at how much we covered this week. Sweet FA.
In addition to that we got three days at holiday destination Airlie Beach where we jet skiied, sunset cruised/boozed, lounged by pool, wined & dined, and generally added to the holiday.
(As an aside, I remember absolutely nothing about Mackay which I'm pretty sure we had to pass through at one stage ... )
The trip back however is purely just getting back home as best as possible with two stops in somewhat uninspiring spots.
In discussion with Mrs Boo if ever (whenever) we come back up here it will either be part of a many week Queensland wide adventure (stopping everywhere of interest along the coast and through the interior, up one way, down the other), or using one of those new fangled flying machines @MajorRage refers to.
Good holiday though.
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@booboo said in Happiness Scale:
In discussion with Mrs Boo if ever (whenever) we come back up here it will either be part of a many week Queensland wide adventure (stopping everywhere of interest along the coast and through the interior, up one way, down the other),
Camper trailer. Stop anywhere pretty much but pull into a holiday park and/or motel when you need to freshen things up.
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@NTA said in Happiness Scale:
@booboo said in Happiness Scale:
In discussion with Mrs Boo if ever (whenever) we come back up here it will either be part of a many week Queensland wide adventure (stopping everywhere of interest along the coast and through the interior, up one way, down the other),
Camper trailer. Stop anywhere pretty much but pull into a holiday park and/or motel when you need to freshen things up.
Do not want to turn into a Grey Nomad
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@booboo said in Happiness Scale:
@NTA said in Happiness Scale:
@booboo said in Happiness Scale:
In discussion with Mrs Boo if ever (whenever) we come back up here it will either be part of a many week Queensland wide adventure (stopping everywhere of interest along the coast and through the interior, up one way, down the other),
Camper trailer. Stop anywhere pretty much but pull into a holiday park and/or motel when you need to freshen things up.
Do not want to turn into a Grey Nomad
You will, eventually.
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@NTA said in Happiness Scale:
@booboo said in Happiness Scale:
@NTA said in Happiness Scale:
@booboo said in Happiness Scale:
In discussion with Mrs Boo if ever (whenever) we come back up here it will either be part of a many week Queensland wide adventure (stopping everywhere of interest along the coast and through the interior, up one way, down the other),
Camper trailer. Stop anywhere pretty much but pull into a holiday park and/or motel when you need to freshen things up.
Do not want to turn into a Grey Nomad
You will, eventually.
Got the grey part ... what's left of it anyway ... caravan unlikely
Another term I heard used once was the rheumatoid road menace.
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Any reference to Grey Nomads belongs in the Grumpy Old Man thread. fluffybunnies the lot of them holding up traffic and not giving a shit.
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Take a plane and miss put on the interesting and varied central Queensland landscape...
630km to Proserpine yesterday
850 to Burrum Heads today
Nice easy 4 hours to the GC tomorrow
New ranger is glorious on the highway
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We did 2,500kms between Darwin and Broome in July-19, 2 families, 2x motorhomes, over 2 weeks. Farking epic. Loved every bit of the driving, the subtle scenery changes, the random stops at watering holes and outback towns...
Some depressing stuff seen also, but a magic time.
This country is huuuuuge!!!
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Jealous.
My wife fucking hates sitting in the car for hours. Road trip with cricket on the radio watching the landscape unfold? Fucking heaven.
Can I beat Google Maps' estimate to my destination while still staying legal? Or at least, not getting caught?
Let's find out...
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@NTA yeah, mine doesn't enjoy it either. She prefers Aus to NZ though as the straight roads mean she doesn't have to choose between vomiting all the way or falling into a coma from sickness pills.
But 3-4hrs per day is the limit still.
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@NTA said in Happiness Scale:
Jealous.
My wife fucking hates sitting in the car for hours. Road trip with cricket on the radio watching the landscape unfold? Fucking heaven.
Can I beat Google Maps' estimate to my destination while still staying legal? Or at least, not getting caught?
Let's find out...
That’s me, the other half and my boys tomorrow. Mahia here we come. Forecast says there won’t be a single day over 18 so I’ve sensibly packed a couple of hoodies.
Fuck, maybe Greta is onto something
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@mariner4life said in Happiness Scale:
Take a plane and miss put on the interesting and varied central Queensland landscape...
630km to Proserpine yesterday
850 to Burrum Heads today
Nice easy 4 hours to the GC tomorrow
New ranger is glorious on the highway
Burrum Heads? Really?
... I mean ... err ... interesting choice...
Silly question but where is there to stay there? Campgrounds would have been heaving with bogans-with-boats and booked out for months. Can't think of motels (?).
Air BnB?
Friends/rellies?Also requires a bit of a deviation off the highway ... and it's not exactly prime swimming (less box jellyfish, irukanjis and crocs than up your way not withstanding).
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@booboo air bnb. Ice little brand new 3 bed townhouse. Great fenced off area for the dog.
And it's only 15km off the highway. I travelled further for Airlie, 1770, or Yeppoon on the last trip.
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@mariner4life said in Happiness Scale:
Take a plane and miss put on the interesting and varied central Queensland landscape...
630km to Proserpine yesterday
850 to Burrum Heads today
Nice easy 4 hours to the GC tomorrow
New ranger is glorious on the highway
With the wife, sounds great.
With two kids in the back. Fuck. That.
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@MajorRage said in Happiness Scale:
@mariner4life said in Happiness Scale:
Take a plane and miss put on the interesting and varied central Queensland landscape...
630km to Proserpine yesterday
850 to Burrum Heads today
Nice easy 4 hours to the GC tomorrow
New ranger is glorious on the highway
With the wife, sounds great.
With two kids in the back. Fuck. That.
Don't hear from the kids. Faces buried in devices. Dog sleeps. Wife and I listen to music and chat. Share the driving. It's nice
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@mariner4life said in Happiness Scale:
Share the driving
That's the other thing: I do all the driving.
In part because she doesn't do a lot of Highway kilometres, but also because she refuses to use cruise control* and is nervous behind the wheel.
While I would get the chance to enjoy the passenger seat view, I think I'd find it frustrating to have the constant tension from the driver.
The Boy is old enough to get his learners licence, and that's my goal: get him behind the wheel
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@mariner4life @NTA
I fucken HATE sharing the driving. I drive 100% of the time. Never like being a passenger. -
People who haven't driven in Australia tend not to grasp the distance involved in getting from one place to another. I enjoy the time and landscape, it's the Muppets that I find irritating.
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@voodoo said in Happiness Scale:
@mariner4life @NTA
I fucken HATE sharing the driving. I drive 100% of the time. Never like being a passenger.I was in the passenger seat of the boss' car driving across Sydney on a road is been a dozen times before.
The new things I noticed during that drive made me realise I was missing a lot on the other roads I've done in Australia.
If I had to pull up at everything I wanted to see, it would take days to get anywhere.
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@mariner4life said in Happiness Scale:
@booboo air bnb. Ice little brand new 3 bed townhouse. Great fenced off area for the dog.
And it's only 15km off the highway. I travelled further for Airlie, 1770, or Yeppoon on the last trip.
Yeah, ok so it's not Maryborough ...
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@NTA said in Happiness Scale:
@mariner4life said in Happiness Scale:
Share the driving
That's the other thing: I do all the driving.
In part because she doesn't do a lot of Highway kilometres, but also because she refuses to use cruise control* and is nervous behind the wheel.
While I would get the chance to enjoy the passenger seat view, I think I'd find it frustrating to have the constant tension from the driver.
The Boy is old enough to get his learners licence, and that's my goal: get him behind the wheel
Jr needs to get her hours up. Needs another 20 or so.
Have not let her use cruise control until this trip. She loves it.
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@NTA said in Happiness Scale:
@voodoo said in Happiness Scale:
@mariner4life @NTA
I fucken HATE sharing the driving. I drive 100% of the time. Never like being a passenger.I was in the passenger seat of the boss' car driving across Sydney on a road is been a dozen times before.
The new things I noticed during that drive made me realise I was missing a lot on the other roads I've done in Australia.
If I had to pull up at everything I wanted to see, it would take days to get anywhere.
I'd stop at every lookout if I could. Mrs Boo just wants to get there.
If they made a look out it's obviously worth looking at ...
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@booboo said in Happiness Scale:
@NTA said in Happiness Scale:
@voodoo said in Happiness Scale:
@mariner4life @NTA
I fucken HATE sharing the driving. I drive 100% of the time. Never like being a passenger.I was in the passenger seat of the boss' car driving across Sydney on a road is been a dozen times before.
The new things I noticed during that drive made me realise I was missing a lot on the other roads I've done in Australia.
If I had to pull up at everything I wanted to see, it would take days to get anywhere.
I'd stop at every lookout if I could. Mrs Boo just wants to get there.
If they made a look out it's obviously worth looking at ...
I'm like your missus (!) - once I'm driving I hate stopping. I swear my family all have bladders the size of peas.
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@booboo said in Happiness Scale:
@NTA said in Happiness Scale:
@voodoo said in Happiness Scale:
@mariner4life @NTA
I fucken HATE sharing the driving. I drive 100% of the time. Never like being a passenger.I was in the passenger seat of the boss' car driving across Sydney on a road is been a dozen times before.
The new things I noticed during that drive made me realise I was missing a lot on the other roads I've done in Australia.
If I had to pull up at everything I wanted to see, it would take days to get anywhere.
I'd stop at every lookout if I could. Mrs Boo just wants to get there.
If they made a look out it's obviously worth looking at ...
That was the beauty of my solo trip to NZ in 2017 driving around: "Fuck that looks interesting!" and "Another tourist sign eh?" as well as "what is the second best way to get from A to B" on the assumption it was more scenic than the best way.
Yeah the drive from Taupo to New Plymouth took me most of a day instead of under 4 hours, but fucking hell what a drive.
And no, I will never get sick of sharing this photo
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Any talk of long distance driving in NZ always reminds me of this photo that I took on the way back from the West Coast to Christchurch:
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hmm. Six years ago we went to the opening day of the Ashes Test at the MCG and then drove up to the GC . Four days of unrelenting tedium.
Yes it is a fucking big country. Full of fucking road works. We did the coastal route because everyone raved about it. Sorry but yeah sand, sea, gum trees gets real samey, real quick. We did get to see a bush fire from way closer than we would have liked ( 200 metres) which was spectacular. Otherwise....
I have also done the great ocean road from Melbourne - Adelaide. "One of the great drives of the world" In your fucking dreams cobber. Only one of the three words is accurate. It is a road.
I did drive from Port Douglas to Undarra Lava Tubes and back in a day once. That was a good drive.
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@dogmeat said in Happiness Scale:
hmm. Six years ago we went to the opening day of the Ashes Test at the MCG and then drove up to the GC . Four days of unrelenting tedium.
Yes it is a fucking big country. Full of fucking road works. We did the coastal route because everyone raved about it. Sorry but yeah sand, sea, gum trees gets real samey, real quick. We did get to see a bush fire from way closer than we would have liked ( 200 metres) which was spectacular. Otherwise....
I have also done the great ocean road from Melbourne - Adelaide. "One of the great drives of the world" In your fucking dreams cobber. Only one of the three words is accurate. It is a road.
I did drive from Port Douglas to Undarra Lava Tubes and back in a day once. That was a good drive.
Beat me to it. Should be renamed Road. What a fucking let down.
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On the subject of long tedious boring Strayan roads I present the Hay Plain.
So long, so flat, so boring and so featureless it transcends tedious and is actually a really cool experience.
None of the rest of the trip between Adelaide and Hervey Bay was worth comment (unless you turned off to the Warrumbungles or Wonganurgles or whatever they're called ... )
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@voodoo said in Happiness Scale:
@booboo said in Happiness Scale:
@NTA said in Happiness Scale:
@voodoo said in Happiness Scale:
@mariner4life @NTA
I fucken HATE sharing the driving. I drive 100% of the time. Never like being a passenger.I was in the passenger seat of the boss' car driving across Sydney on a road is been a dozen times before.
The new things I noticed during that drive made me realise I was missing a lot on the other roads I've done in Australia.
If I had to pull up at everything I wanted to see, it would take days to get anywhere.
I'd stop at every lookout if I could. Mrs Boo just wants to get there.
If they made a look out it's obviously worth looking at ...
I'm like your missus (!) - once I'm driving I hate stopping. I swear my family all have bladders the size of peas.
What's it like living in the 50s dad?
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@dogmeat said in Happiness Scale:
hmm. Six years ago we went to the opening day of the Ashes Test at the MCG and then drove up to the GC . Four days of unrelenting tedium.
Yes it is a fucking big country. Full of fucking road works. We did the coastal route because everyone raved about it. Sorry but yeah sand, sea, gum trees gets real samey, real quick. We did get to see a bush fire from way closer than we would have liked ( 200 metres) which was spectacular. Otherwise....
I have also done the great ocean road from Melbourne - Adelaide. "One of the great drives of the world" In your fucking dreams cobber. Only one of the three words is accurate. It is a road.
I did drive from Port Douglas to Undarra Lava Tubes and back in a day once. That was a good drive.
I find Aussie quite annoying to drive in. Like others have said it's big bloody place, yet in there seem to be bugger all places to legally overtake (especially on the main country roads) and when you do come up to an overtaking sport you are usually stuck behind a row of motorists following each other closely yet holding no intention of overtaking.
And then when the road does become a little interesting with bends and stuff, and you are not stuck behind somebody towing a caravan, the speed limit is dropped to a ridiculously slow speed to make sure your boredom levels remain high.
Agree about the road works. They are every where.
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@dogmeat said in Happiness Scale:
hmm. Six years ago we went to the opening day of the Ashes Test at the MCG and then drove up to the GC . Four days of unrelenting tedium.
Yes it is a fucking big country. Full of fucking road works. We did the coastal route because everyone raved about it. Sorry but yeah sand, sea, gum trees gets real samey, real quick. We did get to see a bush fire from way closer than we would have liked ( 200 metres) which was spectacular. Otherwise....
Depends largely on the route you take. That and any route which includes transiting Sydney is overused and overpoliced. Even the Putty Road has too much traffic on it these days.
I have also done the great ocean road from Melbourne - Adelaide. "One of the great drives of the world" In your fucking dreams cobber. Only one of the three words is accurate. It is a road.
Only Mexicans can think it's great. The same people who have the unmitigated gall to favourably compare their city on a filthy river to the magnificence of Sydney's harbour.
They do have the Bonang Hwy which thankfully sees very little traffic and isn't all sealed.
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@Crazy-Horse said in Happiness Scale:
@dogmeat said in Happiness Scale:
hmm. Six years ago we went to the opening day of the Ashes Test at the MCG and then drove up to the GC . Four days of unrelenting tedium.
Yes it is a fucking big country. Full of fucking road works. We did the coastal route because everyone raved about it. Sorry but yeah sand, sea, gum trees gets real samey, real quick. We did get to see a bush fire from way closer than we would have liked ( 200 metres) which was spectacular. Otherwise....
I have also done the great ocean road from Melbourne - Adelaide. "One of the great drives of the world" In your fucking dreams cobber. Only one of the three words is accurate. It is a road.
I did drive from Port Douglas to Undarra Lava Tubes and back in a day once. That was a good drive.
I find Aussie quite annoying to drive in. Like others have said it's big bloody place, yet in there seem to be bugger all places to legally overtake (especially on the main country roads) and when you do come up to an overtaking sport you are usually stuck behind a row of motorists following each other closely yet holding no intention of overtaking.
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@antipodean if I recall correctly you like to ride a motorbike? I have ridden a number of the 'great' motorcycling roads on the Aussie East Coast, and holy shit they are average. Too busy, over policed and slow speed limits. I miss NZ when it comes to riding.
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Lots of bagging Aussie roads and drivers on here, but as one who has spent time recently driving both NZ and Aus, I can't separate the two. NZ was absolutely FULL of roadworks when we toured this year, and the muppet-speeding-up-for-the-passing-lane is surely a global phenomenon
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@Crazy-Horse said in Happiness Scale:
@antipodean if I recall correctly you like to ride a motorbike? I have ridden a number of the 'great' motorcycling roads on the Aussie East Coast, and holy shit they are average. Too busy, over policed and slow speed limits.
Agreed. Simply too many people, which means too many tards, which means too many police to save the tards from themselves. 25 years ago I could to the Putty Road with abandon. These days it's full of Sunday drivers which is why I like the Bonang. There's a good section of unsealed road which means you have to be committed to be able to do the rest.
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@booboo said in Great & Crap Driving Roads:
On the subject of long tedious boring Strayan roads I present the Hay Plain.
So long, so flat, so boring and so featureless it transcends tedious and is actually a really cool experience.
Ken Oath (to the first part). I did 20,000 km in the outback in Oz and lived it but the Hay Plain is like you’ve been watching Mark Richardson bat. Tedious as hell.
Had a cool drive a couple of days ago. Decided on the longer route from Kurow to Arrowtown and went over Dansey’s Pass towing the camper trailer. Nice pub at the top of the pass for a cold one. Out through the Maniotito.
Even better drive yesterday but this one wasn’t on public roads. Up the tops of the hills above the Kawarau Gorge at sunrise to do some tailing. Mountain climbing in the 4x4
