Quote:
Originally Posted by roKWiz
Got me thinking about what life in the 50's would have been like .
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1955, my father wanted to look at sheep grazing land in Esperence WA, in our new Mk1 Zephyr.
We (him, Mum and me) drove from Goondiwindi to Sydney to pick up his brother who was a mechanic and part-time rally driver, and then on to WA.
I was 8, and don't remember much detail about it now, except it was a long way on corrugated dusty dirt roads. Don't remember how long it took, it was pretty much two drivers from first light to dusk each day.
I was just a kid, and would not have dared asked "Are we there yet ?"
But I do remember sleeping in a swag wherever we pulled up at night, carrying water in 2 canvas bags on the front of the car, billy tea, tins of food, a petrol jerry can, and getting a wash at the isolated roadside water tanks which we fed by windmill pumped bore water. All self sufficient preparation and reliance. No motels, hotels or fast food outlets. Seeing another car approaching on the Nullabor was cause for excitement, a quick stop, chat and exchange of info about road conditions. Very unlike today, with images of Ivan Milat and 'Mick Taylor' in mind.
At the time, it was just as life was, an adventure with the roads and living conditions as expected and normal.
1978, and 2 return trips Sydney to Perth in my Kingswood was doddle, sealed roads all the way, motels, proper food. Luxury. But no aircon then either.