I am currently at the Tjukayirla Roadhouse, having traveled 200 miles from Laverton over 5 days, with nothing in between Laverton and here except open space and a lonely atmosphere. And it is such a relief to arrive here.
A roadhouse is Australian’s equivalent of a truck stop, a brief stop for the motor traveler, but many, like this one, serve as a caravan park. After sweating and toiling for 5 long days, this place is a welcome stop for this weary traveler.
Caravan Parks are a distinctly Australian phenomenon that caters well to the wanderer, including the bicycle wanderer. Although not specifically designed for the bicycle, it has suited me well. I just love how it meets all my needs at a very economical outlay on my part.
At AU$15 (about US$12) per night here at the Tjukayirla Roadhouse, I can set up my tent, get full showers and restrooms, laundry facilities to wash all my dirty clothes, and a camp kitchen with stove, barbecue, refrigerator, along with plates and utensils. Should I choose not to cook, this place has a nearby camp store and mini-restaurant (which makes it a roadhouse and not simply a caravan park). Here, there is even a den room to hang out in, complete with TV, so that I can be away from flies. It’s a place in which I am spending an extra day to rest before I move on. No need to book a full room (which they also have) when I can just pitch a tent and enjoy the amenities. Not a bad way to travel through the Outback.
Although the U.S. has its RV parks, it is not the same thing. In the U.S., it’s simply a place to park your RV and live out of the RV. It can possibly have showers and a store. But there is no place for the tent-dweller. A bicycle would have no room there. In California, one might possibly find a “hike and bike”– a camping place for those hiking or traveling by bicycles– where a cyclist can camp and take a shower, but there would be no laundry facilities or common kitchen to cook one’s dinner. By contrast, my full needs are met at the Australian caravan park, at a very low cost. It makes it economical for the budget wanderer to traverse the country, something the American RV parks lacks.
And really, after many long days of camping in the outback, this place is a welcome sight.
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Oh man that’s 5 Star Stuff!!! It’s all relative to a cycle tourist….
Author
5-star luxury. Quite right!! The comforts of home… aaah!
It’s like a movie .
There’s nothing like one day after the other . Perhaps parking a few days there will be a good idea.
Author
Yes, I do have a number of days where I just stay there and don’t bike at all. If you look at my Calendar Page, you’ll notice that I stay more than one day in a lot of places. 🙂
Sounds like a welcome luxury.