I Should Be So Lucky... Lucky, Lucky, Lucky

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Headed on up the New South Wales coast, landing at a campsite in Ballina, near Lighthouse Beach.

One of the things we've noticed is that some regular campers won't engage in eye contact, let alone conversation, when they see us by the van. Is it something to do with the colour of our van that upsets their sensibilities??

Or is it their pre-conceptions about people who hire Wicked campers? There's a notable difference between how fellow campers interact with us here compared to in NZ, and I'm sure it's not because Aussies are any less friendly than Kiwis. It's got to be something to do with the van, it can't be because we look like Pikeys!

Looking at it, the van's a perfect illustration on the impact of branding. Essentially, they've got a fleet of old and well used (falling to bits??!) ex-work vans which they'd struggle to lend to someone let alone rent out, having just the basic bed and kitchen conversion in them.

Graffiti a cult or risque 'street' design over them and plaster a fly brand label all over, and there you have it - a marketable concept that the target market will likely buy into at $40 (average) a day, not mega bucks but a pretty good return on the original investment of about ??$2000 per van. And the product/consumer loudly advertises the brand as it's driven around, genuis!

Throw in a few pots and pans, and odd bits of bedding from the school jumble sales, oh, and not forgetting the 24 HR ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE, and they can almost look you in the eye as you sign the rental agreement and part with a $2000 dollar bond.

Fortunately, we've managed several hundred km's in it so far and it's motored really well (touch wood, tempting fate...). There has been a distinct tapping noise coming from the engine, which Lich says is the fuel pump, not that cheeky possum knocking on the van to get in. But so far so good, no need for the roadside assistance... yet.

Our bed's really comfy now we've got an extra mattress topper to the beef up paper thin squabs. And the 240v lead we bought means we can use the $10 kettle, $10 lamp and $15 heater/fan we bought from Kmart which we can afford to bin, er recycle, at the end of the trip (ethics out the window when it comes to home comforts; cheap China goods - just the job... and let's not talk about our carbon footprint eh).

And there's a definite 'Wicked' vibe amongst fellow 'Wicked' renters - honk the horn, flash the lights, and shout 'Wicked' out the window when you see other bedfellows. Aw, it's dead nice to feel you belong, even if it's to a micro-culture of kids mashing it up on the roads of Oz...

But what we didn't expect is for someone to be ran-tanning on the van door at 1:30 in the morning, asking if we're having a good time and if we'd like to 'party at the pool'.

Perhaps the surprised young man was expecting to be greeted by a couple of equally keen teens raring to have a phat time by the pool. But instead he was faced by a bleary eyed, half-asleep middle aged man, who having been woken from deep sleep was remarkably kind when declining the boy's offer.

Being wide awake, Lich had a wander around the campsite to find the pool etc all locked up, dark and quiet, and not a soul around.

And then Lich made the rather eerie suggestion that the boy, appearing like a true surfer with wet hair, bathers and a towel around his shoulders, was a visitation by the spirit of the boy who died from a shark bite whilst surfing off the Lighthouse Beach about a week ago (no disrespect intended to the bereft family).

With that thought in mind, I was also then wide awake...

The next day we drove up the coast road to the hippy surfing mecca that is Byron Bay, and got all 'Byroned up' taking in the vibe. Had an ice-cream whilst mooching around the shops, and a beer in the Balcony Bar whilst watching the surf dudes wander up the street to the beach with their boards and Billabongs.

Saw several other Wicked vans parked up in Byron, looking the part against the surf backdrop.

And our little orange van almost seemed to breath a sigh of relief...



Legal disclaimer: All the above content is not necessarily the real and true opinion of Pikey John & Pat Ltd, it's just random pontifications and it's not intended in any way to misrepresent any company or any of it's associates, relatives or pets, so there.

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Comments

[Wyn]

Hey maaaan !!
So jealous you have reached one of my favourite destinations i have been to. Now thats where you fit in and blend in with the locals, 007 van now rocks. Enjoy Byron, and try and check out the Pizza restaurant. The one which is quite narrow, with fab food and cold ones on offer. Latez dudes.