Patricia Chegwin sold her home to travel in a motorhome and tick off items on her bucket list

AFTER almost five decades of working, Patricia Chegwin sold her home and bought a campervan. She doesn’t regret it one bit as she’s ticked a heap of items off her bucket list.

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AFTER 48 working years, Patricia Chegwin sold her home in Liverpool and bought a campervan. The adventurous 69-year-old has spent the last eight years living on the road — and boy has she travelled.

Racking up 195,000km and showing no signs of stopping, the grandmother has the next two years already planned.

The Campervan and Motorhome Club of Australia (CMCA) confirmed that Miss Chegwin was not alone in wanting to hit the road and have a more transient lifestyle.

Patricia Chegwin in her portable home with her dog Kijit. Picture: MELVYN KNIPE

Forming in 1986, it had 1000 members by 1997. Today there are more than 66,000 members and a vehicle fleet of more than 31,000 vehicles, including a variety of motorhomes, campervans, caravans and camper trailers.

It is the largest recreational vehicle club in the southern hemisphere.

Chief executive Richard Barwick said of the 600,000 registered recreational vehicles in Australia, about 25 per cent were on the road at any one time.

What you can expect at a Campervan Motorhome Club of Australia national rally.

And on average, its members spend about $572 a week when travelling.

Almost half of CMCA members participate in voluntary work throughout Australia.

Rallies held biannually in different locations throughout Australia generate between $1.5 and $2.5 million to the local economy.

The rallies have special interest events, information seminars, entertainment and trade exhibits.

When you hit the road in your motorhome, you don’t have to give up all the luxuries of living in a home.

Ms Chegwin said affordability is a huge factor for people.

“The price of buying a house has gone up so much,” she said. “I sold my Liverpool unit and I don’t miss it one bit.

“The last couple of years, I have noticed more people in motorhomes as a matter of circumstance.”

Ms Chegwin said she’d always wanted to get away and she was ready for retirement.

“I’m pretty sure I had earned it,” she said.

“People always ask if I get lonely or bored. And I always say ‘no’.

“I’ve got my dog Kijit who is deaf and I like driving, thinking, moving, eating and planning. I’m really looking forward to getting back on the road. I become brain dead if I stay too long.”

Ms Chegwin was sidelined late last year, returning to Liverpool for a hip operation.

You can travel in style. Winnebago Australia has created its first Australian-built caravan, the Burke.

Now she’s champing at the bit to get back out there.

“I’m heading up to the Gold Coast to meet a friend, then I will come back down to a motorhome rally in Bathurst.

“Then I’m off to Western Australia for two years.

“I’ll head across via the Great Ocean Rd and come back across the Nullarbor. Western Australia is on my bucket list.”

Her favourite journey was through the Northern Territory.

“I had the best six months there. When I was walking along a beach, I met an Aboriginal man who invited me to meet his family in the bush,” she said.

“Many people warned me against going bush with the natives, but it was on my bucket list. It was such a privilege to see him in his natural environment. I never saw him again.”

Patricia Chegwin plans to head along the Great Ocean Rd next. She’ll be sure to stop off at the Twelve Apostles.

The grandmother does her research and stays in a town until she’s seen and done everything.

“I stay until I’m fed up. If I’ve seen and done enough, I move on,” she said.

“I’m amazed how many women in their 80s don’t want to give up the travelling life.

“The only thing that will take me off the road is my health.”