Live Big. Truck It! GMSV TV Commercials Behind the Scenes

Live Big. Truck It! GMSV TV Commercials Behind the Scenes

by | Nov 27, 2022 | Blog Posts, Chevy, Miriams Moments

GMSV’s motto is ‘Live Big.’ It has also been our motto for a few years now, so when we were asked to become ambassadors for GMSV, it seemed a good fit for us and them. Together, Chris and I are Aussie Destinations Unknown. Over two years ago we started towing our large and heavy caravan(s) around Australia with a Chevy Silverado. The Chevy became a talking point soon after that, and not too much later people began linking ADU with the title, ‘The Face of American Trucks in Australia’. We’ve been more than happy to wear the title!

Watch GMSV TV Commercial Here!

We love to stand out, in a good way, and the Chevy Silverado HD helps us do that. Recently, as part of our role as GMSV ambassadors, we were asked to be involved in the latest GMSV TV commercials that were filmed in an incredibly beautiful part of Queensland called the Scenic Rim.

Wardrobe is decided a few weeks earlier and neutral, summery colours are the go. After our fitting the night before filming, we are ready for the big screen!  At about 4:00am we hook up our 4.5 tonne Titanium caravan behind the 2022 Chevy HD and the combination absolutely steals the show.

Filming kicks off early at Mt Barney with a drone capturing us coming up and over the hill while the sunrise and surrounding mountains create the perfect backdrop. If only it was that easy! We do the same take about ten times, with each shot requiring us to make a very tight u-turn at the base of the hill to then head back up and do it all again. Thankfully Chris is an expert at manoeuvring our monstrous set up and avoids all the trees and fences! The production company, Betty Wants In, have incredibly organised staff who are amazing to work with; everything is organised, right down to the girls who run over to wipe the dust off the truck in between shots. Bacon and egg rolls are handed out about 8:30am, and the crew of about twenty, plus us, and the GMSV team, all grab a bite to eat before setting up for the next scene.

 

Once we’ve captured all the necessary angles at Mt Barney, we move onto the next location – a national park where we have our own traffic control set up. Moogerah Peaks is a gorgeous national park where you will find ancient, volcanic peaks covered with eucalypt forest, montane heath covered rocks and even rainforest in some sheltered areas. All we need is one winding road and a place to turn around at the top and bottom. These shots are the most challenging for Chris as we must follow the camera vehicle that has a $100,000 camera hanging off the back.  Chris needs to get close without hitting it and he does it perfectly.

From there it’s lunch in Boonah and onto our final location, Wyaralong Dam, Queensland’s newest dam, having just been completed in 2011. This is where things get interesting! All the previous shots were externals of the HD and caravan, but here we take everything out of the back seat and replace it with the camera and someone to operate it. It’s time for hair and makeup for BOTH of us – Chris included. We drive up and down past the dam for about twenty minutes with the camera focused on me pointing, smiling at Chris, and just having a great old time on my road trip. We return, the camera comes out of the backseat and takes my spot in the front seat for Chris’s closeup. Then it’s back to base again for a reset before returning out past the dam to the main road and back. This time we follow very closely behind the camera car again, taking great care to avoid hitting it during the close encounters. But … here we aren’t the only stars of the show! The line up in the field is impressive; a red Trail Boss, our black HD, plus a very nice Malibu Wakesetter that’s hooked up behind the white LTZ Premium, our caravan is also there, plus a few other vehicles and lots of people.

The shots here are varied and include an hilarious scene with the HD half up on a rock, four people jumping up and down in the back, and someone waving a leafy branch around to give the illusion of the HD moving. ‘That’s a wrap’ echoes loud and clear after the sunset has been used as another incredible backdrop, this time over the dam. We all gather around for a group photo, extremely proud of what we have achieved. The final TV commercials are incredible, and we are so excited to show you. You will see us popping up all over the place, and when you do, feel free to let us know what you think.

For more info about which Silverado best suits your needs, check out https://www.gmspecialtyvehicles.com/

Watch GMSV TV Commercial Here!

15 Christmas Gift Ideas for the Outdoor Enthusiast!

15 Christmas Gift Ideas for the Outdoor Enthusiast!

by | Nov 27, 2022 | Blog Posts, Miriams Moments

Christmas for the camping and outdoor lover made easy with these gift ideas!

It’s well and truly time to start thinking about Christmas gifts! And if you’re stuck – let me share 15 awesome gift and some stocking stuffer ideas that will have your entire family covered (and your mates too!)

If you’re like me and have family or friends with birthday’s coming up during the silly season, why not take advantage of the list below and do some birthday shopping while you’re at it?

We work closely with all of these brands, using their incredible products all the time. We are super excited to be able to offer special discounts to our followers and supporters on all of the items listed below, so be sure to enter our code or click on the links to get the discount. Every purchase made using our discount codes will help to keep us on the road creating awesome content for you! We believe the products are as awesome as the Aussie owned people who have created them and we hope you enjoy them as much as we do 🤙🏼

adu merch

 

Want to make sure your gift is THE BEST this Christmas? Then click this link and grab some of our EPIC ADU Merch! Perfect for a weekend getaway, training at the gym, walking the dog, adventuring,  going to the movies … or whenever you want to look reaallly good. 

Our gear is comfy, stylish, durable and only available here in our online store. Designed by us and printed in Australia.

SHOP HERE

campgrill

So good that I even got my dad one! We love our Campgrill and use it whenever we can. It’s Chris’s favourite way to cook, looks great, keeps us warm, is light weight and packs down really small.

Head over to the Camp Grill website and use our code ADUCREW for a discount off your purchase.

SHOP HERE

Skinnies Sungel

I had been on the hunt for a good sunscreen for almost 8 years until I stumbled across Skinnies Sungel, I contacted them immediately. I love what the product is, I love what it stands for and from now on we will use nothing else for our sun protection. Head over to https://skinnies.com.au/ and use our discount code ADUCREW for a 15% discount off your purchase! Your skin and the planet will thank you 🙂 Read more here.

SHOP HERE

tidy turf mats

Now available in BLACK! These Aussie hand-made mats are THE BEST for getting rid of excess debris that’s stuck to your feet or your shoes … think sand, wet grass, mud and whatever else you, your mates , your dog or your kids might of stepped in! Use our exclusive code ADU10 to get a discount! Click here to read more.

SHOP HERE

lskd gear

 

You can’t go wrong with LSKD as a gift for anyone! We have been wearing this brand since the very beginning and love it! Use our code CREWADU to get a discount off all non-sale items! Click here to read more.

SHOP HERE

bbq arm

Designed for camping and 4WD enthusiasts, this is the must-have caravan, camping and 4WD accessory. We used this all the time before our slide-out kitchens came along. We had a mount near the tow bar of our 4WD and one on the side of the van – it’s a really handy little gadget! No need to lug the bulky BBQ trolley around anymore.

Head over to the BBQARM website and use our code ADUCREW for a discount off your purchase.

SHOP HERE

dometic GO range

This is our favourite Dometic release yet! We get so many compliments and people asking where they can find this ‘awesome camp gear’. Designed with outdoor adventures in mind, Dometic GO is lightweight, resilient gear designed to fit seamlessly into the back of your car.

It’s also the best looking set on the market! We use the chairs, and table all the time and the bench seat doubles as a weight bench for us!

Head over to the Dometic Website and use our code ADUCREW for a discount off your purchase. This code also works on all these items as well.

SHOP HERE

kids gift ideas

Use our discount code ADUCREW across the ENTIRE Adventure Awaits website! You will find endless gift ideas for the kids in your life – big and small!

Head over to the Adventure Awaits website and use our code ADUCREW for a discount off your purchase.

SHOP HERE

dometic GO range

We LOVE our Dometic drinkware – especially the new colours they have recently released! Convenient to clean and comfortable to use, the drinkware can be used for hot and cold drinks.

Thermally-insulated bottles suitable for water, thermally-insulated tumblers great for hot drinks on the go and stackable cups for water, coffee and mixed drinks.

Head over to the Dometic Website and use our code ADUCREW for a discount off your purchase. This code also works on heaps of other Dometic products too!

SHOP HERE


Wandspro Clipcroc Dinnerware

 

ClipCroc is a unique ‘Clip-together’ crockery (tableware) range including plates, dishes, bowls & cups. They all CLIP TOGETHER to provide a quick, quiet, clean and cool advantage meaning NO FUSS, NO MESS, NO NOISE & No Rubbish!

They are rattle free, easy to pack, safe to stack, heat insulating & easy to clean! Use our exclusive code ADU10 to get a discount! Click here to read more.

SHOP HERE

Survival First Aid Kits

 

Aussie-made, award winning and all-round bloody brilliant first aid kits that we have been using for many years.
We wouldn’t be without one and shouldn’t be either!

Use our exclusive code ADUCREW to get a discount!

SHOP HERE

Bliss Blender

We love the Bliss Blender Pro! Its small and easily fits into the kitchen in the caravan or the pullout pantry in the Chevy and has a strong, high performance motor that turns ice, fruit and/or supplements into a delicious smoothie in just seconds.

It charges via a USB-C cable (with a splash proof port) – and one charge lasts ages! With a 500ml capacity and a blender that turns into a cup, it ticks all the boxes for us.

Head over to the Bliss Blender website and enter our exclusive discount code ADUCREW for a discount of your purchase!

Use our exclusive code ADUCREW to get a discount!

SHOP HERE

NY Gym Towel Co

NY Gym Towel Co have created the PERFECT antibacterial gym sweat towels and yoga mat towels infused with silver.

Sound too good to be true? Read more here.  Use our exclusive code MIMFIT,  to get a 20% discount off ALL PRODUCTS! Click to read more.

Silver as a natural anti-biotic and antibacterial can be added as nano particles into microfibre to create an Antibacterial Cloth. The nano particles of the silver actually trap the bacteria, not just wipe it around like a normal sweat towel does. Like magic, the silver actually deactivates 99% of the bacteria preventing it from spreading on the equipment and your body. What makes our product so unique and even better, the silver properties in our towels means they are “odour-free” too! That’s a God send to those mums who have to clean out their kids sports bags.

 

SHOP HERE

Switch Nutrition Supplements

What do you have in life if you don’t have your health? We use these health supplements every day, and have done for years.

Use our exclusive code ADUCREW to get a discount! Gift Cards available!

I’ve been in the fitness industry for over 25 years and tried so many supplements it’s insane. Especially when competing. I used to import products from the USA, and goodness knows where else in my efforts to find ‘the perfect supplement’. Now, thankfully, I can say I’ve found it! And … Switch Nutrition is made in Queensland on the Sunshine Coast. I personally know the owner/creator/genius behind these products and can without a doubt say they are life changing.

If you haven’t tried them, do yourself (and your health!) and favour – and get onto it! My parents take these, my teenage daughter uses them – they are for almost everyone! From those looking to improve their help, get a better nights sleep or up their game when working out, these are the go-to supplement.

SHOP HERE

Slide ‘n’ Dry Pegless Clothesline

We’ve been using this pegless clothesline for years – check out the ancient image!  We are always on the lookout for products that make camping/caravanning easier – and this is one of the best things we’ve come across! No more fiddling with pegs – hanging your washing is fast and easy;  Easy on, easy off! Simply slide your washing into the slots to dry.

Perfect for indoors and outdoors, at home, camping or travelling. You can add a couple together, and you can make single ones shorter so they fit almost anywhere. 1 pk = 2 metres of pegless washing line and 2 bungee cords, 12 slides, 24 points. All slides are inter locking – so you can make your line as long or as short as you need. We use it both in the caravan and when are in just the Chevy and rooftop tent.

Do yourself a favour and click the link below to be taken to our store to grab yours now. And take my advice – buy more than one. We have 4!

SHOP HERE

No matter who you are shopping for, you are bound to put smiles on their dials with something from this list! And if you have any questions at all in regards to anything at all … please ask us! There’s nothing we love more than sharing our experiences to make things better/easier/more fun for you. Ho ho ho and happy shopping!
Front Loader or Top Loader Washing Machine for a Caravan?

Front Loader or Top Loader Washing Machine for a Caravan?

by | Oct 3, 2022 | Lifestyle, Miriams Moments, Product Reviews

Which washing machine should you get? A top loader or a front loader? A lot comes into play when making this decision such as space, layout, water consumption and capacity.

SPACE & LAYOUT

In our previous 3 large caravans (all 22.6) we’ve had top loading washing machines and they worked really well for us. At first I was hesitant to change to a front loader, but I’m so glad I did! The top loader did a great job, but it used a lot of water and took up too much space for our liking. We had ours located in the ensuite under the bench. Our washing basket used to sit on top of the bench and our rubbish bin sat on the floor in front of the cupboard door that was hardly ever opened as the washing machine was behind it.

With our current van we went with the NCE wall mounted 3k washer/drier machine and absolutely love it. Because we chose to wall mount, we gained enough space in our ensuite to add a slide out rubbish bin, a large cupboard that holds our dirty clothes basket and a lot of other things plus a smaller drawer. We have nothing on the floor anymore as the rubbish bin is hidden and we gained bench space that we can use for our air fryer and thermomix etc. Sure, we had the same bench space with the top loader but every time we wanted to use the machine, what was on the bench would have to come off.

WATER CONSUMPTION & CAPACITY

We found the top loader would use 50+ litres for a medium wash and 70+ for a full wash. You could do a wash and then stop it before it drained the water and add more clothing, and you could also fill the machine with water from a river or lake etc outside, but generally speaking, it used a lot of water. We could wash all the bedding in 2 loads in the top loader but as yet haven’t tried it in the front loader. I think we could do it over 3-4 loads but we prefer to use laundromats for the big stuff where possible.

The NCE uses less than 9 litres on a quick wash, which is the only cycle we use when off grid. I always do an extra spin cycle as it doesn’t do it very well on the quick wash. I can’t remember how much it uses for a full wash, but it’s not much! We can do 3 (quick) loads of washing and use less than 30 litres of water. To do a similar wash in the top loader we would use almost double the water.

NOISE

People often ask how noisy the wall mounted machine is which is a fair question! It spins quite fast, the van definitely moves and it is a little loud, but it only last for about 2 minutes on the spin cycle and is not an issue at all. If it gets out of balance, it can be quite loud but the machine re-balances itself which is pretty handy! The top loader also used to be very loud and jump around a lot on the spin cycle if there were heavy items like towels or jeans and the machine was imbalanced.

DRIER FUNCTION

As a drier, the NCE is very handy, but doesn’t work like a traditional drier. It’s more of a ‘finisher’ and has a 1kg capacity.  As a test, we tried drying a hoodie straight after being washed and it took 10 hours which was fine as we were plugged into power. Generally, we use it more to finish things off if they don’t quite dry completely, or for small items. It was a Godsend when we were at the Gold Coast Holiday Park for a few weeks visiting family and it rained every day! We would hang the clothes on the Slide n Dry Pegless clothesline under the awning to partly dry and then finish them off in the drier for the remainder of the day or at night. As we were plugged into power, it was simple. Would I suggest a washer drier to everyone? No. I don’t think it is necessary, but it has definitely come in handy for us on a few occasions.

POWER CONSUMPTION

As I mentioned before, this didn’t start out as a comprehensive comparison, it was originally going to be a comparison of water consumption. Because of this I have no idea how much the top loading machines draw. In our last van we had 720w of solar and 400ah in lithium and power was never an issue – and that’s all the current power info I have on the top loader. But I can throw a few stats at you about our front loader from the load that I’ve completed right now. We have to keep in mind that the solar was pumping in and we have 600ah of Enerdrive lithium BTec batteries.  On a quick wash while the water is being pumped in, it draws between 14 and 22 amps. During the washing part of the cycle it draws about 7. This is looking at the common loads so anything else that is drawing power is included (nothing else large was running). At the end of the cycle not even 1% of our battery was depleted. From our very rough calculations we figured out that it uses about 10 amps per hour on average.

After reading this post and watching the video, I hope you have a bit more of an idea on what washing machine will best suit your caravanning experience. No matter what you choose, I’m sure just getting away in the caravan will be enough to make you smile!

Mutonia Sculpture Park, Oodnadatta Track, SA

Mutonia Sculpture Park, Oodnadatta Track, SA

by | Nov 27, 2021 | Adventures, Destinations, Experiences, Miriams Moments

Is this the most bizarre park in Australia? We think so. It was so strange, we couldn’t figure it out!

Talk about a random way to end our epic adventures along the Oodnadatta Track. ‘Rust in Peace’ … retired mechanic now artist Robin Cooke has quite the sense of humour! He started the park back in 1997 and has been ‘wowing’ (and confusing) travelers ever since. I did read that he returns with a new sculpture every year! I’m not sure how current that info was though. Quite a few of the sculptures here now look like they need a little tender loving … repairing! All of the sculptures are made from recycled rubbish, and there are no information signs, so it’s up to the individual to guess sculpture names and figure out what they might mean. 

This is the brilliantly weird Mutonia Sculpture Park in Alberrie Creek, 30 km west from Marree along the Oodnadatta track in South Australia. It used to be a railway siding on the Old Ghan line. But no trains live here any more. Nope – this is all about planes. And a bus, a car, a windmill, a dragonfly … ok. It has lots of stuff – just no trains that we could see. 

We parked up and headed off exploring the creative randomness that was all over the place. And while we were there, numerous others pulled up, had a quick look at few pieces of art near the gate then left! What? Nooooo! Just keep walking – at least until you get to the Love Bus (named by Chris♥️). It has ‘GHAN’ HOVER BUS SERVICE painted on the side and a (real) rabbits head, amongst other things, inside. 

Stone Henge, the Time Tree (that follows the cycle of the moon), a Windmill Flower, a lady bug, and plenty of other artistic bizarreness is waiting for you when you head off on your own Oodnadatta adventure! 

Have you stopped by the Mutonia Sculpture Park? If so, what did you think? Leave us a comment below!

Titanium Caravans Owners Rally March 2022

Titanium Caravans Owners Rally March 2022

by | Nov 20, 2021 | Events, Miriams Moments

When: March 25-27, 2022
Where: Mt Buffalo Caravan Park, Porepunkah, VIC
Who: Current & future Titanium Caravan owners, plus those who are genuinely interested in potentially owning one. There are cabins available for those who won’t have their own caravan.

We are so excited to be announcing this! Last years rally on the Great Ocean Road was epic, and we know this will be just as good.
This is a stunning caravan park in a beautiful part of Victoria AND there will be free pizza on Saturday night! What’s not to love? 😁

Don’t wait, email or phone to book now! Of course, mention that you’re part of the Titanium crew 😉

📞 03 5756 2235
📧 info@mtbuffalocaravanpark.com.au
Address: Harrison’s Lane, Porepunkah VIC
Website: www.mtbuffalocaravanpark.com.au

 

The Secret to Successful On Road Living!

The Secret to Successful On Road Living!

by | Sep 27, 2021 | Miriams Moments

A daily routine holds the secret to living life on the road successfully and in an anything but boring way.

When we first hit the road as full-time travellers, it was, as some had told me it would be, a challenge. I always had a set routine at home, and I loved it, but once that changed, once I no longer had to be at work (teaching fitness classes) at a certain time each day and instead had the freedom to do what I wanted, whenever I wanted to, it could have been easy to slip into that, it feels like I’m on a permanent holiday mode. And that’s fine… if you don’t eat, relax, sleep and party like you’re on holiday 😂

Here’s the thing though, your life won’t change until you change something you do daily. Repeat that. And again, until it sinks in. You can’t continue to live like you are permanently on holiday and expect your life to change—you have to change something. Routine and being consistent go together; but being consistent and being perfect are not the same thing, so ditch any idea you have that having a routine and being consistent means living a boring and perfect life. Below are some examples of how you can sabotage yourself if you think it’s not worth doing something unless you do it perfectly:

  • Trying to lose a few kilos? It’s easy to brainwash yourself that if you don’t follow your diet perfectly, then you’ve failed.
  • Aiming to meditate each day? Stressing because you missed a day is worse than actually missing the day!
  • Trying to improve your fitness levels? You can quickly convince yourself that you must push yourself to exhaustion every day, which is just not true.

In other words, it’s easy to confuse being consistent with being perfect. Cutting yourself some slack is important and there is a lot of evidence that shows that missing a day has no measurable impact on your long-term success—no matter what habit you are working on.

It can be hard to stick to a set routine when living in a caravan and traveling full time, and mine depends on where we are and what we are doing that day. I always try my best because when I stick to it, the day—and my sleep—are so much better. So, when you are travelling, the routine becomes more about what you do than when you do it.

It is always so easy to make excuses. I’ve been a Personal Trainer for a while now, and I’m pretty sure I’ve heard them ALL! My mum says the same thing. She is an author and a psychotherapist and says she could write a book called ‘Yes, But…!’ I laughed when I heard that as I had thought of writing a coffee-table book of excuses given to me by clients!

Healthy habits make living well possible, and usually full-time travellers choose that lifestyle because we want to live well and make the most of our life. But building healthy habits so we get the most out of this amazing lifestyle starts with changing even one thing a day.

We are all different and will choose to start and end our day differently, but however we choose to do it, we can incorporate things that will enhance health and make life on the road that much more enjoyable. Most days my mornings and evening usually look a little like this:

MY MORNING ROUTINE:

  • Wake up preferably with the sun
  • Read my bible for 15 minutes (also practising gratitude, meditating etc)
  • Check message on socials for 15 minutes (limited time)
  • Have a vitamin/supplement shake (not protein shake)
  • Get my exercise gear on and work out—inside or outside, depending on where we are.

Then I do what the day needs me to do, but make sure I wind down in the evening.

 MY EVENING ROUTINE:

  • Two hours before sleep, turn all the bright lights out and don’t turn them back on (to relax my brain/mind) — leave the blue lights on
  • No more screen time!
  • Do a 10–20-minute gentle yoga/stretch session
  • Spend 20-30 minutes on my Shakti acupressure mat listening to a meditation or relaxing music
  • Read for 30-60 minutes.

Of course, sometimes things happen, and I can’t do everything—but I aim to achieve these things every day and when I do, I feel so much better!

I also try to do these things every day:

  • Move for two minutes every hour as my Apple Watch tells me to
  • Enjoy the fresh air (reading, riding, hiking, swimming—anything, as long as it’s outside)
  • Practise intermittent fasting
  • Follow a low-carb diet
  • Drink enough water (I’m terrible at this!)
  • Improve my gut health—drink kombucha and kefir every day (I make my own)
  • Tell everyone I care about that I love them.

So, there you have it! A few things that are part of my daily routine. What’s in yours? Leave me a comment below 🥰