Slow mornings are the part of a trip people remember. A convoy works when everyone agrees the plan the night before, and leaves camp when the coffee is finished, not before.
Why do slow mornings matter?
A 300 Series sits at camp in morning fog, with a shelter set up behind it. Nobody is rushing anywhere.
A slow morning is the reward for packing smart the night before. Chairs stay out, the shelter stays up and the kettle goes on. You get an hour nobody scheduled.
Fog also forces patience. Visibility is poor, the ground is damp and driving off in a hurry makes little sense. Let it lift.
How does a convoy work with mates?
A convoy is just friends driving to the same place. It works when everyone knows the plan, and when nobody feels they are holding anyone up.
A few habits that keep a group together:
- Agree a lead and a tail vehicle
- Pick a UHF channel and check everyone has it set
- Agree rest, fuel and meeting stops before you leave
- Keep a gap that suits the conditions, and let the dust settle
- If someone drops back, the group waits
- Share the route and the camp location in case you get separated
A slow morning is the reward for packing smart the night before.
What do you agree before you leave?
Talk it through over dinner the night before. Departure time, first stop, fuel, who is cooking and what happens if the weather turns.
Agree what the trip is for, too. Some mates want kilometres, others want a long breakfast. Settling that early avoids a quiet argument at midday.
For permits, closures and track conditions, check the official authority for the area ahead of time, and again before you leave camp. Do not rely on a mate’s last trip.
How do you keep a group trip going well?
Share the jobs. One person sorts the fuel stops, another the food, another the camp spot. Nobody carries all of it.
Pace suits the slowest vehicle, and that is not always the one you expect. Towing, tyres and driver confidence all play a part, so keep it kind.
Leave a little slack in the plan. The trips people talk about tend to be the ones with a slow morning in the middle.
Travel with people who like a slow morning, agree the plan the night before and let the fog lift. The rest sorts itself out.
All storiesMore to Read
TripsA Beach Weekend on Straddie With the Awning Out
A Straddie beach weekend rewards a simple setup and early planning. What to sort before you cross, and how to set camp on sand.
BuildsWhy Drewsy’s 79 Is Never Finished
Drewsy’s 79 is built in stages around real trips. Here is why that beats buying everything up front, and how to decide what comes next.
Camp LifeGetting Camp Set Before the Light Goes
Camp set in daylight is calmer camp. A simple order for setting up, what can wait until dark, and how to arrive with light left.