Meet Alan "Hilly" Hill, a 90-year-old grey nomad who's spent 16 years touring Australia solo in his motorhome - costumes, rallies and all. Read his story
At 90 years young, Alan “Hilly” Hill has no plans of putting the motorhome keys away anytime soon.
The Dubbo local has spent the past 16 years travelling with the Campervan and Motorhome Club of Australia’s (CMCA) SOLOS Network Special Interest Group (SIG), making friends, exploring Australia and becoming a familiar face at rallies - often thanks to his impressive collection of costumes.
“I’ve got about 20 different costumes,” Alan said.
He first discovered the SOLOS Network after attending a motorhome rally in Parkes.
“I met some people there and got talking about it and then joined up,” he said.
Sixteen years later, he’s still attending as many rallies as he can. The Solo Chapter holds two major rallies each year and Hilly makes a point of getting along to most of them.
For him, it’s not just about the places he visits, it’s about the people he meets along the way.
“The camaraderie is the best part of it. That would have been why I joined,” he said.
Alan estimated more than half the contacts saved in his address book were people he’s met through travelling.
“I know hundreds of people,” he said.
A LIFETIME OF EXPLORING AUSTRALIA
Based in Dubbo for nearly 40 years, Alan has travelled far and wide across Australia, with Tasmania being one of his favourite destinations.
“I’ve been to Tasmania about four times. You could do a lap in two days, but I can spend six weeks there and still not see everything,” he said.
He loved the variety of travelling around Australia and said there was always another place waiting to be explored.
“There are still places on my bucket list I haven’t got to yet. I’ve done the bottom half of Western Australia but never right up the top - I’ll do that one day.”
While he’s travelled overseas in the past, Alan said there was something special about exploring his own backyard.
“I enjoy travelling in Australia more. There’s no currency and language to worry about, and it’s a bit cheaper too.”
LIFE ON THE ROAD, HILLY STYLE
Alan travels in his motorhome, which he upgraded to around 13 years ago after previously travelling in a Kombi.
“I thought I’d upgrade for a bit more comfort, better cooking — you need more comfort the older you get.”
His setup is designed to keep him self-sufficient, with solar panels on the roof meaning he doesn’t need to rely on powered sites.
“I can watch TV all night and even use a microwave.”
When planning trips, Alan kept things flexible.
“I don’t usually plan too much. It depends on when I leave home and what the weather’s like,” he said.
He often uses free camping spots or showgrounds, which he said were a great compromise compared to the cost of caravan parks.
“Showgrounds are popular because they’ve got what you need and they’re usually a lot cheaper than a park.”
ALWAYS ANOTHER ADVENTURE AHEAD
Alan’s latest adventure took him to Elmore in Victoria, with upcoming trips planned for the SOLOS Network Special Interest Group rally in Maryborough and then Bundaberg.
While he loved to do the travel on his own, he said he enjoyed travelling with groups, sometimes joining “tagalongs” where 20 or 30 vehicles travel together, spaced out along the route before meeting up at each destination.
Most of the time, though, he travels solo and catches up with friends when he arrives.
And he’s not doing it alone - his 13-year-old Jack Russell, Julie, is his loyal travel companion.
“She’s about 91 in dog years,” he said.
HIS ADVICE? JUST GO.
Alan’s family are supportive of his adventures, with some of them catching the RV bug themselves.
“When you take one trip, you get hooked,” he said.
His advice for anyone thinking about hitting the road is simple: “Do it. It’s very rewarding and enjoyable. People are very friendly and helpful - you never seem to get into trouble and there’s always someone to help.”
Even after turning 90 on April 1, Alan is still looking ahead.
“The undertaker hasn’t got me booked in yet,” he laughed.
He’s still got roads to travel, people to meet and plenty more stories to collect.
