The Beach Dweller Category:  Travel Publisher: Carl Roberts Type: Non-Fiction Pages: 336 Copyright: June 14, 2009 ISBN-13: 9780646511443 Absorbing reading for any one who has travelled through the remote areas of Australia, and those who would desire to take on the journey Weighing in at little under 1 Kg, this is a 336 page full colour guide to travel round this great paddock. Many GPS points forovernight free camp-sites, places of interest and a fair bit of ramblings straight from the heart.A true companion for those wish to see the better parts of Australia, or those who can only dream about the adventure. Written straight from the heart, giving true life experiences whilst travelling through some of the more remote areas of Terra Australis ... There are many spelling mistakes and bad grammar, as there was no use of the delete key whilst writing this daily journal ... what you read is how The Beach Dweller felt at the end of each exciting day.      Excerpt On route to Kakadu, and with the temps hitting 36.5 with 80% humidity, a swim at Edith Falls seemed like a good plan. The water was beaut, surprisingly cool actually, problem was everytime you got out, you just want to jump back in !! and No I didn’t do a Billy Connelly, just a few too many other guys around .. modest hey .. And on to Kakadu ... my camp for tonight is Malabanjdju ( try saying that after a beer or three ! it’s 16kms South of Jabiru, and free ( no amenities) ( GPS S12.46.10 - E132.45.10) a great quite camp with no gen sets allowed. Had a beer with John and Pam, his wife tonight, they are in the 80’s and have been traveling for 12 years, or as John says his 4th time round the paddock ! What a really character, spent most of his life working stations, settled in Ballart when he retired, but hated town life and has been traveling since. They never stay at commercial camps, preferring the remote camps, he reckons you met a better class of “jokers” out there. As I was cooking up some of the snapper I offered to share which they jumped at, and Jas, the guys reckon it’s the best bit of fish they have eaten ( of course not counting the ones that they had caught)

Bill Buys, Community Newspaper Group
Blogging Carl soon had 5000 followers
CARL Roberts is a biggish bloke with a big beard, a big sense of adventure — and he’s just produced a big book: a 500 pager that weighs 2.2kg.

It all started last year when the 47-year-old Welsh-born migrant and former Falcon resident, car salesman, IT consultant and rally driver, among other things, decided enough was enough.

He packed his goods into a Mercedes-Benz van and set off on a clockwise trip around Australia, staying at places well off the tourist track.

Each evening he’d sit down to record his day’s adventures on his blog, the beach dweller, and he’d post a picture or two of the more scenic things he’d found.

“Pretty soon I had more than 5000 people around the world following my daily adventures on my blog,” he said.

“People in the US, South America, Denmark, everywhere. It was amazing.”

Carl, who is battling a form of motor neuron disease, has put his blog into print and the big book is selling well.

“Quite a few copies have gone to the US,” he said.

The book is a massive softcover, packed with brilliant pictures, all taken by Carl, and is unconventional in not having an index. It starts with Day 1 and finishes at Day 201.

“The ramblings are not grammatically perfect,” he said. “But they are a true reflection of how I felt at the end of each day.”

The formula worked well, because feedback from his international audience has been impressive.

He is now setting off on another tour of Australia, one that will take about two years.

He has packed his Suzuki Jimny and camper trailer with solar-powered and other green features that makes him near self-supporting, and is setting off east. “No plans, I’ll just get up in the morning and see what happens,” he said. “Some people dream about living. I’m living the dream.”

The book is Clockwise Round Australia with The Beach Dweller ($99 plus postage). To get one, email carl@tbd.net.au or go to his web site www.tbd.net.au
It has a long title, but it’s a lot of book: Carl Roberts’ 500-pager is winning acclaim.