Here We Go Again - Chapter 1 - Getting Ready

There was lots of trepidation last time, for we were absolute novices – Silver Schoolies, and although we would never be presumptuous to suggest we had graduated to Grey Nomads, we certainly have some experience to guide us this time around. 

The nervousness of last time was centred around “unknown/unknowns” . Being careful to ask and take advice from “hardened travellers” still left us with the feeling of wonder of what might be from a “ground zero” (the Cruiser and Van) point of view, more than anything. Would we end up at each other’s throats, were we really ready, and lots of what if’s. 

This time the nervousness is centred more around – can we actually be away for 6 months. What will the family do without us? There are other family niggles which I won’t go into but at the end of the day – they will either sort themselves out or we are only a drive to an airport and a plane away from getting back inside 24 hours. If Covid has shown us anything, uits that the tyranny of distance does not exist. Zoom meetings (or which every platform you use) are as much the norm as jumping in the car and dropping in on family and friends. The only missing link is the “hug”. 

Back to getting ready.

We have used the van a few times since the first romp around OZ, preferring its queen sized bed to many of the “spare beds” offered at places of visit – no offence. The van has developed a niggle that hopefully the current service will fix. For some time an alarm has been sounding under brakes suggesting either there is a problem (and to date the Cruiser has been stopping without issue), the battery in the Redarc system in flat (apparently it is not but we replaced in anyway) or there is an issue with the contacts in the braking system – the suggested cause by those willing to offer a suggestion. Originally the alarm seemed only to function towards the end of a day’s trip, but then it got so the alarm was going off ALL THE TIME. Whilst this it is fine on the open highway as the need to touch the brakes is limited, around town it was downright annoying. The vendors of the van were of little assistance (as they have been all along – we are still, 2 years after purchase, been unable to acquire all the keys for the locks on the van and don’t get the Missing Link started on them), and most certainly were shying away from a warranty claim as fast as they could. 

We have found a local servicer of caravans in Tuncurry who has been great in understanding our issues, working with us with time limitations and just giving some good “old fashioned” service. I had 3 calls from them yesterday as they delved into the service and repair. One call was to enquire what to do with the mobile phone left in the Cruiser – it was a superfluous one so I was not over worried but they took great pains to ensure it was secure. If you like good old fashioned service, with a smile then you would be hard pressed to find a better establishment than RV & Caravan Centre at Tuncurry.

One item on the list for attention at the van service was an annoying alarm triggered by the brakes. It started coming on because we thought (suggested by the van manufacturer) the Redarc battery may have been dead and/or not charging. Replacement of it did not “fix” the 

problem. At the service the technicians could not make the alarm occur – even when we all took it for a run before the hand over. Of course as I was leaving Forster, the alarm again engaged but this time the warning came with a display suggesting I had my foot on the accelerator and the brake at the same time. Once it started again of course you could not shut the damn thing up. Very Frustrating. 

Back home it was straight onto Toyota at Taree to see if some sort of service from their end might sort the issue. Given we are less than a week from departure, time is of the essence and of course they are booked out, except for a short time on Monday afternoon, which I snapped up. They can look at both issues which now seem to be computer generated, having eliminated all the mechanical ones. I did speak to the Missing Link who is a retired electrician who also gave me some thoughts around checking, cleaning and refurbishing connections between the van and the Cruiser. This made sense as I am having issues with the lights on the boat trailer as well. 

We have made “adjustments” to the Cruiser and van. Whereas at the start of the last trip, fully fuelled and with every water reservoir filled (including the grey water tank) we were slightly overweight at just under 7 tonnes we took the decision to upgrade the GVM on the Cruiser and look to reduce weight in the van. Fully loaded and field this time, regardless of the stuff in the van, we will be at all times be, “legal”. The rear of the van, blazoned with everything “marketing the manufacturer” of it, has been somewhat stripped and replaced with logos and contact details of our 2 businesses. Although “retired” and wandering like Grey Nomads, not to mention we don’t really need the money, we have adorned the back of the van with the logos of Food Labelling Experts (Robyn’s business) and Property Portfolio Solutions. Why should the manufacturer have this space – especially given the after sales service of the van’s vendor? 

Covid showed us the tyranny of distance was only ever in our minds, and no longer exists and I have already done webinars from the van on other smaller trips and Robyn spoke to many clients while we were away on our first trip, even commenting to a prospective one about the emus wandering past the van while we were situated at Exmouth. Time is the only issue, whether or not we devote time to business or the doing of the trip. 

In the van we have “stripped” some of the crockery out. Possible 10kgs of it in fact. One ceramic cup for Robyn’s tea (you can’t drink English Breakfast from a tin mug too often), several 500ml tin mugs (less need for top ups) courtesy of an advert from Jack Norton Fishing, the non spillable wine glasses and a few melamine plates will do us in that department. “Entertaining” we found was very limited last time, in fact really only happened in Perth where we had people “in” or it was outside around the barbeque – not really a fine China moment is it?

Clothes have taken a real rethink, as has where to pack them. We underutilised the space under the bed last time and took “stuff” we really didn’t need. The dangerous thing here is not to think that because much of the trip will be above the Tropic of Capricorn that there won’t be cold events. Early on the last trip we were not considering things and tee shirts because of the temperature. There has been a cold snap in South Eastern Queensland of late and given we are spending several nights on a farm in the Sunshine Coast hinterland, early on this trip, the bulky jackets, extra blankets and perhaps the thermal underwear might be in order, and need to be easily accessible in the early parts. 

I took to laying out on one of the spare beds in the house all the clothes I would “like to take” and cull down as I pack. The only issue seems I only seem to be adding to the pile!! 

So, what have we added as opposed to looking to cull weight? Firstly, I have upgraded the snatch strap to a 9 tonne version and purchased and added to the roof racks a set of tracks. Given we are going to free camp and farm stay more this time, and the great wet season enjoyed up north, the chances of getting bogged may be higher, so better to be safe than sorry. Safety equipment was out of bounds when looking to reduce weight. 

Robyn has bought a teapot as an adjunct to the kettle. We took a lot of computer peripherals last time which we did not use. Some targeted purchases looking to streamline things like video production have replaced a lot of the need for the “bag (small suitcase) of stuff” we dragged last time. Like many people, I like to work with multiple screens and in fact on one trip actually took one with us. It stayed under the bed and never emerged. If I need the support of an extra screen I can always plug into the TV via a HDMI cable. The laptop “needs” a 101 keyboard attached to it – I do like my number pad – and a real mouse. Them plus the microphone and earphones all though a USB splitter will be all that will be required. No need for the camera, the trusty Samsung will do the trick. I have archived most of the photographs presently on the phone to ensure I do not run out of space any day on the trip. There will be times when I achieve along the way as well and the shots I post will not be anywhere near the total on any given day – I do love taking pictures. 

I spent a day running around, refilling the gas bottles, the jerry cans for petrol (for the generator) and diesel ( as a “just in case” for the Cruiser) and placed and refilled the drinking water jerry cans. The reservoirs in the van have been turned over continually as we use the van on the shorter jaunts. 

As I have said the van is being serviced proper to departure, as has the Cruiser. We have updated a seal on the air intake at the suggestion of our mechanic and I have had him replace the windscreen wiper blades as well as no matter how hard you try something will get into them and create a smear and that smear will be right in your eyeline as it presently is! 

I have taken the vacuum cleaner to the Cruiser as well as the Windex to the inside of it. Nothing worse than looking out of dirty windows is there, but being careful not to make them worse than they already are by using mop cloths to totally dry them?

I think we are ready, or as ready as we ever will be!