Our fiver usually lives on our front lawn. Since our last trip, I dropped the van into Phil's (Trailblazer) to have the bearings and brakes serviced. This was all completed early this year, since then the van has become my 'mancave' and I usually go into the fiver everyday about 4pm and watch various TV shows and connect to the internet, only coming in when Marg calls me for dinner or to help her prepare dinner.
Early May
I drove down to see another Phil at Satplus Editvale, about 5kms from home and purchased the new Sat Finder for VAST. It works a treat. I have added another external Hard Drive so I can record shows from the VAST STB.
Yesterday and over the next couple of days, Marg and I have been and will be slowly packing the fiver.
Tuesday 15th May
I flushed and refilled the fresh water tank. Packed the generator into its spot. Marg has started hanging her clothes.
Wednesday 16th May
Went to Bunnings and bought a pick for our fossicking and also some wood and dowel to make some stands for displaying and selling Marg's Friendship bracelets. During the afternoon, I made a temporary skirt for the outside that covers in under the bed area. I bought 2 tarps and added many eyelets, so I could connect them, it appears OK. It will be a dry area for my bike and our outside chairs. After this trip, I will get a proper skirt made by a Tarp person. TEBBS or similiar. I connected our Telstra Elite (MF60) modem and checked that it worked and also fired up the My Net Fone in the van, all worked correctly.
Good news, the Telecommunications Hub is working correctly, that includes VAST and it's HDD, Internet, My Net Fone and the WD TV Player with it's HDD.
I tested My Net Fone by ringing up Finley CP and booking in for Sunday night.
Thursday 17th May
Went to Brunos for a haircut, it is so much easier with short hair, so I got a #4 crew cut. Off to Bunnings again to buy some cable ties for the skirt that I attached yesterday, just stronger. On to the chemist to finalise our drugs, we now have a box full of drugs to last our trip.
Back home, I packed the tray of the mighty Navara with our fossicking gear, tote tank (used for emptying the shitter) and our 1m ladder. I also packed our chairs and my lounge into their storage compartment in the van. Marg has been working like a trojan, transferring the pantry and fridge contents into the van, I am helping her make space by drinking my beer that is in the van's fridge. What a great, considerate husband.
I rang Hillston CP and booked a powered site.
Friday 18th May
Went to Jaycar and bought a 4-way cigarette lighter, so Marg can plug in her Ipad and/or phones if need be. Called into Southland Shopping centre and purchased some cord for tying the tarps over the shelves that we store our fossicking gear on, also got a new plastic chopping board and stable tables. During the day, Marg kept packing the van. Later in the arvo I went and checked the tyre pressures on the van, and still lightening the load, by drinking the beer in the fridge.
Saturday 19th May
We are 99.9% packed and rarin' to go, but we can't leave until tomorrow morning. How are we meant to sleep tonight, with all the excitement.
Tomorrow, we have to pack my bike and my snoring machine and then away we go.
We plan to do overnighters at the following places:
- Sunday - Finley - Lakeside CP.
- Monday - Hillston CP.
- Tuesday - Cobar CP.
- Wednesday - Bourke - Kidman's Camp for 4 nights..
