Last week we decided to go on a “trial run” to ensure that all our equipment is working and we haven’t forgotten anything critical, before we embark on the real thing. Also, as many of you know, our son Daniel had had a bit of an altercation with a car, and, obviously, the car won. He ended up with a broken leg, and in a brace and on crutches for 6 weeks. So part of this trial run was to see how he would cope without us.

As mentioned previously, we plan to be taking a motor bike on our travels. For the past few weeks George has been working on designing and building a platform on the back of the van for the bike. On the fateful morning of our trip, the bike was perched in place and tied down to the platform, and we set off to the home of John and Faye, who would be travelling with us.

As we pulled in to their street, barely ten minutes away, and were about to reverse to park, we saw two workmen waving their arms frantically for us to stop. We got out of the van and were met with the sight of the bike dragging behind us, handle bars scraping on the street. Apparently it had not been tied down quite well enough. The wheels were still attached in place, but one fast turn and the body of the bike had hinged backwards and was now dragging behind us. If we had reversed, it would have been run over and crushed underfoot.

The bike was duly removed, and got to spend the next few days in John’s back yard. It was at this stage that George realized the first of the many things we had forgotten – the keys to the bike. So even if we had taken it with us, we wouldn't have been able to use it.

After this inauspicious start, we set off on our adventures. And it has to be said, we had a great time. We spent two nights in Beechworth, and a night in Bright, reveling in the wonderful autumn colours, and basking in the glorious sunshine.

We tried out all the gadgets – the bathrooms, the hot water, the oven and grill. We even gave the genny a run, although we were staying in powered sites. As those who have camped with us before will know, George’s Café was up and running with espresso coffee, pancakes, and bacon and eggs on the menu.

It was certainly a useful fact-finding mission, and now we are back fixing all the problems identified. Hopefully this will all be rectified soon, and we hope to be off next week. A one week delay, but better prepared and ready for anything!

Eva, signing off. Over to George -

Back to Melbourne and a few items attended to. New industrial strength tie downs from Super Cheap Auto, combined
with a wooden suspension saver I knocked up, seemed to secure it well. A rear view camera mounted with a suction cup to the rear window, and hooked up to the 7" monitor, giving a view of what is behind including the top part of the bike, just to be sure to be sure.

One last item was noticed on this trip, a very slight leak from the kitchen sink hose leading to the grey water tank. The trick to fix this is using hot water to soften the plastic joint, how hard could this be? After boiling the kettle and pouring it down the sink, lying underneath the camper, wedged in a tight position, it came off easy but the pain of scalding boiling water was felt, and after some silent profanic thoughts I managed to reconnect all back in a proper way. By tomorrow the pain will subside and hopefully no blisters.
GeorgeY