Don't Do This #5

Don't Do This #4

Don't Do This #3

Don't Do This #2

Don't Do This #1

Mismatch

Umm, something wrong here...



Oh now, it's OK, it's got electric brakes.

Concatenation

This is what happens if you stop too quickly without electric brakes.

Why We Have To Leave Ariah Park

The old town aint what it used to be. It's going to pieces.

Crime is out of control. Below are some secuity camera shots.

Big J and the Underpant Bandits.

Police are yet to take any action to stamp out this kidnapping ring.

Birds Of A Feather

(insert your own David Attenborough voiceover)

Here we have excellent specimens of two sub-species of the Nomad genus. The Grey Nomad (Gypsius Hirsutus) and the Shiny Nomad (Gypsius Chromedomeus). Notice the dilapidated van, the profusion of equipment, the Bunnings customisations. These nomads are known for their migratory preregrinations, their inclination to linger for days at a lovely spot and arrive completely unannounced at friends' and relatives' places. Characteristics that make these some of the most endearing and popular nomads nature lovers like to meet.












Darren and Leanne
















Len and Dot

So, How's The Packing Going?

Yeah, Good!




















As long as you don't want to do anything else...

Now, If I Put The Bikes There, Where Do I Put The Boat?

Mutton Dressed Up As Lamb

Not all cosmetic surgery is vanity.

It's just that it was the best way to go over the van and find every little screw hole and popped rivet, etc. And now we can have confidence that all the little leaks are fixed.

But really, what with carrying our own water and limited laundry facilities the tired dirty brown streak on the van might not be the last one we see. It had to go.

Before

During

After

Oh Yeah, the caravan.

We didn't quite manage it that badly. But here we are half way into a service station in the Christmas holidays on a busy intersection in Dubbo. Our first big trip.

The van won't fit under the station's canopy. The traffic is piling up behind us and I can't get the space or the nerve to reverse out anyway.

Fortunately the servo is on a corner and part of a small group of shops. A prayer, a tight but slow and careful turn, lots of preemptive thank you waves and we're off through the car park next door to go around and try again.

A couple of lessons:

1. There's often an easy-to-access diesel pump around the side or back for trucks and morons in 22 foot vans

2. Always, always, always check before you enter a service station, shopping centre, camping ground or otherwise confined space.

A good question to ask yourself:

"Do I really want to back this thing out of there in front of all those people?"

Camp Toilets

Now, How Do I Get Out Of Here?

Where shall we park?

Here's a lovely spot. Shade, view, quiet, level, water.

There's something else I need to think about...



Oh that's right, "How am I going to get out?"

So, Steering Is Important Too

So That's How You Do It!

So Where Can We Get Some 4WD Lessons?

skip the last few seconds after he opens the door (unnecessary profanity)