Shake down trip

jimricho · Guru

RE: Shake down trip

Firefly · Guru

Ma · Guru

Boys are lucky b.u.g.g.a.r.s too. Very hand when at a picnic or wherever. Sure beats sitting on the drawbar in freezing weather with the nether regions exposed. Been there done that back in the truck driving life.

Happywanderer · The Master

I know the feeling girls. Mine sits under the table during the day and down the aisle at night. There is just no where else to put it. I can't do without it either, not always toilet at freestops and if they are to dash over there in the middle of the night with gosh knows what crawling up your dressing gown to be taken back to van. No way!!!
I have my last cuppa straight after dinner, no later than 7pm in the hope I won't have to go too many times.

Beth54 · Guru

My d-i-l went in the bushes when we first arrived at the beach camp. As she squatted, she spotted a tick! So no more going in the bushes for her!

jack biggles · Senior Member

Wow, makes me feel so lucky to be a boy. What a pain in the so and so. My new van has a toilet, I don't plan to use it for twinkles & theres nothing more I like than getting outside & taking in the stars. Actually, good chance is I am already outside, so why go inside. I will go inside when its time to rest my old bones for a few hours before getting up and watching the sun rise again.

Esmeralda · Guru

Boys are lucky out where there are bushes, but what about in caravan parks where bushes are short supply and it is wet and windy and cold??

Mookas · Newbie

Hi All, I am very new at this vanning, listening to Esmeralda, I am scared witless as to just what could happen.
My shake-down trip will be in July, from Sydney to where ever 6 weeks will take me north.
My worst happening at present.....got a new awning, tried to open it at home, put my finger in the wrong place, and nearly lost it, I saw stars.
You guys out there sound so positive, hope it rubs off.
Talk soon
Mooka

Cruising Granny · Guru

Hi and welcome Mookas.
You nearly lost the awning or the finger?
Just take your time at the start, and before too long you'll wonder what held you back.
List all those things you think could happen, even share them with us if you want to, and I'm sure we could come up with antidotes for all of those concerns.
I wasn't actually travelling too far at the time, but the worst thing that has happened to me is putting petrol in my diesel due to a confusing label on the bowser. Fixable and no long-term damage done. But, oh the embarrassment!

Esmeralda · Guru

Hi and welcome Mookas!! You are a bit better than me - I have forgotten how to put up the awning properly - I can pull it out but not put up into the air. I will practice when at home and when the weather is better. My teething problems seem to have finished - but then again I am still stationary. I think my trip home will be easier because I now know what's what (hopefully) and I don't plan to go anywhere near mice. By the way your van looks a lot like Esmeralda but a bit bigger.

Happywanderer · The Master

Welcome Mookas. If you want to know about disasters you should read some of my threads right back to buying Myrtle the van. I have annoyed all my friends here with every detail and received plenty of support. So don't feel left out.

Sheba · Guru

Welcome Mookas

. Marj, I doubt very much that there is a single one of us who can genuinely say you have "annoyed" us with your adventures with Myrtle. Quite the contrary, we have been with you, and couldn't wait to read of your progress every day.

I still search every night [when I'm home] to see what has happened next, and how you've overcome each problem.

Ladies, very early on, I found a [approximately] 3 ltr. container with a good fitting lid, which sits in a cupboard, to use at night [fluids only] so that I don't have to exit the Campervan at night at all. This also means no [whizz-bang] sliding door to annoy others who may be nearby.

Next day, I empty and rinse it out, at the nearest Public Toilet. You will often see others doing the same thing.

Cheers,

Sheba.

Esmeralda · Guru

HW - you didn't annoy me at all, entertained is a bit more like it!! I felt so sorry for you though and I am sure you coped better than I would knowing there was a mouse around. Seriously I'm sure everyone had teething problems when they first started out and probably as bad or worse then either of us.

Happywanderer · The Master

Thanks girls. It was a hoot wasn't it. Feel much better now. Have been driving around and all ready to head off. Grandkids want me to stay for hte Biggenden Show so I'm now leaving on Monday, heading into Childers and GinGin first day, then on ito Bundaberg after that.
Filled Myrtle up with fuel today and went to a nice little cafe for cake and coffee. She isn't missing a beat, have checked oil and water, all good. Finshed putting my stickers on also, so Myrtle now has a grey nomads front and back and a Purple Happy Wanderer front top. She looks good.
Hope you are going well Esmeralda, no more hiccups???

Gerty Dancer · Guru

I caught my fingers in the awning while closing it just yesterday, Mookas, and yes I know how much it hurt! Dont worry, everybody has a few similar tales to tell. Welcome to the forum!

Esmeralda · Guru

Happywanderer wrote:
Thanks girls. It was a hoot wasn't it. Feel much better now. Have been driving around and all ready to head off. Grandkids want me to stay for hte Biggenden Show so I'm now leaving on Monday, heading into Childers and GinGin first day, then on ito Bundaberg after that.
Filled Myrtle up with fuel today and went to a nice little cafe for cake and coffee. She isn't missing a beat, have checked oil and water, all good. Finshed putting my stickers on also, so Myrtle now has a grey nomads front and back and a Purple Happy Wanderer front top. She looks good.
Hope you are going well Esmeralda, no more hiccups???

So far no more hiccups. I am leaving here on Saturday morning to head home, sad in a way but I think I have had a goodish look around. I am certainly looking forward to a decent bed and better heating and no cold draughts (although there are less of these since I discovered I had gaffer tape). I need to get home to my cat Charli - she is staying with my parents - I do miss her even though she takes up most of the queen size bed! hmm

I wish I could go further north for a while - may be later in the year. I hope your trip continues without any more dramas.

Esmeralda · Guru

Heading home in the morning and will be out of touch for a few days - I will certainly be changing internet providers when I get home. HW have a great trip wherever you head for next.

Firefly · Guru

Travel safe Es. x o smile

Cee · Senior Member

Safe travelling Esmerelda.......loved reading about your shake down trip. Your van looks almost identical to mine.........even down to the storage box on the front. Is it a Windsor?

Keep Smiling smile

Travel Bug · Guru

Hi Esmerelda,

I really enjoyed reading about your shakedown trip.

Have a safe and happy journey home.

Cheers. smile

Esmeralda · Guru

Well all, made it home OK - once on the road I decided to just keep on driving and made it home same day. No-one was home when I got there so I thought I would try to back in by myself. The ground was sodden and the wet autumn leaves made it like a skating rink, but I was determined (read that as stupid) to cut a long story of backing and forwarding short, I caught the awning on either the date or a tree and it is now very broken. In the end the only way I could turn around was to drive to the park up the road (Rubicon river, not a bad spot but you can't camp there - and it is still recovering from flood damage) drive around and out again then drove in the drive rather than backed - only to be followed into the drive by the parents!! By the way it was pitch black by now....... Never mind a nice cuppa followed by a large scotch made me feel a bit better.

My sister and her partner came up on Sunday to do some gardening for the parents and my sister's partner wired up the awning so I can take it to get fixed and he and my father and I turned Esmeralda around and pushed her into place. I then drove home to the 'burbs with my sinus headache to bed where I stayed until about an hour ago - yes 2 days - ended up with vertigo as well from the inner ear imbalance caused by the sinus problems. But hey I feel better now and already thinking about some short Victorian trips.

Happywanderer · The Master

Something had to happen on the way home Esmerelda, didn't it. Even if once you got home. Thats always the way.
Maybe a trip to Echuca sometime when I get home would be a good run.
I'm staying put here in Kumbia for an extra night, it says 2 nights but 3 won't hurt, they can't move me on in the middle of the night can they. Thats tomorrow night. So leaving thursday, just to be sure we are all rested and NOTHING goes wrong. Fingers crossed.
Hope you are feeling better and over that sinus headache.

Gerty Dancer · Guru

OOOH Esmerelda, I do sympathise with you over the sinus headaches... Makes my life a tad iffy sometimes too.

Thank you for your story, well written and funny, and lots of commiserations over your hiccups.

Esmeralda · Guru

Cee wrote:
Safe travelling Esmerelda.......loved reading about your shake down trip. Your van looks almost identical to mine.........even down to the storage box on the front. Is it a Windsor?
Keep Smiling

No Cee - it is a Regal. She is rather cute and has attracted a number of admirers.

Esmeralda · Guru

Thanks girls - the sinus problem and the vertigo have cleared today and I am now attacking the washing!!! I think I should have done some while I was away rather than buying new ones (I'm sure I have the largest collection of knickers).

Happywanderer · The Master

I went the other way, took a drawer full with me and as they fall to bits they can go in the bin. Also threw out 3 pr of shoes that fell to bits while at sons in Biggenden, one pair were my favourites too.