Test Run 2

      9 Nov 10     Loaded up on Mon 7 Nov 10 heading for Mt Barker via a weigh station.  Weighed in at 2380 kg; just under its ATM of 2387 kg.  The Challenger knew it was towing a load. We are now reviewing just what we need to take; trying to reduce the overall weight as much as possible. Two nights in the Mt Barker Caravan Park.  The trek to Burra Creek Gorge via Murray Bridge, Nurioopta, Eudunda was fairly uneventful except for pulling into a park for a cuppa in Nurioopta that had only one entrance/exit and not a lot of room to turn around.  We made it OK.

      Overnighted at the Burra Creek Gorge;  should have been a donation, but no donation box.  Another freebie, well worth it.   Moved  on to Jamestown for a couple of nights.   Didn’t take long to see the sights;  rained most of Friday, caught up on some reading.

      13 Nov 10    We had planned to travel from Jamestown to Melrose via Peterborough (to look at Steamtown Railway Museum), but after we had taken the daytime tour of the facility, we convinced ourselves to stay and watch the night-time Sound and Light Show.  Well worth it, very well done.  Stayed overnight at The Peterborough Caravan Park.    On to Melrose the next morning, stayed at The Melrose Showground for the next 2 Nights just to try out a different style of campground.  Proved to be more than satisfactory; about half the price of a chain caravan park yet with acres of space.

      16 Nov 10     On to the White Cliffs Reserve 6 klm out of Koolunga; free camp spot, with toilet.  Very quiet night.  Next day on to Willamulka (Kadina) via Port Broughton.  Quick sticky beak up and down the main street and jetty;  checked our emails at the local library and away we went.

Test Run 1

12 Oct 10     Successfully hooked up and travelled to the Christies Beach Tourist Park on Tue 5 Oct 10, booked in and set up without any dramas. Busied ourselves testing out everything; realized we had forgotten half the stuff Jayco had told us.  A bit more trial and error, most things worked.  Confused ourselves with the solar/12 volt and HWS systems. Finished up with the HWS on gas only, everything else OK. Visited Jayco on the Wed, instructed us again; took notes this time. Still can’t get the water heated on 240.
     Packed up without incident on Thu 7 (except for the obligatory chat with every passer by).  Had the van wheels balanced at KMart Reynella; they wanted to argue the toss as to why it was being done.  All good in the end.  Travelled via home to collect more supplies and clothes and headed to the free camp at the Mallala Sports Ground by way of the new Northern Expressway.
     The free camp spot was OK except that the toilet was some distance from where we could camp.  Gave us a chance to play with the systems without 240 and mains pressure water (pumps/tanks and battery power only).  We’ll need a couple more free camps to fine tune everything.
     Moved on to Balaklava today (8 Oct 10) just to practice setting up again in a van park and to have a bit of a look around.  All went smoothly (except for the obligatory chat).  We were able to choof along at 90 ish with the transmission locked in 4th;  the Challenger seem to do it easily.  Still can’t get the HWS to operate on 240.

It's Here

6 Oct 10     Picked up the van on 30 Sep 10.  A couple of minor glitches; a delay of a week while the dealer replaced an aluminium panel that was probably dented by bird strike during transportation to Adelaide, the floor covering was the standard version, not the one we chose.  The salesman omitted it and we didn't spot it either; no real drama, we are used to it already.  Then the Weight Distribution Hitch towball shank didn't  fit the Mitsubishi towbar.  A quick trip to the towbar people and a wave of an oxy torch fixed the problem.  A further "cut and shut" is planned to tidy it up further.

     We were given a detailed tour of the van, plenty of instruction and tips but we later realised that we had remembered only about half of what we were shown.  We successfully made it back to Brendans, backing it into its parking space without many hassles. 
     There's also an amendment to "The Plan".  We are now building a new home in the village in Goolwa so we're looking at a delay while it gets built; probably won't move in until March ish 2011.

In The Beginning - The Plan

                                                                
13 Apr 10.     For as long as we can remember our plan was to travel extensively once we had retired. Originally we were going to sell up everything, travel and then when we had seen all that we wanted to and/or were not fit enough to continue, settle at Clayton SA (near Milang) and grow old/older disgracefully.
      The plan was amended about a year or so ago; Clayton was not progressing, has very few facilities particularly as we get still older, but the plan now is to downsize to a retirement/lifestyle village in Goolwa and use that as a base for our travelling.
      We've been to just about every caravan and camping show that's ever been held gathering ideas for our van; changed our minds at every show and at every van we looked at. Thought we had it "sussed" but then we'd find another one that would do the job. Finally in late 2009 stumbled on the new Jayco Starcraft, "budget luxury" they call it. After more research and rethinking went to this year's February caravan and camping show and placed the order for a 19ft Starcraft with ensuite bathroom, cafe dinette, solar and battery pack, larger fridge etc, due late Aug 2010. This ties in with the move to Goolwa Sep/Oct this year.
      Upgraded the tow vehicle to the new Mitsubishi Challenger LS auto; a good deal cheaper than a Landcruiser/Patrol/Pajero/Prado, but should still be quite capable. The relatively light weight of the Starcraft also helped with the decision.
      We're now in the process of buying all the extra "bits" for both the van the the car; towbar, brake controller, reversing camera, crockery, cutlery. The list goes on and on and on but we should be ready for a couple of quick test runs soon after we pick up the van. Maybe one decent trip this year and we should get serious next year; we could be on the road for up to a total of 6 months each year.