EAST COAST TRIP

This will be our second long trip away. First being the Darwin trip last year. We will be traveling in our new full van, 'Escape Signature Series 1'.
We are very excited as it has all the modern cons. eg full ensuite; washing machine.

We leave 9 June and will travel until 15 August. Our friends 'The Crooks' are also traveling at the same time and the same area and we will meet up with them in Rainbow Beach and again at Iluka. They will travel with us from Iluka to Coffs and Forster.

7 weeks to go. Can't wait.

We picked up our new van Wednesday 20th April. It looks great, we are very happy.

Our New Van

Inside

Our New Van

We will take it for a short 'test' run next week to Echuca/Moama. Our Easter this year will be spent setting it up, making sure that everything has it's own 'home' and that all things that need protection while traveling are protected.

We are very grateful to Michelle & Rob Crawford, Wangaratta Caravans (sellers) and Barb & Scott, Desinger Vans Wangaratta (builders) for all their help and continued support.

We decided to leave a day earlier than first planned as we were all packed and ready to go by Tuesday. So we headed off leaving Wodonga at 8.40am on the coldest June morning for around 2 years, heading for Peak Hill.

Leaving home

Leaving Wodonga

On the road

The car & van travelled well and we reached Peak Hill around 4pm. It was extremely cold so we had to put the heater on. Disaster :-( The safety switch tripped off. No power. We turned the heater off and was only running the TV. OK. But as soon as we put any other appliance on Wham the power went off. By turning everything off we could run the microwave to heat up some dinner, but as soon as anything else was switched on it would trip out. So early to bed in a very cold van. I slept in thermal underwear to keep warm. (not a pretty sight).

Woke up at dawn to a very cold van. Was able to boil a jug with some perseverance and get a cup of tea. Power still tripping out.

Decided to take off to Tamworth and stop at Dubbo and find an electrician.

Was able to find a really nice young guy who was only to happy to help us out. He removed the cover of the fuse box and Wham burnt wiring. I immediately rang the manufacturer in Wang, who spoke to the electrician, and they organised it to be fixed.

Burnt out wiring

Apparently when the wire was screwed into the back of the safety fuse it was not connected so it was arching and only making intermittent connection.

After 2 hours both the safety and main fuse wiring was replaced and we were on our way.

arrived at Tamworth around 3.45pm. Another cold night. But thankfully no power outage. Will be running the heater all night to keep warm as it's going to be -2 overnight.

Off to South West Rocks tomorrow to spend time with Poppy Keith.

Slept well and woke to a nice warm van. Thank goodness no more power outages.

We are off to South West Rocks today. Will be travelling the Oxley Highway from Tamworth to Wauchope then the Pacific Highway to Kempsey then into South West Rocks.

The trip over the mountains was slow going with not a lot of room to move. Both John & I taking a turn at the wheel. Some parts were a little rough and some hold ups with road works. We both drove over the mountain.

We stopped at Timbertown for lunch and fuel. Arrived at Pop's in South West Rocks just before 2pm. Backed the van onto the front lawn in front of the flat. Pop has set the flat up for us so we will stay in it for our stay, just leave our clothes in the van.

Weather not to bad, sun is out and about 18 degrees but it due to change.