PREPARATIONS AND FAREWELLS

28 DAYS UNTIL LIFT OFF!

The realisation of how much we still have to do before we leave on April 13 2008 has hauled me out of bed (the reason why I was still in bed so late was completely self-inflicted - I played my last hockey match yesterday and all the team went out for 'some' end of season drinks and my farewell. I am now asking myself why I found it necessary to drink so many apple martini's!).

The preparations for the trip are finally starting. During the week, we heard that our offer on a 1995 Toyota Troop Carrier had been accepted and the process of turning this old beast into "the Battered Fish" for our adventure can now begin. Gerard's brother will be picking it up from Melbourne over the Easter bank holiday weekend and we can then get it to the mechanics to get it fitted out for the "outback". Until I started researching this, I never knew how much was involved in this process and also, how expensive it would be - first budget broken even before we have started the journey - not a good omen!

The Battered Fish currently has dual fuel tanks, one a 90 litre and the other a 180 litre. We will be filling the larger tank with used vegetable oil (more on that note later!) and the smaller tank with bio-diesel. We plan to get the used vegetable oil from road houses or fish and chip shops that we encounter on our travels. The 4WD will need to be converted in able to be fueled using used vegetable oil. It also has a 60 litre water tank fitted to it which we will use for drinking and also washing. We are fitting a shower to the vehicle so fear not friends and family, we will be washing (with bio-degradable soaps and shampoos of course) on our travels!

The Battered Fish will be towing a camper trailer, which will be our home for our 9 month adventure. This has a queen sized double bed in it and a pull out kitchen (well, drawers and a preparation area!).

Although I have done a bit of camping and travelling in my time, I have never driven a 4WD or done "serious" back to basic camping before. Many people have commented on what happens if nature calls during the evening - well, the answer is Iwill have to dig a hole and pray that I do not step on any snakes or spiders along my way!! It is all going to be completely alien to us to begin with but hopefully we will get used to it over time.

As part of the preparations for the trip, we are undertaking a 4WD course when we get to Sydney and also attending a remote outback first aid course. The 4WD course will teach us how to cross river crossings, drive through different terrain and use the recovery gear such as the winch and the high lift jack (I am sure I will find out what these are also on the course!).

We will be updating this blog whenever we reach towns with internet cafes to inform you of where we are and how we are getting on. Stay tuned for out next update..........