"Hi-yo, Silver! Away!"

We have our 4wd!!!!!!!!

Woooo hooooooo!!!  it is very exciting, we're half way there!!!  Yippeeeeee!!!  aaaaarrrrggghhhhh!! eeeeeeeeeeee!

ok, after I've got that out of my system (yeeeaaaahhhhhh!!...oops, sorry) we picked up our 4wd last night after deciding to buy it on Monday. We have been looking for weeks and getting very confused in the process because everyone has an opinion (& rightly so) on what will be the best vehicle for the job.

So, the new member of our family is...... 2001 Toyota Landcruiser Prado Grande 3lt turbo diesel automatic.
It can tow braked 2500kg which is what we wanted and/or will need. After much deliberation and discussions with other caravan owners, we have decided against getting a caravan with an ensuite (I'm just gonna have to toughen up...princess!!). Reasons are as follows:

1) we'll mainly be staying in caravan parks and using their facilities, therefore an ensuite in the van would not be used.

2) to have an ensuite gives the van extra weight and length when we really should have that extra weight allowance for our stuff etc.

3) a porta-pottie & portable shower are much lighter, take up less room and can easily be set up & used when we do free camping - and we'll be using river water etc and not precious drinking water stored in the van.

4) it will make the purchase of the van cheaper.

so, because of our change in decision about the type of van we're going to purchase, we have been able to make a decision about the type of vehicle to buy and be very comfortable with that choice.

We picked her up last night (why are they she's?) and showed our respective families (oohs & aahhs). It's getting real now, another step taken on our journey.

Driving last night & this morning, it feels like "Silver" (Dave shudders at naming the car, but hey....... WHO CARES, I LOVE IT!!!) ...... mmm...calmed down now...right, where was I.....that's right.... it feels like "Silver" has been part of our lives since forever and I don't miss my little Echo at all!!!! Do you think we're ready? :)

It is a very comfortable 4wd, important for long trips, and it is an eight seater and we'll be able to take out the last row of seats for storage space. We will have to add a few accessories, eg. roof racks, anderson plug/electric brake doovies (technical term folks) for the caravan, jerry can holder, no doubt some other stuff I can't think of right now. All part of the journey and exciting in their own right.

The best part, I think, is we paid cash for it...... we don't owe anyone money!!! Debt Free!!! An exceptional feeling after drowning for years, not only are our heads above water, we're walking on it baby!! :)

Looking forward to taking Silver on her first fishing trip and camping trip early in the New Year..... the adventures begin.

Shukran (thank you)

The most beautiful and wonderful thing happened to Dave & I last night and we both felt it should be shared, particularly when there are so little 'good' news stories presented in the media.

Last night I got home from my weekly Pilate's lesson and Dave wanted to go for a walk straight away. I had just done an hour of muscle strengthening and my legs were a little wobbly but Dave said he wanted to talk about 4wd's and our trip - so off we went.

We normally walk along the beach but it was a bit cold and windy and I suggested to Dave we just walk up Balnarring Beach Road instead and he agreed. So off we go, chatting about our respective days and how Dave went to a 4wd place in Hastings and was actually 'helped', what kind of 4wd we're going to focus on getting, our budget etc., etc., etc.

We walked past a house and there was a BBQ smell wafting our way and we saw a family in the front garden around a BBQ and we said "G'day" and Dave mentioned how good it smelt. All smiles and we kept walking not thinking more of it.

20 minutes later we were on our way back and before we passed this house on our return there was still a yummy BBQ smell. As we went by, the family was still out the front and they called to us.. "we have put some food on for you, for when you walked back this way".

Oh my goodness, how nice. They had cooked for us 5 homemade skewers of lamb which had herbs throughout it (Yum!!) and they placed these in some pita bread. A lady asked "do you like Hummus" and I said "yeah, love it".... huge dollop of homemade Hummus on a separate plate. They came over to the fence and gave us this food saying "this is how we do a BBQ! :)" and one of the guys gave Dave a can of soft drink.

We introduced ourselves to each other and they explained they were there as part of respite for a family member (young boy) who had dialysis 3 times a week. This family was going through a tough time and they could still think about sharing with others. It was amazing, beautiful, inspiring, uplifting and wonderful. No stranger has ever offered us that kind of hospitality in our lives. This lovely family was Muslim.

I feel like I shouldn't have to explain the religious background of this family, they're citizens of Australia just doing their thing. However, because there is so much negative representation of Muslims in the media and about only a few who do not represent the majority, I feel compelled to.

This is the kind of stuff we want to experience when we travel and it has happened on the back door of where we are living now. It is wonderful.

Open eyes, hearts & minds bring such beautiful moments to your life.

I want to ride my Bicycle.... I want to ride my Bike!!!

Not only are we looking for a 4wd, we are also looking to purchase a bike each.
Our plan - when we have set up "camp" at a caravan park we will use the bikes to get into town to buy groceries etc instead of using the car for small trips - saving on fuel and getting some exercise!! (sarcastic whoopeee!)

So, on Sunday we wandered (in a bewildered state b/c we are not shoppers) into Kmart, Big W and Jones Bicycles (in Frankston & very helpful). Kmart only had itty bitty bikes left ('tis Christmas I spose), Big W had a bike ok for me at $98 but not one available for Dave (would have been $98 if still in stock) and Jones in Frankston could get us in 2 bikes at their lowest price of $379 each.

Big difference in price but also a big difference in quality & service - however, b/c the bikes will be attached to either the car or caravan (via some racking system which will no doubt require a PhD to install) there is the potential for keen eyed theify's (yes, it's a word) to spirit away our brand new bicycles.

Decision - get the cheapy's after Christmas, when they may even be cheapy-er.

Conclusion - sometime around January or February 2012, Jo will have scrapes, cuts & bruises on her knobbly knees because Dave won't let her have training wheels, and I quote "That is gay and you'll be riding by yourself". And a tricycle is just too big to put onto the back of the car (I would luuurve a tricycle with a basket on the back and the wind in my hair....weeeeeeeee).

Searching for a 4WD-Dave

Rain, rain go away, I want to test drive a 4x4 today....
We are heading out in search of a 4x4 today. The target: Prado Diesl or Landcruiser HZJ105R. Leaning towards a Prado as the van we have decided on is a Jayco Starcraft. If the moons align and we hold our tounges in the right spot we may have a vehicle within weeks, then we will set our sights on the van.

It all began in 2010! (pronounced two thousand & tan - so it rhymes)

A good friend of ours said "you should definitely start blogging, even before you go on your trip."
So, here it goes.........

August 2010, Dave and I were a couple of little stressed bunnies. A decision was made to no longer keep going with a Screen printing business which was consuming our lives without any dividends. aaaaaah, a huge weight lifted from our shoulders and Dave started looking for work straight away. He got a job within weeks at Woolworth's Distribution Centre doing shift work packing. It opened our eyes up to a world of work that wasn't necessarily 9 to 5. Opportunity here.....

October 2010, applying for a mortgage to consolidate our home & business loans - HELL!!! absolute hell. Red tape unfurling like a dunny roll when you drop the end... Right before Christmas it was approved and we were able to finalise the business. aaaaaah, another weight lifted.

Jan 2011,
"Dave?"
"Yes Jo"
"Why don't we sell everything and go around Australia?"
"For how long?"
"One or two years"
"mmm, maybe"

Feb 2011
"Jo?"
"Yes Dave"
"If we work as we travel, we could go for a while, even have money to buy our farm when (or if) we stop"
"Yeah, we could"
"Right, we're doing it!"
"Cool (kinda smug smile :) )"

Feb-March 2011, mad cleaning up of our house & garden and Dave made his first retaining wall (woo hoo!).
April 2011, house on the market and SOLD!!
April - July 2011, getting rid of some of our worldly possessions (as it turns out, not enough of the bloody things) and packing up the rest (far too many of them).
July - now, debt free and living in Balnarring and saving saving saving

It has been the best decision of our lives and we haven't even started our Tour of Oz yet!
Both Dave and I have lost weight, we're happy and healthy and positive. We're enjoying life!! We're smiling.
We're excited.

We are now seriously starting to look at 4wd's and caravans - the next step of our adventure begins!