We have the bus, our own motorhome. Registered, insured and all. But minus a lounge and fridge (which is on a slow boat from China) and other bits and pieces, but functional!
Maz and I took the bus - the RH Hino - for a first outing on a Saturday in November 2010. An hour or so up the road is Caloundra. NO caravan parks between Caloundra and Noosa accept pets. I guess they dont have to...
Just south of Caloundra is Pelican Waters. We booked in there at the Military Jetty Caravan Park. Checked that they could handle a 7 metre motorhome, no worries.
Nice drive but hot and humid. The vehicle aircon works well but has a water leak from the eveporator - right over the driver... a cool refreshing shower none the less...
Good thing the bus has a great steering lock; getting into the skinny 8 m long site from a skinny access lane.. Got organised, met the neighbours, went for a long walk along the Pumicestone Passage (inside of Bribie Island. Comes out at Caloundra)
Enjoyed local fish and chips and retired to our own bed!
Drove back to Woody Point Sunday via the coast up to Noosa. Good test of driving the windy skinny (in a 2.4m wide vehicle) roads. I took more photos of sand and sea...
Saturday 14th Aug
Last report from our first “road trip”:
Saturday morning started nagging on the phone at 8:30. Expected confusion between the Sydney base, Melbourne assistance centre, Brisbane depot where we hired and the local Ballina agent… So after about $20 of mobile calls… I was picked up and taken to the Ballina depot. Filled in the real accident report. And half an hour later was driving off in a Britz Hi-ace. Parked at the Emigrant Creek boat ramp next to the caravan park. Then moved the MB Sprinter out of the park… terrible crunching noises…
We swapped all the gear, locked up the MB left the keys at the park office, and at midday were away.
We organized our bus procurer to meet at his place at 2:00 and paid the balance for the Hino. We had really had enough for the day so headed back to Woody Point. Haven’t added the KM yet but we covered about 3500 km in 7 days on the road, met lots of friendly people, caught up with old friends, walked on some beautiful beaches, saw some glorious scenery – missed out on some too with Friday curtailed and no detours on Saturday…
We had fun and had some lessons learned or confirmed for us:
• A permanently made and accessible bed is essential
• A toilet shower big enough to stand up in and turn around in is essential
• Enough power for independent lighting, music, TV etc is essential (solar and big batteries)
• We missed the TV – news etc particularly, and (I) lost track of the days…
• Hot water from gas is fine. Gas and a heat exchanger would be perfect (diesel HWH are very expensive)
• Microwave was perfect for (plugged in) cooking.
• Off mains cabin heating is essential which means gas or diesel (Coonabarabran)
• Heading south at this time of year is a dumb idea…
• A smallish generator for daytime aircon would be sufficient.
• Honey needs her own seats front and rear depending on her mood…
Next plan is head North in September – when depends on plans of others…
Then it’s Mulwala for 6th November and Adelaide for 13th…
Saturday morning started nagging on the phone at 8:30. Expected confusion between the Sydney base, Melbourne assistance centre, Brisbane depot where we hired and the local Ballina agent… So after about $20 of mobile calls… I was picked up and taken to the Ballina depot. Filled in the real accident report. And half an hour later was driving off in a Britz Hi-ace. Parked at the Emigrant Creek boat ramp next to the caravan park. Then moved the MB Sprinter out of the park… terrible crunching noises…
We swapped all the gear, locked up the MB left the keys at the park office, and at midday were away.
We organized our bus procurer to meet at his place at 2:00 and paid the balance for the Hino. We had really had enough for the day so headed back to Woody Point. Haven’t added the KM yet but we covered about 3500 km in 7 days on the road, met lots of friendly people, caught up with old friends, walked on some beautiful beaches, saw some glorious scenery – missed out on some too with Friday curtailed and no detours on Saturday…
We had fun and had some lessons learned or confirmed for us:
• A permanently made and accessible bed is essential
• A toilet shower big enough to stand up in and turn around in is essential
• Enough power for independent lighting, music, TV etc is essential (solar and big batteries)
• We missed the TV – news etc particularly, and (I) lost track of the days…
• Hot water from gas is fine. Gas and a heat exchanger would be perfect (diesel HWH are very expensive)
• Microwave was perfect for (plugged in) cooking.
• Off mains cabin heating is essential which means gas or diesel (Coonabarabran)
• Heading south at this time of year is a dumb idea…
• A smallish generator for daytime aircon would be sufficient.
• Honey needs her own seats front and rear depending on her mood…
Next plan is head North in September – when depends on plans of others…
Then it’s Mulwala for 6th November and Adelaide for 13th…
Friday The Thirteenth - DISASTER!!!!
Well Friday the 13th is a real travelers jinx, maybe, but today for us!
Good start. Getting used to the get up re-organise. Maz lost an earring somewhere…Took Honey – and us - for a walk on the Woolgooga beach north of Coffs Harbor. Maz tripped over and skinned her knee. (2 down)
Headed through Grafton to find old friend Brian Gane and Lyn who have settled ( a few years ago) on 150 acres (and seeking more) on the Clarence River… Excellent morning tea.
Went back through Grafton to Maclean crossing an arm of the river on a vehicle ferry. Good fun but banged and folded in the left mirror… (3?)
Evans Head a met up with Hugo who builds coasters and such into motorhomes… makes interesting seats and stuff.
Headed up to Ballina aiming for Brunswick Heads (Byron Bay not dog friendly…) BUT 3:30 PM, south of Ballina at the Bruxner Hwy turn, A woman in a Corolla decided to turn right in front of us. As it happens I was slowing a bit but still left many metres of rubber on the road >>> T-bone. Towies Ambos and eventually Police. All okay!!!
M-B still barely drivable but took 2 people to get the plastic bumper bar out of the Toyota… Tilt tray to local caravan park – drove in but may not drive out. Tourism Holdings Limited (Maoui/Britx/Backpackers) have a new depot in Ballina. So with luck we can get another vehicle tomorrow… We will see. We need a big rig for all the s—t we brought with us and collected at Mulwala… (not our fault but I am glad I took part excess reduction option…)
Meanwhile DODO broadband works here – obviously. Not sure if I am game to turn on the gas for hot water but we have 240V at least…
So all okay but delay – unknown
Good start. Getting used to the get up re-organise. Maz lost an earring somewhere…Took Honey – and us - for a walk on the Woolgooga beach north of Coffs Harbor. Maz tripped over and skinned her knee. (2 down)
Headed through Grafton to find old friend Brian Gane and Lyn who have settled ( a few years ago) on 150 acres (and seeking more) on the Clarence River… Excellent morning tea.
Went back through Grafton to Maclean crossing an arm of the river on a vehicle ferry. Good fun but banged and folded in the left mirror… (3?)
Evans Head a met up with Hugo who builds coasters and such into motorhomes… makes interesting seats and stuff.
Headed up to Ballina aiming for Brunswick Heads (Byron Bay not dog friendly…) BUT 3:30 PM, south of Ballina at the Bruxner Hwy turn, A woman in a Corolla decided to turn right in front of us. As it happens I was slowing a bit but still left many metres of rubber on the road >>> T-bone. Towies Ambos and eventually Police. All okay!!!
M-B still barely drivable but took 2 people to get the plastic bumper bar out of the Toyota… Tilt tray to local caravan park – drove in but may not drive out. Tourism Holdings Limited (Maoui/Britx/Backpackers) have a new depot in Ballina. So with luck we can get another vehicle tomorrow… We will see. We need a big rig for all the s—t we brought with us and collected at Mulwala… (not our fault but I am glad I took part excess reduction option…)
Meanwhile DODO broadband works here – obviously. Not sure if I am game to turn on the gas for hot water but we have 240V at least…
So all okay but delay – unknown
Thursday 12th 2010 NSW South Central Coast: rent-a-van
A bit nerve-wracking around the hilly bits, and driving. But getting used to a 4t 5 speed manual – slowly. Practice make perfect
But the trip and the stopping at beautiful beaches and sights is great. Gerringong is 20 times bigger then when we were there, but still beautiful. Having a fulltime bed will be very welcome. And having a shower that Al can fit in will be a treat.
Honey needs her own seat with a view. We will have to work on that. With luck we have our bus by your birthday so could camp at the bottom of the garden, on the road…
But the trip and the stopping at beautiful beaches and sights is great. Gerringong is 20 times bigger then when we were there, but still beautiful. Having a fulltime bed will be very welcome. And having a shower that Al can fit in will be a treat.
Honey needs her own seat with a view. We will have to work on that. With luck we have our bus by your birthday so could camp at the bottom of the garden, on the road…
Maz
On the road in the Backpackers Mecedes
Wed 11/08/2010
Well we are on our practice voyage – renta-camper… "Backpacker' campervans are old, re-badged and cheaper Maui or Britz vehicles. All owned by Tourism Holdings Ltd (owned and run by NZers...)
Friday: Brisbane Coonabarabran 750km – Freezing overnight… very entertaining at the pub…
Saturday: > Mulwala - own bed, which didnt required re-organising the whole room – really good. Re-affirms the permanent island bed in our specification!
Tuesday: Mulwala Batemans Bay, well actually Batehaven. Rainy most of the way. Ensuite at the caravan park – looxery compared to the small SHR/WC in the van.
Wednesday: Batemans Bay and heading north, via the coast. Stopped at Hyams Beach, beautiful. Geringong, Werri Beach – magnificent!!
Bypassed Wollongong and M5, M7 around Sydney to Terrigal, coastal to Too … where are we? Brain fade Toowoon Bay, near the Entrance…
Tomorrow towards Coffs Harbor. I want to find an old friend out of Grafton, I guess on Friday.
Saturday we need to pay for the/our RH Hino coach. (which I fancy calling the RHHINO… yes awful, but…)
Thursday
We have made it to Woolgoolga today, for the night, so tomorrow intend to hunt down Brian and Lyn Gane near Grafton for morning tea. Will phone when we are well on the way. But need to find a man at Evans Head in the afternoon.
Well we are on our practice voyage – renta-camper… "Backpacker' campervans are old, re-badged and cheaper Maui or Britz vehicles. All owned by Tourism Holdings Ltd (owned and run by NZers...)
Friday: Brisbane Coonabarabran 750km – Freezing overnight… very entertaining at the pub…
Saturday: > Mulwala - own bed, which didnt required re-organising the whole room – really good. Re-affirms the permanent island bed in our specification!
Tuesday: Mulwala Batemans Bay, well actually Batehaven. Rainy most of the way. Ensuite at the caravan park – looxery compared to the small SHR/WC in the van.
Wednesday: Batemans Bay and heading north, via the coast. Stopped at Hyams Beach, beautiful. Geringong, Werri Beach – magnificent!!
Bypassed Wollongong and M5, M7 around Sydney to Terrigal, coastal to Too … where are we? Brain fade Toowoon Bay, near the Entrance…
Tomorrow towards Coffs Harbor. I want to find an old friend out of Grafton, I guess on Friday.
Saturday we need to pay for the/our RH Hino coach. (which I fancy calling the RHHINO… yes awful, but…)
Thursday
We have made it to Woolgoolga today, for the night, so tomorrow intend to hunt down Brian and Lyn Gane near Grafton for morning tea. Will phone when we are well on the way. But need to find a man at Evans Head in the afternoon.
Test run in a renta-van
Sat, 31 Jul 2010
Gday all,
Yesterday we did a deal for a 7 metre Hino Coach (an RH160AA)! So we are ‘moving forward’!
In 2 weeks it will be fully serviced, wheel balanced an RW, in 4 weeks it will go to Firstchoice Motorhomes for conversion… Details (and cost) yet to be finalized. But it will have a rear island bed, toilet and shower with fridge and microwave on the driver side. Galley on the kerb side and awning. 250W of solar panels with all in one Redarc controller (dual battery charge, inverter, solar management) and some comfy chairs including swivel Captains chairs’ for driver passenger… i.e. only sleeps 2!!! We want to keep the bus windows except behind toilet shower, to keep it light and open.
Meanwhile we are having a week of – in a rented motorhome, well campervan. A practice run - particularly for Marian, in a 6 metre, 4 tonne, 5 speed manual M-B.
Heading for Mulwala via an overnight stop halfway - Coonabarabran.
Gday all,
Yesterday we did a deal for a 7 metre Hino Coach (an RH160AA)! So we are ‘moving forward’!
In 2 weeks it will be fully serviced, wheel balanced an RW, in 4 weeks it will go to Firstchoice Motorhomes for conversion… Details (and cost) yet to be finalized. But it will have a rear island bed, toilet and shower with fridge and microwave on the driver side. Galley on the kerb side and awning. 250W of solar panels with all in one Redarc controller (dual battery charge, inverter, solar management) and some comfy chairs including swivel Captains chairs’ for driver passenger… i.e. only sleeps 2!!! We want to keep the bus windows except behind toilet shower, to keep it light and open.
Meanwhile we are having a week of – in a rented motorhome, well campervan. A practice run - particularly for Marian, in a 6 metre, 4 tonne, 5 speed manual M-B.
Heading for Mulwala via an overnight stop halfway - Coonabarabran.
11 Aug 2010
Well we are on our practice voyage – renta-camper…
Friday: Brisbane Coonabarabran – Freezing overnight… very entertaining at the pub…
Saturday: , Mulwala - own bed – good
Tuesday: Mulwala Batemans Bay, well actually Batehaven. Rainy most of the way. Ensuite at the caravan park – looxery.
Wednesday: Today! Batemans Bay > north, via the coast. Stopped at Hyams Beach, beautiful. Geringong, Werri Beach – magnificent!! Bypassed Wollongong and M5, M7 around Sydney to Terrigal, coastal to Too … where are we. Brain fade Toowoon Bay, near the Entrance…
Tomorrow towards Coffs Harbor. I want to find an old friend out of Grafton, I guess on Friday. Saturday we need to pay for the/our RH Hino coach. (which I fancy calling the RHINO… yes awful, but…)
Friday: Brisbane Coonabarabran – Freezing overnight… very entertaining at the pub…
Saturday: , Mulwala - own bed – good
Tuesday: Mulwala Batemans Bay, well actually Batehaven. Rainy most of the way. Ensuite at the caravan park – looxery.
Wednesday: Today! Batemans Bay > north, via the coast. Stopped at Hyams Beach, beautiful. Geringong, Werri Beach – magnificent!! Bypassed Wollongong and M5, M7 around Sydney to Terrigal, coastal to Too … where are we. Brain fade Toowoon Bay, near the Entrance…
Tomorrow towards Coffs Harbor. I want to find an old friend out of Grafton, I guess on Friday. Saturday we need to pay for the/our RH Hino coach. (which I fancy calling the RHINO… yes awful, but…)
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