What is on your bucket list?
One of the must do before returning
home ( To our maker) for me is driving to
Cape York. With this single thought in mind a long term plan has been hatching.
First was the vehicle, which one, what do I need, will I be able to sustain the long drive?
The vehicle I settled on is a Land Rover Defender 110. Good condition, strong engine and a robust frame for my mods.
What do I need? A roof top camper so not towing, water storage, extra fuel tanks and a few mechanical mods.
OK the hard one, get fit and stay fit. Less ice cream and red wine, bugger.
Move forward to today, where are we up to. Vehicle fitted out and most items tested (winch not tested). Roof top camper away for mods after extensive testing requiring many trips away. How we suffer!
Fitness, coming along now to maintain the rage.
The planning.
Our trip date was set for July 2013 but circumstances changed and now the date is locked in for 28th July 2014 to leave
Perth. I am looking to go via
Great Central Road and the
Outback Way to
Cairns, allowing five days drive. Two weeks on the cape then same way
home. All up looking for four weeks away from
Perth. This trip is focusing on the cape area, not the many wonderful temptations on the way so any time saved getting there will allow more wandering at the cape.
Well all for today, as I continue with the planning I will update my blog. I will add photo's for more enjoyment as relevant pics come to hand.
Testing the set up
A little of the set up coming with me.
Sat navigation
Fridge & water tank/pump
Long range sill tanks
Rear storage
29th September Update.
I went to a fare
well party last night and spent most of the night talking to Bill, a tour operator. Bill has just returned from four trips to the cape driving a Merc 30
seat 4x4 tour coach. Very interesting and heaps of pointers re roads, camping, fuel etc. The main tip was our timing for next years trip. He suggested we avoid August as nearly every adventurer is at
Cape York in this month. So taking this advise, June will be our date for visiting
Cape York. Exact date for leaving
Perth, looking at 28th May. Now timing for leaving under review. Would like it to be tomorrow but patience.
28th December
Still on track for getting away on the 27th May. Off work at present but looking for a three month contract to take me closer to June. Bazza running
well, going to change the coolant over the next few days. Also going to replace the standard radio/CD with a unit that has USB and aux capability. With the back of the vehicle generally full of gear I want the rear speakers in the middle of the vehicle. The quote I have included the move and neat boxes to fit the new speakers into. Looking to go for a
test run trip very soon, good to
test out the camping gear and other bits and pieces.