121 - Spring Has Sprung

Hi Troops

Firstly no pikkies, not until we either hit the road again, or show you the up dates on the Retro Liner.

Yep been off the air a little, but on the road to recovery. Thanks to all those who contacted me to check that I was still in the land of the living......guess what........sure am!!!!!!!!!!!!!!, and getting keen to get cracking again.

Well as above in the heading, Spring Has Sprung, however not here on the mountain. Still cold, wet most of the times, windy and we still have the log fire on every night. Occasionally I drive down to the Sunny Coast for some sanity, and the difference in temperature is just amazing. Had lunch again the other day at the Mooloolaba Surf Club, and the beach was packed......are we missing something!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Looks like we are going to be at the park till at least Christmas. The interested persons, and there are few who are interested in purchasing the park, their intentions seems to have stalled. I guess it is not a very conducive purchasing climate at the moment....so we will just ride out the waves. This isn't a hard job, and one is very thankful to the owner, who have been very compassionate during my recovery, which has allowed me to slowly get back on track. Also a big thank you to the bride....The Pillar of Pompey, who ran this place while I was enjoying 5 star treatment at the Nambour Hilton. She certainly surprised me.

So what's happening.

Although I have been unable to continue with much gusto, and getting the RetroLiner basically updated for our next travel events, I have had various mobile repairers out, doing things I can't do anyway.

So this is what has happened to date by the mobile repairers:

• New awning and refurb of annex
• New caravan legs
• Changed gas bottle carrier
• Added another pole carrier plus water carriers to the rear
• Bits and pieces with clips broken and odds and sods.

This is what I have done:

• Rewired the van for 12 volt.
• Added a radio, where the old Heron Air conditioner was was. Love a bit of Chicago, blasting through the van.
• Added 12 volt points to take the TV and new Vast decoder for independent camping.
• Added LCD lighting in the kitchen area, and awaiting LED globes to replace existing 12 volt bulbs
• Purchased a 120 watt solar panel (portable)
• Purchased a Coleman Hot Water on Demand for instant hot water.
• Fine tuned the external "off the back of the van" shower / tent and shower system.

Currently this is what I am doing and also waiting for:

• A new checker plate door is being made (formerly the Heron air con compressor area) to suit the Coleman Hot Water on Demand, which sits perfectly in the vacant cavity left by the Heron compressor.
• Rewire a 12 volt plug from this new compartment so the battery in the CHW on D, can be continually charged from the van battery, even when traveling.
• New LED clearance and brake lights, with checker plate bases.
• Re seal the the dodgy joints around the roof area. (not looking forward to that one.)
• Maybe add some more extra LED lights internally.

Next big project, coming soooooon:

• Remove the ridiculous L shape cafe lounge. Designers should be shot, hung and quartered, over this type of louge. They are the most uncomfortable lounge system I have ever sat in, especially when I always seem to be on the end. I do notice with a lot of new designs now, the lounge systems seem to have improved out of site, with comfort in mind, not put a lounge in because it suits the design. Convenience factor.
• In place of the lounge, two very comfortable singe chairs with a fold down table arrangement. Not a lot of work in this refurb, as most of the infrastructure is already there. Just gotta find the chairs now....that will be the deciding factor if this works on not.
• Remove all the original decals, stripes etc., which will have to be ground off because they are old, brittle and crappy.  Then a flash new wide blue stripe down both sides to be painted with, maybe some yellow pin stripes.

So as you can see folks, lots of things have either happened, or about too, on the RetroLiner. We have till Christmas as I said above to complete all projects....so if we don't run out of money in the meantime, should all happen.

We hopefully are getting away to see the kids in Cairns, with the compliments of the owner, once I can travel, but time will tell on that one. We are definitely having Christmas off, (we live in hope) and will take the up dated RetroLiner to one of our retreats for about 7 to 10 days, near 1770. Just love that area. It's a good pick for us as being a retreat, numbers are always low, which suits us and no kidzzzzzz. Ya!!!!!!!

Well that's the update. Hopefully will start adding pikkies once some of these up dates are being finished on the RetroLiner. At the moment, 20 jobs on the go, so a bit messy.

Till next time.