THE BEST LAID PLANS...

The famous quote is, "The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry." (Robert Burns) It means that no matter how carefully you prepare for something, unexpected events can still cause your plans to fail.

We had made minimal plans but had booked Proserpine to land first after we left Micks Mum's place after his birthday.

First plan out the window was the caravan not drawing power through the solar panels on the roof. Draws power through the solar panel blanket. Not the roof. Same thing as at the beginning and same thing that had already been fixed. It was working fine. Then not. So calls to Arctic. Van had to be taken AGAIN back to Caboolture and it is now ready with a promise that this should not happen again. We collect her again on Monday. Another trip to Caboolture. Can't escape the place.

We had booked in a caravan training course that was cancelled once but rescheduled to the 23rd June which was the day after DeMicks birthday.

All this would have allowed for an easy 4 weeks to travel the coast up to Port Douglas where we have accommodation booked at a caravan park for 8 nights from 31st July. Do some serious sightseeing and catch up with a friend.

Then the above quote came into play again. We will not be leaving Lowood until the 8th July. In time to watch the origin game in a camp somewhere. And then we have until 31st July to land in Port Douglas.

We have needed a few days to regroup. Think. Gather our bearings.

When the caravan and towing course trainer started the course the first thing was a weigh in before the remainder of the towing and reversing part of the course.

But the car was massively overweight. Not the van.
Even with the new springs Mick did on the car. They are not counted in giving us more capacity of weight to carry due to our laws.

So all the tool boxes we purchased have come out. They weighed so much. They will now become shed storage at home for DeMick. The towbar, bull bar, even the lightweight roof top tent and awning, all the additions add up. So storage boxes are gone.

We have booked the car in for a full upgraded suspension at Pedders for next Wednesday. This will give us the maximum upgrade we can have and allow for us to be under weight even. Which is my aim.

We have repacked in plastic crates and now have learnt how to pack car and van. We have sorted out everything we have. It was messy but now neater and tidier and every item is weighed. Recorded in my little travel book.

We will be reweighed and complete the caravan course on the 7th July. We will pass with flying colours.

Interesting info... apparently police pulled over about 90 caravans in Emerald the other day. As an exercise in gaining info about weights. 65 vans and cars come in overweight. Crazy. I read that on a caravan site. But I can honestly see how it happens and now look at every car and van differently.

DeMick has to take all this stuff back to Bauple on the 3rd... which happens to be a Friday... so he gets to catch up with his friends. So bonus for some play time.

Then we can leave...Read more