"tanks" NOW THE East to West trip. PART 2 EAST to WEST

[Keith Morris]

"tanks" again.
First---MERRY XMAS to those of the Forum whom I have yet to name and greet.
Now for the run down on the Iveco Leisure Seeker "TANK-2", and the Sprinter "TANK-1"
After all of the instruction and the big lesson, I can remember most of the information and operating instructions.
The parts I have difficulty with are of my own making and the failing memory. To be correct, the memory is OK, it is the RECALL part that I experience difficulty with.
"Russell" and I had a committee meeting after talking with the mob in WA on the phone last night, or was it the night before. The outcome was; that the Sprinter would be best back in the West where the kids and grand kids could use it for their holidays and weekend trips, rather than have my Bro-in-law come down from Maryborough Qld to Newcastle NSW, and drive it back to his place.
I departed Newcastle Georges'domain at 07:30 am on Christmas Day heading West to DUBBO. I pulled into a Woolies Servo to fill the diesel tank ready for the big drive, unfortunately I could not locate the fuel cap key amongst the handful of keys the man gave me during the hand-over.
PANIC---It is Christmas Day and the mob at AUSTRALIAN MOTORHOMES were all on leave and the place was closed till January 6th.
A phone call to the office diverted me to the boss bloke (Ron) and no problem, drive to the yard and he will meet me there. Ron arrived about 3 minutes after I pulled up at the front gate and sorted out the missing key by busting the lock with a screwdriver and multigrips, and removing the filler cap.
He then replaced the thing with a new cap and 2 keys, and waived the $51.00 cost of the new cap as a Xmas present. He also presented me with a container of sliced off-the-bone ham, some cherries, and a few bread rolls his wife sent along with him for me as I did not have time to do any Xmas food shopping, having spent the past few days in their parking area to move all of my gear and clothes from the Sprinter to the Iveco.. NICE TO MEET NICE PEOPLE.
Australia Motorhomes are letting me park the Sprinter in their secure yards until I arrange to collect it in the New Year. Soooo,
The plan is that I drive to WA in the Iveco and then fly back to the East to pick up the Sprinter. I can then use it to go to the GUM TREE LAKE get-together at Easter next year. (early April) I can spend a bit of time there, and then drive the Sprinter to WA.

Back to the present:---Very heavy rain before DUBBO and most of the way to COBAR. The road shoulders were closed and the parks were awash or flooded. I could not park on the road shoulder for fear of sinking, so it was a long trip with very few pee stops for "Russell" which he is not happy about.
am now parked in a sealed rest area "somewhere" between COBAR and another place. I entered BROKEN HILL on the GPS and I am following directions. This is an overnight stop/rest/cook time and I will get away from here some tine on Boxing Day.
MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY.
Keith.

[T1 Terry]

Does this mean we won't be fitting solar panels to the Iveco Keith? Why didn't you drive the Sprinter home and then fly back for the Iveco? Yeah, I know, but I wanna drive my new toy Hope both you and Russel have a safe and mishap free trip home. hope you left enough in the Sprinter to tour the NSW region before you head back to WA.

T1 Terry

[Newcastle George]

He will probably restock the Sprinter prior to the return to WA. Keith and I enjoyed a number of beers at the local Bowling Club on Christmas Eve. We expected to see him on Christmas Day and were going to invite him to join us for lunch but received a phone call from him at 7:15am advising that he was pulling up stumps and heading home.

George

[Shirley]

Take your time, enjoy the trip & travel safely with Russell, busy time to be on the road.

[Dot]

Never a dull moment with our Tanks boys is there? safe trip you two.

[VicA]

Go Keith....

[Keith Morris]

"tanks" here---
I made it to Broken Hill and had another committee meeting with "Russell".

We decided that the route would change from a direct run to Peterborough and Port Augusta, we would take a detour and go visit Bob & Bev in Mildura Victoria.

So here we are on Saturday morning parked in the driveway waiting for the sun to show. "Russell" has exchanged sniffs little "Jack" and made friends with "Fred", who is almost identical to "Jack", and another older dog whose name I can't recall just now.

Bob gave me a tour of the factory (his workshop) where he is making his "COMMANDO" 6 wheel monster into a comfortable insulated go anywhere vehicle, with all mod cons and nice seats to keep Bev comfortable. It's looking good and Bobs work is first class with winches, fuel can holders, and a lot of other modifications for his quad bike and boat.

It is possible that I will go across to Adelaide and then meet up with the Lion Tamer and perhaps Dot & George and maybe Ash & Wendy as I venture towards the SA Border and back to WA. I missed out on a visit to Genderdawd at St Helens Island and the T-1 Terry at Illawarra [please excuse spelling of the locations--I'm from the West].


Time flies when you are on the road. I have just recently remembered that I have eye surgery at Sir Charles Gardner Hosp in January 2015 and it is now getting close to the new year, so my time is limited. I'm very comfortable with/in the Iveco and so far it is a pleasure to drive and live in. There are still a few things I have to learn --like how to work the on-board inverter and which of the many 240v power outlets to use etc.
Keith.

[pop's coaster54]

Hi.
Keith and Russell you will get there and good luck with it all.

Ron.

Just coasting along.

[Keith Morris]

Thanks Ron,
I have just had a morning cuppa with Bob & Bev and now to learn a bit more about the box-on-wheels.

The m/home [let's call it TANKS-2] has a small on-board inverter for charging the laptop and phones, but I can't remember which power point to use. I think it is a single outlet. Trial and error or seek and find is the key here.

There are about 6 twin 240 volt outlets that are active when on generator or land line is connected, and so play time is now on. Each day brings surprises and boosts the memory of what they taught me at the hand-over lessons.
Keith.

[generdawg]

...I missed out on a visit to Genderdawd at St Helens Island ...

Keith, I can assure you that Muster was a FULL dog able to sire a pedigree liter. He never lived at St Huberts as I lost him years before we came here.

dawg

PS I thought George and Dot were presently on the road in Victoria - in which case you would be looking at a vacant lot at Strathalbyn.