May 2023

1-31 May 2023

This month saw us again farm and chook sit and help out at the Winery/Cheese Factory down here in Denmark WA, and get stuck into a long long list of repairs/services and upgrades.

So, now at the end of May, and almost all of the jobs we wanted to get done are done. All of the purchases are done and all but a couple are yet to arrive for the jobs list to finally be complete.

Our list of jobs included:

1. Moving the battery to the rear and closer to where the solar panels wiring and regulator are.

2. Installing a second battery and wiring it in parallel with the other.

3. Rewiring the electrics including removing wiring from the front of the van to just that required for point 1, installing a new regulator, installing a shunt, installing a solar panel circuit breaker, adding a small inverter, installing a battery monitor where the old regulator was located and adding an anderson plug outside for portable solar panel connection shuld we wish to sit in the shade, or where we need to because the camps are all in the shade.

Battery Mon

The Battery Monitor Readout

New Electrics

The Electric's

4. Clean up and reroute wiring in the wiring cupboard.

5. Fix fuse panel screw in points.

6. Cleaning up the silicone around the work that was completed in Qld.

7. Installing new shock absorbers and making and fitting new protective covers.

8. Make and install a new insect screen for inside fridge vent where solar panel wires come in through.

9. Fix leaking drinking water filter and holder (yet to be totally proven as successful).

10. Make new floor for fridge to sit on.

11. Install diesel heater including making protective shelf/cover in tunnel boot and over pipe into inside of the van, and installing a fuel tank behind jerry cans at front of the rig.

12.Find and fill all holes from old wiring etc in rig floor.

Still to be done are:

1. Remove all window treatments and add gap filler behind to stop the bugs getting in.

2. Add fly net the exterior fridge vent.

3. Add sheet of insulation to back of the fridge to help keep the unit cooler in hot weather.

4. Find place to secure Starlink Internet dish for in travel use.

5. Add a POE injector inside to run Starlink Internet off of 12volt rather than 240v.

6. Find and install a travel router for Starlink Internet.

7. Install a through wall jack for Starlink Internet to allow use away from rig.

Phew! That has been a heck of a lot to get done but we have done it and have had fun doing it together, and with good friends Bob and Julie when they came to visit. Having a nice little unit (complete with pot belly stove and firewood) to live in and a shed to put the van and the ute in has also helped.

In addition we have booked the return travel to Tasmania for the end of February through to mid May 2024. We will be heading over there with our good friends Bob and Julie for a tour of tassie.

So with the jobs list along with our farm chook sit winding down towards the end of June, it won't be long before we are into pruning the grape vines across the way and moving back into our rig.

Mark Twain once said "...years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do that by the things you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbour. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." - and so we will.