1st - Steve left at 3am for the long drive south to collect the camper - we hope! He headed inland from Townsville to miss the road works on the Bruce Highway but hit more works as he headed to Charters Towers! He headed south - no road works but trucks and bumpier road. Hard to know which is better, at least there are less towns to have to slow down for. He slept in the truck - hence I didn’t go with him and I needed to stay home for Mum and Dad.
I started connecting photos with names on my family tree program. Another job I have been meaning to do.
2nd - Steve arrived at Styromax about 6.30am ready for when they opened so he could see how far they had gotten with the camper. It was a relief to see the pop-top was on with the latches and scissors we supplied but the angle trims around the outside were not done - they said they were waiting for the pop-top to be finished. The glue would take 3 hours to dry and Steve didn’t want to wait any longer so he said he would put them on at home.
Steve put on the legs with the brackets Daniel made - all worked well and he raised the camper so he could back the truck under. He only needed two goes to get under it and then he lowered it down. Everyone there was impressed to see the truck as they had wondered what we were putting this big camper on.
Samantha took a heap of photos for us as Steve forgot to take the camera! I posted some on Facebook and we got lots of comments.
I paid the labour bill and then Steve headed off about 12.30. Unfortunately everyone in Brisbane was heading north for the long weekend so the Freeway was packed and he had to crawl his way out of Brisbane.
He eventually got to Woodgate about 6.30pm to spend the night with his parents. He is looking forward to a good night’s sleep after all that driving.
3rd - Steve put some lights on the camper and enjoyed the day with his parents then headed off after dinner to do some night driving to avoid all the traffic. He managed to get to Clareview and pulled over into a truck stop for some shut-eye.
Tim and Sophie’s wedding today in Hay.
4th - Marion posted some lovely photos of Tim and Sophie’s wedding.
5pm - Wendy sent me a text with a photo asking if they were following Stephen in Innisfail. I said yes and she sent another photo of him pulled over at the turnoff for the Palmerston Highway. Another hour and a bit and he was home - safe and sound. He is looking forward to a good night’s sleep. Poor camper has bugs on it already! Steve is impressed with the workmanship from Styromax.
5th - We set up the camper near our caravan but further across from where Nathan and Sophie had parked their van. Steve bought a huge tarp to give it some protection from sap, leaves and branches from the trees up on the hill. The green ants weren’t happy when he climbed up trees to attach the ropes!
After using the battery drill and hand winder to lift then lower the camper I said 'spend the money and put motors on the legs!'
Very exciting now we have it home to start the fit out. Plenty of head room once the pop-top goes up. Lots of light and breeze at the moment - we will get our local upholsterer to make the canvas section of the pop-top.
Steve commented on the problem with having our queen-sized bed as we have to climb down the ladder in the middle etc. He proposed two single beds - but we can have ‘date’ nights!! It will work better as we can walk up onto the camper base (with the queen bed we have to go higher up onto the mattress) and it will be easier to make the beds etc. He will hinge the bed sidewards so we can lift each one for a bit of storage underneath for blankets etc.
Cooked fish and chips for Greg’s birthday (which is tomorrow) as he has been camping in ‘Pat’. Loving the simplicity of climbing in the back to go to bed while everyone else was in tents. He woke in the morning to see Lindsay and Toni had packed up and left and the others had moved camp because of the wild weather in the night. As he had pulled the side doors down he didn’t hear a thing. So glad ‘Pat’ is being loved by someone else. He has been a good truck for us.
We had my easy no-bake cheesecake for dessert and played Skipbo. Dad even tried joining in - forgetting that he ‘hates’ that silly card game. Bit hard to have someone with dementia playing cards but I helped him a lot!
6th - Back to work for me. Nice to catch up with girls and what they got up to over the holidays.
When I got home Steve said go up to the camper to see the surprise. More like a shock. A big branch had fallen down from a tree up on the hill and just missed the corner of the camper. It hit the rope and edge of the tarp and crashed to the ground rolling to the front of the camper. Fancy that - we had the tree fall between our van and Sophie’s van and now this one. I hope there isn’t any more. Maybe all that wind and lots of ‘white ants’ as we haven’t had trees fall here for many many years! Steve took these photos.
I took some photos - you can see where Steve has refixed the tarp as it ripped the eyelet out of the corner. I must have come down leave end first, hit the tarp then flipped over and rolled under the front of the camper - we were so lucky.
The branch is from way up there so we couldn’t have removed it even if we tried!
Leanne rang - she and Rick were hoping to come to Port Douglas with friends but there are difficulties with car hire due to Covid so they have cancelled for the moment. Hopefully we can meet up around Christmas when we are south - they live near Brisbane at Wivenhoe Pocket. Leanne said it is so dry down there whereas we have been having little showers in the night which is keeping the grass green.
Malcolm rang to chat about the camper. I sent Sophie photos of the fallen tree!!
10pm and it started to rain - nice heavy shower for a few minutes.
7th - Steve borrowed Rick’s chainsaw and removed the fallen limbs. Hope there aren’t any more.
Rebecca called in for a cuppa and more information about Tasmania as she plans her and Clive’s trip - hopefully next year, depending on CoVid.
Brian called in just after Greg arrived so they all had a nice chat while we got ready to go out for dinner for Rick’s birthday. Kaylene and Rick arrived and checked out the camper too.
Lovely dinner with Kaylene and Rick.
8th - After lunch I checked out Steve’s progress in the camper. He has marked where walls will go and using the boxes I have been collecting from work put up walls etc to give me an idea of how it will look once he cuts and installs the real walls.
9th - After work in the morning I met Wendy and Sandra for lunch at Cairns Central.
Steve bought a new jigsaw and circular saw and has started cutting up the boards to make the walls and bed bases in the camper. I did my bit and cleaned all the bugs off the camper - they slide off easily with the shiny walls.
10th - Steve worked on making the bed bases so we have beds to sleep on when we go to Woodgate for Christmas. His workshop is a couple of old trestle tables from Louis.
I decided to put my family tree on Family Search website as it is free and that way others can access it. I had it originally (25 years ago) on Genes Reunited (which was free then) and had met lots of distant relatives through that site. With two laptops it is much easier to look at my program on one and type the info onto the website on the other one.
11th- Today he cut his first hole in the camper, then he jigsawed along the line for the two hatch doors. These cupboards will store the batteries, gas bottles etc. The top half will be accessed from the inside as our clothing cupboards.
Styromax ran out of time to put the angle on the edges of the camper so we bought the angle from them so Steve could put it on and not be held up in Brisbane any longer. He put the first bits on ready to for the hatch doors.
12th - Hatch doors glued and screwed into place.
Francis, the upholster, called around to take measurements etc for the pop-top skirt. We will get him to make us an awning too for the back and side which we can slide into the pop-top roof rather than putting on a pull-out awning (with the pull-out one you have to unclip it each time you put the roof up and ‘remember’ to clip it back down when you move on!)
We put up two conduits under the pop-top lip to house all the electrical cables. Steve will put one along the floor on the shower side for water and gas pipes too.
Daniel called in to say hi and take the measurements for front wind-deflecting bit and the shower base.
Continuing with inputting my family tree. One of Steve’s cousins in Canada has her tree on there on the Miller side.
13th - Today the walls went up for the shower cubicle - Steve tried it out. We will have a curtain around the top. We are thinking of a hinged door which will swing out to be the privacy divider door in the middle of the walkway up to the beds. Daniel will make a stainless steel base for the shower and Steve has waterproof panelling to line the shower with.
Looking in the bottom of the cupboard at the hatch door Steve has installed.
Steve had a visit by a wallaby when he was packing up. He was startled by Steve’s movement and headed back up the hill. Then Steve noticed three more following him. Maybe that’s the noises we here in the night - not just bush chooks wandering around.
Found another relative on Family Search in New Zealand on the Geck side who I had chatted with back in 2004. Looked her up on Facebook and sent her a hello message.
14th - Each morning we have been have a light shower of rain but then sunny. Today the dark clouds brought more rain on and off all morning.
I found a line of Geck ancestors and their dependents who immigrated to North Dakota, USA from Germany.
A bit brighter for the afternoon. Steve cut out the hole for the toilet access door.
Daniel and Fran popped in for a visit with the yummiest cupcakes.
15th - Dad brought out an old boxes of letters and postcards. One I wrote when I was in Thredbo in 1981 and the other was from our boys when we were holidaying in Woodgate. Lovely memories.
Steve hard at working cutting out some panel to go into the toilet access door (they only supply the door frame).
The toilet is in place - not glued down yet though. He has put channel along the floor edge to get the water pipes around too. There is lots to think about so I leave him in peace and just pop up for some photos and then we chat about things over coffee or lunch etc.
16th - Woke to the sound of heavy rain. Then the sun came out. I have the day off work so Steve can get into the camper while I look after Mum and Dad.
Rang Erica to see how they were and check when best for us to come down at Christmas. We will all head down the week before. I have arranged for Greg to come and stay to care for Mum and Dad.
More rain then sun shine again.
Steve’s next job is the frame/wall for the fridge. We still have to order the fridge yet as they were on back order - stuck on a ship. Makes us wonder as Bushman’s promote they are made in Australia - so why is it on a ship!
17th - Steve used the black angle to make the frame the fridge surround will attach too and put in the top shelf. We are hoping to work out a way to have the TV on top of it like we have in our van at the moment. Will take some figuring out with the lowering of the pop-top etc.
Steve put in the dividers for the storage area under the beds.
On the top of the pop-top roof there is an exposed edge of the board with a groove along side it. Steve noticed that at the corners the board is sticking up higher so he got me to take some photos in case we have problems down the track. He put in a heap of the glue in the groove and then the while aluminium angle to protect the edge and with the glue stuff it will be water-proof now.
18th - Joined Brian at his place to watch Bathurst 1000. Ian came after lunch. The area looked empty as they only allowed 4000 people there due to CoVid19. Great racing and we had a great day chatting. Greg had come over to ‘nanny-sit’ and he cooked his usual Sunday night dinner here.
19th - Back to work for a special Red Day - usually we have them on a Friday but as the seniors won’t be a school much soon due to their exams the Student Council decided to hold one on today. Busy busy!
The bed frames arrived so Steve put one together so we could get a feel of what the bed area will be like. He had some hinges from ‘Pat’ which we can used to hinge the bed off the wall so we can get into the storage area underneath - only light items to be stored up there.
21st - David called up to chat with Steve about the scissor-lifts for the pop-top roof. One had bent when Steve tried pushing up from one end and now it has bent a bit more. He had removed it and turned it upside-down hoping that might stop the binding but it didn’t. We will look into getting some electric actuators to help lift and lower the roof so it can go up and down easily. May as well do the job well before we hit the road again.
Rebecca called in for a cuppa.
Steve made a base for the toilet to raise it a bit and screwed down the toilet. We decided to make a door for the shower that will swing out and be the dividing door for the toilet/shower area to give privacy.
Wendy and I went to the P&C meeting at 6pm to chat about what improvements the Tuckshop needs going forward with the increasing student numbers. 10 years since I was involved in 2010 organising the 50th Anniversary of the school. Will have to come back in 15 years to open up the time capsule we buried.
After dinner we ordered our 12 volt fridge from Bushmans.
22nd - Steve is having problem getting the black u-section aluminium he wants to use to protect the edges of the walls etc. We are going black and white and I will bring in some colour with bedspread, towels, mats etc.
He finished off the outside storage cupboard beside the toilet. It will house the generator and a shelf above will hole the spare toilet cannister. Room for lots of other bits to be stored in there too. Inside will be the clothing cupboard - haven’t decided yet whether to have shelves and doors or put in drawers. Will see once the water tank/steps are in place to work out what will give the easiest access. The other side will house the batteries, water pump etc.
23rd - Greg Nolan called in for a look at the camper, coffee and chat.
24th - Took a photo looking into the camper from the door at the wall for the toilet on the left and the fridge compartment then shower on the right.
Steve put the other bed base and put the hinges on.
I brought up a single mattress from Mum’s to try it out. Enough head room when sitting on the bed and easy enough to bend/stand and then get down off the bed area. I tried my head at both ends and decided to have it so we can look out the end of the camper (will have a window in the canvas at the end and on the sides). Now to go shopping for some mattresses, sheets etc.
Kaylene and Rick popped in for drinks and a chat.
After dinner we rang Bob and Margaret as she had sent a message about having the van reweighed. As their van is older Bob had to upgrade the undercarriage and put brakes on the wheels to get it passed if they were ever pulled over. He has been a busy boy.
25th - Steve cut more holes in the camper. Two doors for access into the back of the fridge - to give him easy access in case he has to fix things and to open it up fully when we are in very hot climates. He will cut vents into the doors too.
He then cut the opening for the hot water system and installed it ready to plumb etc.
He has done really well working in this ‘environment’.
We placed a board on top of the hot water system then placed the new stove on top to see what it looked like. We have a small sink to the left under the window. Will get the top cut out from a firm in Cairns.
Next he cut the door in for the storage that will run along the other side. Inside we will have a box on top of that storage for more kitchen storage.
26th - Wendy texted to say her Dad, Frank, passed away at home. Sent her a message and will catch up soon when she has things sorted.
We had chosen the same windows we had in our van rather than the new style ones. Only problem they are thinner than the fibreglass wall so we had to get trim to cover the gap which Steve installed today. Unfortunately it doesn’t quite reach in the corners but a quirt of silicon will fix that.
The door trim hadn’t been done in Brisbane either so he finished it off too. We are very impressed with the door - has a great locking system and it is crimesafe so no wire security mesh to clean.
27th - Steve put the rest of the corner trim around the outside edges of the camper but we are one bit short for the front so will have to get some in Cairns to finish it off. We measured and chatted about the size of the overhead cupboards and the kitchen bench etc. As I have the next two days off work we will go and choose the bench top and get it cut.
28th - No work for me today so after lunch we went out and tried some mattresses. Chose medium comfort ones from OMF, Australian-made mattress company and they are very reasonably priced.
I had posted up some progress photos on the Styromax DIY Builders Group and we received a message from a chap about the Pure-Lite panels we are using for the interior. I sent him some photos and info back. Steve got this shower screen angle to try out for the cupboard doors and drawers. It certainly strengthens the board so there shouldn’t be any bending when the doors are hung etc. We will get the angle in black of course to match the black and white theme we have going.
29th - Another day off for me. Steve picked up the mattresses. Will wait till we have the canvas surround before trying them out!! Looks narrow but there is plenty of toe room to move along and turn around between the beds.
He put in the top of the area where we will keep our clothes - in drawers. Down the back of one side is the conduit for cables which has a removeable cover. There is a shallow area on the top for us to store books, phone etc.
30th - Back to work for me. Steve, in between caring for Mum and Dad started on the overhead (well shoulder-height) cupboard above the sink and stove area.
31st - Got my new glasses from Specsavers today - bifocals, as I need the reading aspect more with work and my laptop but my eyes are tiring with all the peering over them and I need some distance help too. Feeling quite fuzzy at the moment but the lady said to try it for a week around home and work then try them with driving once I feel comfortable. She said give it a month to decide if they are right for me - they give you 3 months to change them if they are suitable.
Jon called in - hopefully he will be able to put in the air-conditioner for lounge room in the next week or so as summer has arrived and we want to keep Mum and Dad comfortable (Dad suffers badly from prickly heat).
Dan called in after lunch - having 'fun' making our special shower base. Steve wants it to drain into a channel so that is posing 'bending' problems for Dan but he will get it sorted. So proud of our two capable sons and the way they like to make sure they do quality work for their employers and customers.
No comments:
Post a Comment