In September 2009 Anthea and I were at a bit of a crossroads. We could either settle down & get a mortgage, or we could spend that deposit on a campervan & a trip around Oz. We chose the latter!
We looked around for about a month. We looked at Toyota Hi-Ace (too small), VW Transporter (too expensive), Winnebago (dreaming!) and Ford Transit.
We bought the Ford Transit in a private sale in Copacabana on the Central Coast. It's a 2000 model, auto (Anthea could drive it), diesel (economical), hi roof (standing up in your home is nice), long (more room), white (anonymous looking), 180, 000 kms on the clock and an annexe (even more room!)
In January we went to the South Coast for our first big trip in the Transit. On the way back through the Kiama bends I smelt something bad coming from us! The temperature needle was boiling off the dial so I pulled over near the cemetry. With no NRMA (off to a good start!) I called the parents and they came & rescued us.
Everyone's an expert when the bonnet's open, but only one of us has overalls on!
With his overalls on Dad diognosed the Transit as suffering from a leaking radiator. After filling it up and driving it back to their place close by it remained there for the next two months, waiting on a aftermarket radiator.
After dad pulled out the radiator, he also discovered it needed a new waterpump, and that several blades off the fan were missing, so they had to be replaced too.
Thanks everyone who gave us $$$ at the wedding. We could afford to fix the Transit!
So we got the Transit on the road in time for Easter so we could attend the Byron bay Bluesfest.
