Angie and Ivan

Thanks Vidas, have been in contact with you offline and got your details for further contact. Thought others might be interested in this little report from us posted on the Caravanners forum: Thanks everyone for the welcome back. In a public library at the moment whilst Ivan has a sleep in the back of the Effie before tackling the Sydney traffic and tunnel. No email access but can look quickly at the forum (half hour time limit). When we were due to leave London we were experiencing a number of "lasts". But we have had a number of "firsts" during this past week. The first ride in the Effie was exciting, the first sighting of our new van frame (took photos but can't post them on this computer), the first wrong turn (that was very exciting!!), the first wrong trip - went to visit the Camec store in Brisbane. Advertised so I thought on the corner of Beaudesert and Kerry Rds, so we went all the way to Beaudesert and thought they were a little out of the way. Couldn't find them (despite there actually being a Beaudesert and Kerry Rds intersection), rang and found out they were in Archerfield, 10 minutes from where we were staying. That brought a great deal of fun to Ivan's day - NOT! The first fill up of the Effie ($112.00) and getting dearer as we travel down the coast, the first night sleeping in the back of the Effie on our blowup mattress and struggling to not want to get out at 3am for a wee walk, the first kind gesture from an unknown person of a shower after sleeping in the Effie, very welcome and humanising, and now our first trip to Sydney in the Effie. There have of course been many more I could mention but it gives you some idea. We are still pinching each other and grinning, getting lots of admiring glances from people for our wonderful truck and looking forward to staying with friends the next couple of nights and making our way down to Melbourne and Tassie to touch base with other family and friends. I will post pictures as soon as I can, but it is a little difficult when using others computers. Adieu until again, Angie

Angie, You are naughty (thawak) went right by me and didn't call in THAWCK! Macka

Ditto Griff

Ditto ! ............Rob. Perhaps you'll make amends on your return to PICKUP. You're welcome to stay in our van if your itinerary necessitates a sleep en route. We are about 10 hours south of BTI. Cheers...............Rob & Liz

Thanks guys, I am sorry you are disappointed in not getting to meet the famous Angie Baby, but can't be everywhere at once and time is against us more often than not. It would be lovely to take up all the offers we have had from both this forum and others that I "frequent" but the reality is, I would never get anywhere if that was the case LOL. We will be leaving Mornington to travel on the boat tomorrow to Tassie and then back later in the month to do a red eye flit back to Queensland as we have been told the van may be on time and also may be early for delivery and we are looking forward to getting hold of our new home so we have time to settle into it before Copeton. Life has been one hectic whirlwind since we landed and at times my head still feels like it is in limbo and we are "floating" above the ground. Hope you all understand. Looking forward to seeing most of you at Copeton. Angie

Angie & Ivan Suggest you contact Ford Australia and investigate fitting LPG to your vehicle. I have a Holden approved LPG integrated system and my vehicle runs like a dream. Down side is you cannot always get LPG cheap in the outback, but (there is always a but) The greater majority of areas LPG will reduce your dollars by 40% and vehicle power by 10- 20%. Our vehicle runs smoother on LPG, it is a good clean environmentally friendly fuel, your motor will last longer and DOLLARS will be in your pocket if the goverments do tamper with the exise taxes. I cannot see how any serious government can alter the LPG tax as the fuel is a by product and is the cleanest polution we can excrete from our vehicles. The politic parties would not be stupid enough to attempt to touch this fuel, other than lower the tax exise.

Pete, The vehicle that Ivan & Angie have is fitted with a 7.3lt Intercooled Turbo DIESEL and I haven't seen a conversion where LPG will run a Diesel engine. Brian

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Sorry, Sorry, give me an uppercut. I have come in on the end and should have had my facts sorted. Thanks Brian for being very polite and not making me out to be the goose I feel. At the moment some local people are selling Diesel mixed with filtered/clean old cooking oil and reduces the cost by around 20%. Newcastle City Council have been running trials for the last 12 months with there trucks and results have been very good. There may be some some respite on the horizon for the costs of Diesel. This does not take away the fact that I feel like an idiot. Sorry Angie and Ivan.

Hiya Pete. Don't feel 'like an idiot' .. we all learn something from this forum and sharing information and ideas is the fun part... we never know what may come out of lateral thinking! Cheers, Helen