We're On Our Way - Ah Ha, Ah Ha.

Well, we arrive in Port Macquarie in one piece and found a nice little caravan park at Settlement Point on the northern outskirts of the town. We got a cabin for a few nights and it overlooks the Hastings River. We were greeted with the most glorious sunset. The park owner is a nice guy and very obliging and vague, which seems to suit us down to the ground seeing we didn't know what to expect with the caravan.

The day finally arrived to collect our van. We were a little late, but it didn't seem to matter because Barry from Watson's Caravans put an electric brake pack in my hands and directed me to an auto mechanic he had booked. It took the best part of the morning for the gadget to be fitted to Herc (short for Hercules, the name we call our Landcruiser). Then in the afternoon we went back to Watsons and they started to show us the ins and outs of the van and how to operate everything. What a brain override that was. Luckily Rosy had a pen and paper handy to jot most things down.

They got to the stage where it was time to hitch the van to Herc and they asked us to unlock the existing tow bar ball. We looked at each other puzzled. What lock? What key? We had no idea what they were talking about and we definitely didn't have a key to unlock the device. No matter, I asked if there was a locksmith in town, of which there was, so off we went. Although the van people were a bit concerned as they weren't quite sure that the locksmith would be able to take the lock off. Apparently, caravaners use them to stop people from stealing their Hayman Reece apparatus, which cost about $1000 a piece. Anyway, we get to the locksmith and they say they will try to unpick the lock. After about an hour they decide that isn't going to work so they then decide to drill through the lock. That didn't work wither. Then they try drilling through the bolt. Hey presto! One busted lock.

It's now 4:30pm and Watson's shut at 5pm. I don't know. these people who live out in the country and have other lives. Well, you can imagine how quickly they showed us how to hitch and unhitch the van, and a very quick lesson on how to reverse it. I have to say though, they were really good with detailing the van, adding quite a few things to it for no extra cost. As it was the Hayman Reece sway bar, the electric brake were thrown in. They basically got the unit in working order before they let us out the gate.

Then it was time to drive out. I had asked Rosy if she wanted the honours, but guess what, she didn't want to do it. So off we go. I have to say, it was remarkably easy. Not at all how I had imagined it. The power of Herc made it feel like i wasn't towing anything at all, and because the twin axles are at the back of the van, it basically followed the tyre marks of Herc. We were going through round-a-bouts and corners and speed humps with very little effort. Wahoo!!!

We have decided to settle in a place called Bonny Hills, about 30 minutes south of Port Macquarie. It is right on the beach and we are looking forward to getting there and setting everything up.