Day before departure - thoughts from Ian

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OFTAT Blog final day - some thoughts from Ian

Finally before I close the PC which we are taking with us..... our last day seems to have dragged a bit, probably because we have been preparing for so long. In our case, unlike the other 2 Oftat couples who live in a village with sumptuous driveways and things, our car is out on the street so we have had to be careful about what we display to discourage any potential interest from passers-by.. Now we can start to load all those things which have been cluttering up the spare bedroom - and Chris has been doing a bit of cooking in preparation for the first night (will we be in a camp site perhaps?); probably feeling too tired to do much more than heat up a chicken stew. One minute I think everything will go in OK, and the next have a panic attack that a large shoehorn will be the only way. On the roof-rack, besides the tent, there is the second spare wheel and a plastic wolf-box (bolted on) full of spares (which we hope we wont need - other than spare filters etc.for servicing en route). We have a spare wheel on the back door (we are using Cooper S/T tyres by the way), and on the inside of the back door a stainless steel table which folds down to take the cooker. In the back itself (what we call 3rd class?) the foldaway seats have been removed altogether and steel frame installed to take a carpetted plywood false floor about 12" above the floor of the car which extends right across and as far as the back of 2nd class seats. A section has been cut away on the right to take a 50L fridge/freezer (Waeco) which is on runners so that it can be pulled back (with the rear door open) in order to access the inside easily. On the same runner frame as the fridge, but to the left of it, sit two plastic "ammo" boxes which slide out with the fridge. Chris keeps all the "food" (ie tins of stew etc.) in them. On the carpeted shelf itself are 4 large plastic boxes with all the rest of the stuff. Above these boxes (and the fridge) is a steel shelf across the width of the car with about 9" of space to slot other baskets and boxes - and sevral cases of cans of tonic! The steel shelf is supported by uprights to which 2 chairs have been bungied. Under the steel shelf is a "c" bracket in which a table is slotted; very easy to access by just unding a strap and sliding it out. Inevitably small spaces are created between all these fittings into which other plastic boxes are wedged. She will rattle like an old tinker's cart when we get going, but however hard that may be for me I must learn to live with it! Second class seats are all in place and the rest of our gear will have to go there somehow. Bedding, a spare ground-tent, 2 sleeping bags, 4 small (overhead locker sizes) suit-cases (2 each). There is a small stove in the back on top of the fridge which runs of long disposable gas cannisters; we have about 12 of them - will they last the 3 months? Probably if we can persuade Hamish and Milla to do most of the cooking on their large gas cylinder! Other things we have done to the car - new batteries have been installed (2), one to run the engine etc. (starter motor mainly - the car is automatic!) and the other all the ancilliaries. Oh yes I nearly forgot - a 80L water tank is installed behind the second class seats under the false floor. A purification system and pump supply a feed at the rear of the car. Significant aluminium alloy protection guards have been installed under the car, and a second 80 Litre fuel tank has also been put in (with a pump to transfer fuel to the main tank which feeds the engine). The sensors from the 2 tanks are fed via a 2-way switch to the fuel guage so I can check how much fuel there is in each tank. A sophisticated battery management system allows me to monitor the states of the 2 batteries. A winch has also been installed at the front as part of the ARB Roo-bar. Suspension has been uprated with Old Man Emu springs and shock absorbers. Perhaps we have gone somewhat over the top in places, but we plan to import the car into Kenya as a suitable safari wagon.. FrogsIsland 4x4 have done a pro job with all the mods, and we have had wonderful support from Dan Baring whom we met in Kenya recently when he and his friend Charlie had just driven out in 2 LandRover Defenders. Dan's guidance in much of our planning has been invaluable, and I am sure the tips he has given us with
respect to the route and countries we will be crossing will turn out to be extremely useful. I must now away to look for that shoehorn.......an early bed tonight and up at 3am to be at Dover by 7 for the 8.15 Ferry to Calais. Hope to meet up with the other 2 Colorados before the ticket office.......Ian

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