Fitting Out The Van
17th January, Cairns, Australia.
Yesterday the van had its roadworthy certificate and today it was the turn of the cabinet-makers. We had searched around for someone who could make the van habitable during our 'dull days' in Cairns and came up with a guy who could do it for a few hundred quid at short notice - we didn't want to wait another week or more, as many of the other cabinet makers had said we'd have to wait. The plan was simple - one cupboard unit with shelf, and a flat base for a mattress with some storage underneath for our bags. It's not an ingenious design where everything folds away neatly. As much as we'd like to have that, time was the overriding factor, then cost. Nevertheless, there's heaps of space for the bags.
Peter fitting the van out.
I spent much of the time wandering around checking the progress (and helping too, where needed - not being a total in-yer-face busybody!). Despite being under cover most of the time, I was sweating buckets and when I finally drove the van away I saw a very red face looking back at the mirror.
I spent the rest of the day finding other bits and pieces for the van, like a mattress and curtain fittings and took the van back to Manda at the hostel all ready for the road and looking as homely as a tin can on wheels can!
Shortly after that, I collapsed on the bed in a burnt, red sweaty heap and grunted like a pig during a 15-minute power sleep. Damn, that sun can be fierce.