Setting off (and setting up) ...

Although we enjoyed two road-trips last year - our Big Loop tour in February and then a Sydney visit in November - it had been nearly 18 months since our first (and only) Spacevan trip, back in September 2021.

In the meantime, we'd completely unpacked the camper, plus moved house.  These two happenings made packing a lot trickier than usual, cos once we'd decided what to pack, we then had to find it! Hah!

Nissa visited for the first two weeks of April.  We holiday-ed at home during her stay, doing daytrips and having a lot of fabulous fun together.  It was wonderful!

After fare-welling Nissa on Friday night, we started packing - aiming for Sunday departure. 

We worked very hard on our separate missions. Nick sorted lights, power and water as well as our two Engels.  

The Engels travelled in Elmer, one as a fridge and the other as a freezer.  The freezer was in the back because we wouldn't often need it (and standing on the tow bar to reach it is a bit tedious).  

The rear seats were folded down and the fridge was stowed in the passenger-side footwell, where it was a little lower for easier access via the side door.  Both Engels stayed in Elmer for our overnight stop at Roma.  Nick ran an extension lead to the car, so they had mains power for that period.  (They use 12-volt power while in transit).

Vaughan came with us for our first Spacevan trip and a section of the rear floor was used for his sleeping area.  It was just Nick and I this time. When we set up properly, the two Engels were carried inside the camper.  

One folding table was used inside, so our Gladstone bags were at a good height for access.  I took a number of plastic hooks and these were very handy for hanging jackets, shower bags etc.  I'd made two shower totes early last year, for carrying clean clothes etc to the amenities block.  We've used them as swimming bags since then but this was their first run for their intended purpose - and they were great!

I'd done other sewing for the Spacevan and those accessories were used for the first time also.  Although I'd intended to make dedicated Spacevan laundry bags, that project had stalled - so we used the set I'd made for non-camper road-trips.

We took two sets of camping mats.  The site was dusty, so it was great to have eight inside.  The dust falls down the holes and sits within them, which minimises the amount tracked onto the upper floor.  There was another set of eight, just outside our doorway.  (We'd forgotten our step but didn't miss it too much).