The McKenzie's Official world tour site
# Tuesday, 17 June 2008
Countdown to our take off - an update is here!

Hej,

Another blog - many apologies for the LONG delay - and thankyou to those of you who had the faith to think that one day there would be another!

We have been so busy 'working' and 'doing' with no time left to write about it!

So here goes:

Phil has spent many hours personalising and adapting Nessie to make her 'ours' and not just some camper we picked up along the way! She is very much our home and we all feel at home travelling and spending time with her now - which is obviously very important to us all.

Here is a list of the main extras that have been added and installed where necessary for our adventures -

* A 3 way fridge freezer lives in the garage (Essential for carrying the odd tin of beer?!)

* A Gas Detector (Essential Safety device for detecting undesired gases along the way)

* A Smoke Alarm and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (Again essential safety accessories)

* Reversing Camera (To see what is behind before its too late!)

* Thermal Blinds (For the cosy good nights sleep!)

* Black- out curtains (for extra insulation)

* A BIG picnic table (Munch Munch!)

* Many Additional Safety Locks

* Comfortable Chairs!

* Water Filter -to Filter our Drinking Water.

* Lots more sockets

* An Extra Battery and Battery Box

* Travel Kettle (a dinky one that makes 2 cups!)

* Travel Iron (Hopefully won't get too much use - but good in an emergency!)

* Jerry Cans

* Storage and Toy Boxes

* Maxview - Satalite Television System

* Fire Extinguishers and Fire Blankets

* Navman Satalite Navigation (To avoid those many map reading disputes!)

* Inverter (Being fitted by Algo Electrical)

................... This is all adding to our very personalised Nessie!

Sharon has even dared to have a drive up on a deserted aerodrome and thoroughly enjoyed the experience (just a bit more practice with the reversing is needed!)

We are well on the way to getting a Passage De Carnet (passport for the Vehicle) to allow Nessie into Australia.

We will be collecting webcams for us, the family and school this week, and with the use of the mobile internet modem (the dongle!) - communication should be no problem! We are busy signing everyone who needs to be up to Broadband and organising some - 'using a computer ' lessons -where necessary!

Nessie is having promotional and advertising transfers fitted soon and we are looking into printing our logo (to be reveiled soon!) onto Vests, T.shirts and Caps......more on this next time.....

So -thats the story so far - we are well on the way to our travels - We leave home on Monday July 14th and have a ferry booked  for Dover-Dunkerque on Tuesday morning!

If I have left any vital information out  -or if you have any comments/questions - don't forget to drop us an email. We are always grateful for your interest and support. Thankyou........

 

 

 

 


Tuesday, 17 June 2008 14:13:37 (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)  #    Comments [1]  HOME

# Tuesday, 25 March 2008
Getting ready - Part 2

Here we go - it must be well time for another blog.......
We hit a obstactle in the 2nd part of our intended route - being Mongolia and China. It is now obvious that we are not able to drive unattended through China.......We would need a Special Permit and a Government Agent with us at all times. Also a written invite to get a visa in the first place. Too many complications that leave us with no solution other than to abandon the idea of including the Eastern block in this trip. It seems to us that Human Beings have made this beautiful world now more difficult to 'go and see' - maybe next time? Our emotions have been through a roller coaster of frustrations and disappointments as we realise that we couldn't use this part of our chosen route. Phil's need for an extended challenge was especially hard hit.

HOWEVER- now we have had the chance to re-route in our heads, our excitement and enthusiasm has returned - albeit in a different light! We are busy checking prices and routes again. We are now looking at initially staying a bit longer in Europe and then going 'the other way round'. From UK straight to Norway - Sweden - Finland - Russia - Estonia - Latvia - Lithuania- Poland - Germany - Switzerland - France -S. Spain - Portugal - hope to ship to USA (Baltimore) - Chicargo (to see Phil's brother) -Route 66 to LA - Australia  (Papa New Guinea? + Tasmania?) - New Zealand - Canada - USA - (Mexico? and hopefully Alaska) - UK........ The definate POSITIVES are that the new route will allow us longer in USA, Australia and New Zealand the most apprehensive parts of our journey have been removed (out of our control) - hopefully making for a less stressful family adventure.

We should not need any more injections now - and save the children from looking like pin cushions! AND the BEST BIT is that none of our route is set in stone - we have the flexibility to pick and choose as we go along............. The whole family are over the moon with 'Nessie' (the motorhome) and Phil has been continuing to personalise her : We now have extra security locks on every door - a shelved wardrobe - an extra fold down table top - installed flat screen TV/DVD and a reinforced bed ??!! We have taken Nessie on a first long weekend trip and have loved every minute of the experience. We have also had chuckles from  the neighbours as we were seen on a trip to the local supermarket! Phil is just loving to be in the driving seat' and is taking every opportunity to be there......Until next time......Thanks for your interest.... P.S -Sent the children's passports off for renewal today!! They would be fine for us to go but would have run out before we get back!!


Tuesday, 25 March 2008 19:08:32 (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)  #    Comments [1]  HOME

# Monday, 25 February 2008
Getting ready - Part 1

We've recently aquired the motorhome and Phil has already started customising it. We have begun our injections - boosters for tetanus, diptheria, polio, Hepatitas A and typhoid - lovely! We only went in for a chat with the nurse about what we might need - and came out with 2 jabs each and a long list of what else we will need - how did that happen?!

We are also booked into an emergency first aid course at the end of February. Phil has been shopping for the camper already and installed a microwave, new stereo with a USB connection and an electronic safe. We found a single sheet at a time toilet roll dispenser complete with flat pack tissue paper.

We had a camper naming ceremony along with specially made vodka to splash over it! (Phil refused to waste any whisky on this job!). The camper has officially been named - "NESSIE" its a very strong monster, with many Scottish connections and its future adventures are a mystery to all !!


Monday, 25 February 2008 18:59:47 (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)  #    Comments [3]  HOME

# Thursday, 01 November 2007
Blog Launch

Be sure to visit regularly

 


Thursday, 01 November 2007 07:00:00 (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)  #    Comments [0]  Launch