Driver Training

 Posted by Elizabeth at 8:47 pm
Dec 052010
 

Last weekend we undertook our first 4wd driver and recovery training with the Toyota Land Cruiser Club at their Willowglen property near Goulburn.

The weekend was fantastic! We tackled roads that we would never have even contemplated attempting previously. We learnt how to negotiate steep, walled creek beds full of rocks. To traverse steep tracks full of deep holes and covered with gravel, wind our way through the bush and do water crossings. Recovery training was also part of the weekend and we learnt how to winch, use snatch straps and hi-lift jacks.

On top of that we met some great people and will hopefully be putting our new skills into practice with some club trips before we leave. (We are doing a trip in September with them).

 I think we both feel a whole lot more confident in our ability to make our way around Africa and tackle the roads ahead!

 

Car Booked

 Posted by Elizabeth at 9:08 pm
Dec 152010
 

We have finally committed to hiring a vehicle, have made the booking and paid the deposit. Just have to hope now we have picked the right company and everything will be ok! (I’m sure it will). I’ve added an update to the vehicle page to explain how we decided to hire rather than buy a vehicle.

Sand Driving

 Posted by Elizabeth at 11:16 am
Dec 192010
 

This weekend we did a sand driving course with the Toyota Landcruiser Club at Stockton Beach. We had a great time! Once again, it is amazing what our cars can actually do. Whilst I don’t think we’ll be driving over sand dunes in Africa, we will definitely be driving on sand tracks and the course has certainly helped us to understand the basics for sand driving.

 

Satellite Phone

 Posted by Elizabeth at 2:05 pm
Dec 222010
 

After watching satellite phones on Ebay for some time, we have finally purchased one at a reasonable price from the UK. It is in pretty good condition and seems to be working, which is always a plus! Now just to wade through all the satellite phone plans and work out which one will fit our needs the best.

Trip to Koolandilly

 Posted by Elizabeth at 1:20 pm
Jan 162011
 

Last weekend we did our first 4wd trip with the Toyota Landcruiser Club. After meeting very early at Hazelbrook, we took a leisurely drive past Jenolan Caves and out to Kanagara Walls. Here we took a walk down to look at the walls and to visit a cave. Back on the road and before too long we were into 4wd territory. Our car handled terrifically, hardly slipping in the thick clay descent whilst some vehicles were slipping sideways down the hill. There were a number of water crossings through out the day, one was deeper than it looked with a large rock in the middle but all in all they weren’t too bad and we crossed them all without any issue. Around 5pm we arrived at the club property which is close to Wombeyan Caves. The property has lots of grassed areas close to the river where you can camp and was really quite civilised with showers and toilets. We will definitely be visiting again for a weekend.

    

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