The End of an Era

 Things have been happening here.  Our Toyota HiLux, purchased in July as a tow vehicle, has been sold back to the car yard we bought it from.  This all happened quickly and painlessly, and was whisked away last week.  Luckily for me, friends Bill and Val came around to help me unload and clear out the back of the ute - this was full with items from our last caravan trip away.  

Goodbye car - Robin didn't enjoy driving this at all

Over the last couple of weeks I have been trudging  back and forth to the caravan emptying out drawers, cupboards, pantry, wardrobes.  There was so much stuff tucked away!   I had help from Owen when it came to the lockers and all the different tools they contained.  He advised what must remain with the van and what could go.  This morning Owen and Helen came back up, helped me with the final cleaning, and after lunch towed the van to a sales yard for me.  I really couldn't have managed without their help.  The van will be sold on behalf, and hopefully the Summer holidays will be an ideal time to sell.

Goodbye, Romany Rambler

Our custom made caravan steps will be looking for a new home.  These were commissioned to make it easier to climb into the van, with my sore back and his knee replacements.

Caravan steps

So it really is the end of an era with caravanning.  We purchased our first caravan not long after we were married, and have enjoyed traveling the length and breadth of New Zealand.  Sadly, we never made it over the Stewart Island.  Once reaching retirement age, our trips have got longer, and we had booked the InterIslander for another long trip down south in January - not happening now, of course.  Gemma, and Muffy before her, became much traveled caravan cats.