Green Lit!

You will all know by now that I built the 109 with an eye to future expeditions. I had a good look at some of the expedition equipment at Billing, and Helena had a good look when we all went the next day.

She’s now even keener than me to go on some trips. We’ve just booked the Atlas Overland Alps trip for next year, and will be preparing the 109 over then next 10 months. As expeditions go, it’s very easy going – it’s aimed at families, so there will be plenty of breaks with things for the kids to do, and we’ll be stopping at camp sites rather than bivvying out in the bush, but there is plenty of off roading, particularly on the mountain tracks. It’s all a learning curve for us, and will hopefully get Helena and I started onto more ambitious trips in the future.

Preparations will include rebuilding/fitting the 19J engine, fitting a 1.4m EzeeAwn T-Top roof tent with awnings, and I’ll be building some storage and sleeping accommodation for the kids to sleep transverse at the back of the tub, with the Trakkers slipped of their hinges for the trip. Pioneer tools will be fitted on the front wing tops and above the rear door, a la Camel Trophy. I already have a two-ring gas stove mounting box from Mobile Storage to fit to the rear door, so setting up some brewing-up kit will be simple. We’ll have to investigate sleeping bags, cooking equipment and maybe water carriage (initially I’m planning to carry two plastic water Jerry cans in the side lockers, as the three fuel tanks will give us plenty of range within Europe and the camp sites on this trip will have ablutions) .