Finally taking delivery of the Winnebago Diversion - our Silvery Nomad

The Silvery Nomad (the one on the left)

So we've finally taken delivery of our Mercedes-Benz Diversion and it's taken over eight months!

Selling houses is not as easy as we thought, even in Leura in the beautiful Blue Mountains - a place where we have many friends and plan to visit often.

Many thanks to Sydney RV Centre Penrith and the team there. Nothing was too much trouble and we got quite a few nice upgrades.

Upsizing the TV

While the house is sold, with settlement at the end of the month, we haven't ventured far yet.

Two small hitches.  Roy has a pair of hernias to be patched and it's about to happen on Monday.  He'll be entering a world of pain for a while, so we're thinking of heading for the coast afterwards on our first run for some recuperation and depressurization.

From a 5 bedroom home to a van

Packing the van is a science. It's a massive downsize we're doing from a five bedroom house to a van.

Our lives have shrunk down to 3 boxes - a PO Box address, a small Storage Lock-up for seasonal switchovers and storing a few special things - and of course our Diversion Motorhome, the third box, although it's anything but a box on wheels.

The Mercedes Benz Sprinter van is a joy to drive and not like driving a box at all.

All very luxurious and comfortable.

Roy has already written some advertising freelance in the van, using our iphones as Wi-Fi hotspots.

But a downsizing move is not downsizing the labour involved and we both need a good rest.

Will keep you posted on The Journeys of The Silvery Nomad.

A surprising joy to drive

DOGBLOG - Getting our fluffy White Nomad RV-ready

SETI has reached a high state of preparation. First a vet check, then a waterproof coat and a pet carry backpack (so we can even go shopping with him when we tuck his head in). The bag will also take a computer - and contains a fold out soft cage. We call it his pleasure dome. He loves it, as you can see. Another essential, we fitted him with a dog tag that has our mobile phone number etched on the back for instant retrieval should he ever decide to go walkabout on the journey.

Weatherproofing Seti

Pet backpack. It has meshed sides for air and it's roomy.

Where's the doggone dog gone?

"What's this?" Inside the backpack is a secret pop-up compartment.

Thinks: "In Xanadu did Kubla Khan a stately pleasure dome decree..."

Sizing-up and ordering our new Diversion Winnebago

Here we are ordering and sizing up the new Silvery Nomad. It’s compact, but has everything, even a shower and loo. We think of it as i-Pad living (compared with a massive desktop). We’re tech savvy and into Macs, i-Phones etc. Speaking of which, we’ve learnt to tether our i-Phones as internet hot spots so we can stay connected on the road.  Roy can write his novels and do his freelance advertising writing from the dark side of the moon – well, at least from the Back of Bourke!

 A comfy day bed and lounge that becomes the lower bed (the top one comes down from the roof)

 Ordering essential extras - nudge bar, flyscreens, Sat nav, Blue tooth, reversing camera. Already feeling at home, barefoot and relaxed

We call this compact "i-Pad living". Small, cleverly designed, user friendly