EU Mid Europe The Big five

[Robert OB 33/48]

Just a week from now we, at last, are going on a trip. The first one since ages, which is longer as a weekend.
Flexadventure4x4.nl is organising this week.

The Big Five

The Big Five

www.flexadventure4x4.nl

This is normallyt not the way we are going on a trip. But, due the Covid circumstances this is what is possible in the Netherlands.

Part from around 1500km of route, there will be some clinics.
Camping, Cooking, fire, personal preferencesand Photography are the clinics.
And there will be two afternoons were ther is the oppurtunity of pay/play enjoyment. Which I hope gives me some possiblities ot make some video and photo's.

A week away from home. That is a good thing for us.

For that Iam now a bit busy with preparing the Rig and Trailer.

1. Maintainance to the Rig.
2. Little updates to the Trailer.
3. Checking everything to the Rig so we do know if there can be a problem.

So, I think I will keep you informed about what that trip will be and what I do towards that trip.

Enjoy I hope.

 

[Robert OB 33/48]

As I am waiting for the parts to come in so I can do maintainance I thought I do some work to make it look a bit better.

It was a bit rusty in the front, so I did some cleaning up.
It did work before and it is still working, but it looks better at least when we arrive. After that mud and dirt will cover everything I guess.

 

[El-Dracho]

Just a week from now we, at last, are going on a trip. The first one since ages, which is longer as a weekend.
Flexadventure4x4.nl is organising this week.

The Big Five

The Big Five

www.flexadventure4x4.nl

This is normallyt not the way we are going on a trip. But, due the Covid circumstances this is what is possible in the Netherlands.

Part from around 1500km of route, there will be some clinics.
Camping, Cooking, fire, personal preferencesand Photography are the clinics.
And there will be two afternoons were ther is the oppurtunity of pay/play enjoyment. Which I hope gives me some possiblities ot make some video and photo's.

A week away from home. That is a good thing for us.

For that Iam now a bit busy with preparing the Rig and Trailer.

1. Maintainance to the Rig.
2. Little updates to the Trailer.
3. Checking everything to the Rig so we do know if there can be a problem.

So, I think I will keep you informed about what that trip will be and what I do towards that trip.

Enjoy I hope.

Sounds good! Have a good time and enjoy the trip! I assume we will se some pictures of the trip here...

 

[Robert OB 33/48]

When you are planning the first real trip since Covid started lots of little things come up. Just because you have the time to work on them.
So, after cleaning up the Rig, I did make, well, my 3D printer made, two mount brackets for my usb ports of the radio.
So, now I am able to use them without trying to find them.

Fairly simple but it works.

Still waiting for the parts to arrive. Wonder what I will do till that moment. :)

 

[Robert OB 33/48]

What happens when parts arent arriving? Well getting bored I guess.
So, 3D printer on, and I made two simple phone holders that I mounted above the bed. No more falling down of phones during the night.
Or too much clutter on the shelf.

And of course one for each of us.

 

[El-Dracho]

That's cool! Thanks for sharing here! 3D printers make so many things possible. I can't wait to see what else you come up with!

 

[Robert OB 33/48]

And as today it is kingsday, no packages will arrive.
So, again doing funny nothings.
Like an extra mug holder. (first time of 3D printing in 2 colors)
And some new wheelcaps, at least the visible part of it.







Think those parts need to be here quick, otherwise I will have a show boat instead of a overland Rig. hahaha

 

[El-Dracho]

Supercool! There are never enough cupholders in a rig - hahahaha

 

[Robert OB 33/48]

So, yesterday came all the parts for the maintainance. That I will do tomorrow as it is raining now.
Yesterday I made a little tray for some candy, stuff or a breadroll during travel.

With magnetic feet so I can take it of in needed.
Yesterday I did get the new parts and with them came the standard light bulbs for the dash.
But I dont like the baby blue color. So I ordered a time ago some LED dark BLue ones.
However the sockets for the majority of the bulbs were different, so I first made sure I would have light in the dash.
Then I removed the old sockets and bulbs and modified them.
Flattening some copper wire into contacts and drilling a little hole so I could push the LED's deeper into the socket.
Tested them and marked the postive side.
Tonight if the weather is ok I will mount them. Hopefully I will find positive in the first round, hehe.

The sockets/bulbs in the different stadia

Flattening some wire.

All seven done and tested. see the two nails with the cables as a teststation.

Tomorrow the maintainance and then I can start prepraring everything for the first vacation since a long time.

So, after all the preparations I hopefully can bring you nice pictures of the trip itself.

 

[El-Dracho]

Good idea to mount the little tray with magnets. Magnets are so versatile and you can do a lot with them!

I look forward to seeing photos of the upcoming trip later (and a photo with candy in the new tray of course - haha).

 

[Alanymarce]

Couldn't resist - here are another "big five", four taken from our vehicle, one from a friends' vehicle (we're behind the lion):

 

[Robert OB 33/48]

You are making me so incredible jealous, hahaha.
Biggest animal here which we can encounter is the milk cow.

 

[Robert OB 33/48]

Last preparations.
Maintenance to the car.

Life is easy when you having the right tools. Ramps for that matter

 

[Robert OB 33/48]

Hello you all,

Well we are back home and we had a great time.
It was good to be back on the track again and we enjoyed it much.
We started just around the corner at our home on the sunday and did meet up with the other people on a campsite.
That evening we had a nice wine, cheese and sausage taste event. So, yes, that was good fun. And the cheese and sausages tasted good.
The next day we were devided into groups, but we could drive on our own as well.
As we were very familiar in that area we skipped the first part and drove straight to the nearest part of the tracks/Route.
Again we noticed that the Netherlands can be beautiful in the back country areas.
That evening we stopped at a "wild camp" area. A private piece of land who the owner allowed us to use. Normally wild camping isnt allowed here.
A great time with a good clinic in making fire with basic tools and a presentation about Saudi Arabia.

Hasppy to be back on the road again.

Water, bridges, locks and boats are a very common sight in the Netherlands. From very olde to modern. And everything in between.

Our "wild camp" spot.

The making fire clinic

Presentation about Saudi Arabia.

Skewers and South African Braai Broodjes.

The next day we went further up north and we came at a small Estate from were we would drive the next couple of days.
When you are travelling through your own country in this way, you will see how beautiful the world is even when it is just your "backyard".


During the evenings we had more clinics and some outdoor cooking. So, good fun and it was also very interesting.


There was a piece of play parc at the estate, but we prefered to hit more trails and route.


A little church at the side of the track

A Hunebed.
A burial ground from a long long time ago.


And lots of dirt tracks.


After some days the event came to an end and we are back home again.
We had a superb time which we hope is a good fresh start for a great year with lesser and lesser covid -19.

The car in front of us had no locked wheel hubs in the front so slippery all over. Needed a tow. (that happens when you forget them)
As the top layer of the dirt was wet and muddy you drifted on a very thin layer of mud and water. Next to a nice ditch. A bit of a slope towards that gave just ample room for mistakes.
But the trailer did the job perfectly.

All pictures you can find here

Facebook

www.facebook.com

I hope you enjoyed this.

Greetings from Robert

 

[El-Dracho]

Glad to hear that you had a great time! Thanks for sharing those pictures and impressions. Looks like a lot of fun and very diversified days with a lot of different activities.

Looking forward to get out and explore again soon!