JULY 07
ENGLAND-Exeter
Monday 2nd we arrived in Exeter to
unload the luggage from the caravan to ship it to Canada. It took
all Monday and half of Tuesday.
We then had several items to repair or buy, before our departure to
America.
On Wednesday 11th prior to delivery, to
Southampton for shipping, next Saturday we heard a loud clicking noise
after putting our unneeded items in store. Fortunately we were
very close to our main Iveco dealer. It took two visits, the
first diagnosed a stone in a tyre, the second a worn brake calliper,
not dangerous, and solved by a small weld. Half a day
wasted. On the Thursday
evening we found water leaking from under the cab matting. A
visit to the Portsmouth Iveco dealer found no engine leak but no clue
as to how the water got there. Another half day wasted. Friday still no joy with
the water leak, we spent the rest of the day packing.
Saturday 14th we delivered the caravan to a steam cleaner on Southampton docks to be forwarded to the shipping agent after steam cleaning on the Monday. Hiring a car we drove to the Gatwick Moat House Hotel to leave some of our luggage there while we flew to Spain on the Sunday. A few days in Sunny Spain before Flying back to Gatwick on Thursday and on to Canada on Friday.
Saturday 21st we had a few days to idle away before the luggage arrived on the Monday and was cleared by customs on the Wednesday, the day the caravan arrived. Thursday we went to clear the caravan, at the shipping company we we
re cleared, on to customs, no problem,
back to the hotel to check out. We had an urgent phone call, the
shipping company had not been paid. We made several phone calls
to Exeter, on the hotel phone (neither of our cell phones would make a
call out) a lost cheque was discovered, an immediate replacement
was sent, but no caravan that day. Another night in the hotel!!! Friday the shipping company
had been paid. We collect the caravan, and drove to collect the
luggage, all OK. The 20 boxes went into the caravan and then we
set off to check out of the hotel. All went well. The next
step was to buy American fittings for the water, gas and
electric. The caravan shop does not have them, but our water
fitting was OK. We were given directions to the other shops.
We went first to the gas depot, they supplied the gas and our Southern
European gas fitting was OK. Our next stop was at the electric
shop, the only fittings available were 15amp and we needed 30amp, but
we bought the 15amp for now. Off to the camp site via a food
supermarket. As it is very hot and humid we chose a salad for the
evening meal.
Saturday 28th and Sunday were spent unpacking. Monday we left the Halifax camp and drove to Digby on the Bay of Fundy. Tuesday we went Whale watching in the afternoon seeing two Atlantic Right Whales (there are only about 300 of these left) and one Humpback Whale, we also saw many Greater Shearwater birds (visitors from Australia), a successful trip. In the evening we went out for a local speciality Scallops and chips followed by Strawberry and Rhubarb pie (Howard) and Coconut Cream pie (Mervyn).
Saturday 14th we delivered the caravan to a steam cleaner on Southampton docks to be forwarded to the shipping agent after steam cleaning on the Monday. Hiring a car we drove to the Gatwick Moat House Hotel to leave some of our luggage there while we flew to Spain on the Sunday. A few days in Sunny Spain before Flying back to Gatwick on Thursday and on to Canada on Friday.
Saturday 21st we had a few days to idle away before the luggage arrived on the Monday and was cleared by customs on the Wednesday, the day the caravan arrived. Thursday we went to clear the caravan, at the shipping company we we
re cleared, on to customs, no problem,
back to the hotel to check out. We had an urgent phone call, the
shipping company had not been paid. We made several phone calls
to Exeter, on the hotel phone (neither of our cell phones would make a
call out) a lost cheque was discovered, an immediate replacement
was sent, but no caravan that day. Another night in the hotel!!! Friday the shipping company
had been paid. We collect the caravan, and drove to collect the
luggage, all OK. The 20 boxes went into the caravan and then we
set off to check out of the hotel. All went well. The next
step was to buy American fittings for the water, gas and
electric. The caravan shop does not have them, but our water
fitting was OK. We were given directions to the other shops.
We went first to the gas depot, they supplied the gas and our Southern
European gas fitting was OK. Our next stop was at the electric
shop, the only fittings available were 15amp and we needed 30amp, but
we bought the 15amp for now. Off to the camp site via a food
supermarket. As it is very hot and humid we chose a salad for the
evening meal.Saturday 28th and Sunday were spent unpacking. Monday we left the Halifax camp and drove to Digby on the Bay of Fundy. Tuesday we went Whale watching in the afternoon seeing two Atlantic Right Whales (there are only about 300 of these left) and one Humpback Whale, we also saw many Greater Shearwater birds (visitors from Australia), a successful trip. In the evening we went out for a local speciality Scallops and chips followed by Strawberry and Rhubarb pie (Howard) and Coconut Cream pie (Mervyn).
CANADA-Digby