|
Post by Don Ricardo on Jan 27, 2014 16:30:33 GMT 10
Hi all, Dona Ricardo and I are just back from our 'One Caravan Summer Tour', and I thought you might like to see a few pics. There are few...so you might like to make yourself a cuppa first! I promise you there are some photos of vintage caravans in the post. We headed off late on New Year's Day. After a night at Chiltern, our next stop was at Gundagai for a cup of coffee: The cafe next to the Dog on the Tuckerbox statue has been pretty dilapidated and/or closed for the last couple of years, after a mega sized petrol station opened nearby. But it was great to see the cafe re-opened and refurbished and doing great business. The theme for the cafe is...dogs...everything doggy...books, tea towels, soft toys, ornaments, toys for your dog, you name it, they've got it if it relates to dogs. (The fountain is still being renovated.) Our destination was the beach park at Tuross Head. Because we have been going there for a few years now we were moved - I like to say we were 'promoted' - to a new site which was 'absolute beachfront', as they say in the tourist brochures. The view was great: Oh, hang on, that's looking along the campsites. Let's try that again...the view was great, whether you were inside... ...or outside... ...during the day... ...or at dusk: From where we sat we had a great view of Potato Point: The camping area at Blackfellows Point: And further away, Montague Island: We had several meals at the Boat Shed on Tuross Lake: On one visit to the Boat Shed we saw a very nice Dodge Kingsway. Just the right colour to accompany the Don! Apart from reading, swimming, resting and drinking coffee, we also did a couple of day trips to our favourite places, one of which is the beautiful little town of Central Tilba: The scenery around Tilba is extraordinarily pretty: While in Central Tilba we noticed a rather nice looking vintage trailer. After getting home and looking at the photo I realised that there is a small aluminium wheel at the front which looks as if it was made to receive a belt. Maybe the trailer was a super spreader or seeder in its earlier life? Another of our day trips was to Batemans Bay to take the cruise up the Clyde River to Nelligen, which we've done before but always enjoy. The cruise boat tied up at Nelligen: The Kings Highway bridge over the Clyde at Nelligen: Some of the scenery along the river: An oyster farm lease: One of the old homesteads along the river: The bridge over the Clyde at Batemans Bay: A nice photo from the stern of the boat for the Australia Day weekend (which is when I am posting this): While on one of our day trips we also went in to see Deep Creek Reservoir which provides water for Moruya: It was great to catch up with Cruz, Buggsy and some of their crew one evening, and then next day to check out some of the latest additions to Cruz's collection including her 'Tuross Starlight'. That's my name for it, but the van was built in Tuross Head and based on the design of the Starlight vans built in Alstonville up JBJ's way. It's a very nice van: Cruz's new tow vehicle to replace the '46 Mercury: The result of a recent van recovery mission: And another rescued from the same location, which looks like a Carapark Hunter kit van: And Cruz's next car restoration: Just joking, but it wouldn't surprise me! She is a lady with a lot of talent! On the day we had to pack up, we were met by a thick seamist which was amazing to see and made things very humid after it lifted: After packing up we stopped for a final coffee in Tuross and spied this beautifully restored Morris Cowley. Incidentally, the body was built by a Western Australian coachbuilder: This photo of the dashboard is especially for Cobber - note the holder for the pipes and ashtray, Cobber? After leaving Tuross we headed for Canberra, taking note of this heritage brick granary at Coila Lake: For the final week of our tour we set up camp at Sutton, which is just outside the ACT... ...where we experienced a spectacular sunset one evening - caused by a combination of clouds and smoke from a bushfire further east: Also in the caravan park at Sutton was this Viscount van, serial number A or B 54?5. Does this mean it's a 1965 van, Franklin1? While we were camped at Sutton it was great to catch up with Jennison and his wife and sister and talk about things vintage caravan and lots of other topics. Dona Ricardo and I have been to Canberra a few times, but always for work, and never with a good chance to look around. When people talk about Canberra it tends to be in negative terms, but what a terrific place it is! And what fantastic national treasures are on display. We were bowled over by our visits to the National Portrait Gallery, the National Museum, the National Gallery and the National Library where we saw some outstanding exhibitions. At the National Museum we noticed (how could we miss it?) a David Brown tractor and trailer which had been used by a travelling saw sharpener: Unfortunately the Propert caravan wasn't on display at the Museum, but I did have a chance to look at the American-built Holden No 1 prototype, which has been extraordinarily well restored - I suspect it is in a lot better condition than when it was shipped from the USA! We also visited and were emotionally overwhelmed by the National War Memorial... ...from where you can look down Anzac Avenue towards Parliament House: One of other activities in Canberra was to take a cruise on Lake Burley Griffin. Not another cruise, I hear you cry! Well, yes I do really enjoy them, and you get a completely different perspective on places from the water. Our cruise boat: The National Library: The High Court: The National Carillon which we were fortunate enough to hear being played: The National Museum: And the view of the Old Parliament House looking towards New Parliament House: One of the buildings which fascinated us was this 8-star environmental rating building at Acton which houses a cinema complex, a hotel, apartments and office space. It's a big contrast to the various colonial heritage buildings Cruisindoug showed us in his recent post on the Bah Humbug Mystery Tour, eh? The building is constructed out of a lot of recycled material, including timber, which can be seen on both the facade and the inside of the building: This is the stairwell to the hotel (cleverly called...'The Hotel' - I'm not kidding!): The hotel lobby which uses concrete sleepers: There was plenty more to see, but unfortunately we had no more time and had to hit the road for home. On the way home we took a few minutes out for an impromptu photo shoot at a truck stop on the Hume: Now we're home and looking forward to the next trip away. Hope you enjoyed the pics of the tour. Don Ricardo
|
|
|
Post by Surf Tragic on Jan 27, 2014 17:34:11 GMT 10
G'day Don Ricardo nice to see you have taken the old girl out for a spin again. what's that you said? of course I meant the 'Don' it does make it all a special tour though, I never cease to be amazed. Tuross looks a nice spot, we did drive in & out one day, but I must say the photos make me want to stay longer if we get that way again, the atmosphere of the 'Boat Shed' setting looks inviting. Thanks for posting the trip, Cruz's new tow car has lots of appeal, what a beauty Surf Tragic
|
|
|
Post by cobber on Jan 27, 2014 18:18:17 GMT 10
Thanks for the annual Tuross Head holiday snaps, no matter how many times you visit the place there is always new things to see aye ?
And even if the local attractions become repetitive you can always visit Cruz and see something new.
And a special thank you for the photo of the pipe rack in the Morris Cowley..... you didn't happen to get the PCD of the three stud wheels did you ? And the ice box in Cruz's Carapark Hunter.... did you get a shot of it open ? And the tow couplings ? And the tea towel rails ?
Maybe next year aye ?
Cobber.
|
|
|
Post by Franklin1 on Jan 27, 2014 18:56:29 GMT 10
Yep, another great trip report DonR. And great to see that you were able to cash in some of your frequent traveller points and get an upgrade to the foreshore! We had a week away in our van at Sunshine Bay, about 5kms south of Batemans Bay, last November. Quite a nice part of the world down there, and very easy to spend a week or more checking it all out. Re the Viscount...I would expect the chassis number to be A54?5 because the painted design on the sides is the 1968 design, and they were up to around the 5000 mark in numbers by that stage. cheers, Al.
|
|
|
Post by Don Ricardo on Jan 27, 2014 21:37:55 GMT 10
.....you didn't happen to get the PCD of the three stud wheels did you ? And the ice box in Cruz's Carapark Hunter.... did you get a shot of it open ? And the tow couplings ? And the tea towel rails ?
Maybe next year aye ?
Hi Cobber, I don't know when I will get off my probationary V V licence, at this rate. How could I have missed all those critical points? At least I'm learning - I remembered to get the serial number on the Viscount van at Sutton. Do I get any credit points for that? Don Ricardo
|
|
|
Post by cobber on Jan 28, 2014 5:54:56 GMT 10
G'day Don R,
It is sometimes hard to concentrate on what really matters ..... at my Australia Day event I was beside a recently restored FJ Holden ute, all the screws in the engine bay and the luggage tray were authentic brand new slot heads, and all were perfectly 'dressed'.
I was so overcome with emotion. ............ that I forgot to take photos
Cobber.
|
|
willow5075
Full Member
Willow & the MOTH
Posts: 355
|
Post by willow5075 on Jan 28, 2014 13:28:24 GMT 10
Looks like you had a great time
|
|
|
Post by cruisindoug on Jan 29, 2014 9:56:08 GMT 10
Thanks for the pics and story Don, very nice trip and good to see another one out there being used!
|
|
|
Post by Don Ricardo on Mar 10, 2014 22:00:20 GMT 10
Hi all, As you may have seen from posts on other threads, Dona Ricardo and I have had a ball over the last week being involved in a couple of events for the Melbourne Caravan Show. 2014 is the 60th anniversary of the first caravan show in 1954. It was great fun being part of a display of vintage caravans on Southbank Promenade next to the Yarra River last Saturday week to publicise the show - magnificent surroundings: The display was followed by a procession of vintage caravans through the streets of the city. And then last Saturday we enjoyed being part of the vintage caravan display at the actual caravan show itself: Part of the reason why I was excited about being part of these events is because precisely twenty years ago, our van was involved in similar events for the 1994 Melbourne caravan show, which would have been the 40th anniversary of the first show. The 1994 show began with a procession through the streets of Melbourne led by a circus caravan. That's us just behind the circus van: Passing Flinders Street Station. The beautiful Buick convertible was provided by the Caravan Industries Association as a tow vehicle for the occasion. The caravan behind us (Dorothea) now belongs to another forum member : The procession ended at the Exhibition Building in Carlton where the caravan show was being held... ...and the van was then wheeled inside the building and put on display for the duration: Where did those twenty years go? Don Ricardo
|
|
|
Post by firefighter on Mar 10, 2014 22:06:25 GMT 10
G'day Richard
Norm Bradford is still around and still owns the 1948 Buick he is a friend of the father that is making the pennants for Broken Hill
cheers F/F
|
|
|
Post by cobber on Mar 11, 2014 7:29:50 GMT 10
Well done Don R,
What a great tradition to perpetuate, let's hope the caravan industry remembers the crowd drawing potential of vintage caravans for the seventieth anniversary and..... I expect you will put your hand up for that one too
Cobber.
|
|
|
Post by Surf Tragic on Mar 11, 2014 8:22:19 GMT 10
Where did those twenty years go? Don Ricardo
Hello Don Ricardo.
I am just feeling gobsmacked, as I realize we were there at THAT show, & had a peep in THAT Don I remember seeing how original & well preserved that van was, & commenting on the lino, laminex, & the Don smell. We lingered around the van with a wistful feeling for our old Don
Who would ever have thought I would eventually meet the owner .......Who would have thought we would find our own family van about 16 years later ?
Wow, that is amazing, thanks for posting those special photos.
Surf Tragic
|
|
|
Post by Don Ricardo on Mar 11, 2014 21:37:06 GMT 10
G'day Firefighter, Cobber and Surf Tragic, That's great to hear Firefighter. Norm was fantastic the day of the procession and we enjoyed meeting him - and his beautiful car! When we put the van on the car we discovered that the electrical plug from the van was a different type to the socket on the Buick...which meant that there were no brake lights or turn lights on the van while Norm was towing it. I was terrified that somebody would run into the back of the van, so I followed it very close in our car down to the procession meeting point to ensure that nobody else got behind the van. At one point a taxi tried to force its way in between us by just signalling and turning in, as they do. I wouldn't let him in and blasted him with my horn until he gave up and pulled out. He looked extremely surprised and shook his fist at me as I passed him. Not many times in your life you get to out-taxi a taxi! One of the most satisfying experiences of my life! (Apologies to any taxi drivers out there.) Give my regards to Norm if you are in contact with him F/f. I sincerely hope I'll be in a fit state to put my hand up Cobber. I think the van will be fit and ready, but I can't say I'm so confident about myself. Maybe I need to make sure that the next generation is ready to take part if I'm not? Wow, that is an amazing convergence of events Surf Tragic. Who knows - we may have even passed each other at the show? Good that we did meet eventually, though. Otherwise there's a few good conversations together that we would have missed out on. Don Ricardo
|
|
|
Post by akeepsake on Mar 11, 2014 22:53:26 GMT 10
Thanks for the picks Don Ricardo appreciate your efforts on the forum and dedication to preserving history and continuing to join the dots when there aren't many to join! Keep up the great work! Surf Tragic. I read your amazing story of being reunited with the family Don after all those years......absolutely incredible Sometimes you don't find things , they seem to find you Stories like that push all the buttons! You should write a book My grandparents bondwood got donated to a campsite and was used as a bondfire at one of their organised camps Hope to track down some picks of it at least as Mum has a stack of old picks...stay tuned!
|
|
enidb
New Member
Posts: 39
|
Post by enidb on Apr 7, 2014 18:44:27 GMT 10
Hi Don, my friend bought a Don van like yours in November last year. He came camping with it on the weekend and I got to have a look. It is completely original right down to the ice chest and water tank and bath under the seat. It also has the original canvas annex. Looking at your photos it looks almost identical to yours except it has red gingham curtains. My friend does not get on computers or forums. I took photos. It has the same green Don badge as yours. Cheers
|
|
|
Post by Don Ricardo on Apr 7, 2014 22:58:45 GMT 10
Hi Enidb. Thanks for telling me about your friend's Don. Given the configuration you describe, it is a 140 model like ours. It's great to hear about another one out there, especially since it sounds so original. I'd love to see some photos if you would like to post them, or perhaps email them to me. (If you click on my forum name in blue in the left hand panel, you will find my email address if you want to do it that way.) Did you happen to notice the serial number of the van? If so, I'd be interested to know what it is. The number is on the serial number plate on the outside of the van adjacent to the left hand bottom corner of the door, and another plate above the stove alcove. The serial number would enable us to work out an approximate build date for the van (or perhaps your friend already knows that?), and I would like to be able to add the van to the register I keep of Don caravans. I look forward to hearing more! Don Ricardo PS Were you out for a run in the CaraWaggon by any chance?
|
|
|
Post by Don Ricardo on Oct 12, 2014 15:29:05 GMT 10
Hi all, Well time to replace the mesh on top of the chimney on the Don. Hmmm...what shall I use... How about a pair of Dona Ricardo's stockings? Yes, that would work well... Shhh...don't tell Dona Ricardo... Yes, that has worked OK: Now, to re-attach the hat on the chimney... There you go - a lick of paint and it will be as good as new! Sorry, what was that? Why is the hat on the chimney wired into place? Ah, well that's a story in itself. Long, long ago, the chimney had an argument with the tree branch, and the branch won. Ripped the hat off the chimney as well as the little bend over flanges which kept the hat in place. Nowhere to attach some new flanges - the chimney is a sleeve within a sleeve - and nowhere to attach some new flanges with solder, so wire it was. Was there a better way of doing it? Probably, but the wire has kept the hat in place for the last 30 or so years, so why fix something that isn't broken (but really is!)? Don Ricardo
|
|
carl
New Member
Posts: 11
|
Post by carl on Jan 4, 2015 19:50:04 GMT 10
Thanks for the link Don and what a great story! I love the history of old vehicles - I have a similar story for my 1962 Chevy Impala SS because I'm in contact with the son of the original owner from Little Rock, Arkansas. He was 17 when his Dad bought the Impala brand new on 6 Aug 62, but that's another story. Anyway, I thought I'd post the photo from Tuross here to kick off the 2015 summer holiday story that I'm sure you are working on.
I took another photo of the awning clips on your DON because our Ambassador has the same clips and I want to get an awning made for mine that uses the same clips. I bet I'm going to get a price shock when I go to the canvas place to get an awning made....
|
|
|
Post by bert66 on Jan 25, 2015 0:23:43 GMT 10
Don, loving the stories of your van. We have what we were told is a 1940s homemade bondwood styled on a Don, but we dont really know enough about her history to work out if that is right - sadly her history has been lost ( unlike your vans ) - she is slightly different to your 120 and 140 - but very similar - we would be interested in what features would identify her as a don or hand made - If you could send me your email address I can send photos ? Finding that too hard on the forum. mine marcusw@vla.vic.gov.au regards Marcus and Alison of Bendigo.
|
|
|
Post by Don Ricardo on Mar 6, 2015 22:39:36 GMT 10
...Anyway, I thought I'd post the photo from Tuross here to kick off the 2015 summer holiday story that I'm sure you are working on. ... Hi all, Despite Carl's encouragement above, I've been a bit slow in posting some pics from our January jaunt to our usual haunt (yes, I know very poetic ) at Tuross Head on the south coast of NSW where Carl happened to come across us. I've had a bit on my plate since we returned, including an overseas trip, hence my tardiness. But here goes... Heading along the Princes Highway towards our destination on the south coast of NSW, we stopped for lunch at the park beside the Snowy River in Orbost: One of the interesting features of the park is a mosaic path depicting some of the dreaming stories of the local Aboriginal tribes: Our next stop was Eden where we spent five days with Son No 1 who was trying out caravanning with his young family in a hired camper trailer. Our site at Eden was splendid - right on the shore of Lake Curalo: Our grandchildren thoroughly enjoyed the freedom of the caravan park, riding round and round the roadways as kids do: Our site also provided us with fantastic sunsets over the lake: While at Eden, we made the acquaintance of a lovely young couple and their little boy who have refurbished a fantastic little Olympic Debonair, and incorporated some clever touches in the internal layout: I didn't get the serial number of the van, but I understand that the owners have been in touch with Boblor. Hopefully they'll join the forum at some stage. After our time at Eden we headed for our usual spot at Tuross Head. Spot the odd van out in the line up... Having set up camp, Dona Ricardo and I started doing what we went for - to relax... ...and enjoy some more sunsets: There were a couple of vehicles at the caravan park which were of interest to V V'ers. One was a very nice tow car belonging to a young couple further up the row of vans from us: The other was a late 60's Viscount being used as an onsite van: I did get the serial number of this van - A9527: I had my annual visit to Cruz's shed - as usual there were a number of special items of interest there, including her 1936 Ford rod... ...and her Ford Ranch Wagon and Caravan Park Cardman kit van: She is currently working on the Carapark: Cruz is working on a concept of rear airconditioning by leaving the back of the van completely open: In point of fact, earlier that day, the back of the van had got sick of being in the same place for the last 60 or so years and decided on its own volition to become a drop out Some pics of the inside of the van which Cruz has been able to clean up since the last time I had seen it (which was soon after it had been retrieved from a block of land about to be cleared): Cruz's assistant is very keen on the project: While we were at Tuross, we also attended the annual get together of the "Eurobodalla Vintage Caravan Society" held at the Hogs Breath at Bateman's Bay: From left to right: Mrs Buggsy, Cruz, Mrs and Mr Jennison, Dona Ricardo, Don Ricardo, Sue & Colin (forum name Colinandsue), and Buggsy. In the continued absence of the "Kingy" of the Society (by the way, anybody caught up with the Kingys lately?) we decided to elect Cruz as the new Chairman, or should that be "Queeny"?. We had a couple of corker storms while we were at Tuross Head - one on the night of the Society get together, and the other a couple of days later: More to come... Don Ricardo
|
|
|
Post by Don Ricardo on Mar 9, 2015 12:22:28 GMT 10
...now where were we in our last post? Ah, that's right - weathering some storms at Tuross Head. While we were there we had a visit by Sons Number 2 and 3 who were on a motorbike tour around the coast road from Melbourne and then back home through the Snowy Mountains: That's them cooking breakfast with Dona Ricardo on a lunchbox type stove (before Geoff n Jude posted that disturbing warning recently ): Son Number 2 took Dona Ricardo for a spin around the streets of Tuross. As you can see she's wearing the most up to date safety gear. Those crocs give great protection (not)! While the boys were with us we took them on our favourite cruise up the Clyde River from Bateman's Bay... ...to Nelligen: Couldn't resist a self portrait using the mirror in the cabin of the boat. That's not a selfie is it? I'm not holding the camera at arms length... Back at Bateman's Bay there were the usual fishing boats tied up at the jetty (where I obviously offended the pelicans who turned their back on me )... ...but also a replica 15th century Portuguese caravelle, which was pretty intriguing: Driving around the town looking for a motorcycle supplies place (turns out there wasn't one!) we discovered that Bateman's is Airstream central. Who knew? (Well the journalist who wrote this article obviously! See about half way down the article.) Being right on the beach at Tuross... ...meant that we were in a prime spot for all the entertainment, including a couple of kiteboarders who put on a spectacular show one afternoon... ...and some of the wildlife on the beach, including a kangaroo... ...and even more amazing, an echidna which walked up from the water's edge and disappeared into the undergrowth: And then of course there was the beach at dusk, or did I mention that already? After our allotted time we headed home via the Hume, where we stopped at Holbrook for the night: The evening light on the gum trees in the caravan park at Holbrook intrigued me, making some of the branches appear like the arm of a person reaching up skywards: In the morning we checked out the submarine which always looks to me like a beached whale in its resting place of inland Holbrook: And then home until the next outing. Don Ricardo
|
|
|
Post by Don Ricardo on Mar 26, 2015 22:37:07 GMT 10
(This post may offend some sensitive V V'ers. It contains details of a less than perfect and non-vintage solution to a vintage van problem. If you're a purist V V'er, you may want to look away now. )Afternoon all, Well, as many of us can regrettably attest (no, not you I'm sure - I'm just referring to some other people and myself ), we have a tendency to sag with age. And so it is with our much loved vans. Many years ago - I'm guessing in the 60's - our own caravan provided a mobile restaurant and accommodation for a community of wood borers that proceeded to munch their way through the floor boards and the bearers supporting the floor of the van. As a result, on close inspection the timber in the floor boards and the bearers look a bit like honeycomb. Remarkably enough, the whole thing held together without major problems for another 40-something years. However, about 18 months ago Dona Ricardo and I noticed that some parts of the floor were beginning to feel distinctly...soft!! The worst area was in front of the kitchen sink, which when you think about it, is probably the only part of the floor of a van that regularly has someone standing on it for reasonably lengthy periods of time. Anyway, it seemed like what was holding us up in that particular place was mainly the floor covering! Son No 1's reaction to hearing that, was that it was the first time he had ever heard of 'structural lino'! What to do? After a bit of thought, and given the construction of a Don caravan, it seemed like we had two options. Option 1: Pull out all the internal furniture and fittings and replace the bearers and floor boards. Option 2: Provide some support for the floor from underneath. I know that some forum members would go for Option 1 immediately, but after consultation with the 'Number 1 Don Restorer on the Forum' (whom we haven't heard from in a while, by the way), we decided to go for Option 2. Yeah, I know - we're wimps! But the advice from 'No 1 DRotF' was that we would never get the furniture back into the van looking the same and that he personally would go for Option 2 if he had the choice. You have to go with the voice of experience when you hear it... So, back in December before our regular summer trip, I marshalled all my resources to undertake Option 2. Now those of you who have known me on the forum for a while will know that I do not possess any practical or useful skills. My only skills are as a pen-pusher, or as we might term it these days, a keyboard jockey. However, I do have one other skill - combined with Dona Ricardo's not inconsiderable contribution! - and that is to turn out three sons, two of whom are carpenters and the third of whom has spent some time in the building trade. So 'marshalling all my resources' means arranging for all of my three sons to come around one weekend to work on the floor of the van, which they very cheerfully did. Remember that the Don is a source of a lot of childhood memories for them as well as me, so they do regard it with some affection. First things, first: Tow the van up on to some ramps to provide a bit more working space under the van: Happily we've got plenty of head room in the garage to be able to get the van up off the floor a bit: Next task, inspect the job to work out a strategy: Right, now that we know what we are doing, we need to unpin and un-staple all the wiring under the floor - Sons No 2 & 3 on the job... ...and measure up, and number all the spaces between the bearers. You get the impression that some members of the family were just itching to be let loose with a spray can of fluro pink paint! Then began the task of installing panels of 12mm marine ply in each numbered space between the bearers. The panels were glued in place and then secured by timber screwed and/or bolted to the bearers and chassis, which had the additional purpose of strengthening the weakened bearers: As part of the process we needed to replace the existing bolts securing the bearers to the chassis with new longer bolts. We were amazed to discover that the nuts screwed off the original bolts and the bolts slid out of the timber without any effort, as if they had been put in place only yesterday: The whole process of cutting the panels to fit, etc, took longer than we expected. So after the first day's work we were about half way there: What's that you said? What was I doing while all this was happening? Well I was doing important work, like...fetching and carrying...and carrying and fetching, and um...well, supervising: The second day saw the rest of the panelling and reinforcement in place... ...the wiring all re-joined and re-stapled, and the whole floor painted with a tar based paint... ...all done and ready to roll on our summer trip scheduled for a few days after Christmas. We're pretty happy with what has been achieved. The floor now feels solid again. We've added a bit of weight to the van, but a lot less than all the bikes and sports equipment we used to get around with when the boys were younger and travelling with us. Not a perfect solution, but not too bad either. Thanks to Sons No 1 (who was involved in the project but missed out being in the photos!) and Nos 2 & 3. Great effort lads! Much appreciated! (OK the sensitive V V'ers can turn back to the screen now. )Don Ricardo
|
|
|
Post by DC3Td on Mar 26, 2015 22:56:04 GMT 10
Reading through this i just had to grab a towel so you could wipe the streams of sweat from your brows DonR! Not a lot of room to work with but the job looks as good as can be & i`ll bet you`ll sleep easier now knowing you won`t fall through the cracks.
|
|
franni
Junior Member
Posts: 65
|
Post by franni on Mar 27, 2015 4:10:56 GMT 10
what a team! do you hire them out? i am so glad to know that there are other possibilities than removing and replacing every bit of borer affected timber. i think we will probably continue to replace but very interested to know we might not have to. i just had another quick look at your photos of the Don when new and thought how amazing to go camping wearing a suit, though we have a similar photo in our family. perhaps i do need to keep the wardrobe in our Shirley and not put in storage shelves? franni.
|
|
|
Post by Don Ricardo on Mar 27, 2015 16:06:13 GMT 10
Hi Franni, Do I hire the team out? Actually, I have suggested that they might like to take up restoring people's vans as a business. But they are aware enough of the amount of time and work needed for a restoration to realise that people's ability to pay may not match their need to make a living!! And you definitely need to keep the wardrobe. However else will you be able to dress appropriately for dinner? In fact it was not that uncommon back in the day for people to dress fairly formally like my father when caravanning. Admittedly the photos of my dad are from the late 40's and early 50's, but if you look at some of the photos of caravanners taken in the 30's and 40's, they were a pretty dressed up lot - suits or a sports coat and ties for men, and frocks, rather nice overcoats and dressy shoes - even some hats - for the ladies: click here and here. When we have V V events, the trend is to dress rockabilly style, or at least 50's style, but if I turn up in a suit at our next event you'll understand why, won't you? That's Don257 (Doug & Vicki) on the left, and Dona Ricardo and I on the right at the Caravan Industry Association of Victoria 'Hall of Fame' night in 2013, showing how V V'ers should be dressed!! Don Ricardo
|
|