The following purchases have been made:
- A new NASA depth sounder as I could not source new carbon brushes and NASA were most unhelpful in this regard. I'm still hoping that I will be able to get some so that the old one can be repaired but at least we will have a working sounder again.
- New matching cabin lights to replace the tacky plastic ones in the galley, master cabin and forepeak have been ordered from SVB. LED globes are coming from South Africa as SVB were out of stock of that version of the light - all the existing incandescent globes will also be changed to LED saving a lot of battery. Also, a tri-colour (white/red/yellow) LED downlighter for the galley to replace the existing fluorescent tube - I like 170 lumens and only using 0.4 amps.
- A radio/CD player capable of taking an iPod and memory sticks.
- We have had new seat covers made for the saloon - hope they fit!
- Lynn made new curtains for all the windows. 26 of them!
- Early in March the port gearbox was removed and replaced with a reconditioned one from Drinkwaard Motoren BV in Holland.
We have also done some travelling in SA:
- Another two trips to the Tembe Elephant Park on the SA/Mozambique border.
- A 5,000 kilometre trip around South Africa.
Desert road to Richtersveld |
Richtersveld National Park |
- A long weekend of trails with the Land Cruiser Club - Southern Africa. Some pretty hectic stuff!
Just can't stay out of the water! |
Spot the vehicles. |
- And still to come at the end of April is a week's fishing trip to the scenically magnificent Transkei Wild Coast.
Long stay visas have been granted and the suitcases are out and are rapidly filling up - and in precisely four weeks time we will be on our way to France!
Fantastic trip, gorgeous country and great animals - what a great way to spend the summer. Lucky you heading back in four weeks. NASA can get men to the moon but can't get you brushes for a depth sounder! What do you want brushes for a depth sounder anyway - there's no motors in them surely!?
ReplyDeleteYour holiday looks lekker my broer. But what's with the tree trunk?
ReplyDeleteOur ancient model sounder has a motor and brushes which pick up the signal off a rotating copper disc.
ReplyDeleteJou Afrikaans kom sterk aan Ian! The tree trunk just reminded me of an elephants skin.
Nope, we have a new CFO/Company Sec. who is South African. Great bloke, only problem is his name - Shane. Too close to yours so I keep using the wrong name. He retorts by calling me DIM (Dr Ian Mcc). So I showed him your blog - bought a tear to his eye. Cool folks you South Africans.
ReplyDelete