Monday, February 27, 2012
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Kombi loaded into container for shipment
Well the time has come to load our baby into a container to travel by ship via Singapore to London, over 20,000 km in all.
UK Customs require two separate entries, one for the vehicle and the other for our contents. Therefore we have had to remove all the contents of the vehicle, except those relating directly to the vehicle and box them for shipping detailing precisely the contents of each box. This was a rather painful process not to mention time consuming. Lucky NZ Customs don't feel the same way and we can ship back as one unit.
The weeks leading up to the container loading were spent:
We literally spent untold hours cleaning the vehicle from top to bottom with a toothbrush (I kid you not!)
We ended up with a very clean, well serviced kombi to commence our trip with.
Despite a heavy downpour of rain the 24 hours prior to loading we managed to drive the 2 km to the freighters without ruining our hard work.
Here's Mildred waiting for her loading
ETA London 10 April, we arrive 29 April for 1 May collection - roll on May!
UK Customs require two separate entries, one for the vehicle and the other for our contents. Therefore we have had to remove all the contents of the vehicle, except those relating directly to the vehicle and box them for shipping detailing precisely the contents of each box. This was a rather painful process not to mention time consuming. Lucky NZ Customs don't feel the same way and we can ship back as one unit.
The weeks leading up to the container loading were spent:
- Replacing full set of wheels and tyres
- New Battery
- Re-packing CV
- Re-packing front and rear wheel bearings
- Re-greasing all the steering joints (front beam)
- Cleaning
- Cleaning
- Did I mention Cleaning?
We literally spent untold hours cleaning the vehicle from top to bottom with a toothbrush (I kid you not!)
We ended up with a very clean, well serviced kombi to commence our trip with.
Despite a heavy downpour of rain the 24 hours prior to loading we managed to drive the 2 km to the freighters without ruining our hard work.
Here's Mildred waiting for her loading
ETA London 10 April, we arrive 29 April for 1 May collection - roll on May!
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Insurance sorted
Since our last update we have now got our insurance policy (comprehensive) written, airfares booked and accommodation in Paddington, London for the first two nights prior to collecting Mildred (Kombi).
Travel insurance is in place, but still need Green Card insurance and International Camping Card.
Shipping schedules only come out one month in advance, so although we have quotations they are changable right up until a week prior to shipping and fluctuate with the NZ dollar - Errr!
Van will be collected middle of London - another scary thought - it's going to be
Travel insurance is in place, but still need Green Card insurance and International Camping Card.
Shipping schedules only come out one month in advance, so although we have quotations they are changable right up until a week prior to shipping and fluctuate with the NZ dollar - Errr!
Van will be collected middle of London - another scary thought - it's going to be
Baptism by fire!
Starting to create lists of jobs to do, items to buy, what we are taking.
Monday, August 8, 2011
Getting all organised
Okay so the mid life crises has arrived and we have decided to completely throw our toys from the cot. Not only are we planning on leaving our jobs for a 6 month leave of absence, we plan to use the time touring Europe in a Kombi. Our own NZ Kombi! Yes we are shipping our beloved T2 from NZ to England (and back again) for our big adventure.
Of course this adds a whole new level of complexity to the entire vacation. Shipping details to sort, insurances, carnets(?), bonds, etc. We were reliably told you couldn't get comprehensive insurance in the UK on NZ plates- we hope to prove them wrong (although it did take 9 months of searching and emailing potential companies, often with no reply).
Then of course the vehicle we are taking will be some 35 years old (built 1977), it has a small (1600cc) motor, no fancy power steering and the air con is winding down your window.
Research on the 21 + countries we are hoping to visit.
Breakdown kits to assist in our van's survival.
Lists of contents to take. (Note to self - you need half what you think you need)
Budget guideline (stress guideline only, as that was put in the too hard basket), at least we wont have room to buy much on our travels.
This trip has been 12 months in the planning and we have another 9 to go (7 months to shipping our baby)
Of course this adds a whole new level of complexity to the entire vacation. Shipping details to sort, insurances, carnets(?), bonds, etc. We were reliably told you couldn't get comprehensive insurance in the UK on NZ plates- we hope to prove them wrong (although it did take 9 months of searching and emailing potential companies, often with no reply).
Then of course the vehicle we are taking will be some 35 years old (built 1977), it has a small (1600cc) motor, no fancy power steering and the air con is winding down your window.
Research on the 21 + countries we are hoping to visit.
Breakdown kits to assist in our van's survival.
Lists of contents to take. (Note to self - you need half what you think you need)
Budget guideline (stress guideline only, as that was put in the too hard basket), at least we wont have room to buy much on our travels.
This trip has been 12 months in the planning and we have another 9 to go (7 months to shipping our baby)
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