Hi Guys,

Thank goodness spring is here, I was so over winter. My batteries were really running low and the solar panel needed recharging.

We went for a run out to Berrima on Sunday 21^st. The weather wasn’t too bad after a week of rain but still a little chilly. Vicki and I were looking forward to taking Perry out for a run. We got ourselves organised, jumped in the Kombi, turned the key and…..nothing. What the...? Isn’t the 2^nd battery supposed to kick in when the first one goes flat? Apparently not! So let’s dig the Oval out. “If the charger has been on the Kombi all this time, will the Oval start?” Good question, Vicki! "Let’s take the ute, it’s out the front, it’s pretty dirty but it will start and time is getting away”.

Well it did start and it was more than pretty dirty, it was very dirty, but off we went. Steve and Barb arrived just ahead of us, Pod and Rachel, Bill and the girls were there and Dave and Leanne arrived not long after us. We had an eventful trip, as I am certain some of you may have alreadt read about in Dave's Diaries but I must say, as we drove towards the Southern Highlands, the radio playing, the heater ticking along and the motor purring, Vicki commented on how “you forget how comfortable this thing is, I can touch the floor and my legs don’t go to sleep”. A problem she has in the Kombi, apparently!

When we arrived at the park in Berrima we met up with Kev, Amy and Maddie, and set the barbie up and got the sausages sizzling. A tasty lunch, a wander through the shops, a coffee and it was time to head home. An enjoyable day, although a bit cold but hey, what did you expect in the Highlands.

After relaxing trip back home I couldn’t help but sing the praises of my trusty T3, maybe I should get in and do some work on it and get it back to its former glory. “Imagine the van we could pull? The places we could go?” Vicki’s reply? “Better get a new battery for the Kombi before Canberra or we won’t be going anywhere”. Guess I better get that organised, we can crank up the radio, wind down the windows or throw on another jacket, depending on the weather and enjoy the thumbs up we get along the way.

So, for Canberra our vehicle of choice will be the Kombi as will it be for the October long weekend to Old Bar, what else would we take? On that subject remember, the meeting will be the 2^nd Sunday in October. If I don’t see you before hand, see you there.

Until next time….Happy cruising…..Murray