The Big Lap – Camp 3 – Melbourne, Victoria

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Josh pressure testing the radiator - it's pretty blocked!!

This post is from Steve & Jen’s 16 month Big Lap from 2005 to 2007 – we’re reposting it camp by camp in the lead up to the release of their documentary | Learn more

Days 8 to 10

Back to Melbourne

Today we head back to Melbourne so we had to pack up the camper. We were able to leave it at the CV park until we get back so avoided having to tow it all the way back to Melbourne and back (about 460km round trip).

Still took about 3 hours to pack up and we finally hit the road about 1pm.

No overheating problems while not towing the trailer.

Arrived at Dad & Bevs (Grandma and Grandpa’s) about 4pm to a dinner feast as usual.

Both girls slept really well tonight and Jen and I managed to get a full nights sleep – luxury.

New radiator

Off to Camberwell Service Centre today where Josh and Shane diagnosed a blocked radiator as the cause of the problem rather than the head or head gasket.

They pulled the radiator out and sent it off for checking and repairing.

Meanwhile I installed our UHF radio and a new radio aerial so we can pick up ABC on AM band.

Result came back from the radiator place that it was 20% blocked which is enough to cause overheating so we decided to upgrade to a 3 core radiator and totally over engineer the cooling system.

Josh also replaced the thermostat in the engine while the radiator was out as a precaution.

Radiator due back tomorrow so no more to do today.

Jabs and storage

While waiting for car to be ready, we took the girls to the clinic for their next tetanus, whooping cough and diptheria booster and Jen and I decided to have a Meningococal C vaccination while we were there. Better to be safe than sorry.

We had lunch in the park in Eltham before driving out to Melton to offload to excess gear (clothes, linen etc.) into our storage shed at Storage King.

Had a coffee with Ivana (Jens’ step mom) and then spent nearly 2 hours in the traffic driving to Camberwell to pick up the Landcruiser  – can’t wait to get out of Melbourne . . . again!!!

Picked up the Landcruiser and back to Dads place to finish packing ready for departure tomorrow.

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