Getting ready to rock, practice loading runs are turning into serious and final preparations.

Fairly sure I've found the best way to load the van and leave space for me to drive. No doubt necessary changes will crystallise as they become apparent during daily usage. Usually do and by the time I'm home again I may have got the hang of it.

Clothes in reusable vacuum bags and various size containers have found their way into all unused corners. If Murphy is on form as he nearly always is, I shall find all that I've done wrong and/or forgotten just over the boarder into Norway. Obviously too late then to pop home and fix, its 1500 km and I usually do it in two days so very little interest in turning around.

Once I get going I shall try to keep up my PPR's procedure from last year (for newcomers and those of failing memories that's "Pensioners Progress Reports"), and let them accumulate until I get a connection.  

​Some of the 1x Belgium participants having a quick check if the fruits of their days labour had brought them any success.

The Belgium trip with the 1x'ers was again a bundle of laughs and and most enjoyable. Wonderful hosts. They treated us royally in the mornings and evenings and walked the feet off us for the rest of the day. So much so I christened us the "1x Geriatrics Club", we certainly looked the part when we all finally plonked ourselves down at the end of the day.

Visits to Charleoi, Liège, Brussels and the village of Leuven😳, were on the menu and all of great interest and a myriad of new  impressions. Thank you all for a great time.

​Since getting back have been concentrating on how to pack the Caddy with all I need for Norway. This is turning out to be quite a challenge. Need to make sure I can get it all in, have what I need for 2 to 3 months and still leave room for me to drive and live in it!

Main thing is that all the camera gear is in.

Starting date is 26th. March, driving up to Leezen for the guys that converted the van to build in a couple of ideas, improvements, I've had and try and make the opening of the rear doors from the inside a bit more practical than the current solution. Very important for emergencies. A loo run for example.

More to follow.