And right now, it’s euphoria! ATGANI is in our possession, if not our control!

ATGANI has safely travelled 100km on highways and byways; has successfully reversed into position; has had 2 sleeps in a caravan park; has welcomed its first visitors, has opened its first champagne and had its first sausage sizzle. (Everyone knows that there is no event, from the opening of parliament to the opening of an envelope, that cannot be improved by the addition of a sausage sizzle.)

It is exactly 12 months since we first decided to buy this particular caravan – 51 weeks since we paid our deposit. There was another van (Bernie’s) that got away – a story for another day. The original delivery date was end-February 2021, so it is really only 8 months late. Covid contributed significantly but hopeless inefficiency had a much greater impact. And yet, sitting here comfortably, with the sun shining, water glistening, birds singing and a van-made flat white at hand, all is forgotten, at least for the moment.

In a couple of days, we shall return ATGANI to the Central Coast for a few final fittings (how can it NOT be fully finished, I hear you ask) while we are otherwise occupied. Then, at the beginning of November, we set out on our first road trip, into the newly opened heart of regional NSW. That will be the real test as we figure out how long we can stay off-grid before we run out of water, power, gas, food and, crucially, wine. What could possibly go wrong?