Jeep Jeep!

First some photos from the mansion place thing - all courtesy of Kat. There's something a little weird about these ultra-perky breasts.....


If I am ever building a mansion of such proportions, I will specify that looking bearded men are placed around it....


Ok, I lied this one is taken by me - this is the rear of the house... it's not so impressive from outside I guess.


The gardens.


Some more of the gardens....


Now, some live action shots of me working on the jeep...

Fascinating. A wheel bearing assembly. Now how do I get this fuckin' thing off?!


Let me assure you that removing 20 year old bolts is not an easy job. Ahh rust, my old friend.


What a physique! It has just started to rain at this point. At least my head isn't getting wet....


Please note sophisticated rain deflection setup.


This is what it looked like when it was all taken apart....


This is the wheel bearing assembly. The axle goes through the middle. The calipers mount on this. The disc goes over the end of the axle.

Guess which one is the old one with the nearly fused bearing??



As of today we've replaced the fuel injectors, EGR gasket, EGR vacuum solenoid, front brake lines, Throttle Position Sensor, put in the carpet, trimmed the carpet, replaced the guages, blown oil all over the carpet, and started repainting.

All that's left is to mount the driving lights, replace the rear wiper motor, and put everything back together.... so far we're on track to leaving on the 4th. A bit later than we expected (well 4 days) but... given the amount of work we've done, not surprising!

Laters!

A day at the stately home...

Surprisingly today we didn't do (much) work on the car.

Instead, we went down to a house built in the early 1900s by some guy.
Anyway, words don't do it justice, so head on over here and check out the photos!

What I found amazing was the intricacy of the work, given the time when it was built....

Anyhoo. That was nice. Had some pork ribs and a mojito for lunch and had a small snooze in the car on the way home. Boy was I tired.

Started cabling up the car for the speakers. Then it started raining. Great thunderstorm. Nice thunderstorms down here in FL.

Ok, this post was kind of boring, and for that I apologise....

...tonight we will FINALLY go and see the Bourne Ultimatum.

No, not the monthly time when Jacqui used to get the budget figures from me, but the movie starring Matt Damon.

Ok, ok, I'm not on form tonight. Piss off and look at the photos then!!!!!

Repairo!

Yesterday was a slow day, on account of the rain pissing down....

...so we went looking at stereos. I'm not going to brief you on the exact configuration until it's all installed, however I can tell you now that as a tribute to our old stereo in the HR-V there is at least one Alpine component...

In the late afternoon we tackled an ongoing issue with vacuum - namely the EGR vacuum solenoid, which is annoyingly faulty. I barely have the faintest idea what the EGR does (although I know it stands for exhaust gas recirculation) but having it open all the time makes the car idle like shit.

We plugged the vacuum hoses, disabling the unit - and surprise surprise, the car runs like new. Well perhaps not like new, but she IS nearly 20 years old..

Today we replaced the water pump due to an annoying squeaking noise that was coming from it.
This involves removing the serpentine belt, and the power steering pump. Yay. I have a nice chunk out of my right hand from bashing it against the engine block. Double yay.

After this was completed, we boot the car (yes it's called booting now, instead of starting, because I say so) and watch the temperature rise to near critical levels.... WHAT THE!?!?!?

But it's ok everyone... just a bubble in the system... she now runs 30F cooler, and doesn't stall.

Rock on. Are you tired of car updates yet? Imagine how tired I am..........

Repairs - Day 4 + 5

Well ladies, don't think that just because there was no update yesterday that the slaving over the Jeep has not progressed in leaps and bounds!

Wednesday
No messing around here.

Tested the fuel pressure, which was a bit fubar - so replaced the fuel pump. Let me assure you the petrol (a) tastes like shit and (b) gives you a massive headache when you're trying to siphon it by sucking on a pipe. At least I know what a fuel pump looks like.

Sean replaced the coil. I didn't even notice him doing it.

Meanwhile Maurice was fitting the hitch baseplate. Somehow we all got it, AND the massive bull bar back onto the jeep.

A long day... we arrived home after our second Burger King visit for the day after 10pm...

Thursday
Today I tackled the old oil change. No big drama, but boy it squirts out of the pan fast when you remove the bolt. Oops, what's that huge puddle of oil doing on the floor?!

After that, a quick disassembly, inspection, and filling of the front and rear diffs. Woohoo!

All going well, but it stalled on the way home..... so further investigation required.

Until tomorrow's exciting installment of "world mechanical tour 2007"!

Repairs - Day 3

An entire day spent diagnosing a low vacuum. The outcome?

Well we figured out that some lines that control the four wheel drive needed to be reconnected, so ... that's done.

The heater doesn't work, so that's probably next on the list. Not really for FL, but....

Last night it pissed down with rain.

Unfortunately it appears that the turd had a few cracks in the room at the front, so some water came in. Luckily not on anything important. So first thing this morning I was on the roof sweeping the water off, and Sean and I just sealed it up temporarily (it's started raining again).

Just ordered what will be one of the last shipments of parts for the jeep. Nothing exciting I guess...

This morning I'm measuring up the car for its stereo :)

Repairs - Day 2

So today we dismantled and reinstalled the rear drum brakes, and re-bled the rear lines.

Kipper would be proud of me.

The truck now drives a lot better - we've also fixed the rear tire gate mount and a nasty squeaking that was coming from the rear sway bar hanger rubbing on the exhaust.

The 12v line into the fag lighter is connected, just fuckin' corroded.

Phew. Tomorrow..... more....

Pictures of ... THE BEASTS!!!

Man am I tired.

Today we've fixed the windscreen wipers, fixed the headlights and indicators, replaced the brake master cylinder, bled the brake system.

We've also managed to somehow stop the high-beams from working when we were reassembling the steering column.

This is the most hands on work I've ever done on a car... and I was definitely the least qualified man on the job. I cannot thank Mr and Mr Bohannan enough. Amazing work.

So some pictures...

This is the beast at the campground. It speaks for itself.



This is the beast, and what was affectionately known as "the turd". We have to find a new name for it. Yes, that is our new home!!



And this is the whole family.


Tomorrow == more repair work!!

License Day - Part 3

Tonight == first night in motorhome!! See you tomorrow!!

License Day - Part 2

Kat - Pass
Leigh - Pass
Car - Insured
Car - Tagged
Motorhome - Insured

Rockin' in the camo beast!

License Day - Part 1

How dumb is it that I am nervous about a driving test, given I've probably been driving for 15 years (counting learners permit) and 13 years if you exclude it.

It's 06:45 here. That's rather early. We're leaving soon to go to "n town" as someone interestingly calls it. Then off to the bank. Then off to get..... THE BEAST!

Jeeps, Wal-Mart, License Exams

So this morning we put a deposit on the camo jeep, we'll pick it up tomorrow.

We've spent a TON of money today. New tires and supplies for the trip at Wal-Mart (nearly $500).

Tomorrow morning we have our driving tests! Wish us luck!

Miami, Keys, South Beach, FUCKIN CAMO 4x4!!

I can't believe I forgot to mention we went down to South Beach.

Despite what we're lead to believe after watching myriads of TV, South Beach is not in fact crammed with the hottest babes you've ever seen.

There are lots of gay men - but in my humble opinion also not worthy of attention... Sorry chaps!!

We did cruise past the shop used in Miami Ink. I was too chicken to cross the road and peer in the window. Good thing too, as apparently the artists in the show don't tattoo there unless it's filming.

This morning we set up the trailer some more, checked out the extension "room" that we got with it. Awesome.... I will take a photo tomorrow during the day, as it was too dark tonight.

We also went up to Boynton Beach to see a 4x4 Ranger truck. I'd spoken to the guy about the price, and confirmed it when we were there, HOWEVER at the crucial moment of putting a deposit down he wanted $600 more. No I say.

I present to you the leading contender:


No I'm not shitting you. A 1989 Jeep Cherokee 4x4. New motor. 4" lift kit. Fear us.

Land of the Free

Well here we are at Fort Bohannan, in Pembroke Pines, Florida, USA.

The thing that struck me the most on our arrival is ... well how BIG everything is.

It's not just the size of the cars (although that was amazing at first) but the way everything is spread out - it's mile after mile of suburbs, malls, more suburbs, more malls, and big things.

The dependence on cars here is phenomenal - everyone has a car - and frankly, everyone needs a car - the public transport isn't really accessible (e.g. it's only for the poor people) and stuff is way to far away to walk (and it's stinkin' hot!). Big sure is better here...

So before leaving Canadia we visited Banff and Lake Louise.

It's weird seeing ski towns off-season - the same losers are there, but there's no snow.
We climbed Tunnel Mountain, and I nearly needed an ambulance to carry me to the top.

Some obligatory nature pictures (of course): This is obviously a deer of some description.


This is a squirrel. I think it's a cousin of the stuffed squirrel that Ben has at home...


This is me. I am tired after climbing the measly 2.5km elevation. Not sure how it was trail-wise, but it felt like a LONG LONG WAY. I am a FAT FAT MAN.


Continuing on the nature tip - Sean and Julia took us (among other things) to the Everglades. We went on an airboat ride - even in nature, Americans find a way to have a big loud engine.

The boats were kind of cool - they are flat bottomed, so have to be steered like a rallycar on ice....

The Everglades are filled with these lily-like plants - I think they're from AU.


A little baby alligator. So cute!!!


Some scenery.


Some more scenery. Please note the artistic reflection of the sky in the water.


This is literally the mother of the baby in the picture above. Picture courtesy of Sean.


A bird. There are normally two. They pair for life....

Another baby croc - a sibling of the one above!


And the most important news of all. Today we took partial possession of our new RV - courtesy of one of Sean's brothers. He calls it "the turd" due to its brown colour.

Its decor is firmly in the mid-80s but it's very comfortable, the AC works, and it's definitely big enough for us!!! I was really surprised at how much I liked it - so that's a WIN! Tomorrow I will take some photos of it, and the shitter cable....

Later y'all....

Calgary - ay!

Well, we've survived our fly by tour of Calgary Alberta. Here are a few highlights.

* Dennis and Janet's wedding.
(Huge) 400 guests - half of which I'm related to but have never met.
They all seemed to know who I was though.

Here's a picture of the happy couple.



Here's Leigh dancing with the ladiiieesss..



* Post wedding lunch
The following day - only a lazy 200 guests in attendance
Church mass three days in a row and lots of stressed relatives gradually embracing insanity!!!

* Driving a car
On the wrong side of the road with left hand drive in a huge Pontiac...enough said

* The Alberta Provincial Dinosaur Park


Not what you would think, no plaster relics. We were so surprised to find a world heritage listed canyon of sorts with an awesome landscape and some cool desert animals - deer, cotton tail rabbits

* Banff and Lake Louise

Spectacular! The rocky mountains are an awesome sight. We even saw snow at Lake Louise and Spring has only started.

We did some hiking around Banff to Tunnel Mountain which was a 5km hike up to 2600m elevation - great view but our fitness was severely lacking. We should have stopped there but decided to walk up another mountain at Lake Louise in the afternoon. *sore legs*

* Food

Neither great not terrible. Serving sizes are massive, ribs are a plenty. I ordered a steak the other day and it came out not grilled... but broiled - as though it was prepared in a pressure cooker


That's it for now, we're in Florida doing 'American' stuff.
Bye

Pictures, for the Who Weekly Set

So a bit of a wrap up (or a rap up, if yer a gangsta) of all the bits and pieces that I never got around to posting... and some fodder for those of you who don't read the words.

Leaving KL
First up a few night images of the Petronas Towers.
That's Petro-Nas by the way, just so you sound like a real Malasian.

This one's bright....


This one's not!

A different angle.

And some Malaysian flags. It was just coming up to National Day - so there were plenty of em.

Another different angle.


Ahh the essence of asia - brands, brands, brands!


Ninjas, ninjas, everywhere, and not a drop to drink!


They've ripped off Crown Casino in Melbourne. Or was it the other way around.


This is the top of the other tower.


Honestly I'm not sure what they think you use a cigar for...


HONG KONG, CHINA MIKE

Here's Euan and some booze. Kind of sums it all up.


Euan demonstrating some of his ninjitsu techniques.


The famous China Mike, Mike China, Dynamike, in the contemplative lotus pose.


Something you will not see every day. Euan sewing a button back onto my pants. Good lad.


As you can see I was hard at work. Euan sewing, Kat packing. I was lounging with Mike.


My Birthday

The best birthday presents - two cards made for me - one by Jimmy and Jay, and the other by Tijana! She writes better than I do. Actually she writes better than Jimmy as well. Hm.


There's a few more pictures from the plane to be posted, but I mean how much sky do you all need to see right now.....

Tomorrow's the wedding, so ... off to bed!