25/04/2017 - My Original Lifelong Bucket List completed

Many of you reading this surely have a "bucket list".    I hope I can inspire you by telling you that as of April 2015 I have completed mine.  Its taken me a while to post this as I normally keep this sort of thing to myself, but I wanted to share it with everyone. So here you go:

1. 2012:  Earned my wings (private pilots license)
2. 2015:  Traveled to, stepped foot on and went bivvy camping on Antarctica
3. 2015:  Solo 5400kms expedition/drive through the Patagonian Andes
4. 2010:  Trekked the Mt Everest basecamp (EBC) trek- Chomolungma (Mother Goddess of the world)
5. 2015:  Build and still use a true 4WD Expedition Camper van
6. 2005:  Climbed a large mountain (alpine climbing) in Alaska
7. 2013:  Went to Fiji and island hopped for 24 days
8. 2005:  Solo drive the Alaska Highway 3860 miles in WINTER from Seattle to Anchorage under the Northern Lights
9. 2001: Solo 2600 mile drive across the continental USA
10. 2001: Skied at the birthplace of downhill skiing in Davos, Switzerland.

I am now working on my next bucket list.   I am in my mid-40s and feeling like I am 25 or 30 still! I hope this blog post can inspire others to keep dreaming and working towards their dreams! 

Col Norman D. Vaughan - RIP

My lifelong motto:  “Dream big and dare to fail!”

My lifelong hero:  Col. Norman D. Vaughan

16/4/2017 - Easter Weekend 4WD camping

So I decided to brave the horrific Sydney Easter weekend traffic to get away.  Rather than leave Thursday after work with 1.5 million people stuck in gridlock traffic, I decided to wait to the next morning to head out. 

Well the morning came and I left around 10am.  The traffic was very light crossing into North Sydney via the Harbour Bridge.  I think my driving GPS was set with the not then best settings because I was going the shortest possible route, but it was not set for then fastest.  After getting up into

9/4/2017 - Bondi Beach: Doing nothing on a perfect Sunday morning...

Even van camping on a city beach parking is nice.. the morning here is magnificent..

https://twitter.com/NZ_420Van/status/850825839784501248

27/3/2017 - Sandblasting, galvinising and powder coating along side new UHF radio & LED HD lights (Part I)

Even though I already have a really nice portable, waterproof/submersible, UHF 5 watt radio/GPS receiver and a nice 4000 lumen LED bar on my van's bull bar, I wanted more lights and a real CB style radio.  So I ordered the following items as such and took my van to a 4WD specialist here in Sydney.  

AE4703 UHF h/D Radome Antenna, 6.6 dBi

My new CV radio - GME TX3100DP Super Compact UHF

Additionally, for a while now I have been wanting some work powder coating work done on my van. Namely I wanted to get the growing rush problem off my rear ladder, bull bar/engine bash plate and my snorkel. You see when this custom work was originally done,  I didn't have the budget for powdering so I went with standard painting. I guess living on the ocean I paid the price with rust!   Anyway check out the rust on this baby!

My bull bar alone removed from the front and underside of the van

This was just added - a platform for my new lights and an antenna holder.

My bull bar, bash plate, rear ladder and snorkel all ready to get fixed up nice!

This is just part 1 of this post because part II will be when its finished and looking all flash!  This is going to take some time to get this all sorted, so please do keep tuned in for more!

13/3/2017 - From Australia, it's time for hunting! Let the adventure begin!

 

It's been a long time since I have posted a blog entry.  After pain and trial, I finally imported my van across the Tasman Sea to Australia.  Now, its time to start exploring this great country.  Also, after getting my NSW firearms license, what else is there to do but
get a permit to hunt zombies?   :)

24/7/2016 - Ski fields shut due to warm, windy rain! It's .308 shooting time again! :-)

The mountain was shut all weekend due to heavy rain, gale winds and overall crap weather.   Yes, so I wanted to take the van up to mountain skiing, but oh well. Rather I pulled out my .308 rifle and went to the range on a rather windy, gusty day.  It made for some challenging target shooting that's for sure.  The great snow base we had until Friday afternoon, was good.  Now? Unsure! :( 

I love sharp shooting.. It teaches concentration and patience

Borrowing the range sighting scope, but the wind made it wobbly @ 60x

My 420van takes me everywhere fun!

pew pew pew...  

The end result?  Well I did OK considering I was fighting near gale winds twisting each shot.   The unpredictable wind made me accidentally take out the girl, sorry hun!  I got 3 perfect head shots from the zombie on the right. The centre zombie I got well, but the only shot I took at the left zombie was a miss. Darn!  
I brought up two 1L water filled plastic bottles for fun. I destroyed them with 1 shot each. I forgot to record it on video, oh well next time I promise as I know that sort of stuff looks great at 10% speed playback.  Cheers!

17/7/2016 - 100 yard zombie target shooting practice day w/my .308 rifle & a mate

(Above) My friend Kris, accidentally shot the girl. Bad boy..  

(Above) Three headshots for right zombie. Nice! 

(Above) The range officer got a nice head shot whilst trying out my rifle. Nice one! 

(Above) Gorgeous day out!  Love cruising to local spots like this with my van!