After Prado´s naturalization in Swizzyland it had some additional minor cosmetic surgery to undergo: the clutch, changed 2012 in Grahamstown/ ZA started to get a little bit tired, the battery for our fridge battery never worked properly – and we hate warm beer, the water pump had a crack and the fridge battery was completely flat – we added a battery booster. This is somehow similar to Viagra, but for batteries.
After 35´000km with our Toyo tires on mostly African roads their profile reduced to non-existent, time for a change. So quite some Euros and Swiss Francs changed hands and Martin was busy fixing all he could fix. All commented by our Laufenburger fellows passing by.
Another handful of Euros and Swiss Francs was used to replace some of the camping equipment – brand new back’n’ass-friendly chairs, a huge camping table and cooking equipment adapted to European standards. In addition we bought plenty of guidebooks and maps in order not to get lost on the way.
Everything, especially the lodge on the rooftop had to be cleaned properly – inside and outside. Martin´s sister still complains about the kilos of pure African red soil in front of their entrance and the water bill rose to an astonishing amount.
All our equipment was collected and kept in a corner of our flat, a rising pile, and we were constantly asking ourselves whether poor Prado will be able carry such loads – and especially whether everything can be stored inside. We had plan A, B, C and even X.
Finally, everything fitted inside the car, even the wine cellar (behind the bag on the back seat) got some bottles of pure South-African Pinotage.
Then it was time for the last couples of beer in our favourite drinking hole and on June 16th we switched off the heating and all electric plugs, closed the water taps, the windows and the main door. Last shopping over the border in Germany and last filling for Prado and off we were to start this new adventure.
