PERTH TO NORMANDY 2009

Sometime in February 2008 Jim was on one of his military websites when he came across a message written by Lang Kidby (of the Peking to Paris fame) advising that he and his wife Bev were planning to travel to Normandy in 2009 for the 65th anniversary of D-Day. Lang was trying to organise a convoy of WWII military vehicles to travel over a two month period from Gallipoli in Turkey to Belgium visiting the various battlefields that the Australians and New Zealanders had been involved in during the last century. We discussed the trip but thought that, even though it would be a trip of a lifetime, driving through Europe in an old right hand drive vehicle on the right side of the road would be too stressful. I have been to Europe before (but only on an escorted tour) and was well aware of the roads and traffic. Jim had told me that had no desire to travel overseas unless it was for a purpose - his famous last words.

In the last week of February we left on a three week tour of New Zealand and when we were being driven through the mountainous roads of NZ we thought there is no way we could drive on roads like this in Europe in a 60+ year old vehicle - we would be crazy.

No sooner had we arrived back from NZ when Jim was on the website again and said that Lang had 7 people signed up for the trip already and enquiries were coming in thick and fast. More talk about the trip then a casual remark that perhaps we could send an email showing an expression of interest and asking for more information. We felt that if the others could take on something like this then perhaps we could too. The reply from Lang stirred our interest even more and stated that there had been so much interest shown in the trip that if we wanted to be guaranteed a place we would have to pay a deposit and sign up ASAP. Well we had to make up our mind there and then and the rest is history!

The next problem was that the only vehicle suitable for the trip was an old unrestored Chevrolet ex army wireless van that Jim had owned since 1990. A complete restoration was required and work began in earnest in May 2008 with what seemed like every minute being spent on the van. Purchasing another old wireless van for spare parts and collecting spare parts from a friend's farm who has generously let Jim keep his "treasures" there, meant a few trips to the country. Waiting on people to do wiring harnesses and machining various parts was frustrating due to the short timetable. My brother-in-law Cliff volunteered (I think) to do the woodwork and fit out the inside of the van but he and my sister were due to take off around Australia in their caravan for 2-3 months which meant that the bodywork of the van had to be finished quickly so that Cliff could do his part. Normally Jim would do the engine etc first but this time he had to work in reverse. Cliff finished lining and making the beds (one fixed and the other folding) with about a week or two to spare. It was seven months of hard work from when the restoration started until the van was licensed in December 2008.

Licensing proved to be another hurdle as the licensing authority required a receipt evidencing the purchase of the van. As Jim had purchased the van in 1990 and the previous owner (George) was now deceased he had no way of getting a receipt. Luckily Jim had kept his bank statements since Adam was a boy which showed the cheque written out to George.

Jim continued to work on the van doing the finishing touches and painting on the markings for the 6th Division (Kangaroo over Boomerang). Because the van was too high for the container the wheels had to be taken off and small half rims put on. When the van was loaded it was such a tight fit that there were just a couple of inches between the roof of the van and the top of the container and approx 3 inches either side. Jim had to reverse the van into the container and crawl out backwards through the passenger front window. The van, together with the vehicles for the rest of the group, is now somewhere on the high seas headed for Istanbul via Malta.

There seems to have been a never ending amount of paperwork to be filled out to export the vehicle. Firstly permission was required from the Heritage Council, clearance from Customs to export the vehicle, DPI permission to import the vehicle and dealing with shipping agents and transport companies. Next challenge will be dealing with the Turks to get the vehicles off the wharf in Instanbul and then in Belgium to ship the van back. It has been an interesting learning experience.

There are 14 vehicles from all over Australia and 2 from New Zealand going on the trip and an American guy joining us in Italy. Some were fortunate enough to have had their vehicle already restored but many like us had a big job to get their vehicle ready in time. Lang and Bev not only had to restore their vehicle but also arrange the shipping and various bookings for us all. Fortunately they have done this before although I am not sure whether they have done it for such a big group. We will be an 'interesting' group of like minded people with most of us meeting for the first time in Istanbul. For some it is even their first time overseas - what an introduction! No doubt there will be friendships formed both with the group and those we meet along the way and an enjoyable holiday had by us all.

From Gallipoli we travel to Greece, ferry to Crete, back to Greece, Italy, Switzerland, France and Belgium. Some members have sold or intend to sell their vehicles and the rest will ship theirs back from Belgium. Jim and I will be flying out from Frankfurt so we have a few days after the tour ends to spend where we wish. We have a 3 night stopover in Dubai on the way there and a 2 night stopover on the way home to break the journey.

There is now quite a void in our lives since the van has gone - especially for Jim. He has returned to his household duties of lawnmowing and shopping and is even managing to have the afternoon cat nap. It is only 6 weeks to go (fly out 23/4) and it seems to be coming up awfully quickly. In all we will be away 9 weeks.

We are taking a laptop with us so hopefully we have the time to update this website as we go!