byron to peats ridge
Our plan was to be in Peats Ridge (1hr30 north of Sydney) for the Peats Ridge Festival on the 27th December. We needed transport to get there and a place to sleep at the festival so we had to get it before Christmas to be sure we would have a chance of making the festival.
As soon as we arrived in Byron we were scoped out some vans, within 24hours we found what looked like our ideal Van on Gumtree.
It was based in Brisbane. Toby, Will and I quickly hired a budget car (Toyota Yaris) to drive up to Brisbane from Byron. The plan was to buy the van the same day and drive back the evening before Christmas Eve.
The French owners met us in the centre of Brisbane. We were instantly taken by the van – it looked sweet and drove really well. Most importantly on the test drive it turned a few hot girls heads. We agreed on a figure. I tried to make the payment by wire over the telephone but found I couldn’t do it internationally despite being told the previous day I could; thanks Alliance & Leicester. We couldn’t seal the deal that day so we stayed the night in hope we could come up with the money the following day.
Being French the couple didn’t offer us the van to sleep in for the night in their drive. Instead we had to find a residential street where we could park overnight – we were to sleep in the Yaris, all three of us! It was a horrible night, we barely slept and when we did a drunk man woke me trying to steel my tshirt which I had hung on the window for sunshade.
The next morning I eventually managed to get the money by doing a cash advance from a Westpac. We dropped the cash and picked up the Van! We arrived back in Byron late on Xmas eve with our new wheels, the new van felt like the best Christmas present ever!
‘The Van‘ will now be our new home. We will sleep in it, eat in it and party in it – with the odd drive between places. It’s official… we are now Gypos.
