Rome Was Not Built In A Day You Say?

All very well to say that when it’s not your time, energy or money being spent. At last! After more than six months, I am happy to report that we have made a little progress on our overland truck, the Honey Badger! We’ve been working on this project for more than two years now, and at last I can say things are looking up.

After much hand-wringing, false promises, and no service delivery, we called a halt to our contract with Insulated Trailer Worx. I sincerely believe the job was beyond their capabilities and expertise. Sadly, instead of telling us and calling it quits, they thought the problem would go away or that, with fiddling here and there, the puzzle would eventually fall into place. We became impatient and made the call on Tuesday morning after the Easter weekend. Stop. “Whatever you’re doing, just stop,” was Butch’s brief. Fortunately, nothing had happened. This time we would not watch Rome burn.

In the meantime, we’d gone to AC Motorhomes, specialist motorhome builders, had a brief chat, and Hein, the owner, saw his way to helping us. He had a space and could juggle another job with an end date well into the future. That was all we needed to hear. We submitted our plans, wants and needs and delivered the truck before Hein could change his mind.

That was in mid-April. The time frames suited us perfectly, as we were on our way to Mozambique and had other wheels and accommodation. We salvaged as much as possible and delivered it to AC Motor Homes to lessen the financial burden, including the stove, bathroom accessories, refrigerator, stove/microwave, bed, mattress, etc.

The truck was stripped right down to her naked chassis. All the worms in the woodwork were exposed, and we still shake our heads when we think about the welding done to the chassis instead of driving bolts through. Some of the welding was already tearing apart, and we’d not gone 300 km in the truck. Butch and I certainly weren't the professionals on this job, yet we were assumed to know everything. Eish!

The hole in the roof has been repaired; we might hear each other over the engine noise now. Instead of a walk-through, we’ll have a spacious crawl-through. The walls are going up. Soon, we'll have a roof over our heads.

I have proof, in black and white, that the expected completion date is the end of June; I will not hold my breath. 

This has been a trying journey, but I think I have learned to stay calm, be patient, and hold my tongue. The words “I told you so” have popped into my mind on numerous occasions; I have clenched my teeth and not uttered a single syllable, and this has not been easy. I still cringe when I think of our disappointments. A learning curve, you might say, in giving the benefit of the doubt too generously.

There are walls, floors and window cut-outs. We look upward and ever onward. Hope burns eternal in the human breast. We will get there. I am excited to choose the floor and wall coverings and to select the finishes for the cupboards and upholstery fabrics. I have a wish list as long as my arm on https://www.yuppiechef.com/

I’ve even considered tidying my linen cupboard to start selecting my favourite linens. When I brought out my winter wardrobe, I packed my khakis into a crate, ready to roll. One of these days, we will drive off into the sunset.

Butch and I have downloaded exciting overlanding apps; joined overlanding groups; contacted NGOs doing exciting work in Africa; and followed travellers who have done what we dream of doing, some as old as 85 or as young as 30. Our list of places to visit grows day by day. We can’t wait. Our horizons are endless. Who said retirement isn’t REFIREMENT?

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