Bluey, my beloved 1973 Kombi, and home on wheels for a number of memorable trout fishing expeditions, photographic jaunts, and general road trips, is heading north to to Tasmania’s North Island — Australia.

Bluey has been sold via eBay to a friendly Queenslander called Ray who is planning a series of 2-3 day trips. “Can’t wait to hit the road,” he says, “and there’s something special about Kombis.”

I’m sure going to miss all the friendly waves from other Kombis on the open road …

However, replacing Bluey is my ‘new’ 1985 Coaster, as yet unnamed, which I soon found out gives me membership to another ‘family’ of fanatics. They’re a helpful bunch too, as I have discovered on various online forums.

Here’s the new rig as it was pictured on eBay. Its an unusual design and the interior is a weird mix of Japanese fine carpentry and ‘she’ll do’ Aussie inventiveness.

A good friend has nicknamed her Madam Plush, and when I post some photographs of the interior you’ll see why.