Spring Clean your Vehicle with Tips from Insurance Hunter

This post brought to you by Insurance Hunter. All opinions are 100% mine.

The Zoo returned home from our 5,000km road trip eight weeks ago.

 

However, from the look of our van, you'd think that it had been two years ago.

Yes, that bad.

 

When I came across this valuable vehicle spring cleaning article from Insurance Hunter, I thought that I'd see how our van stacked up.

Here are a few of the items that Insurance Hunter recommends we complete each Spring.

 

Spring Maintenance. Ed's responsible for the car maintenance. Immediately upon our return and before every road trip, he checks all the fluid levels, changes the oil and checks the tires. He passed with flying colours. 

 

I am responsible for the inside of the van. I failed, miserably.

 

Remove the winter floor mats and Clean the interior. The winter mats are still in the car. Not that you can really tell because they're now hidden under all the road salt, dirt and animal hair that has accumulated over the past six months.

Not great for a family with allergies.

 

Get rid of the lingering things in your trunk. Unnecessary items and toys are everywhere. Not just in the trunk but in the cabin too. A friend who is a car seat technician mentioned that any unsecured items, no matter how small can be deadly in the case of an accident. 

 

Things definitely need to be cleaned up.

 

Replace your winter kit for a summer survival kit. As for the survival kit, besides having extra drinking water in the car and some blankets, we don't have a survival kit. With all the travelling we do, we should. Since reading Insurance Hunter’s blog post, I've already packed a bag to leave in the car with a spare set of clothes for the kids, diapers, sunscreen and sunglasses. These last two items are so important because they have blue eyes and fair skin which makes them really susceptible to the suns rays.

 

Whether you're planning a road trip or not this summer, situations can arise even on the way to the grocery store and it's easy to be prepared. I encourage your to read Insurance Hunters blog post for yourself and tell me if your car is ready for Spring. 

 

While you're there, get your no obligation and FREE auto insurance quotes. It only takes three minutes and could save you lots of money.

 

Insurance Hunter's Tips have Helped

The Zoo Be Roadtrip Ready.

  Besos, The Zoo

Hitchhiking to Canada with a Potty? {Drivel}

If you've come here looking for Toilet Training tips or Hitchhiking routes from Mexico to Canada then you've come to the wrong blog.

Okay, maybe not on the second point.

If you've come to hear about puddles in the corner, Teddy's gender, and broken down vans,

You've Hit the Jackpot!

Toilet Training. Remember all those "signs" that Artemis was sending me in November 2011. Well, one year, 4.5 months later (but who's counting, I AM, I AM!) and it seems like she's decided that "diapers are for babies".

Well, there's more to the story than just that (isn't there always!?).

It all started February 24. She decided to wear underwear and that was that. Two weeks later, after NO accidents, she decided that peeing in the closets, under tables and generally wherever she wanted was way more fun. And don't get me started on #2.

Then, a few days ago, she decided that underwear was once again the rave and we're back to using the toilet. I can't believe that I'm going to write this but I wish that she was still in diapers because it would cut down on "accidents" and washroom breaks for the ride home.

Next up, Thing #2 (a.k.a. Max).

Note that Artemis is still wearing a diaper at night but only because she shares a bed with Max and the Water Shortage Issues.

Bazar. We opened up the Bazar again on Sunday and had our best day so far! We made $1,515MXN or $150 as we finally managed to sell one of our three rooftop boxes. Every year, we drive down with one and then leave it here.

This week, I had two neighbours knock on my door asking if I was going to open my Bazar. Another woman wanted to know if I purchased items and/or sold on consignment.

Culturally, Mexicans don't like to sell things. The only time they do is when they really need the money. Then, they definitely don't want their neighbours to find out. Next year, I will definitely take in consignments.

Hasta Luego. After 12 weeks here, we're getting packed up and ready to leave for Canada on March 21. We still have some loose ends to tie up like trying to get the $100CDN back that the bank "stole" charged us and getting Buchephalus fixed...

Bucephalus Gets Some New Horseshoes {Travel}

One of our van's is called Bucephalus, the other is Bessie. Yes, we name our vans.

But not our cars.

Weird.

For those of you that don't know, Bucephalus was Alexander the Great's horse. He was super sleek and famous. Just like our van.

The Body that Only a Mother Could Love

When we began the first leg of this years summer vacation, we couldn't have been more excited. Our enthusiasm was not dampened by the four-hour torrential downpour or the "Poltergeist-Like" activities of the door locks.

They would lock/unlock, or lock/lock/lock or unlock/lock/lock all by themselves. Seriously, it wasn't me. In the end, we just figured that all the rain had caused a short circuit in the wiring.

The juries still out on that one.

With some MacGyvering (new verb?) we managed to successfully complete our first mission by picking up and stuffing fitting Uncle Andrew into the van. This was no small feat considering there were three adults, two kids, three dogs and a cat. Not to mention all our gear and you've heard all about that.

Since darkness was quickly approaching, and our second leg involved a two-hour drive North, we decided to fill up with gas and get on our way.

And that's where the story begins or ends depending on whether you see the glass as...

Half Full or Half Empty?

After filling up, Ed couldn't get the car to start. The battery wouldn't charge. No problem, these things happen. And for just such an occasion, The Zoo carries a portable battery booster pack.

After a little bit of this and that, the van started but something was up with the "altinator charge" dial.

In case you don't know what I'm talking about, it's the dial right below the "thing-a-ma-jingie" dial and to the right of the "where-did-that-one-come-from-never-seen-it-before" dial.

Ours was in the Red. At Nine O'clock. Should have been at Midnight.

No matter how optimistic you are,

This was not good.

Ed figured that it was best to turn around and head the three kilometres back to Nanna's house and he couldn't have been more right because,

At the top of a small hill,
With Nanna's house in view,
And only one stop sign to go...

The engine died,
On a Sunday,
Of a Long Weekend.

With the skill of a Great One, Ed managed to guide Bucephalus over the curb and onto Nanna's front lawn.

And that's where it stayed for two days. Until we could get a mechanic to replace the battery and altinator.

All was not lost as we learned a very important lesson. Never travel on a Saturday or Sunday, especially over a long weekend.

Except for this past weekend.

Truth be told, we didn't learn a thing.

Are you prepared for all the hiccups that travelling can throw at you? Any tips and tricks?

Besos, The Zoo