Our first camping test run was with Cath’s folks at Albert’s Falls Dam. It was a very pretty spot that overlooked the dam and it gave Mike and Norma a chance to see the Beast all set-up and us a chance to test that we knew what we were doing and that everything was working as it should be.

Needless to say, the set-up of the roof top tent and extension proved to take far longer then the quick demonstration we were given in Joburg. It wasn’t particularly difficult, but not knowing exactly where what went it probably took us about an hour longer then it should of.

Of course given the physical excursion required (did I mention that we were both seriously out of shape?) we felt that we richly deserved a refreshing beer upon on completion (and then a second so the first wasn’t too lonely).

Feeling somewhat better and definitely refreshed, we then locked up the Beast (could there be any more locks and keys) and 15 minutes later set off to the dam to try our hand at fishing. An hour or so later and without so much as a nibble we headed back to the camp to prepare dinner.

By the end of the weekend, we had a much clearer idea of how a lot of our equipment worked and had also come up with a number of modifications that were needed to make our lives a little easier. As to the fishing, well let’s just say I was thankful we weren’t reliant on the dam’s bounty for our meals.