We’re only two weeks away from Nats and I’m feeling the date bearing down on me. I really want to drive the Travelall but haven’t been able to get her out for a long drive yet. The weather finally broke today and we got the first sunshine in a week, so I can hopefully stretch her legs this weekend at some point. I made an appointment with a local independent shop next week to have the wheels re-balanced and balance beads added, so we’ll see how that affects the ride. In the meantime I have some small things to attend to:

• Fabricate a battery hold-down. This just requires a length of allthread, an aluminum strap, and two wingnuts.
• Order a set of hoses. I need the top and lower radiator hoses just in case she gets too hot on the trip. I thought I had some used spares in the Scout bins—I’ll have to double-check this.
• Fabricate some kind of temporary mount for the Rotopax. I figure I can make something to bolt onto the spare tire to hold the gas can upright.
• Put together the emergency kit. Most of my stuff is already together, but I need to add some truck-specific things.
• Lubricate the chassis. I haven’t done this yet, mostly because both of my grease guns are broken. I did, however, find a working grease gun at a yard sale two weeks ago, so I’m gonna get the old girl all greased up.
• Re-torque the U-bolts on the springs and check the tie rods. Basically just make sure nothing has decided to jump ship.
• Check and top off all the fluids. 
• Replace the fuel filter.
• Hose the windshield down with Rain-X. I have no windshield wipers. If the forecast is anything like it was two years ago, I’ll probably take the Scout, which at least has some wipers.

I’ll repeat everything here on the Scout except for the first three items, just so I’ve got the backup ready to roll.