198. Dense Fog

Christchurch

Started the day with a walk through Hagley Park then through the Botanical Gardens. A real treat. Boris biked some of it also which was great.

Picked up Douglas (Das) and we went out to West Melton Aerodrome to give the family kite, WEN, a run. As mentioned previously, I had started a number of modifications, constant speed prop and water cooled heads etc. meaning the installation of radiators, pumps etc. Uncle Richard took the project on when I departed for the UK and I was keen to try it all out now it is all assembled. Again thank you to Uncle Richard and John Crawford.

Good labour helps

Das tackling fuel marks

After a year of sitting WEN was thick with dust which Das and I were able to dust off. Looked a lot more loved after that. Pushed out CBS then WEN. Battery still wasn't up to a start which is disappointing as WEN had been on trickle half Amp charge for three days. Jump start from Das in the Type R did the trick and WEN was soon idling cleanly with all gauges pointing in the right direction. Particularly enjoyed the new manifold air pressure and water temp gauges that I installed a couple of years ago. Though the brakes are good WEN doesn't have a park brake and my legs were getting shakey holding the toe brakes on so we robbed a picket and tie down rope out of CBS and tied by the tail wheel WEN sat nicely.

Big brother, little brother

After robbing twenty litres from Uncle Richard's AvGas supplies Das and I settled in and ran WEN up watching the temperatures and pressures as we did. Everything came up beautifully and the prop cycled beautifully loading and unloading the engine as we coarsened and fined the pitch. We ran the engine up to two thousand and were able to run an open throttle with the prop on full coarse. The oil came up to ninety five and the water eighty five so I was delighted.

Glowing with success we returned for pizzas with the family with Stephanie and Ian at Das'. Low point of the evening was Ian and my hurriedly escaping through the french doors (which Douglas and Anna-Marie thought were locked) behind the table when Dexter, the dog, fogged us out with the strong smell of egg which Das assures us that he never eats. Fog banks continued throughout the evening with Das and AM blaming the hound.

197. We did mean to go to sea

Lyttelton

Morning tea with Andy and Kathryn started the day. They were to be off by eleven thirty to Kaikora for the weekend so this was our only chance. It has been a couple of years since we last caught up so there was much to catch up on. They are so much fun and with Kathryn a leading privacy lawyer and Andy a Film and TV script writer I was running to keep up. Midday came and went while we yarned and I retired a bit before one without their being the least concerned about the time.

Cierán was amused by the name

Next I collected Cierán a originally a friend of Mark, my UK colleague.  Cierán has recently moved to NZ to work for Link (a brilliant decision by our CE Andy). We had lunch at the cup then over Dyers Pass to the boat to go for a sail. Cierán had no sailing experience but was game. The trailer had three flat tyres but the squadron Fordson Super Major easily hauled the boat to the tractor shed where there is a compressor. I love the Super Major, we had three on the farm when I was a kid with front mounted, belt drive pumps for spray line irrigation. The brilliant thing about this tractor is that most are scared of it so it is almost for my exclusive use and makes a much better launch vehicle than a car and means that you can turn up in anything (Type R) and go for a sail.

Spot the tyre that was flat

It took a bit longer than usual to get rigged as I had packed more things up than usual as the boat hadn’t been used for a year, since my last visit. I am very impressed that the Honda Fifteen outboard started second pull. We didn’t use it (foolish sailor pride) but nice to know that the iron sail works.

There was another Noelex 25 retrieving when we went to launch and it soon became apparent that they were struggling. It was a particularly high tide which meant that backing down the slip and around the corner so that the boat was alongside the finger jetty was not possible. They were grateful for help and with a stern line added and me in their SUV we eventually got it up.

He's a natural

Cierán and I hoisted sails and prepped the boat while still beside the jetty as it is easier than motoring out and doing it in the full breeze. We had a lovely sail beating up the harbour in quite a stiff easterly slightly overpowered with the main backing a little but with good boat speed of five and a half knots.

Diamond Harbour was our turning point and, as always, was a virtual calm, a sanctuary, out of the breeze. It is a place of my childhood having had a family batch there and I loved being back. Things were a little mired by collecting a fishing line that a wharf fisherman hadn’t wound up which is the usual practice when a boat approaches. We did a three sixty to release his line but his abuse and threats were particularly uncomfortable for the families waiting for the next ferry. Quite unusual and I didn’t respond, other than to say “steady on”.

We had a nice broad reach home with Cierán at the helm. Took a couple of goes to come alongside the jetty under sail then we were both amused when a smaller trailer-sailer boat arrived under motor, approached the jetty at right angles (never a good idea), miss managed the motor and crashed into the wharf. As it happens I knew one of the party but I am far too discrete to tell tales*.

I was under a little time pressure as I had a standing invitation to dinner with Hamish, Julie and family which I was really looking forward to. Julie and I did a European Tour by Eurail together a hundred years ago. Hamish is a great bloke and a fun evening was assured.

As always, Julie had prepaired a spectacular seated meal and we were joined by an cricket English friend of theirs over for the England / NZ test match at the Hagley Oval. It was a lovely evening.

*Private message me

196. Airbourne

Ashburton Aerodrome

Prompt start to the day as I was booked in for my flying medical at the Lyttelton Medical Centre. Arrived at twenty past eight to be informed that they were running fifty minutes late. I questioned how this was possible and the receptionist said that there had been a number of urgent patients already. I found it surprising when she then said the doctor had been held up by roadworks. I commented that I wasn’t upset, I had plenty of time and I had also come from the city for the appointment and that there were no road works. At this point I remembered that the centre always runs late and I used to phone prior to arriving to establish how late they were currently running. I wonder if this is a legacy of my grandfather, Dr Heath, who established the practice over seventy years ago and ran it with two partners, Dr Chambers and Dr Walker, until his early cancer demise in nineteen seventy four.

Turned out that the wait was under twenty minutes and I was seen by a very nice doctor who declared me fit for purpose and a hundred and twenty dollars later I was out clutching my signed medical.

Ranger vs. Hylux

The traffic on state highway one was awful and I realised that as it was the day before Easter weekend combined with Ed Sheran concerts in Dunedin as well as Warbirds over Wanaka I was in for a slow drive. Our state highway one (the major route is a two lane road with occasional passing lanes and a maximum speed of a hundred kilometres per hour) is slow at the best of times. Traffic came to a complete stop a couple of times, the first for a prang before the Selwyn river where a Ford Ranger and a Toyota Hylux had engaged in battle with the Hylux upended. Looked to me that there was no victory as the Ranger looked like it had also battled its last. Nobody was hurt and the emergency services had not arrived so we were all able to pass by slowly.

Met my instructor Les at eleven however we were happily distracted by the Yak 3 parked outside and agreed that the BFR could wait in such auspicious company. For two thousand dollars we could have had a twenty minute ride but I wasn’t man enough for that (the money, not the ride). The startup alone was fantastic and a rare treat to experience the V12 Allison at such close quarters. This particular plane was packed up and taken to Reno where Arthur competed right through to the open finals which is an amazing achievement particularly as the hotrod Allison suffered oil pressure problems so he did the whole competition on the standard engine. Les and I sauntered out to the edge of runway two-zero to watch him take off with the huge propellor running a corkscrew of contrail down the fuselage, and, oh the noise, that noise! Arthur generously did a five hundred foot circuit then zoomed us before heading for Wanaka - ecstasy!

Distractions now dispensed with we set to completing my BFR. I had read the instructors guide while waiting at Lyttelton so had a fair idea what I was up for. As I had only done four and a half hours flying in the last year I was feeling pretty rusty and wondering how I would cope. Les also gave me a run down on what to expect then off we set. My radio work was not ideal and my instrument scan was through as I am not particularly familiar with PAA having only flown it for the first time last year. Luckily it runs similar numbers and has the same Jabiru 2200 engine as JRW that I did my ab initio training and WEN our family kite.

All went as expected until Les closed the throttle as we cleared the runway at about six hundred feet simulating engine failure. I pitched forward and elected a field within view of the windscreen which inconveniently had a centre pivot irrigator across it. By retracting flap we cleared it and I thought we might be landing as Les didn’t let me at the throttle till we were about twenty feet above the field. If felt like a long pull across the field building speed, closing flap etc. till we were able to climb away at seventy knots (140 kph).

We climbed to about three seven, wending our way through beautiful building cumulous cloud ranging from about two to five. I lucked my first grade one turn by having the satisfying bump when we had done three hundred and sixty degrees, Les said probably have to give you that one.

Steep and compass turns were done around the clouds which is great fun though the lack of horizon makes speed and attitude a point of focus. Accuracy was not helped when Les put his hands over the major instruments and required more steep turns, not something one would normally tolerate from a passenger. Somehow I kept the wings on and the engine noise relatively consistent so we returned to NZAS to join overhead whereupon Les immediately closed the throttle necessitating a full forced landing, this time to a full stop on two-zero which happily I completed horizontally, not vertically. A few circuits both into the wind and crosswind followed with Les OK with my approach but suggesting I needed to nail the speed at fifty five knots. We then returned for the written exam which was fine though the Met notam was a bit of a lucky dip - forgot to swot up on that.

Didn’t see my Mum as she swanned off to Wanaka with Elizabeth Stucky this morning which is great.

Footnote: March 31- Arthur Dovey's rare Yak 3 Russian fighter plane landed on a grass runway at Wanaka Airport but clipped one of two cherry pickers parked between the grass and sealed runways

195. VC & Bar

Christchurch

Prompt start for our monthly Board Meeting at Advisory Works. Our Chair took the chance, while I am local, to have a group session where we could discuss blockages and opportunities. Very interesting and a totally different approach and discussion from normal board meetings. So much better meeting in person than online but not complaining as it is only due to the wonders of the internet that we can travel like we are.

Drinks then dinner in the Charles Upham Room at the Canterbury Club from five thirty with the Senior Leadership Team. Unfortunately, Kendall, our Chair wouldn't be meeting us until eight thirty as he had a army funeral to attend in Dunedin. I was ready early so headed in to do some work prior to the others arriving.

A pleasant evening ensued.

Not a bad spot to hide away.

194. Blown Out

Ashburton

Mother and I both left the farm at the same time as she had a University for Seniors* lecture and I had booked a BFR with Les in PAA at NZAS. As I arrived I was doubtful about the wind however Les though it was OK as long as it stayed below twenty knots. We settled down to the paperwork and to my chagrin I discovered

1. My medical had expired
2. My licence had expired

Great view, more wind coming

Les was very good about it and I immediately made an appointment at my doctors for eight thirty am, Thursday. By this time the wind had built steadily which meant we couldn't have flown anyway. Les took me over and showed me through the replica WWII Control Tower that has just been completed by the museum. Les remembers both the original and the bulldozer that flattened it after the war. It is faithful to the original except for the compliant stairs which follow the original but are much more sturdy.

About this time we learnt Wanaka had closed due to wind and so a good stream of hardware was to arrive. Excellent, Les and I were in no hurry to leave.

Yak-18s in front of Uncle Richard's hanger

Harvards = wonderful
A club anybody can join, just have to pony up the cash

*Please correct me Mother

193. Old Friends

Ashburton

While staggering around prepping breakfast, my Mum's gardener appeared out in the garden. We were introduced and she turned out to be a local dairy farmer running a gardening business on the side.  A very interesting lady and I am sure my Mum didn't mind paying her rate while we amicably chatted.  

My Mum had mentioned that her hedge man was not available until May and that her Buxus hedges had enjoyed the wet, hot summer. The gardener suggested her newly sharpened hedge shears were in her truck so off I set. Yesterday I had thought of driving to S&I's to borrow their electric hedge trimmer but it wasn't worth the hour and a half round trip. I discovered that manual shears are a joy as neither hearing or eye protection is required and it is possible to chat while clipping. I was impressed that they were Fiskers. After many metres I was flagging and turning to my Mum I happened to hold the shears by the hinges and they were really hot (there is a lot of hedge). I found a can of WD40 in the garage and after that I was Edward Sissorhands with clippings flying in all directions and the shears clacking at many hertz.

After lunch Mummy and her boy went into Ashburton. I loaded my Grandfathers chair into her Evoke as new fabric had arrived from England for it. She was concerned that it wouldn't fit but I assured her that, with a decent run up, either her car would grow or the chair shrink. We decided we would get the replacement roses for the ones we all yanked out yesterday on the way home.

Met at Tinwald Upholstery by a super nice chap who enthused about both the chair and the fabric to cover it. Absolutely superb bedside manner and a joy to deal with. Turned out to be the son of family friend Keith Pickford so that explained it (nice family). He is to deliver the chair finished in two days! Unbelievable service.

Next we returned curtain samples to Redmonds. Chris Redmond boarded with Douglas and me at StAC and I found and disturbed him eating his lunch in a nearby café. It was good to catch up and learn what our local old boys were up to.

Heartland Bank was our next stop and Sally Tarbottom who's family had been firm friends of my parents and good friend of mine at Youth Group heard what she described as "your distinctive voice"* came out front to say hello. Another great chat as her dad Colin also had oesophageal cancer as did my Dad with the same final outcome. It was also the chance to commiserate the death of her lovely sister Dr. Jane Burrell a couple of years ago. 

I asked if we could visit Alisa Lovett who, with Ralph had been the first to welcome my parents to the district sixtyish years ago. They had been very good to us over the years and we children stayed with them many times. Great to hear all that their family are up to. When I first walked in I hardly recognised her but within five minutes couldn't see any change. She was very up to speed on all that we were up to and interested in our travels.

Next was Mother's friend Barbara who is moving after many years. Barbara is well read and travelled and we stayed far too long but the visit was too good to leave politely after twenty five minutes.

Needless to say we didn't get the new roses as it was seven thirty in the evening by the time we drove past on the way home.

*I can't imagine what she meant?

192. Factory Recall

Eiffelton

Some of the art is questionable

Antony and Brenton enthusing

Giant Spacies spoilt by
Douglas' poor game skills

Started the day o eight early in the square by the ruined cathedral. I parked in the burbs and Boris biked into the square to meet brother Douglas, Antony and Brenton, our super enthusiastic, knowledgeable rebuild friend. Coffee to start obviously (thank you Brenton) and then on to The East Frame a six hundred metre long inner city housing development. It is hard not to get swept along with Brenton's enthusiasm and it is refreshing to spend time with someone so positive about the future of the city. We walked through the city making our way generally south and I must say I am pretty impressed. Things are coming on well for the city and though there still are some quake wrecked buildings standing and some abandoned buildings it really does feel like the central city is starting to come alive again. We ended up at the arts centre and Eggs Benedict and coffees all round hit the spot. Antony Borris biked off to feed his parking meter and returned, chuffed with the experience.

Douglas and I Borris Biked back to my car, back to his family then we left for the farm in the Type R with Anna-Marie and the boys following.

Down at the farm, sister Stephanie and Ian were already there in their new Rodney which is very nice indeed. Their previous Rodney, bought from Jennifer, had done them sterling service thanks to Ian's ever developing Rodney service skills and this one I am sure will also do sterling service thanks to those same skills.

Mother put on a smashing spread for lunch which the eight of us happily demolished then following lunch it was time for the list which we had been warned was long. It turned out that Uncle Kelvin's Karcher drain clearing attachment did not Link's Karcher and while I was fossicking around in the tractor shed for the farm Karcher which incidentally did not fit the attachment either returned a failure, bedraggled in cobwebs and detritus, only to find that Ian had simply removed the down pipes and cleared blockages himself. Glad I was there to be of no help. The rest of the list was easily toppled, by Douglas mostly, and we happily demolished another fantastic corned beef meal in the evening. The family all left and it was lovely to be back home with my Mum.

191. Doing the Rounds

Christchurch

Mother had mentioned a list, when the family visited, that she would appreciate us looking at. One thing that she had mentioned was that her down pipes were blocked. Uncle Kelvin has a brilliant drain clearing attachment for a water blaster which is a hose with a brass end that blasts water backwards from its tip so that it pulls itself up a pipe blasting debris backwards as it goes. Ideal for blocked down pipes on gutters. Also a great excuse to visit the Aunt and Uncle as the last time I had seen them was when they stayed with us in Warden House in Holyport a couple of years ago.

As it happens, They have bought the large beautiful home in Fendalton that our friends Johannes and Jo lived in prior to developing the old Bridge Club that I mentioned yesterday. I think that it might be a Sir Miles Warren design as it is a classic nineteen eighties contemporary home. Lovely to see it furnished with their familiar possessions, paintings etc. It was great to catch up with them and everything the extended family is up to.

Next it was over to brother Douglas and Anna-Maries. I had been deputised to deliver hand made cards by the children, and written post cards. A responsibility and burden that I took seriously. AM was suitably impressed. She particularly liked Audrey's card with a portrait of Dexter the dog. The cards were of a high enough standard for the fridge door which was empty of competing artwork. I also remembered to collect the boat keys.

Up the hill to visit Antony and Georgina next. Their children Ben and Lucy are particular favourites of Fyfe and Audrey and we originally met the family at Playcenter. Only Antony was home so a cup of tea and a chat, no awkward silences ensued. That is to say, Antony (and Georgina) always have a fresh outlook and being so well read and informed have me running to keep up in conversation. Later, lovely Georgina blew in on her way through. So lovely to see them both and looking forward to spending a lot of time with them in the future.

Further up the hill again to say hi to Brenton and Martine and the boys. Another Playcenter family. It is my continuous quoting of Brenton that makes me so interesting* as he is a progressive thinker and a huge advocate of the change that is happening in Christchurch, post quake. They are a lot of fun and have such an easy manner that one would think their life blessed. Ethan, their elder son is another special friend of Fyfe's and his open enthusiasm, shared by his younger brother Isaac that Fyfe was returning at the end of the year was quite heart warming. We sat in their lounge, their new cat on my lap, and I felt that it was good to be back.

*this fact is not up for question or debate thank you very much

190. Butterfly

Christchurch

A day of running around catching up with people. Antony and Georgina (parents of Fyfe and Audrey's buddies Ben and Lucy) were my first visit. They had done their homework reading this blog which was gratifying. Georgina flitted through on a social wirl and it was great to catch up with Antony and see them both.

Johannes & Jo are rebuilding the old Crockfords Bridge Club on Latimer square and significantly enlarging it for their home and business. Last year Johannes showed me round and we used ladders and planks now they have been in since Christmas and it is reaching the final stages of development. It is inspirational and as a project a significant challenge. They have carried the vision and I am really impressed.

Audrey's hand made card

Fans from Seville where well received

I was keen to visit my Mother-in-Law Margaret as Pat died seven weeks ago and we did not attend the funeral. Margaret, as expected is still processing the massive change but is doing well and talking about visiting us on our travels, within the next few months which would be wonderful for us as she would be able to travel with us as the Disco is a seven seater. Margaret had collected my nieces from school so I was able to be the hero and give them presents to which I had had absolutely no input.

Mark and Megan were about to embark on a North Island tour in their electric car so the only option was to meet at their place at eight thirty. Lovely to see them but I was a complete disaster. Waves of sleep crashed over me and they insisted on bringing me home as, for some reason, they felt that I was unsafe to drive.

189. Board

Christchurch Golf Club

Early start out at the Christchurch Golf Club's beautiful new clubhouse, thanks to the quakes. It was a day of board only strategic planning.

Hopefully my new attire lent me the air of professionalism required for what was a well organised productive day.

Had a drink and catchup afterwards with board member Len our previous GM who brings a lot of perspective to what we are trying to achieve as a company. We are lucky to have him on board.

Following the meeting I shot round to in-laws Chris and Cathryn who were generous enough to share their Fish and Chips. They weren't impressed but I thought they (the F&C) were fantastic! C&C were pretty good also.

188. BBQ

Christchurch

Getting up is no problem, it is surviving in the evening past about seven thirty. This is a major change from Giantavan life where the struggle is to get to bed.

From eleven the board was invited to tour Link, met the staff and have a presentation by the engineering team on developments. It was great to meet old colleagues again and strange to be back in the building after two and a half years. Gave me huge pleasure to see the company going from strength to strength and what they are all achieving. The engineering team gave a presentation and I was glad there wasn't a pop quiz at the end as I may not have fared well. There was a lot to take in including engines running on dynos which was great fun.

This was followed by a BBQ in the workshop which gave the chance to catch up with individual developments, mostly children and fielding questions regarding our trip. Thanks to our CEO Andy for organising it all.

Following the Link event I went over to Jane (flatmate of Jacqueline's a hundred years ago) and Richards (work colleague) in time to help eat their dinner. Their lovely boys, Alex and David, now at university studying engineering, wonderfully similar to Richard and I really enjoyed catching up with them all.

187. Sharing and Caring

Christchurch

Love this mural of family friend Hugh in the city

Dirty Hippies like me need to up our act when dropping into the world of business and responsibility. H&M have opened in Christchurch listing ridiculous prices so I walked into town and bought a couple of shirts, jackets and trousers for under two hundred dollars.

For lunch, met Kate our independent director and, though impressed previously, came to recognise over a salad, that she is as formidable as I am light. It was really nice to get the chance to meet the person behind the screen as to date we had only met online. We are lucky to have her on our board (thank you Chair Kendall), inspired move.

Downloaded the App and used the shared bike

After lunch (in shorts and T-shirt) I returned into town and bought some Merrell shoes as I needed presentable ends. Have always admired Uncle Richard's Merrells so hopefully imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

Richard was flying back from the Maardi Cup  in CBS where Cousin Hillary is successfully coxing Rangi onto the podium so I went out to his hanger facility at West Melton to meet him and see WEN, now complete and together thank you to Richard's efforts with John Crawford. I put the battery on charge and will return next week to clean it up and run the engine.

Returned with Richard to his Fendolton home then had a very pleasant evening with him and cousin Jonathan at Dux Dine.

186. NZ1

Christchurch

Stepped off the plane in CHC to be met by my lovely sister, Stephanie and my Mum. No matter how old and tired I am, it is always lovely to be met like this - thank you.

Off to Terra Viva for coffee with brother Douglas which turned into lunch. All very pleasant. By the time Mother dropped me at work to collect the TypeR I was getting giddy and pleased to get to bed for a ten hour sleep.

185. The Day that Never Was

Dunno where

Flying against the rotation of the world today, Sunday never happened.  It also didn't happen for one boy who had his birthday today.

184. Villager

Holyport UK

After the late last last night, Amelia aged one's wimper, at five in the morning was the sound of doom. I feigned sleep, on EnT's fold out sofa, as did the rest of the house until about six I gave up and got dressed. I could hear lego being constructed upstairs and it was not long before Holly joined me downstairs. Mustn't grumble (and didn't luckily) as it turned out Elizabeth had been up during the night with distressed children and I had slept right through it!

The lads still meet for tennis at Ed's at eight fifteen on Saturdays so it was a joy to join them again as, while living in the village, the Tuesday evening and Saturday morning tennis was at the high point of the week. Tim, Tony and I played in the snow, joined by Ed and Bryan. It was a fantastically mad English pursuit and a joy to be out with the lads. Eventually Ed got smacked by the ball in the eye which gave us the excuse to stop on compassionate grounds though the real reason was that we were all frozen.

Back at EnT's I lost my voice due to the combination of exhaustion, cold and tiredness. Eventually Ent did a drug run to the pharmacy and on her return Elizabeth bullied me into the shower after which I felt significantly better. EnT's gorgeous little terrace house was the first house I have been in for six months and at twelve feet wide felt incredibly spacious to me.

Elizabeth dropped me at terminal two where we enjoyed lunch giving us the chance to have a proper catch-up.

Would have loved to catch up with the Clarks, Pickerings, Harris', Dimoch's and others but no time. Maybe on my return.

Lucky LHR wasn't closed to long haul also.
Amelia, Theo and Holly outside the house.

183. The Longest Day

Holyport UK / Giantavan in Andalusia, Spain 

Bit conflicted. Is this blog a record of our caravan trip as implied by the name or my personal diary? I suggest a bit of both. I certainly acknowledge that I have not made any effort to account for the families individual experiences apart from when I am involved, as this trip is six unique but intertwined adventures. To date, I have not let the children read this blog as I don't want to colour their experiences with my perspective. I have also, deliberately, only made slight reference to the huge impact on me that handing over my role as European Sales Manager to my supremely capable colleague Mark Luney thereby ceasing to work for the company I love, co-founded and have worked within continuously, for the last twenty six years. This dynamic, growing company is now in the hands of a professional CEO who replaced both me and the GM when I left NZ thirty months ago and now I am one of four board members guided/coached by our very capable Chair, Kendall. Performing my role of board member occupies much of my thinking while travelling and requires a remarkable amount of preparation, VoIP discussions and virtual meetings. 

Today I am in Holyport with sister Elizabeth, Tony and family as I am en-route for NZ for our company AGM. Giantavan life continues for the three weeks that I am away as it has on the two occasions that Jacqueline was away, once to NZ for three weeks to  receive our junk (household effects) and once to the UK, for a week, with Audrey.

I have decided

1. I will keep the day counter running for the trip
2. I will post as a personal diary plus anything learned of Giantavan life in Spain

Back to the blog....

Met Brian at the car at four am, as arranged, and set off for Alicante airport, an hour and a half away. Driving the Disco I was reminded how one feels at the end of a day's tramp when you take your pack off and feel like you could jump over trees. The Disco was so smooth, quiet, powerful and responsive without Giantavan, boat on roof, roof bars and mounting timbers, family and luggage that it felt like a thoroughbred. The hundred and twenty kilometre per hour speed limit was faster than I could process after six months at eighty kilometres per hour so we settled at a comfortable hundred and ten for the long drive on beautiful, deserted, motorways. It was a great opportunity to yarn with Brian who is a deep thinker.

Arrived Heathrow and met by our wonderful friend Jennifer who is founding an incredible, exciting new business that is just taking off. I am in absolute admiration and awe of both her resolve and vision. We drove to Oakley Court Hotel for a coffee, a place I had passed many times while living in Holyport but never visited. Needless to say, one could get used to a place like that should one be of other means. Driving through our home village of Holyport, looking at the two homes we had lived in  I was surprised that I do not regret leaving but I certainly miss the many wonderful and generous friends that we made.

Had a great catch up then Jennifer dropped me at Elizabeths, and so exciting to see her again. Elizabeth and Tony are the reason that our whole UK experience was so wonderful. Walking to school with Elizabeth, pushing Amelia was a wonderful as was the chance to surprise Victoria in the group of mothers waiting for children by invading her personal space. Victoria was the first of Ent's friends to go out of their way to make us welcome in the village, when we originally arrived.

After dinner Tony and I headed to Paul's who was home alone for an evening of elaboration. Later in the evening we were joined by Tim and Ed which was great. I really enjoyed hearing the details of the Boy's Ski Trip to Sweden which I had also been invited. 

The twenty one hour day made it's impression on me.

182. On yer marks

ANDALUSIA - SPAIN

Boat off

A day of setting up, ready for my early departure, tomorrow morning. With my being away for almost three weeks I was keen to get as much sorted as possible for the family. This also brought to a head little bits of maintenance that I had not got to. I was keen to get finished in good time as the pool is heated geothermally to thirty degrees each day,  completely drained at night, large and inviting.

I managed to string out the setting up which also included getting Teasel and roof rack off the Disco in order to minimise any hassle for Jacqueline for the balance of the month as well as removing the roof bars and the beams I have fitted to carry Teasel as it is a three hour round trip to Alicante airport tomorrow for my six forty five am flight in the morning and we could do without the constant whistle and drag. Brian has generously offered to do the round trip in the Disco as I need to depart camp at four in the morning to make my flight and it would have been a real drag for J and the children. Top bloke Brian, that deserves a DB.

Ready to go

Iris and Jacqueline lead

Late in the afternoon the children arrived back excited as there was to be a camp disco tonight. After explaining that it was not possible for us to attend we realised that this was not an option so dinner became the priority and we, sans Fyfe, made it to the disco at nine thirty. It was great, singing DJ, benign crowd that made both Mary and Stuff and our family feel young. Iris and Audrey got a great welcome as they were wearing their Spanish dresses/skirts respectively and Roman looked very dapper in his flash shirt and hat though offended when his hair was ruffled. It was all good fun, the Dj got Jacqueline on stage to lead one of the dances then later, Iris, to her credit did a very respectable Spanish dance for the appreciative assembled masses. A really proud moment to be cherished. Brian and I made our excuses a bit after eleven as we had set our alarms for three thirty am.

As it happened, I did not get to the pool

181. Mary and Stuff

Andalusia - Spain

Camped last night above a large water storage lake in a hillside campsite that was a bit of a challenge with the Giantavan. As it was only an overnight stop we didn't bother getting parked square or setting everything up. Apparently, according to neighbour Ian the lake has been at twenty percent for the last couple of years so this wet winter has been welcome for the locals. We had been very impressed by the massive avocado orchards being developed in the region though Ian says that the change from olives to avocados is putting a real strain on water in the region.

Much of the land, both on hillside and flat, is a sea of tunnel houses which while unattractive must be a major earner for the region. Stopped at a large supermarket on the way and by chance there was a automotive shop which, by chance, had the same trailer light for €6 which was a relief as once it was dark we would have had a white light blazing at the rear of the Giantavan.

Now we are back in Spain travel times extend as we are only travelling at 66% of the speed that times are calculated, so today was a big drive. Unfortunately we arrived just after nightfall but got a tremendous welcome from Mary & Stuff (Brian and Sheena) who had dinner ready for us which was very generous. Neighbours helped us do the final manoeuvring of the Giantavan by hand which was appreciated.

Apparently the pool here is geothermal heated and thirty degrees so looking forward to that.

180. Ferries

Andalusia, Spain

Continued from yesterday, day 179.

Drove to the boarding queue and the children and Jacqueline went to bed in the Giantavan, I settled down to do yesterday's blog as the ferry was leaving in forty minutes. Not much progress was made as I soon fell asleep. Woke to a banging on the window and the queue was gone! Realised that it was four twenty five in the morning and there was no point in waking the children as they would be completely unresponsive and difficult at such an hour so would hold things up considerably. As I was about to go up the ramp an official asked for my passport and was surprised when I handed him six.  Looked into the car and said caravan? and laughed when I put two hands to one side of my head and said sleeping, he waved me on.

Roman & Mr Hop,
soon asleep.

Staggering onboard

Once parked we were able to assemble the children and stagger up into the ship. As the chip was not full and we were able to sleep on chairs though I am not sure if Fyfe did much, I certainly did as I was shattered from the days (yesterday's) adventures.

On arriving at Algeciras we drove the twenty minutes back to the Aire we had free camped at on our way south a month ago, breakfasted and went to bed to the sounds of Roman quietly crying that he wasn't tired. We woke about one in the afternoon, had lunch and headed round the Med., bound for Mary and Stuff as Brian & Sheena have invited us to join them near Murcia though a stop needed en-route as they are about eight hours away. 

Algeciras Aire,
end spot again which is the only
place we fit at fifteen metres.

In the end we plumbed for Malaga area as it is about three hours dive and all we (I) could cope with after yesterday's adventures. We will meet up with Mary and Stuff tomorrow which will be great.

I depart on Friday for NZ for the company AGM so it will be nice for everyone to have another family there.

179. Hitch hikers

Tanger-Med, Morocco 

Back to the injured party at 0800, as agreed, only to find them hale and hearty with no damage but a torn bike cover. Insurance not involved and they were happy with fifty pounds - phew

Realised during the night that I hadn't tried unplugging the microwave. Discovered the drain had come of the kitchen sink and flooded behind the kitchen units and filling up the microwave socket. An easy fix indeed and an apology to Jac for not acting when she suggested that the sink was leaking.. While I was at it I finally installed the pressure switch so that the internal tank pump doesn't over pressurise the system.

Children reunited with Squeaky the cat and the same conversations prevailed as to whether we could keep her.

A little out of focus,
wasn't prepared to get any closer
for fear of running him over.

In one of his leaps for the ladder,
the boy broke the tail light.
At least he wasn't hurt

By the time I had done all that it was again midday and we were off for Tanger-Med though for some reason went via Tangier which was great but did add to the trip. As we got within twenty minutes of Tanger-Med things got exciting. On exiting the motorway we needed to pay tolls which means coming to a stop at the automatic pay booth. I noticed a ten year old boy loitering and couldn't see him as I started. Passing cars started tooting and pointing so I knew we had a stow-away. A hundred meters on there was a lay-by so I pulled over to evict. As I ran to the back the boy ran away however when I went to run back to the car he ran back to the caravan. A refrigerated articulated truck slowed in the right hand land shouting and waving "move move" and I glanced back at the kiosk and I could see half a dozen older boys and men running toward the Giantavan so I ran to the Disco, slammed it into gear (something I never do (apologies to Robbie who built the engine)) and sped onto the motorway, with wide eyed children within the Disco. On catching the truck, now doing about seventy kilometres per hour we could see the little boy standing on the bumper bar, holding on to the lock bar of the rear door and the corner of the unit - very precarious. We caught up the driver who rolled his eyes and slowed to about thirty I guess and headed for the next service. It is a rotten world that children, or anybody, has to take desperate risks like this. Made for quite a conversation in the Disco.

Arrived about five thirty and found our new friends that we hit at the campsite the night before still waiting, having arrived ten thirty this morning. The ferries run a crazy system. The two boats during the day had refused all campers but the eight pm sailing was to be all campers. Brilliant luck, a short wait for us. I got to the kiosk in good time and immediately had about twenty people join behind me. Processing was unbelievably slow considering they had everyones tickets and were doing boarding passes. When I got to the window I was told that the boat was full so no more campers! The next ferry was not to two am. Without any choice I plumbed for that however the answer was that I needed to reapply two hours before sailing at midnight. The upshot being that one could miss out indefinitely.

Walkie-talkie receipt

At ten, neighbours who I had chatted to said the ticket booth was open. A short while later we were, finishing dinner, tidying up, tickets in hand knowing that getting through customs etc. can take a long time and we still had to collect our confiscated walkie talkies.

Looking back down the line.
X-ray truck on right

We soon ran into the queue for the mega x-ray that blasts car and trailer looking for stow-aways. After about half an hour queuing about six vehicles parked on a raised ramp and a huge Mercedes electric truck crawled along the side with a huge boom right over the vehicles to below the ramp on the far side. It must be an powerful device to penetrate steel trucks and probably not very healthy for stow-aways but needs-must, I guess.

After a couple of misdirections I found the pound, next to a huge open car port where traders heading for Africa were having to empty their grossly overloaded cars, vans and trucks for inspection. I had some trouble to get anyones attention but was eventually lead to a decrepit shed piled to the gunnels with confiscated junk. The man took my receipt and wandered around, occasionally poking around in a box. We came to a refrigerator and he opened the door and it was full of radios, mostly hard wired CB radios from trucks I guess and he poked around in that. He then talked to another man who left and the first told me to wait.  All the while more junk was arriving, wheeled by a youth with a ancient shopping trolly. He had three loads of hundreds of second hand restaurant trays with work flowered patterns. The were hundreds of them which he haphazardly stacked on top of sacks of something like plaster. You could barely walk around. I wandered out to see if anything was happening and found the official who had gone off to "check the document" sitting with three others drinking tea. I realised that I was never going to see the four £120 radios again so headed for the car.

Midnight so end of today's post. To be continued......... 

178. Bugger

Moulay Bousselham

Love that you can see the
Slawinski's reflection
waving goodbye

Niki, Jenny and family gave us a great send off, promising to catch us up in Spain and we really hope that they do.

It was an easy trip north, through unbelievably green countryside. The change in three weeks is amazing due to frequent showers and warm weather. Was describing it to sister Elizabeth and she couldn't believe it as it is so different to summer Morocco.

Green,

green, 

green. 

We arrived at the campsite, in the rain and dark and so I headed for our previous spot but there were camper vans there and a large puddle. As I swung out Audrey's bike on our bike rack hooked on their bike rack and the first we knew was when an enraged shouting couple emerged from the camper confronted us / me.  I was apologetic and a sea of calm even when he started describing the hiding he was going to give me. For some reason I remained calm, acknowledging their anger and apologising. They were virtually in hysterics describing the damage done but all I could see was a little tear in their bike cover. Audreys bike however is pretty trashed and was hanging off the back of the Giantavan. Cutting to the end, I excused myself as I needed to park, returned for more of the same, pacified them as much as I could then returned, as promised, ten minutes later with insurance details. I think their friend must have counselled them as they invited me in, offered a cup of tea and apologised for their behaviour. I again apologies for spoiling their holiday and we agreed to met in daylight, eight am tomorrow morning.