Around the Bend

The next morning the jandal was stuffed full again and we set of along the windiest road I've ever seen. My clutch, gearbox and brakes really got a workout!

We travelled from Tauranga, past Te Puke and on to Whakatane. Then up into the hills and along the coast. The road was really beautiful and the many roadside viewing points were all well worth the stop and look.

I got to have a bit of a break at Te Kaha while the boys had lunch and then the relentless twists and turns started up again and on we went.

I have to admit that after a while I had sort of lost track of what was up and down, left or right and if it weren't for the obvious influence of gravity (the fact that I had to change down to get up the hills) I'm sure I'd have just quietly gone loopy!

Eventually (At Last) we reached Brian's Place in Tokamaru Bay. If you've ever travelled for any length of time in a boat, like I did on the way here from Korea, you know that it takes quite a while for all the fluids to stop sloshing around and for you to feel like your tyres have stopped moving. I took a few hours before I could really appreciate my parking spot on the side of the hill looking out at Tokamaru bay as the sun slowly set behind us.

The boys were in their element. A magnificent view, very friendly hosts (Hi Liz) and total peace and quiet. I'm a very sociable sort but I did really enjoy the chance to sit still in the warm sunshine over the next three days while the boys wandered around the small deserted town taking photographs and even walking along the coats all the way to the now derelict freezing works at the end of the bay.

Tauranga Here I Come.

I woke up rather abruptly and the first thing I saw was a truly massive pile of luggage stacked ready to be packed into my jandal (The boys have decided that the luggage storage area in my rear isn't big enough to be classed a boot, it doesn't really even qualify as a small shoe, so a jandal it is!)

I must admit to wondering whether or not I should sit still and allow him to take such massive liberties with my nether regions, but once my rear seats had been folded flat, even I was impressed how easily all the bags, stretchers, chairs, tables, cooler boxes gas stoves, duvets and sundry other boxes and bags quickly disappeared neatly my trunk.

A short while later with my tank full of petrol we were off. The first bit of the road was familiar past Bombay and down the long steep hill on to Highway 2 but soon we passed the Miranda turn off and it was discovery all the way.

I was poised, calm and confident a true trooper.

The only red face moment was when, just outside Waihi the Boys tried to play a CD. The lights flashed the numbers moved but the music didn't play. Oh well, they would just have to resort to having conversations, it would do them good!

Before very long, and with more than half a tank of fuel still sloshing around inside me we got to Tauranga.

The navigation seemed to get them a bit confused, but I've found it better to just wait patiently for them to calm down and look at the map, rather than to give suggestions.

We arrived at the YHA Hostel in Tauranga and I was unloaded and allowed a spot in the shade to sit and relax while they headed into town for a glass of something called 'whine'

I'm not quite sure what this whine is but it comes in heavy glass bottles and by the time we finally got home I was carrying as much of it as a regular sized delivery truck!

The next day I got to sleep in before they got me up and we trundled down to Mount Maunganui where they Boys did more shopping and some 'Talent spotting' (I'm not sure what this is but it does seem to keep them amused for hours)

After a very amusing session of Porsche Cayennes and Mercedes Kompressors chipping their mags on the curbs and equally enthralling opportunities to see huge diesel powered Tractors being inexpertly driven by tiny blond females, I was once again stirred into action and we headed south for Te Puke the former home of that excellent car museum.

I got my picture taken with the big fruit.... the Kiwi of course!

After they wandered around the shop I was then headed back into Tauranga to Mill Reef whinery.

This was where all the buying began..

Oh well if it makes them happy!


Zoot

On with the Show !

We started with short trips for the first day or so and then escape from Auckland! We got onto the Southern Motorway and tootled over the Bombay hills, took State Highway 2 and before we knew it we were at Miranda hot Springs.

The boys disappeared for a while with their towels and I got to talk to all sorts of interesting cars in the parking lot. There was even another KIA! Very exciting.

When they finally reappeared I was really glad I had air conditioning because it was incredibly hot.

I was driven home along the coast past all the wild life living on the coastal flats, very pretty, it was!

The boys declared themselves pleased with me and gave me a shampoo as a reward.

I sat snugly in my garage that evening dreaming of road trips to come not knowing that a short way away a two week road trip was having the final arrangements made to it.

At Last, People of my own!

Greetings all you cars, bikes, boats and busses. My name is 'Zoot' and until just before New Year I used to live at Winger Kia in Greenlane.

Life there wasn't too bad. Every now and then nice people would walk around me and say things about how cute and shiny I was. Every now and then someone would open up my doors and climb in and out of me, talking all the time about how much legroom I have, and how my seats are so comfortable and supportive.

Just before Christmas I was happily watching the passing traffic when a nice man and a couple of rather hot and tired children came wandering past. I listened in to their conversation, not because I'm nosy, but, well, there wasn't really much else to do.

"How long will dad take?"

"I don't know, it depends on when the tow truck arrives to collect the car and then bring it to the workshop."

"Bugger!," I thought. Some poor car has broken down, in the middle of the day, in broad daylight and just before Christmas, Oh dear the poor thing! It won't be very popular.

The conversation moved on to things like, "I'm bored!" "Can I have a coldrink?" and other less fascinating topics and my attention wavered. But not before I heard the man say to the children, "Aren't those cars cute? I like to have a whole lot of them, a different colour one for evey day of the week..." I dozed off.

A few days later you can imagine my suprise when the same man, but without the children this time, was shown into the showroom and introduced to 'Basil the boss' They came outside, went through the climbing in and out routine and then took 'silver the demo' out for a drive. A few minutes later they were back and to cut a rather long story short bought me and took me home!

I was delighted, finally some people of my own! Their names, I worked out later, were Peter and Greg.

Peter did the driving and seemed to be quite good at it. Greg talked very excitedly all the way back to my new garage. He opened and closed things, switched all the different bits off and on and generally put me through my paces.

I driven around a bit and shown off very proudly. The two of them seemed pleased as punch with me and I must admit that I took an immediate liking to them too.

I didn't realise what was in store for me over our first few weeks together. It was a quite a trip really and so I'll tell you all about it in installments.

See you soon

Zoot