Murchison!

4zzz’s at Murchison NZMCA park. Lucky we got here early, full to capacity.Honey taking in the sounds and smells of Murchison.Time for a walk please Mum.A relic Austin truck at the Rust and Dust antique store. The chrome still looks immaculate.Elizabeth being a bikey mole in Murchison.Mariua Falls, just out of Murchison were created by the massive Murchison earthquake back in the 1929.

Piggy in the middle!

Yes that's us, with our fellow travellers, John and Elizabeth, (ex narrow boat Helen Louise) and fellow Heretaunga Club members Sandra and Don.

We had been told of this lovely pop just out of Brightwater and decided it was such a lovely place we would stay for a couple of days. Brilliant sunshine that we were looking for shade to enjoy 4zzz’s.

A well kept secret I think and a good nightly rate with plentiful water supply also.

NZMCA National Rally 2017

NZMCA AGM Rally Richmond Racecourse.

Approximately 600 motorhomes and caravans on site.

Three area’s were used for parking but there was still plenty of room for more.

The sun shone for the whole 4 days although evening temperatures were dropping.

The stage where all the entertainment took place. The little green awning in the foreground was the sound and lighting technicians little office.

The grand Opening Ceremony.

No, this is not the Heretaunga Caravan club in full muster. All the organisers from Nelson,Tasman Bay and West Coast wore their uniforms so that they could be easily identified.

Ngakuta Bay

What a glorious start to our South Island tour. Our travelling companions had been invited out by friend’s to their bach in Ngakuta Bay in the Queen Charlotte Sounds. We were invited to join them and what a pleasure it was to enjoy this much talked about scenic reserve.

After lunch it was down to the beach for a stroll and in my case a paddle in the pristine clear water. A walk to the end of the jetty where we were able to watch the fish and a couple of very large Stingray swimming very close to the beach.

Looking over the bay’s moorings and tidal mud flats.Swimmers and canoeist's enjoying the calm water in the bay and crystal clear water.

Straitsman Bluebridge Ferry

Awaiting loading instructions.

That’s us at the right rear of the ship right up against the handrail. Thank goodness for a calm sailing. Would hate it to go overboard.Cook Strait was as calm as a mill pond.Arriving at Picton .

Glorious sunshine but rather hotter than we have been used to lately. Poor Honey was suffering from heat exhaustion after being in the hot van for 3 hours but now is good as gold and settled into our friends home in Blenheim until we all leave tomorrow.

New Acquisition

On Saturday morning at 8am we were to pick up our new (to us) motorhome  pack it up ready to leave at 10am next morning for the drive down to Wellington to catch the Bluebridge Ferry to the South Island.

We think we have everything and will sort it out later, we will probably change the places for things several times before we are happy anyway.

Honey will be travelling with us in her new home away from home now this will be interesting.

River City Express Steam Train.

Sunday 16th October once again saw us heading down to the railway station to catch another Steam Incorporated’s steam excursion. This time to the River City of Whanganui. It was to be a full on day with a bus and boat trip thrown in.

Just coasting along..

Once again God smiled on us with another fine Spring day. All along the way cattle and sheep ran for their lives. Used to seeing diesel hauled goods trains they probably have never seen a  steaming and smoke breathing monster like this before.

Imagine this at full speed on the main trunk line.

Upon arrival at the Whanganui goods yard we were greeted by 2 steam traction engines in steam and a fairground organ merrily playing away.

This is what met us as we arrived in the Wanganui goods yard.Beautifully restored fairground organ.

Steam Incorporated had laid on various forms of transport for the day’s entertainment. Buses to take passengers into town for shopping etc; a 1936 Bedford 12 seater bus to take others on a tiki tour culminating in a visit to a private collection of vintage cars before cruising up the Whanganui River as a climax.

This 1936 Bedford 12 seater bus took us for a sight seeing tour.

The final stage was a trip up the river on the vintage tunnel boat “Wairua”. This boat was built in London by Yarrow & Co for Mr Hatrick and shipped to New Zealand in kitset form and assembled on the Whanganui river where it has spent it’s whole life.

MV Wairua. 1904 Tunnel boat an early version of the modern jet boat.

Prior to the coming of the railways river transport was a major form of transport in New Zealand. When the river trade dropped off the boat was moored up until it sank at it’s moorings. It was many years later that an enterprising group re floated and restored the vessel to it’s present condition. A tunnel boat was an early version the modern jet boat capable of negotiating shallow waterways.

Wanganui's best kept secret. A private car collection with an "AA" theme & feature.

The bus trip in the vintage bus was a surprise in that we were taken to a private collection (museum) of vintage cars. Among the collection was a Standard 8 which was the first car I ever owned. The rest of the collection was spectacular with the age and condition of the vehicles on display.

Standard 8 fully restored.International truck.1928 Chevrolet.1927 Standard 18HP 6 cylinder.Maxwell in what I was told was original condition.Waimarie alongside the Dublin St bridge over the Whanganui River.

Originally we were to travel upriver on the Waimarie Paddle Steamer which unfortunately was in Dry Dock for her 10 year survey and paint.

Ja1271 and the Wanganui Express crossing the Whanganui river.

Once everybody had returned to the train we were off, back to Paekakariki, Steam Incorporated’s base. A light evening meal of bangers and mash had been arranged to be prepared and served on board the train once we had reached Marton.

Not often do we get a photo together, courtesy of our travelling companions Robin and Jenny.

Our arrival at Palmerston North became the anti climax of the whole day when Kiwi Rail were unable to provide a Steam licensed crew to take us home. The solution was 2 DX diesel locos to be hitched in front of the loco at the front of the train.

There was nothing wrong with Ja1271 but it still needed to be manned and driven by the Steam Incorporated crew to keep everything lubricated as if it was working normally.

Once again Steam Incorporated organised a truly memorable day for which they should be congratulated.