A repost from days gone by .. enjoy
Check out this amazing video of English caravanning from 1966
Lovely varnished boat and how is the chap towing a houseboat with a “amphicar”
Yearly Archives: 2020
Mark & Tina’s Travelhome
A repost from days gone by .. enjoy
Mark came back from a Turners Auction about 8 or so months ago and surprised us all when he arrived with a 1995 CI Travelhome on a Ford Trader chassis.
Mark & Tina are old boating mates and knowing that he has his hands full with a car restoration, a bike restoration and still has his boat to look after as well, I wondered where he would get the time from to work on what was a do up !
Click on the images to see Hi Res
The galley area
The sleeping accommodation. Completely relined and insulated as it leaked and was rotten.
Mark & Tina with their new Motorhome
Above the Califont the vent was leaking. Vent no longer leaks.
The Galley area
Wee fridge.. a little beauty
The view
The Bathroom and Toilet
Driving area
My first observation when I first saw it was rot, dampness and a whole lot of work but what a transformation when I saw it just recently.
All the leaks are fixed, the rot has been removed, leaky hatches have been replaced and all the sleeping accommodation has been completely relined. It looks fantastic.
The weekend we spent with Mark & Tina at Rays Rest was great and for their very first trip away, everything worked well.
Mechanically, it just plods away with the 3.5 l normally aspirated Ford Diesel and Mark tells me it flew through its first COF.
Its looking really nice. Well done both of you.
Futuristic Motorhome – Futuria
A repost from days gone by .. enjoy
The Future of motorhomes, the Futuria.
With a car and a spa pool.
From Boomarc.com.au
The Covid Lockdown
We’re now into our fourth week of lockdown and I think its safe to say, cabin fever is starting to set in.
Just before lockdown started.. Fiona bought a table and chairs for her garden which is pretty much finished apart from some paving. That’s the one you see at the top of this page.
Click on an Image for Hi Res
The images below are a look back over the last few months..
Here’s the whole Gardening process for those who want to see it all.
I’ve been busy putting together some books and also doing a whole years accounts for the accountant… big job but keeping the boredom away 🙂
Given that we cant get away, its a bit frustrating not being able to do any new piccies… I’ve been going back through some of our really early posts, think 2016 odd when many of you weren’t aware we existed and over the next few weeks, I’ll repost some oldies!
Enjoy and stay safe!!
Grant and Jo’s Airstream Bar
And it is shiny and at 10 metres, very big.
Click on an Image for Hi Res
Grant and Jo went over to the US with the idea that they wanted to buy an Airstream Caravan.
They met a chap there who had two of them. So after agreeing to buy both of them, the guy says “Hang on a minute, I’ve got this too around here”, and showed them the then rather dilapidated 1972 Airstream Bar. Grant tells me it was “not a lot” so he bought that too and shipped all three back!
Once they all landed back in NZ, the 2nd Caravan was sold so they could do up the Bar and a year later and lots of hard work, its looking pretty good. With a huge fridge, new lighting and a great sound system, its a fun way to spend a night.
We spent a really good night here after the Zion Motorhomes function at Ellerslie and it was a real hoot.
Zion Owners Group Rally
This year it became part of the Covi Rally and Show as it has grown so much with Zion’s new brands. The more the merrier and more to talk about 🙂
I arrived at Ellerslie Racecourse around the middle of the day on the Friday and within minutes met Gary and his wife Alison who have a Dethleffs Esprit which is very similar to Rafe in layout, length and size and only a little younger. As it turns out I used to work with Gary’s Dad who was an editor at the Auckland Star when I was an 11 year old on work experience when I was at School. Small world and we had lots to talk about.
Click on an Image for Hi Res
When we first arrived there was a bit of confusion as to where to park so after a big Frankia moved from the inside of the Steeplechase jump, I moved in to the hole and Gary parked beside me. We had just finished parking when we bumped into several other people we knew too.
I was supposed to go to the show that afternoon but it all got a bit too social so I stayed put but it was a great afternoon. When the volunteer stand workers returned home, there was a gigantic happy hour squeezed in between Rafe and Gary’s Esprit.
Lots of fun and we met a lot of new people.
The owners of Zion Jonas and Irene, joined in too and it was a fun night.
The next morning was showtime. I caught the bus to the show and returned early in the afternoon. I was really looking forward to the Zion meal which was being hosted that night by Jonas and Irene out at Melba Restaurant in Manukau. We were picked up in Buses and after a great night, dropped off back to our Motorhomes.
Gary, Alison and I joined their friends Grant and Jo in their Airstream Bar which was parked near us for a few drinks afterwards for what was a really funny night. 😂
Lots of fun with some nice people. Thanks to Jonas, Irene for a great night at Melba.
Covi Rally 2020 at Ellerslie Racecourse
This never disappoints and although this year possibly wasn’t as big as previous years, there would have been at least 400 odd Motorhomes and Caravans.
Click on an Image for Hi Res
The volunteers did an excellent job parking everyone and there was a Bar open for a couple of the nights if you felt the need for some cold lubricant 🙂
There was also a special area for the Dethleff, Frankia, Morelo and Neismann and Bichoff Motorhomes.. more on this later.
The buses called around regularly to ferry people to the show at the showgrounds, the weather was fine, it couldn’t have been better.
Thanks again to the Volunteers who make it all happen.
The 2020 Covi Motorhome Show – lots of Images
The numbers were definitely down with the Coronavirus hanging over us all but despite that, several vendors I spoke to did well.
Click on any Image for HI Res
I guess with more room to move, many had time to have a good nosey and spend more time doing what they came for.
I went early on the Saturday morning and my first stop was say hello to the happy crew at the NZMCA stand then from there onto the Zion Motorhomes stand where the new Morelo Palace was on display.
At 9 metres long and 7.5 tons, this is a serious Motorhome. Check out the piccies below.
Click on the Gallery below for bigger images
Palace Kitchen area
Palace Living area
Palace living space
Palace Helm
Bedroom in the Palace
Palace Shower
Palace Bathroom
Palace Garage
Palace Electricals
Zion also have a new Dethleffs XLI Alpa which has a rear lounge with really clever drop down beds above the drivers area which doesn’t feel like a drop down system.
Just in the next hall was ACM Motorhomes who have a repair facility and manufacture their own Motorhomes too, but have made some really nice bespoke designs for those with special interests or needs.
Click on the Gallery below for bigger images
Frankia
Looking through the Niessman Bichoff area
Dethleffs Alpa drop down sleeping area
Dethleffs Alpa Kitchen
Dethleffs Alpa Rear Lounge
Dethleffs Alpa Exterior
RV Super Centre
Oz tents
ACM Motorhomes
ACM rear with wheelchair lift
ACM Motohome for wheelchairs
ACM Motohome for wheelchairs. Looking out the back
ACM Motohome for wheelchairs. Looking forward
Apollo
One of the Motorhomes they had on display was one that I saw being put together for a handicapped customer and its beautiful. Complete with a wheelchair lift at the back which comes up to a rear bathroom. Very nice and nice to see what I saw in bits all finished and looking so good.
Moving on from here I was amazed to see some of the refinements made to the smaller Caravans.
In order .. the Chameleon Crusader, a little bigger was the Manta Ray by New Age, then there was the Rockwood with slide outs and a bunk room which was interesting.
The 5m long Bailey Discovery is interesting too.. Perfect for two people and can be towed with a small vehicle.
Jayco have got an interesting small Caravan which is called the Crosstrak Hybrid. Again well suited for two and an easy tow for a smaller SUV, it is just under 5 metres.
An interesting show which I finished by checking out the Lilliputs and watching an auction of a Benimar. I suspect someone got a bit of a bargain at 136k 🙂
Click on the Gallery for bigger images and a slideshow
Chameleon Exterior
Chameleon
Chameleon inisde
Chameleon Inside
Chameleon Inside
Chameleon Exterior
The Rockwood Stand
Inside a Rockwood
Rockwood – Bathroom
Rockwood the bunkroom
Inside the Rockwood.. huge !
Inside the Rockwood.. huge !
Outside of the Rockwood
Kea Motorhomes
The Manta Ray outside
The Manta Ray bedroom
The Manta Ray living area
The Manta Ray Living area
The Manta Ray Outside
The wee Bailey
The Bailey
Neat table
Bailey Kitchen
Time for a feed
Lilliputs
Lilliputs
Lilliputs Magic
Burstner
Ci Stand
The Jayco Crosstrak
The Jayco Crosstrak Inside
The Jayco Crosstrak Inside
The Jayco Crosstrak
Jayco stand
A bed anyone?
Looks good
Owners of the RV Travel and Lifestyle Magazine, Robyn and Bruce on their stand.
Yum
Central RV stand
The Auction
I stayed at Ellerslie Racecourse as part of the Rally there which was free this year and was well served by some free buses to the Showgrounds. A great show!
A night out at Rakino on the Whaler
The forecast was fantastic, no sign of any rain or wind so we were heading off from Milford to go to Rakino Island about 9k’s away. For those overseas readers, it is one of the furthest Islands out from Auckland behind Rangitoto and Motutapu Islands.
Click on any Image for Hi Res (Cell phone images)
Rorqual was all ready to go and we were off. A quick call to the Bridge operators by son Andrew to open the bridge and we were on our way.
Andrew driving Rorqual out of Milford Marina.
Turn the volume up to hear that 400hp Turbo charged Detroit!
We had just got out a bit beyond Castor Bay when friend Greg Fenwick rang Andrew from his house up on the cliff watching us go by. He could hear distinctive roar from the Detroit as we went past from several k’s away 🙂 he sent us the video below! Thanks Greg
After that, we stopped off Rangitoto when we saw a whole heap of fish on the depth sounder complete with measurements and a smile on their faces 🙂 Given the lack of success there in catching anything, I’m sure they were poking their tongues out at us 🙂 I did get one really good bite but he got away!
We stopped again to try later off Rakino but same luck so we went on into Woody Bay into 3metres of water and had lunch and a glass of wine. Absolutely perfect day.
Andrew saw some mates in at the beach in a fizz boat so he swam in to say hello.
Half an hour later after he’d just returned, my other son Alex came into the bay with a friend of his Sam on their identical Jet Skis. They had come around from Half Moon Bay which is by Pakuranga, probably about 10k’s or so.
They were out for a fish but hadn’t had much luck, just like us… until we sat in 2-3 metres of water in the bay. We were just sitting there, having a drink and the rod just kept bringing them in. Andrew was filleting them and put them on a plate with soy sauce and wasabi. Fantastic. About 3 reasonable sized fish popped onto the plate during the afternoon 🙂 Yum!
Later in the day, the time came for the boys to go with their Jetskis and try for a fish round the Rangitoto Channel.
Andrew put the BBQ on and we settled down to listen to some good music. The Stereo is a monster with 3 amplifiers with a Subwoofer powered by a Solar backed 450 odd AH bank of House batteries so no danger of running out of anything!
While we listening to the music, the bait runner ran again and this time, in came breakfast! Yippee!
After a nice bread crumbed pan fried Snapper and a cup of coffee, we tidied up the boat and got ready to head back to Milford Marina. A nice weekend and nice to see Alex and Sam come in too.
Jo’s Healthcare Motorhome
While I was having a look around the Piha Motorcamp, I walked past Jo outside her Civilian Bus giving another camper a Massage. Kids from other caravans were there taking photos with their cellphones. It was all very casual with lots of laughter !
Click on an Image for Hi Res
Having a chat later with Jo, its quite a normal part of her day along with making up her Rongoa Maori Healthcare medicines.
Two years ago Jo took delivery of her 6m, 1992 Nissan Civilian and adapted it so she could make her Natural Herbal medicines. She has been living in it and commutes into town two days a week to teach others about Maori Healthcare.
The day I took the photos, she was showing me the biggest Mushroom I’ve ever seen.
She also has a great collection of walking sticks which she has gathered up with hre long walks looking for the native plant ingredients for her Medicines.
Click on the Gallery below for a Slideshow
Some of the Medicines
Where it all happens
The Nissan
Side on
Jo cooking up a storm
Jo with the Mushroom
The Mushroom
A really nice lady and she is really enjoying her lifestyle with the bus.
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