Around 7 am. someone in my house was worried we might be late for the
9am. departure from the Service Station just off the Southern Motorway
at Drury, so we departed at around 7:40.
There had been quite a wild rain and wind episode the night before and
it was still very windy as we made our way over the North Western
Motorway stretch of water going to Pt Chevalier where you turn off to go
across the suburbs to join the Southern Motorway near Manukau. On the
Motorway again we proceeded to the meeting place, on the way we passed
where a very large tree had fallen on a car near the Service Station the
night before injuring three people.
Gradually
members started to arrive, we ended up with quite a few more that we
had been getting recently. They were as I remember: Stephen, Harvey and
partner, Wayne, John, Brian and Beverly, Kelvin and Margaret and
ourselves Bud and Thelma. I apologize if I missed anyone. Bud was given
a bright red cap with Bud on it from Wayne.
We waited for some time for Ant and Karen to turn up, eventually someone
rang them and Ant was not feeling well so they decided not to come. So
off we went down the Motorway to the Thames turnoff, and then proceeded
past lots of wind blown countryside, containing small villages to
Waitakaruru where we looked in the second hand shop for bygone treasures
while we waited for the arrival of any members from areas south,
eventually on time came Andrew, his daughter Sue and her husband Neil in
two club cars.
Then along comes Stephen, Wayne and another member ? (I have come
unstuck I have not written down the helpers that had been helping
to fix Stephen's exhaust system which had become adrift I gather).
There was a roadside conference on where we were going next as we had no
instructions then along comes Martin Healy who tells us we are going to
the tip at Thames.
On the way to Thames we proceed over the large new bridge which has two
red carved Maori warriors carrying I think spears they are at either
ends mounted on poles (impressive). Just past the bridge we come across
Jennie Comer and her male friend (I forgot his name sorry) in her car;
she is from Te Aroha. Proceeding into Thames following John we arrive
at the tip, this tip has a recycling procedure going called "Sea Gulls"
where usable items are recycled in a series of sheds, eg clothing,
shoes, suitcases and bags, automotive items, electrical goods, gas
bottles, furniture, toys, magazines, crockery and cutlery, bikes and
many more items it is worth a visit.
It was at this point we lost sight of Harvey and his friend no one knew
where they were. From there we made the 20 mile trip up the coast to
Terry and Joanne's seaside home at Te Mata for an invited lunch break,
it was further than I remembered.
Joanne
I think had been preparing food all morning; there were tarts, scones,
sausage rolls, etc along with tea and coffee. The members had a lovely
time inspecting Terrys cars, looking out to sea at the brown water
stirred up by the storm of last night it was still quite windy and
nattering between themselves.
Eventually it was time to go. On the way some people went to the Thames
Museum to see the model buildings carved and made in recycled Kauri,
they had been on a TV program last year Bud said they were fantastic he
was very impressed. A stop for petrol and we were underway the car
(1950 Prefect) went very well even though the wind was stronger and a
few fleeting showers.
This was one of the nicest trips we have had for a long while it is
difficult to do monthly runs that most people have not already been on.
Perhaps we should look at two monthly trips instead to a further away
destination perhaps to a member, a different town would be nice.
Thelma .
We arrived around 9am and were directed to a parking area where four of our club members eventually arrived not many but better than the usual turn out we have had in recent years, Jim in his bright red Fordson small truck, Thelma and Bud with 1950's dark blue Prefect, Ant and Karen in their black 1949 Anglia and Wayne in his light grey blue Pop, this looks like Ant's except a different colour and a much later model.
The weather though predicted as bad held out well slightly squally occasionally but otherwise very pleasant not too warm. There were all the overpriced food and coffee stands. Meguiars had a big stand selling their car cleaning products etc., few of the futuristic car dealers would have liked to sell some of the very sleek small to very large modern cars on display in the lawn area in front of the main grandstand.
