Sunday 22nd November

Hi All

In the words of Sir Ed "We knocked the bugger off!!". I have just got home to Rotorua after 8 hours on the road, so will keep the blog brief.. Will update more tomorrow..


We got five Capri's to the top, with Peter Bevans the only one that made it for the whole tour..

What a great experience for all those that took part, got to renew friendships and make a whole heap of new ones...



Got the lads to put our mark on the beach - looked easy from the top!

Yee Ha!!

Saturday 21st November

Hi All

The day dawned bright and breezy and we headed up the Kauri Coast. One shortcut suggested by a local saw several miles of dusty roads, Peter and Paul (no Mary) were very unhappy boys..
Got some great video shots without the usual bugs marks on the windscreen..


Arrived at Tane Mahuta and Peter had his usual 28km between food stop sorted with a toasted sandwich, more expensive to run than the GXL!! (He does not do unleaded!!)


Then a rolling trip along through the bush to a photo shoot overlooking Hokianga Harbour.

William decided to back the Capri without guidance and we now have a huge dent in the back of the car (similar in size to Lindsay's) or at least that's what his dads reaction was!


A short stop to pat Opo the dolphin at Opononi and the to Rawene to catch the ferry. The Captain was not happy when asked if it was owned by the Tongan government as we would not risk the Capris if so..


Then up the scenic north west coast (need to do it if you have not got it off your bucket list), through Kaitaia and a welcome wash for the cars before heading to the 90 mile beach motor camp..


The northland crew have been great, one even owns a Consul Capri..
We will be in for an early night tonight, as up and on the beach for a photoshoot at 7!!
So for the final trek north are:
Peter Bevans
Lindsay & Paul Lyons
Russell & Marilyn Sowry
Debbie & friends..
William & I

On to the Cape!!

Friday 20th November

Hi All

Well we stayed at Kaihu motor camp last night and were lucky to have electricity, so an internet connection would have been easier from the moon...

We farewelled a few tour mates today, Ken Purcell heading back to Palmerston North (and getting a small shunt from behind on his way for his troubles), Jeff Carline returning to his home in Orewa and the gnome tied up in business meetings, leaving the following to head north:
Peter Bevans
Lindsay & Paul Lyons
Russell & Marilyn Sowry
Colin Worthington
William and I

You can see what happens when you leave Gnome and Lindsay to top up the oil..


Little did the Gnome know that we left him a little farewell present - A Parmolive Dish Washing interior - steering wheel, gear knob, handbrake, indicators, switches etc, lucky we left the brake, clutch and accelerator pedals alone!!

We then picked up some of the Northland members and headed across to Maungaturoto for lunch and to farewell Colin who was visiting his daughter and first grandchild, born last week..


Then off to the Kauri Museum for a photo shoot and then through Dargaville to our camp at Kaihu.


The President got the opportunity to acquaint himself with some of the local members, and got a ride with Kate Southcombe in her Calypso Capri.



A really delightful spot where the flying fox and our airbed was used as a raft down the rapids..


Then off to the local pub for a great feed and a spell of Top Gear in our cabin before hitting the sack..

Thursday 19th November

Hi All

We all had a late night at Mike John's BBQ last night, hence the delay in posting the blog..

The day started with a sendoff by a group of bowling ladies waving tea towels to fare well us at the Lyons..

We stopped off for morning tea to Rae in Cambridge who is already looking for a replacement for the Capri stolen at Manfeild..

Then it was off to a dragster enthusiast and his daughter who were really enlightening on the finer points of drag racing. The funny car they are building will produce over 3000 horse power!! They even had mini dragster that can be driven by 6 year old and can do 8 second quarter mile..

We stopped for a photo shoot at Ngaruawahia where the Waipa and the Waikato rivers meet..

We called into Hampton Downs in the hope of a blast around the track, however it was being used by a group of bikers (damn)

Mid afternoon saw us blasting up the motorway and the hijinks started. Cars overtaking each other, videoing each other and some drag racing. This was halted by a certain camera lying in wait on the side of the road, the resulting pic will be added to the time capsule..

We got to the top 10 in Manakau to rooms the size of phone boxes..
Off to Mike Johns for a great BBQ, with meat kindly donated by Wayne Stockman. A chance to see Mike's collection, including the Brooklands sitting proudly out front.
A pity the Cologne was away for some panel and painting, but the whole family made us feel so welcome..

Then back to the camp and a night sharing a cabin with Peter, Gnome (yes he is back on tour), William and I..

Wednesday 18th November 2009

Hi All

A fairly quiet day here in Roto Vegas.. We went around to Lindsays' at 9:30 and then "chewed the fat till nearly lunch time. The weather was really varied all day, had rain then sunshine and finally ended with heavy showers but fairly warm all day. We drove for a short photo shoot outside the original bath house (one of the iconic pictures in NZ calenders for years) and thank goodness the Gnome was not there to tear up the bowling greens in his Capri.

Then it was onto Lake Tawarewa and the cafe for lunch. It was at this point one of of crew was so desperate to use the loo that HE was unaware that He was using the SHE facilities!! We also had a great insight into the world of finer points of breeding Trout by Lindsay, which was real eye opener to a man that lived on fish fingers for years of flatting!

A trek around the lake continued, including a stop at the springs where Anna Larking lost her sunnies a couple of summer camps ago (they were no where to be seen by the way)

The day finished with a BBQ at the Lyons, with several locals making an appearance, and not so locals - Russell Cooper, Wendy and Mr and Mrs Frew amongst the clan..
A fairly early night for us, as some of our kids still have exams etc rolling on..

Off to the land of Auks tomorrow... wish us luck... (especially with my son William doing most of the driving - had his license 2 weeks!!)

Tuesday 17th November

Hi All

While writing the blog last night we had visits from a number of Hawkes Bay identities, pictures for those who know them will tell the story...

A fairly subdued day, mostly involved in getting from A to B... We left the holiday camp at Napier around 10, with the Sewell's having their faulty generator with an alternator. We farewelled the Wrights from Wellington and after a short stop to gas up we were away across the Napier/Taupo Road. Having said to Samantha (my Consul Capri GT) that this was her last tour day (as we are taking Rosie the Mk 3 North from Rotorua) she decided to have a big fit half way across the Napier/Taupo Road. A huge backfire saw flames and smoke out the rear end, frightening all Capris behind me. She managed to carry on a few km's before coming to a complete stop. A quick look under the bonnet spotted the main positive battery cable lying on the top of the terminal! A simple matter of clamping it down, but the surge has meant I now have no brake lights or indicators (but the rev counter that has been broken for months now works!!)
A photo shoot in Taupo followed and then a quick lunch stop before heading to Roto Vegas.. Both Bruce and the Gnome decided to join us after stating they would head back at Taupo (the tour is infectious)..
A hassle free drive with all arriving at the Lyons mid afternoon..
A quick shot of the "originals" still on the tour is posted as well..

Dinner at the local CT club and then an earlyish night home.. (for me at least, the 2:30 finish at Gnomes Mums last night enough for me!!)

Rotorua sightseeing tomorrow...

Monday 16th November 2009

Well another day another blog reporter… Many thanks to Karen for keeping the Capri World informed on the tour to date… So my turn to do the business….

A great lineup of Capris on the outskirts of Palmerston North this morning – 16 in total and a final final final farewell for Murray and Graham from Dunedin, safe trip home boys.

We set off for a photo shoot at the Ashurst Domain for the Manawatu Evening Standard and a chance to lend Russell and Marilyn a hand with their faulty generator.

Then it was off to the lookout at the Tararua wind farm.. And hell did it blow!! I cheekily suggested that if they turned the fans off it would not be so windy!!

Then off to Dannevirke for a lunch stop and more no go from Russell and Marilyn’s Capri to get going..

Everyone having a bbq dinner and boy does it taste good! Cooked by Warren and Josh ….Maybe the Tui should have stayed inside...looking at photos from 1988 oh boy…

Everyone having a good time and cant wait to head to Taupo.

Gnomie

The only probelm of the day was a call out to the local mobile sparkie to "alternate" Russel and Marilyn’s Mk 1 V4 due to generator failure…