45. Waianakarua – Oamaru

Empire Backpackers, 13 Thames St., Oamaru, $40 single room
Tuesday, March 19: A bit clearer in the morning, although still quite cold, becoming cloudier in the evening
Steampunk Museum, Oamaru, exposure bracket

Steampunk Museum, Oamaru, exposure bracket

Today was a bit of a day for odds and ends. On the way into Oamaru had the tyre pressures checked – front right was down to 16 psi, which probably explains the recent fuel consumption. Leaky old air delivery system had to be operated by the attendant himself as I could not work out how to let the tyre down again. Will have to check this again tomorrow to see that there is no leak. Continue reading

Kiwi II, 2009

Weka dietary education: Milford Track

The second journey in the late summer of 2009 started with my arrival in Auckland on Sunday, February 1. After picking up a small camper, a Toyota Lucinda, which was named “Juicy Lucy”, I visited my school friend Tom and his family, then it was by way of Kawhia to New Plymouth where I made my first attempt at climbing Egmont. A couple of nights at the old motorcamp in Stratford to discover the Forgotten World and make a second – still unsuccessful – attempt at Egmont from the south and then on to Wanganui and Waikanae to visit Don and Sally Matheson who were giving me their holiday house for a couple of days in March. Continue reading