Our RV is finally completed after 3 years of a full renovation. It is a 1989, 7 Metre's long Nissian Civillian, with a 3.3 litre turbo diesel motor.
We brought this bus in 2007 and decided to convert it from a bare shell back to where we now are.This was done by John in the evenings after work spending anything from 2 to 3 hours each evening and most of the weekends . Margaret assisted by sanding and painting and doing the research that was needed to find anything that John required and keeping him with a good supply of hot cups of tea and Banana cake especially when he was working out under the carport in the middle of winter.
We would like to thank all our friends who have given us wonderfull advise whilst doing our van, without your wonderful assistance, we would never have completed it in the time we did and to the standard we achieved. A big thank you to you all.
We both left our jobs on the 1st April 2011 to begin life on the road as Semi retired Nomads. After renting our home to a good friend of ours, off we went saying good bye to the neighbours and a lovely spa that will surely be missed every evening .
We booked the Bluebridge ferry for the 18th April 2011 to travel south for the NZMCA Easter Rally in Christchurch. The Boat was to leave at 1.00pm however this did not happen , because there had been a storm with gale force winds.We finally boarded at 6.00pm and left at 9.00pm and arrived in Picton at 1.45am.. The Cook straight showed it true colours by producing 7 to 8 metre waves and yes it was a very rough trip. Lots of people were sick including me. On our trip over we carried a tyre and two batteries for a friend that had sold them on trade me. These were picked up by the gentleman waiting in Picton for 10 hours until we arrived . He came over from Nelson a 2 hour trip and decided that it would be easier to wait than go home and come back to Picton.
We decided to drive onto Blenheim and park up outside Angie and the boys home for the remainder of the night.
After spending two nights in Blenheim we left for Christchurch and arrived at Mararet and Alister McDowell (Cousins) catching up with the news about the earth quake that hit the area on the 22nd Februrary 2011 and the damage that was done. Very sad.
21st April 2011 Parked up ready for the Easter Rally at the Canterbury Agriculture Park . Approx 600 motohomes and caravans parked up for a weekend of entertainment.
The entertainment was the Barross Country singers, Kevin Greaves, Tom Sharplin and Midnite Special,
Ben McDonald, Marian Burns & Remedy. The Sunday evening was a dance with the Family Affiars called "Join the Forces" as it was ANZAC day.
On the 23rd April, Marg went to a Walnut Farm called A Cracker of a Nut. Very interesting finding how they process walnuts for the growers around NZ and what had to be done before it went to the market etc. Well worth a visit if you get to West Melton. 142 Tricketts Road, West Melton RD 6 Christchurch. 033478103 give them a ring first as they close certain time of the year. You can buy products from them also. Yes I brought John a jar of pickled Walnuts, and also some very nice chutney which went down well on snax biscuits and cheese with a glass of wine. Allow at least 1 1/2 hours to visit here.
After this Marg went to Southern Alpacas Stud once again interesting and great to get up close to these lovely animals . A Alpaca is pregnant for 11 months and get pregnant two weeks after it has given birth.
Photo`s taken from rear of nzmca site at Hokitika
