“I will work harder” – Animal Farm

I’ve had a request to provide dates for my activities. I’m a little reluctant as it will highlight how much time I spend just drifting around aimlessly, however I shall give it a try and assess.

July 3rd: released from quarantine. Within minutes a lady (maskless) walked within 3 feet of me, after which I bought an iced coffee from a petrol station. (Similarly maskless).

The same morning I shook the hands (unsanitised I presume) of 2 complete strangers when I bought their campervan.

I had to hang around in Auckland to get some tedious paperwork done (and investigating the New Zealand craft beers) then I set off in my new wheels (July 5th).

I’m gonna drone on about the campervan here so do skip on if vans aren’t of interest to you.

The previous owners (A&H) told me they tried to keep below 80kpm “to minimise fuel consumption and prolong it’s lifespan”. I haven’t been so generous to the old thing but so far he seems to be coping with my driving pretty well. Which brings me onto the name. My first thought was Mr. Macawber, to bring back fond memories of the Dickens character and as a reminder to be frugal when going on trips away. But, Macawber was a pompous and vein character, and this van is anything but vein (especially under my stewardship).

Khaaan! Was a leading contender for a time. Very handy if I ever need to shout at it and it would bring me closer to becoming William Shatner. However, it seems ill fated to call one’s car after a villain.

The name should be concordant with the vehicle’s character. So I’ve settled on Boxer. The loyal subject who will work himself to death at his master’s whim, even if that master is a despotic pig. Also, whenever I turn off the ignition it gives a shudder and splutter, much like an old horse coughing I think.

As well as coughing like a horse it does rattle and clatter a lot, partly due to half the contents of a kitchen/bedroom sliding from one side to the other as I make each turn. A&H did have things tied down but a number of the restraints have broken [note to self: must buy more bungee-cord]. It does also lean quite a lot going round corners. It doesn’t go ever so fast but it feels very fast which is mostly what I’m after.

See below for my route so far:

It has been (sigh) quite a lot of driving. And to be honest I’m not sure I’d do it quite this way again (in winter). But it’s been scenic. I’ve done a lot of hiking (or tramping as they call it here) and I’m now much better at driving a campervan. And I do enjoy how wiggley they make their main roads here:

It was at just this point I realised I was almost out of fuel, but fortunately having made the ascent I could coast down the other side.

I’ve had this blog crash a couple of times due to dodgy internet connection so I’ll leave things here for now. But one last thing: the skies are wonderfully starry here, and the Milkyway seems much more prominent than you get in the asterally impoverished Northern hemisphere. The first time I noticed the night sky here, by reflex I turned about trying to locate Orion. Then I remembered. “Oh yes. You’re not in Kansas anymore”.