Bon Voyage

So off to the vehicle compliance centre,another vehicle was hired,this time a trailer all at an extra cost still i could not drive the MG on the Newzealand roads...my bank manager must be having nightmares by now...i sat up front in the lorry watching the MG bounce about as we drove to the vehicle compliance centre....we arrived early(me and Kevin the lorry driver)...the car was put up on the ramp and inspected while i went out for some fresh air and a bag of chips...I returned 3 hours later to find that the car had failed its test...it was in need of some brake repairs,some rust treatment to the chassis(minor),a suspension grease up and a stop tail light.....all at an unbelievable price of $1290....I had no choice but to get the work done this was no ordinary test..it was an imported vehicle test and quite a sustantial one at that,the seats were removed and the seat belts....all the wheels and various removable panels.
another night was spent at the hostel and i returned to the train station the next day to catch the train back to Otahuhu to collect the car and get its new plates for NEWzealand....it was afternoon by the time i took delivery of the MG and it now had the black and white Newzealand plates on.It felt strange driving away from the compliance centre back to the hostel for yet another night in Auckland...It took 40 minutes to get back and i had difficulty finding a parking space near where i was staying.I hadnt driven the MG on the open road for 2 months and it felt good to be back in the driving seat.
I organised a last minute party with some friends at the hostel,Lloyd,Christian,Johnno,marcus,fabriggio...a few beers some food and off to bed,I would drive to lake taupo in the morning.....
The morning came around fast,I packed my back pack and departed before the warden could give me a ticket...It was raining heavily and the car kept steaming up but i got away from the city and onto the open road...steadily i made my way throught the beautiful countryside,winter and spring mixed,,,rain,but some growing shoots of life for the next season.The heater was working well and i felt nice and warm,its not often that my cars have heaters that actually work so this was luxury...
I found a youth hostile near the lake,booked a room and took a nap before heading downstairs to the undergroung carpark to wash and wax the car....2 hours later the MG was absolutely gleaming...this would be my last chance to make the car shine before i arrived in wellington.....I decided to crack open the whiskey ,a Talisker from scotland and a fine malt too.And would you belive it there were 5 scots in the youth hostile of varying ages from 23 to 72...the evening began well,the malt flowed,stories were told and memories of adventures felt....The quests were talented cooks and food followed as we drank till midnight....
the next day i awoke slightly dazed but eager to go and see a German ex flatmate of mine who lived just 1 hour outside of wellington...i would spend the night there and not have such a long drive to the party the next day,that way i could stay fresh for the excitement and savour the moment of return.....The MG had other ideas and 1 hour into the journey decided to stop on the desert road...it was freezing up there near the lake but i had to get out of the car and take a look at what was causing the trouble...it looked like fuel starvation again....i shook up the fuel line to try and clear any sediment in the fuel line leading to the carbhureter...and amazingly it started again ....i had to use the starting handle again,the battery was nearly dead....hopefully it would get me home...
I arrived at 5.30pm and Alex and Jessica greeted me and offered me food and some fine beers from Belgium which they got especially for me,and we caught up on news.I even managed to go and see some other friends around the corner in Paraparaumu,Sue and Anton.....they fed me too....i must be thinner it would seem...
THE SATURDAY came around and i set off for the big return,a 1 hour slow drive through Wellington to the regional wines and spirits liquer store,MY FAVOURITE...a sense of triumph returned...and in that hour i thought of all the wonderful people i had met who made the journey possible.....I took the last turn into the carpark of the liquer store,and there were all my friends,they had come out to greet me and i felt very lucky.I took a minute or so to exit the car,listening to the engine whurr for the last time on its long trip.I switched of the engine disembarked the MG,and stood there wearing my gold and cream paisley tuxedo that i got from Bangkok and the warmest of welcomes embraced me....I had returned safely,i had brought the car over from england against all the odds, dealt with the beaurocracy and had lived an amazing 6 months on the road.....and my friends were there to share the moment with me......
until next time
Bon voyage.....