Back Together... Outa There... And Moving On...

Mr Marvellous Terry is putting the jigsaw, alias my motor, back together again.
He has all the new parts required, the head has come back looking like new...
If you look carfefully you can see the new frost plugs...
Brass ones this time so they can't rust.
How things have changed since this motor was built probably late 1980's early 1990's.
But I'm told it is a great motor... Don't swap it for a new Japanese one!

The valves and valve springs look polished and shiny...
The injectors likewise and are back in place to do their job...
The exhaust manifold and studs for the manifold are also returned to their rightful place...

I've learnt a lot and am amazed how complicated motors seem to be...
But I'm told this one is simple compared to today's computerised motors...
I think I'll keep it!
I now know what happens when I... All unsuspectingly...
Turn the key on... A miracle takes place...
Or sometimes doesn't!
But...
I'm outa there with instructions about checking the water level, the slight leak round the top of the radiator cap...
Also information about exhaust brakes - never heard of them before.
But it's another thing this motor had when it was petrol. When changed to diesel they were left unattached.
I could have a manual one.
If, like me, you have never heard of such things...
They are brakes that come into action going down hill to stop the motor reving too fast and to alieviate using the brakes too much... Which when they get too hot cut out till they cool down a little!
Believe it or not I drive this vehicle on a simple car licence.
But it's very, very different and I'm on a huge learning curve.
Think I need to go to Polytech and do a 'Ladies Engine Maintenance Course'!

This is where I stayed while I was displaced and couldn't stay in my bus.
A dismal grey place... Lots of unending hot water though for long showers.
It's only saving grace was... The AA paid for it under my membership.
But... I'm outa there now and back on the road...
Onto more adventures...

The End's In Sight...

We arrived with no mishaps.
The tow truck driver was amazing. He used to be a butcher, gave it up because of injury and for the last nine months has worked part time at this job while also studying at North Tec for a degree in Social work and Counselling.

 

Welcomed by Mark...
Backed in with amazing skill and precision, ramps down...
And off she comes.

Into the space reserved for me...

This is Terry... He has totally trained at Fleet Care... Been here five years since 2007.
He grew up in Putaruru, did various jobs but has always had a passion for cars...
So that's what he is doing... Says his job is more of a hobby...
To me he is a genius...

The motor seems like a jigsaw puzzle...

So many bits to be numbered and kept track of...
Layers of all sort of things exposed...
I've actually learnt quite a lot.

The next layer...

The the head was off and the gasket exposed...
It is nothing like I imagined a gasket would be that blows up and cracks. 
But the head has gone to an engine reconditioner...
A new gasket is needed... because the old one cannot be re-used...
When you torque them down they don't seal...
So now it's a waiting game till all that is done...
The head locally and the gasket is coming from Palmerston North...

This whole major problem was initially caused by the ratio of anti freeze in the radiator not being high enough. Anti freeze stops freezing but also keeps the moving parts of the motor lubricated.
That caused the frost plugs to rust...
That caused a leak...
That emptied the radiator...
That caused overheating...
So if you are reading this...
Go immediately and check your anti freeze.
For people in New Zealand the ratio should be high enough for a South Island winter!

Breakdowns... And Towing... More New Experiences!

The second tow truck that arrived to give me a 'lift' to town.
The Automobile Assn organised it under my membership with them.
They didn't listen to me or look at my membership details...
So sent a truck big enough to transport a small van!
Second time round it was big enough.

The ramps are down, the front truck wheels are lifted on blocks... To give a better incline.
I am driving my bus but soon hit problems... the incline...
I was too low at the back!

Adjustments were made... Clever these tow truck men.
The incline was changed, we changed drivers... Leave it to the experts...
After I had checked who was responsible for any damage done!
A winch was attached and my lovely home was wound aboard.
My bus is 2.5 meters wide...
The tray of the truck was 2.8 meters...
So no room for errors!

 
Finally on...
Out came the chains and it was secured from each wheel and axle.
The bottom of the ramp folded up so make a secure back end.

All aboard... Ready for the road.
I'm in the truck cab... And off we go...

This problem all started when I left Whangarei, Wednesday last week and went 30km south to the Auto Electrician I had used before to sort out my batteries.
He was to install a reversing camera and 2000watt inverter.
On the way the motor started over heating, the temperature guage was was up really high.
I drove very slowly without too much acceleration... But that is a little difficult on windy hilly roads.
By the time I got there it was steaming and hissing.
When everything cooled down I investigated the radiator - nearly empty...
Oh dear a leak somewhere.
At the end of the day I went to the nearby Uretiti DoC Camp for the night.
I stayed there for the weekend and a tow and motel accommodation was organised for Monday...

McMorriseys Irish Pub...

 

 

 

 

In Vine St, Whangarei...Where I went last Tuesday night.
Every Tuesday night is 'Irish' music night.
I have some friends who play there regularly.
It's very casual, anybody can turn up and join in...
I'm thinking of going again and taking my spoons...
They said they have room for a percussionist!
Guitars, whistles -  my favourite - ukelele, various drums, a banjo.
There was a young lad from Ireland who could produce such magic on his whistle...
I was looking for the Leprechauns.
There's room to dance...
And the Guiness is good!

I Love To Go A Wandering...

 

 

 

 

 

 

Along the garden path...
And that is exactly what I do when I am parked in the Whangarei Town Basin and walk into town.
It's a lovely walk round the river, past the Mangroves.
This is a place that stray cats call 'home'...
Or unwanted cats are dumped.
Regularly cages are set to catch them and take them to better environs.
But I walk along the path and past the play ground.
I can either cross the road and round the round-about to Pak and Save, the nearest supermarket...
Or walk past the boats to several cafes and touristy shops, stop or keep going...
Ten minutes and I'm in 'City Central'.
Shopping has never been easier... No parking worries...
It's harder walking home again... Back to my bus...
I have to carry my shopping!

Friends... And Neighbours...

 

 

 

 

In the Whangarei Town Basin.
This is where I park when I am in town.
It's a council car park and very hospitable to the motor homes and buses that park here.
Some just stay over night on their way to somewhere else...
Others stay a few nights or a week or more and come and go...
To do repairs, go shopping or hospital appointments..
With the people who linger a little longer a real camaraderie develops
and as people come and people go the dynamic changes.
In the top photo you can see me parked at the end...
It's my favourite place... By the grass.
It's 'the' sought after spot, so it's first in first served.
My friends I play RummyKub with are parked next door...
They are semi retired and spend a lot of time caring for one of their grandsons who had a stroke at age four.
Their bus is both their home and their escape.
The big double decker blue bus belongs to Jimi...
He sings and busks for a living.
On the right hand side of the second picture,
tucked in the corner is John...
His home is 'The Diggs'. He is retired and travels around wherever the mood takes him.
Then there's Harvey, with the bike on front...
He works part time in Kerikeri.
He teaches computer skills so is a real handy person to have park next door!
Marge and Brian in their bus bus  'Kiwi Style'.
Marge has been in hospital since I had dinner with them.
I was very pleased to hear this morning that she is home again.
Then there's Peter in his caravan that he lives in.
The morning I left he was off to Auckland...
And me? I've come back to Uretiti for the weekend.

The New Girls On The Block...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jenny and Brenda have opened the newest and most beautiful shop in Cameron Street, Whangarei.
They have been friends since school then trained as florists together, straight from school.
Brenda gained a diploma and the highest marks in her exams.
When Jenny got married in 1982, Brenda was her bridesmaid...
You can guess who did all the flowers!
Jenny went on to to other things...
I first met her in my favourite coffee shop Caffeine...
This lady with a stunning hair cut served my coffee...
Who cut her hair... I had to ask... Well her husband cuts her hair... He now cuts mine!
She had a variety of jobs plus a marriage and children but recently has joined with Brenda again ...
Taking a gamble in the slow economic climate...
And opened Florabunda.
Jenny excels in horticultural knowledge.
Brenda has always worked in floristry... She had four shops in Auckland...
Has done the flowers for Team NZ... Russell Coutts and Chris Dixon.
She did the flowers for Hillary Barry's wedding...
She won gold and silver medals at the Ellerslie Flower Show.
She also makes jewellery, it's beautiful...
Click on the link to go to their web site... Phone or call in.
Their shop is a real treat and a 'must' to visit..

Mary Mary Quite Contrary...

How did your garden grow... with silver bells and cockle shells... and pretty maids all in a row...
Well in this case it's Angela Angela with my edible garden and pretty pots all in a row.
Yesterday I went to Bunnings...
First things first...
I bought some steps.
Then I could climb up and measure the space for the pots and work out how many I could have.
Five seemed the right number and 50liters of compost.
Then the plants...
Herbs first...
Italian Parsley, Curly Parsley, Chives, Wild Mint, Coriander, Thyme and one spinach plant.
Then the flowers...
Well, Nasturtiums with edible flowers and leaves, it's not the right time of the year but I found a few sad plants going cheap plus a packet of seeds. They will climb and wander all over the place.
Then Calendula Marigolds with edible petals. Again not the right time of the year and the two plants I found are very tatty but also got some seeds. They make a lovely yellow mayonnaise or sprinkled in salads or fruit salad. Also the petals steeped in oil to use for my 'Angela's Skin Food' body cream. Calendular is very healing.
Little Viola's with sweet faces, the flowers and leaves are edible.
I also indulged in four strawberry plants with flower buds on them already. I need another pot for them, I can fit in just one more.
The pots were filled 2/3 with soil and all the plants carefully planted.
So... After a 1 degree frosty start to the day, see pic of the grass outside my window, the sun came out and it was a perfect day for making my garden.
It's raining today and the plants are all sitting up and looking very perky.

Invited... Out For Dinner

I had been away for a couple of days getting the outside work done on my bus.
I went back to the Whangarei Town Basin car park to spend the night, it was just getting dark.
My friends Brian and Marge were there. Brian very kindly came out into the cold evening and directed while I backed into my favourite car park then invited me for a drink.
That was lovely as their 10 meter 1982 Izuzu Journey bus was much warmer than mine.
I had spent the previous two days with my door open and no heater going while craftsman Glen worked away on my bus.
So I was half frozen and drinks in a warm bus was very enticing.
The smells of dinner cooking made me hungry and thinking about what impromptu meal I might make myself did not conjure up great gourmet delights.
Well...  Brian and Marge invited me to stay for dinner...
Roast pork, potatoes, pumpkin, beans, cauliflower with apple sauce, crackling and gravy...
Five star plus...
So in case you think people living in buses on the road are deprived in any way or missing out, or living cheaply...
Think again.
I was beautifully wined and dined in comfort and warmth with good conversation thrown into the mix as well.
What more could I want... Thank you Brian and Marge.