My parents as I’ve mentioned before live in a fifth wheeler that they pull behind their ute. It’s super cute and cozy on the inside and if you’ve seen the pics of our hut (titled ‘My favourite place in the world’) you’ll understand how they can happily live in such a teensy space. This is their version of ‘retirement’ – as in sell the house, store the left-overs, invest the cash and buy a fifth-wheeler so they can work their way around the country. Doesn’t seem that much more relaxing to me than normal work but it must be fun to wake up in a different place as often as you like – and in the comfort of your own ‘home’.
Anyhoo they’ve parked up at our place for a month and I decided to have last Friday off to spend some time with them. Mum had been keeping an eye on an online auction for a woodstove. The coal range in the hut is knackered (cracked – on a funny angle..not good). The auction fell through because they didn’t want to pay that much for it but afterwards they managed to contact the seller and made their best offer (about $500 below his reserve). And he accepted! So all they had to do was drive to Tauranga to collect it – we’re in Wellington
It was lots of fun for a two day drive by of NZ. I haven’t been to Tauranga for years and we stopped in Rotorua for Friday night so we’d be at the address in Tauranga at 9am Saturday morn – bright eyed and bushy tailed *grin*. I’d forgotten how unusual the land is up there. It’s in the area where NZ has high geothermal activity and its very obvious that the two plates NZ rests on are very busy there. In Wellington
And I love seeing the steam rise from all the natural hotpools around the place. Very easy to spot at this time of the year. We were very lucky, the weather was stunning for the two days (but COLD!) and the desert road was a breeze to cross. I got awesome photos of Mt Ruapehu on the way home. On the way up it was smothered in snow clouds ; p It was a great way to distract me from my annoying cold and writing, which wasn’t quite what I was aiming for but I guess I can consider the trip ‘inspirational material’ *grin*
And all this for a 300kg Wagner woodstove that we have to now get up to the hut….We will drive it to the bottom of the track on the next drive-in weekend (24th) and then get 8 guys to help carry it up the steep, windy and narrow track – oh joy! I’m thinking I should film it and post the video *grin* for your entertainment! And FYI it took five burly men to move it from a pile of pellets onto the back of the ute – all of about 3 meters.. It’s gonna be exciting!
getting out of town is a treat I look forward too. Sometimes my wife schedules trips with the whole family and sometime by herself. It is a nice treat to get away for a spell.
sorry for the cold. Stay warm.
Awesome. Hope your parents enjoy that stove. 😀
I can't wait til the kids are older and hubs and I can just take off for wherever the road takes us! We COULD do it now, but there's so much planning involved to make sure the kids have their *stuff* that it takes all the fun and spontaneity out of it.
Good luck movin' that stove!
That sounds like fun. It's nice to be able to spend time with your parents.
good luck with that! man that would be a sight so see, glad i don't have to lugg that huge thing up there! have fun 🙂
I just love being in the mountains! And I've always wanted to take a road trip in an RV, but I think to be able to do that, I'd have to buy one myself. 🙂
That is a really cute little stove!
@ SH – i didn't mind the cold so much when I got to see snow. Seemed worth it 🙂 And yeah trips are great!
@ Demon hunter – considering the effort, i hope so too ;p
@ Vicki & K. The moving it part is gonna be interesting..Really must film it
@ amanda – I'm betting it won't feel that little up the track *hee* so glad I don't have to carry it!