Report 3 February
By Dirk

Today we are invited by Chris Dyer to visit a couple of classic-car friends.
But first some shopping and what is there in the shop????  Edam cheese.
Of course we bought a piece of it.

The first we visit are Pieter and Carrol; they have a vineyard but also a couple of beautiful cars.

Trudy in the vine yard

Pieter and his friend Thierry are busy with the restoration of a 1911 Model T two-sitter and a 1912 touring.

1911 Two-sitter

touring 1912

Then we visit Thom and Jenny Stephens.
Thom has several old-timers including a Scottish Argyll from 1905.

Argyll 1905

His sun Chris Stephens has a beautiful 1909 Model T touring with production number 671.
This is one of the few so-called two-liver T-Fords that are still there.
After a few slogging, the engine ran very nice.
Also special for the connoisseurs are the “one piece spindles”.

1909 2-lever Model T

one piece spindle

After this visit we went to John Irving.
John has, among other things, a beautiful 1914 Speedster.
John invited Dirk to take a ride. The Speedster makes the sound of a Harley Davidson because of the special exhaust and this in combination with a lot of wind it seemed like we drove a 100 km/ph.

speedster 1914

John and Dirk

Seeing so much old stuff makes you hungry and Rosemary’s had made a great meal.
But first have a look at the barn of Chris and yes, here is another restoration project.
A Cadillac from 1918 is under construction there. A huge chassis with huge axles.
A challenging project for the coming years. (turn your computer a qaurter clock wise)

Cadillac 1918

diner with Chris and Rosemary

Report 28 January
By Dirk

Today we are invited for a picnic ride by The Veteran Car club of New Zealand in Ohoka; a place slightly above Christchurch.
When we arrive there, a Spyker from 1907 stands in the verge. Unbelievable, a Spyker in the wild. This is owned by a man who’s name is also Spyker and is related to the Spyker brothers from the famous Dutch car brand from the beginning of the last century.

Spyker 1907

In the barn of Kelvin Finlay is a car of a brand unknown to me; a Krit from around 1913. Upon inquiry Krit is a car brand from Detroit from the beginning of the last century.
The swastika on the emblem does a bit strange, but the car is from afar before the 2nd World War, so then apparently that was possible.

Krit

Trudy and I can ride the picknic ride with Tim Palmen in a Unic Delivery from 1912.
The coach of this French car was built at the time by a coach builder in Christchurch.

Tim & Dirk

Trudy is in the back and has a lot of space.
Tim and Dirk are “on the box”.

Unic Delivery 1912

There are also a few tough T-Fords along: a Touring from 1915 and a Delivery, also from 1915.

Model T 1915

Model T Delivery 1915

Afterwards we have a nice chat and Dirk and Ron Duckworth have the greatest fun.

Dirk & Ron have fun

Report 27 January
By Trudy

We have slept very well in our gardenhotel and today we have a day of rest.
Dirk is sitting in the shade and in the lee, reading a book.
The sun is warm and the wind blows around the house.

Dirk

There is always wind here, but fortunately not so heavy as in Patagonia.
In the afternoon we take look in the garage with the collection old timers of Kathryn.

Alvis

In the garage we see a lot of vintage cars including some beautiful Model T’s.

a lot of Model T’s

Our Model T will feel at home with this collection in Christchurch.

Report 26 January
By Trudy

After a good flight of 9 hours we arrive at the airport of Christchurch.
A flight of total 22 hours is one thing but to get into New Zealand is another adventure.
Dogs will sniff all your things to make sure you do not have any food or plants with you.
At the handbag of Trudy the dog became very enthusiastic and the bag must be completely empty. In the bag was a flower that she brought from Singapore.
Fortunately it was a small flower, otherwise she would have had to pay a fine of NZD 400.

arrived

Kathryn Smith of the Veteran Car Club of New Zealand picked us up from the airport.
During our stay in Christchurch for the next 1,5 week we can stay in her gardenhouse.

our garden hotel

We came in contact with Kathryn by our friend Chris Bamford who we met in Edmonton in Canada.
As you see the classic car world is a small and friendly world.It is a beautiful place to have 1,5 week of holiday to wait fort he cars.

inside our garden hotel

Report 25 January
By Trudy

After a good flight of 12 hours we land in Singapore. We are picked up by Maud, a friend of our daughter Rozemarijn, who lives in Singapore.
It is very hot, 33 degrees Celcius and a high humidity.
Maud shows us some highlights of this big city.

view

After the city tour we have diner with Maud and her family

diner

After diner Maud and her children Bruce and Gwen brings us to the airport.
At 10 PM we check in to flye to New Zealand.
New Zealand here we come…!!!!!!

Report 24 January
By Trudy

Today we flye to New Zealand.
A trip tot he other side of the globe.
21 hours in a plane to get to Christchurch. Always better than 7 weeks on a boat like the cars.
Our children Dirk-jan, Rozemarijn and Willy bring us to Schiphol, Amsterdam airport.

Our children at Schiphol

When we want to check in they noticed that Dirk had some tools in his rucksack.
But after Dirk told them that he had not the intention to use them in the plane it was oké.