My last trip chasing the Ukulele Masters Paul Jonson and Manitoba Hal took me down to Hokitika where I happened to spot a Bus for sale in the Supermarket carpark.
The owners Graeme & Diane were on a 6 week tour of the South Island and contacted me when they returned. Long story short, we bought it as it fitted all our upgrade list of what we would like!
Here are a few quick photos to show our new Bus. We will be selling the old bus once we get back from touring, so if you know of anyone who wants our lovely, colourful old bus the Toyota Coaster, do let us know!
Here are a few quick photos to show our new Bus. We will be selling the old bus once we get back from touring, so if you know of anyone who wants our lovely, colourful old bus the Toyota Coaster, do let us know!
Our new bus is a 1990 Mitsubishi Rosa Custom, very well looked after by the previous owner who imported it from Japan in 1999 and did the conversion, and since that time has only put on another 33,000kms
It has a swing out bike rack, giving excellent access to the very large boot which goes under the north/south bed. We now have a lot of extra space, which I've used for my clowning props and the new Shadow Puppet Show.
The old and the new. The new one looks much bigger, in reality it's only 700mm longer but quite a bit taller.
But before we could hit the road, I changed over some of the older bus's better features.
The solar panels and their controller had much newer and better solar. We also installed the inverter, which gives us the ability to charge up all our devices and also run a Bullet juicer with 240 volts.
Once again I helped with the big bubbles at the Nelson Lantern Parade and also had my first showing of the new shadow puppet performance called "Piwi the Piwakawaka".
Here I am all set up ready to go...later in the night I had continuous shows as 3300 Lantern festival people went home down the track past me, from the top of the centre of New Zealand going home!
So now all this kit is packed in the bus ready to perform wherever and whenever as we tour around the South Island. I have to thank my brother-in-law Jim who happened to be visiting us and kept me focused and together we got everything ready to go on the road.
I have been getting some clowning/performing/juggling advice and help from Paul Klaassen, a seasoned juggler, busker and classy theatrical circusy type of performer.
His input has been invaluable.
We had friends come to house sit in early Jan so we timed our trip to start then, however with the new bus set up etc we needed to spent some time in Richmond getting familiar to the new motorhome and finishing our set up ready for touring. Christine had spotted Richmond's Jubilee park as a possible park up which proved to be really good.
Here is our park up at Jubilee park...
.... and the view. I used to play football (soccer) here nearly 40 years ago and even went out onto the field to do some yoga ...reflecting on the fact that 4 of the guys from that Championship team back in the late 70's are no longer with us!
After a few days and with much help from Dave Meier (thanks Mate) regarding solar power issues we were finally heading out to start our next 3 month south island tour ... new bus and all!
An invite for Dave to check out the solar workings and to park up the night at his home (and workshop) saw me out walking early morning in Brightwater and here are some photos.
Oh it's such joy to be able to wander and see things and take photos.
A 1920 Mail box.
I think this was the old Post Office? But not now!
Hmm collecting your mail from a pigs behind?
What a lovely old church called St Paul's.
Moss notifies that the air is very fresh and clean in Brighwater.
Blacksmith's skills ... from another time and space.
Nature's beauty simply astounds me!
Off we headed, bound for Murchison to the NZMCA park behind Dust & Rust, the antique and general curiosity shop.
It's not every day you see a stretch Volkswagen Beetle near an old horse gig and an old sack barrow anywhere, .... let alone in Murchison.
However we recovered down at the River Cafe ...oh yum!
Next blog will be Christchurch, a performance at the Hoon hay preschool and various Menz Shed visits...plus an update on how Christchurch is looking these days (up I reckon).
Till then stay safe and be creative ... your good health depends on it ... I reckon.
Cheers Jimu & Christine.
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