Levin Caravan Club-Aug 2011 Newsletter

Next Rally: Takapau September 2,3 &4 Rally captains: Val & Brian O’Leary

If undelivered, please return to : 54 Kawiu Rd Levin

EXECUTIVE Committee 2011-2012 Position President

Address George Marlow 68 Gray Ave Paraparaumu

Secretary/Treasurer Adrian Kealey

54 Kawiu Rd Levin

Contact 04 9047407 06 367 2500

Vice President

Kevin O’Leary

04 9052722

Past President

Brian O’Leary

06 357 5251

Committee

Jan Saunders

06 3636669

Ruth Turner

06 368 5576

Glenda White

06 3637427

Trevor Hill

06 3268377

Fire Officers Raffles/Lucky Van

Ivy Marlow

Photo Album

Bev Craig

Newsletter Editors

Avril Cairns Email:

Rally Recorder

Anne Greig

06 3672500 adrian_avril@ms n.com

PRESIDENT’S REPORT AUGUST 2011 Hello everyone I am looking forward to being your Caravan Club President for the next 2 years.

The AGM was well attended and matters raised will be discussed at the next committee meeting.

The Ashley Park rally was a great success 16 vans attended. Visitors were Thea Artz, Shirley and Brian Tong.

First time rally captains Leighanne, Tom and their boys together with Marj and Bert’s assistance did a fantastic job! Their enthusiasm was tremendous. They fed us hot yummy soup Friday night and had plenty of games to play on Saturday.

Congratulations and thank you to you all for such a fun weekend.

I was pleased to hear that Bruce Turner is now out of hospital. Best wishes for a very speedy recovery Bruce.

Ivy and I will be going to Takapau so see you all there.

Kind regards George

Ashley Park Rally 5th – 8th August 2011 Three caravans arrived on Thursday Night, and they were joined on Friday by another seven caravans, four Motor Homes and one bus. There was suppos ed to be one tent as well, however our illustrious Rally Captain Tom managed to leave some of the tent poles behind. Luckily Ashley Park has cabins so we at least had a place to sleep.

Friday night Happy Hour was followed by a barbeque dinner for some, soup for others. A cake was present ed to Larry to celebrate his birthday, and he started singing “he’s a Jolly good Fellow” to himself, then everyone joined in.

Later Bert ran a quiz, which challenged many and led to Larry looking up the recipe for snickerdoodles.

Saturday morning was fine but cold. There were no planned activities as Ashley Park has a lot of attractions. A few ladies went for the farm walk, others just blobbed or looked around and feed the animals. Some people ventured into Wanganui for a look around the shops and Market. Six of the Gentlemen went golfing, or that they told us, sounded more like an episode of last of the summer wine.

At 2pm the campers brave enough to venture out in the cold windy conditions assembled on the Homestead front lawn for a Croquet Challenge; the Golfers were still MIA, we suspected they had got lost at the nineteenth hole, turns out it was the eleventh. Hayden took charge of this activity coaching and adjudicating. He did a fantastic job and the activity was enjoyed by all who participat ed. John and Bev Craig, their grand-daughter Emily along with Eileen won the team challenge. Shirley and Eleanor won the Friendly match that followed.

Happy hour was followed by a pot luck dinner, the food was varied and fantastic. After dinner many returned to their vans to watch the rugby. Those not watching the rugby played a variety of games.

At morning tea during the misdemeanors we finally found out what actually happened during the golf. Kevin was having a day of calamities, firstly he lost his new leather glove, and after searching all around for it, he realised he was wearing it all along. His woes did not stop there, he was sharing a trundler with Trevor and they managed to leave it behind on one of the holes, having to go back over a hill to retrieve it. Needless to say he received the wooden spoon. Tom awarded the wooden fork to himself for not bringing all the tent poles, aft er trying to blame me for not being there to organise him.

We were incredibly impressed with the turn out for this rally, and for the fantastic attitude shown by all on such a cold weekend.

At our AGM held in Ju ly 2011, Don & Anne Greig were presented with a certificate by outgoing President Brian O’Leary celebrating 100 CCNZ rallies.

CONGRATULATIONS!

A hole was found in the nudist camp wall The police are still looking into it!!

Silverbeet Salad Finely chop as much Silverbeet as required. Add 1 sliced red onion.

Keep these aside until required.

Sauce 1/2 cup BBQ sauce 1/2 cup oil 1/4 cup sugar 2tbsp Worcester sauce 2tbsp vinegar Mix these together and pour over silverbeet and onions, top with cashew nuts or nuts of your choice, just before serving up.

Thank you Sandra for this recipe.

Glad to hear that you are back ho me again after a stay at Palmerston North Hospital Bruce, we all hope that you will soon be back in good health and be able to participate in future rallies very soon.

South Island Trip with Dave, Sue, Bob & Eileen Part 2 Sunday 13th March – Drove into Queenstown. It was a beautiful day and there were lots of people milling around and eating brunch alfresco. Stopped to listen to a group from Vanuatu playing their home made instruments. Very tuneful and lovely to listen to. We had already seen them at the the Farmers Market at Cro mwell. I found it hard to drag myself away. Drove to Arrowtown and it was just as I remember it fro m 30 years ago, but of course more touristy. Left Queenstown Monday morning and drove to Wanaka over the Cadrona Hill. An amazing road with steep hairpin bends. It is the highest sealed road in NZ. Had lunch at the Cadrona Hotel. A lot of h istory there fro m gold mining days. Arrived at Wanaka in galeforce winds. Not very pleasant. Stayed at a council owned camp at Albert Town, about 5ks fro m town. Left the next mo rning and headed for Haast – very scenic drive. Had mo rning tea overlooking Lake Hawea. A lso stopped at Thunder Creek Falls. Didn’t stay long, because again the sandflies were bad. Drove to Jackson Point but nowhere suitable to stay there so drove back to a POP at Hannahs Clearing. Were made very welco me by the owners Sally & Bruce Sims. Joined them, and the other 4 couples who were staying there, for happy hour. Bought whitebait fro m a friend of Bruce.

Yu mmy! Wednesday morning went for a walk before breakfast, first along the b each and then around the 4 streets of Hannahs Clearing! We would have liked to stay another night here but the sandflies were very bad. They attacked the minute you walked out the door, so after breakfast we packed up and drove to Franz Josef. The weather turned really bad as we drove over Haast Pass. Stayed at NZMCA Park at Fran z. Bob & I went fo r a drive back to Fox Glacier but visibility was not good because of the heavy rain. Dave & Bob were planning to go on a helicopter flight over the glacier the next morning, but all cancelled because of the weather. We decided to move on and headed for Hokitika. Stayed at motor camp at Hokitika because it was washing time again. Spent 2 nights there. Had a look round and drove to Hokit ika Gorge where we walked through the bush to the swing bridge.

Saturday morn ing we headed for Grey mouth. Stopped at Shantytown on the way. Spent three and a half hours there. I thought it was well worth the $28.50 to get in. Dave & Sue had been before but came again with us. In Grey mouth we parked behind the Challenge Service Station. $15 a n ight for powered sight with toilets, shower and Laundry. Sunday morn ing we all went in Daves car for a drive. First stop the site of the Brunner Coal M ine disaster (1896) where 65 men and boys lost their lives. We viewed a very co mprehensive display of the history of that disaster. We then drove to Blackball, an old min ing town.

This was where the first trade union was formed following a 4 month strike because of poor working conditions. There was a very full history of that time depicted by photos and printed material. We then drove to Moana, which is on the shores of Lake Brunner. Had a very nice lunch at the Station Café. After lunch we d rove back to Grey mouth and had a look at the wharf and treacherous sand bar area. There was a memorial stone and plaques for the 14 fisherman who have lost their lives there. Left Grey mouth about 9am the next morn ing and drove to Punakaiki. A real tourist attraction not to be missed, with the sea rushing in on huge layered rocks, otherwise called pancake rocks. Fro m there to Westport.

Stayed the first night at Les Anderson Park, a large free parking area by the beach. Seemed a bit deserted at first but by nightfall there were 12 other vans and motorhomes there. PTO

Tuesday, another lovely fine day, moved our vehicles to behind the Working Mens Club, and then Dave drove us to Karamea, a long drive, and when we got to within 23ks of Karamea the road was closed due to bridge being repaired. Apparently it had been notified in the local paper but of course we hadn’t seen that. However after a 45 minute wait we were able to get over the bridge, but were advised that to return we would need to be there at either 2p m or 4p m. We had lunch of wh itebait fritters at the Karamea Hotel, and got back to the bridge at 1.50 just as it was closing again. If we had been 5 minutes later we would have had to wait until 4p m. On the way back we stopped at Granity and collected stones fro m the beach and also went to the old Denniston Coalmine . Wednesday, another lovely day, drove to Murchison and parked at NZM CA park.

Met Bev & Trevor there, who were visit ing their friends, Jenny & Peter, who were also staying at the park. Thursday morning drove to Motueka and booked into motor camp.

Not very nice, so while Sue & I d id the washing, Dave & Bob went looking for somewhere else to stay. Friday morning we moved to McKees Reserve, a lovely spot right by the beach, with toilets and water for $6 a night. Stayed there 3 nights.

Saturday mo rning went to the Nelson Market and had a look around the Nelson area.

Sunday morning raining, so had a bit of a sleep in. In the afternoon Dave & Sue visited friends in Nelson and we visited my friend at Sto ke. Monday, another nice day.

Drove over the Takaka Hill and to the Pohara Boat Club at Tarakohe Harbour.

Another lovely spot. We stayed 2 nights. On Tuesday Bob & I went on the Farewell Spit trip, which was well worth doing. Dave & Sue had don it before so decided not to go again. Wednesday, left Pohara Boat Club and drove back over the hill and booked in at the Kaiteriteri Motor Camp. A very good camp with excellent facilities. Went on the Abel Tasman Sea Shuttle for a 4 hour cru ise around the Abel Tasman Park. Got off the boat for a short time at Totaranui Beach where there is a very large doc camp.

Thursday, another lovely day. Didn’t do a lot. Dave & Sue’s friends came out in the evening for a barbeque.

Drove to Nelson Friday morn ing and booked into the Tahunanui Camp. Had a look around Nelson and also the Nelson Cathedral. Saturday morn ing Bob & Dave went out for a while and when they came back we all went and looked at some motorhomes.

Didn’t do much else. My friends came and had dinner with us and we had a great catch up!. Left Nelson Sunday morning, drove to a lovely Doc Camp Mo morangi Bay, about 30k fro m Picton . Thought we would stay there for a couple of days before heading home. However, after lunch we heard the weather was going to get pretty rough so we drove into Picton to see when we would be able to get a ferry crossing, an d found we could get the last places available on the 6.30 crossing, so went back to Momorangi Bay, hooked up vehicles and drove back to Picton. A rather sudden end to our holiday, but we had a very calm crossing. The bad weather really h it as we were driving back to Levin at 11 O’clock that night.

We all agreed that it was a great holiday.

August Bob Saunders Larry Cotter Alan Green Owen Fargher

4th 5th 25th 31st

September Marj Empson Bob Byers Allan Jones

6th 18th 29th

October Jan Saunders 9th Ivy Marlow 10th Leighanne Signal 10th John Robinson 18th Barbara Green 21st

If my body were a car…

If my body were a car, this is the time I would be thinking about trading it in for a new model. I’ve got bumps and dents and scratches in my fin ish and my paint job is getting a litt le dull… but that’s not the worst of it, my headlights are out of focus and it’s especially hard to see things up close.

My traction is not as graceful as it once was. I slip and slide and skid and bump into things even in the best of weather.

My whitewalls are stained with varicose veins. It takes me hours to reach my maximu m speed. My fuel rate burns inefficiently.

But here’s the worst of it ……

Almost every time I sneeze, cough or splutter…..either my radiator leaks or my exhaust backfires!

A handy hint To avoid cutting yourself when slicing vegetables, get someone else to hold them wh ile you chop!

NZMCA CAMP Nancy Street Takapau 2, 3, 4 September 2011

This is a draft plan for the w eekend.

Friday 2nd

4.30pm - Happy Ho ur 6.30pm - Sausage Sizzle & Bread (Please bring the quantity you would eat) (or arrange your own tea)

Saturday 3 rd Free morning - shop till you drop at Waipukurau!

Afternoon - we are hoping to organise w ine tasting at Junction Wines 4.30pm - Happy Ho ur Come join the fun wearing a mask and hat or some sort of disguise 6.30pm - PEA - PIE and - SPUD AND followed by a small platter of sweets

MEAL

Use your imagination for the peas, a pie of so me sort and yo ur fave potato dish. Your choice how you put your culinary skills to use (esp the PEA challenge) Raffles and misdeamenours w ill probably take place on Saturday night Sunday 4th

10.00amish - morning tea

Fees will differ as NZMCA Members get discounted rates.

How ever it is not an ex pensive camp to stay at.

Can you please let us know by Friday 26th August if you are attending.

Ho me 06-3575251 Brian 0275 044336 Val 021 2300933 Hope to see you there and many thanks.

Brian & Val Rally Captains

Ashley Park Rally August 2011 A few l aughs!

A rubber-band pistol was confiscated fro m the algebra class because it was a weapon Of math destruction!

A guy walks into the psychiatrist wearing only cling film for shorts. The Shrink says, “well, I can clearly see you’re nuts!!!”

A Lawyer boarded a Jetstar flight in Perth with a bo x of fro zen crabs and asked a blonde stewardess to take care of them for h im. She took the bo x and put them in the crews refrigerator. The Lawyer advised her that he was holding her personally responsible for them staying frozen, mentioning in a very haughty manner that he was a Lawyer and proceeded to rant at her about what would happen if she let them thaw out. Needless to say, she was annoyed by his behaviour. Just before landing, she announced on the intercom to the entire cabin, “Would the lawyer who gave me the crabs in Perth, p lease raise your hand.” Not one hand went up….so she took them ho me and ate them.

Two lessons here….

Lawyers aren't as smart as they think they are &Blondes aren't as dumb as most people think!

FUTURE RALLIES September 2,3 & 4 Rally Captains

Takapau Brian & Val O’Leary

September/October 30,1 & 2 Castlecliff Rally Captains Trevor & Bev Hill October 21, 22, 23 & 24 Rally Captains

Te Awanga John & Bev Craig

November 11,12 & 13 Rally Captains

Ekatahuna Kevin & Eleanor O’Leary

December 2, 3 & 4 Rally Captains

Himatangi Committee

Canvasland Levin Address: 37 Oxford Street, Levin Telephone No: +64 6 368 7930 Fax: +64 6 368 0134 Email: canvasland@xtra.co.nz Web Site: www.canvasland.co.nz

We wish to take this opportunity to thank all our Sponsors, Levin club members please support them!!

She was only a whiskey maker but he loved her still

Check out our website @ www.levincaravanclub.blogspot.com

Phone 06 368 3549 Fax 06 368 3159 Email: info@levinmotorcamp@xtra.co.nz Clearly sign posted off all highways into Levin Individually hedged van sites on firm ground.

Spacious grounds for group activities and get togethers Close to shopping center and numerous leisure activities BASIC CABINS * TOILET CABINS * SELF CONTAINED UNITS * PARK MOTELS # Spacious new kitchen # new roomy shower # Gas BBQ # TV Room # New laundry # Play ground # Hall/Games room for meetings Qualmark4star Your hosts: David & Diane Goodin