Break Down

I had a break down the other day.

Not me personally, but my car.

Thankfully not the 'good' car either, but my other car.

I got as far as Kaiwaka - actually 1km south of Kaiwaka to be precise.  Then, on the little hill, my vehicle ran out of puff.  My eyes flicked immediately to the water gauge and it was topping out on the big H. 

Steam was definitely rising out from under the bonnet.  That could explain the wierd Pffff-ffff-ffff-ing sound I heard earlier.  It definitely explained what the red lights meant that had been showing up on the dash for a few kilometers previous.

This is what happens when you live in a country that does not allow you to drive - you forget what the little pictures mean.  You forget that the very first thing you must do when you see little pictures is pull over because break down is eminent.  Not carry on while you try to decipher little pictures.

The battery picture I got straight away - although I did wonder why it was on given the car was still going.  The little steaming hamburger one just didn't register - particularly as I looked at the water gauge when the warning light first came on and the gauge looked fine.

Personally I'd prefer the word "OVER HEATING" to the burger picture...along with loud alarm sounds.  Seriously, on contemplating what the burger picture might mean the thought that first came to mind was stopping at the next town for coffee and while there I'd see what the lights were on for. 

Bad move.  Didn't make it....

My car has blown a head gasket  which, given the age of the vehicle, isn't worth fixing.

And to think at the last town I passed through I was thinking how well the little beast was doin.

I had to text my mate, who no longer has a car to baby sit for me or get himself around, with 'Houston we have a problem.  Did you insure the car?'  Of course he did, but not against breakdown.  Bugger!

Shout out to the guys in the forestry machinery repair place near where I broke down for all their help and a ride to Warkworth where my sister could pick me up.  And for letting me leave the car out back of the shed till I could get it picked up.

Big shout out to Ross Richardson of Shamrock Auto's in Kaiwaka.  Very nice guy who I have only had phone conversations with but he got my car picked up, took it to the garage, had a quick look to see the damage, offered a couple of options (ie repair for minimum $1000 or scrap) and then also organised for my wonderful car to be scrapped.  (When I do get north I intend to drop in and say thanks personally).

Yep, it's great to know there are really nice people out there who would help a lady in distress.
Not that I was distressed.  I was more "buggar!.  buggar, buggar!  dumb arse".  Is that distressed?

I haven't managed to get up north yet.  But I will, safe in the knowledge that my good car (the Renault) is insured for breakdown.

Travelling New Zealand in a Renault

I'm travelling around New Zealand in a Renault, Megane or something like that. 

I only know this info because the other day I had to pay the car registration.

My son informed me the rego needed paying soon.  Don't ya love when your kids say "Soon" about anything that needs  paying.  I checked the label and discovered I had two days till the rego ran  out. 

I also discovered how difficult it is to pay your car registration at a Post Shop without cash or eftpos.
What d'ya mean I can't pay with credit card over the counter? 
What happened to living on credit?
Who actually uses cash these days? 

I had to go find an internet and pay online. 

Now I am waiting for the rego label to be sent to the house.  I better tell them not to throw the mail out when it comes....cos I don't actually live at the house.

Till then I'm travelling New Zealand in a registered yet labelless Renault.

I travel New Zealand by car

Whenever I go home to New Zealand I tiki tour around the place by car.

It's always nice driving on the proper side of the road again - the left hand side.  Actually it's nice being able to drive at all - where I live now, ladies don't drive.

The price of gas is a bit on the ekky side - that's a real downer about NZ.  We are, as my husband likes to say, at the arse end of the world, so some things costs just a little bit more.

And that wierd little give way rule New Zealand has still gives me a tiny bit of angst at intersections - maybe when I move home I will actually learn it properly.  For now I try to remember the right hand rule ditty "Give way to all traffic crossing or approaching from your right."  (If all else fails 'wait to see what they do' has always worked for me).

But the scenery - the views from winding mountain roads, the picnic spots, the beautiful beaches, our smooth city highways, even the occasional rural gravel road, more than makes up for any issues with little things like fuel cost and quirky road rules. 

There are so many things about driving around New Zealand that are worthy of sharing.  Join me, and lets travel around New Zealand in my car, together.