Babs’ travels -The Peking to Paris Rally and other driving adventures.

Auckland is built on a load of extinct volcanoes - did you know that?  I didn't, before coming here. It makes the city very hilly. Think lots of small, sharp hills rather than rolling ones. It's an architectural mishmash with a not so attractive centre. It's friendly, laid back and, at the moment, has a chilly wind.  We collected the cars from the warehouse today. It's always exciting to turn up and see the cars lined up, dusted off and ready to roll. Car no 10, a very fine Bristol 401, had a slight rebellion after such a long journey and had a flat battery. Charlie and Richard, our trusty mechanics, had it going in no time and off we set back to the hotel for scrutineering.  There were various admin things to complete, rally clothing to collect and we were all given a very large umbrella - a portent!  During the pre-dinner drinks we were treated to a full Maori welcome with a rousing Haka.  Tomorrow we're off!  Our leave time is 0810, with lots to do befor...

I'm lazy. There's no other thing that excuses it really.  I write this blog, not because I want people to follow my life; if that was the reason, I wouldn't leave so much out of it that I do. Mainly, I write because I want a record for Adrian, and me, of big trips.  I travel a lot - far more than I write about here, but rallies are something else.  Here we are, on a plane somewhere over Australia, on our way to New Zealand to take part in the Haka rally in the Bristol 401. Sexiest car ever made, in my opinion. I've been in Cambodia, no surprises there, and before that I was at home for a month having spent 8 weeks prior to that on a mammoth trip across the US in our Land Rover Defender camper.   What a trip it was. Why didn't I blog?  Indolence, pure and simple.  What amazing experiences we had though and I didn't write about them! I will regret that in years to come, when my memory fades.  I did actually write an account of one day. I'm ashamed that i...