Our Wings

Our Wings

 

He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge. (Psalm 91:4)

 

When we paid the deposit on our caravan we also joined the New Zealand Motor Caravan Association. It opens up a whole new world of interesting, out of the way places to stay, and discounts on many things including inter-island ferry travel.

Our information pack duly arrived with our member number, 59919, and stickers to attach to the caravan with the Association symbol, outstretched wings. Also in the pack were the two latest magazines and in one of them was an article by Jan Pendergrast in the North Island. I knew Jan by email as a member of the Christian Writers but we haven’t met. When I told her we had joined and that I enjoyed her article and knowing she was a member, she also said that she and her husband had a Park Over Property and we were welcome to stay when we passed through. So when we do our north island trip later in the year we will get to meet.

I like being symbolised by wings: wings to fly, wings to show a new adventure, wings to take us who knows where.

We read a few days later about the longing of Jesus for the city of Jerusalem.

“How often I have longed to gather your children together,” Jesus said, “as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!”

God’s desire is to have us all under the protection of his wings, and many verses in the Psalms also speak of this and the comfort and safety he brings.

As we set out on this new adventure we are grateful that our lives are in God’s hands and we are under his wings, safe and secure.

 

 

Lost, Found and Three Floods

Thursday 16^th July 2015

 

OK, we may be in the Ark but we were not planning on having any floods. However, if something goes wrong with the outlet pipe that takes wastewater from the sink or the bathroom hand basin into the wastewater tank, then the water backs up into the base of the shower. We had decided that while we can use camping ground showers we would not use our own, so the space is very useful for storage. When we arrive at a new place and set up one of the routines is to connect the hose between the outlet pipe and turn on the tap. Note: TURN ON THE TAP. Ha ha, twice now the tap hasn’t been turned on and we don’t notice until we have a little flood in the shower. Then we have to take everything out and dry it out. Twice the most affected item has been the laundry bag, but both times I was about to do the laundry anyway, so it wasn’t too bad, just load the wet washing into the washing machine where it would get wetter still. The third time it blocked was in Timaru where the severe frost caused the end of the pipe to freeze, and it didn’t defrost until we were on the road to Christchurch.

 

The third flood yesterday was the first to actually run over the lip of the shower base and onto the floor, making the carpet slightly wet. Dean put it outside to dry.

 

Then a funny thing happened, although Dean thought it was far from funny at the time. I had to go out late morning and after lunch when I went into the bathroom to do my teeth I was reminded of the mat outside. I called to ask Dean where he put it. On the top of the car, he replied, hurrying out the door to check on it. I heard his yell from inside that it was gone, and of course I could see immediately what would have happened, but couldn’t reply till my mouth was free of toothpaste.

 

No sign of the mat, so I walked to the gate of the camp, still no sign. We jumped in the car and drove up Whiteleigh Avenue on the lookout. Thankfully about 500 metres up the road was our folded over bathroom mat huddling in the gutter. Was Dean relieved!

 

Our earlier lost item was our TV. We are not big TV watchers, but thought it would be useful to have a TV anyway and bought a small 12volt TV especially for the caravan. In the bustle of moving day when our household goods were stored in the storage unit it went missing. Dean didn’t notice until the next morning when he went to get it from its place on the shelf.

 

Realising what had happened, we decided that 18 months without TV wouldn’t necessarily be a bad thing and we could cope. Anyway, our friend Ian was helping that day for the second day, and yes, he could remember it going into the storage unit; he had carried it in himself! When he and Dean went back to the unit with a further load, Ian looked up and said, look, there’s the TV box. With a bit of scrambling Dean was able to climb up and retrieve it. So yes, we have our TV and have watched one movie so far. Dean rigged up our satellite dish on to a wooden base and it sits in the caravan when we travel and on the ground outside when we are parked. So we get very good reception.

 

 

Back to Christchurch

Tuesday 14^th July 2015

 

Well, we have completed our first little trip. We had one night at Ashburton, four in Oamaru, one in Timaru, and now we are back in Christchurch. We are at the Addington Camping Ground this time as it is cheaper than Amber Park, and will be here about four nights. Then it will be time to take the van to Andrew’s and we will be off to Thailand for a month. At least it will be warm there, maybe too warm!

 

We knew winter was not the best time to start off, but it hasn’t been too bad, apart from the odd thing like frozen pipes this morning in Timaru so we couldn’t get water in or out, and we’ve had to scrape the frost off the car windscreens a couple of days. You would think we’d have learnt by now to put paper on the windscreen. Frosts of minus five or six degrees certainly make their presence felt.

 

It has been an interesting time of settling in and getting used to the spaces and where to keep things, and to establish routines. At least it is very warm and cosy and the bed is comfortable, so that is great. It has also been a great time of catching up with friends and relatives, all good fun.

 

Our biggest issue is with the internet, or lack thereof, and computer problems in general because we haven’t got our laptops properly set up yet. Our little mobile wifi device is not the answer to all our dreams as it gobbles up the data allocation so fast it is startling. We spent almost two hours over two visits with the friendly young guys at Dick Smith in Oamaru who helped us to reset some settings to save data use and sort out a couple of other problems, but even they couldn’t get the oldish laptop I am using to connect to wifi, which frustrated them and me! Hopefully we will get the little laptop sorted for use in Thailand, and get the rest of it sorted when we get back.

 

So all in all, a great experience so far, and looking forward to getting into it in earnest in the spring when we will have longer days and warmer weather.

The Ark

Dean wanted a personalised number plate. Now was our chance with the caravan.

 

We tossed around many variations of the same theme, and at last it was decided, ordered and even arrived before we took delivery of the caravan. So, here it is in the photo. 

 

Why Ark 2? Well, for one thing, you have to get what is still available. Some of his first choices were already taken. 2? Well, there are two of us, and off we go, together.

 

The Ark. We have long had an interest in the ark that God asked Noah to build so many years ago. Dean has built a model of it, which we have with us in the car. He is happy to talk about it anywhere we go.

 

Many people have a misconception of the ark as their image comes from caricatures in children’s picture books, where the giraffes have their heads sticking out the top and there is clearly not enough room for everyone.

 

But no, the real ark was not at all like that. It was a three-storey marvel of engineering built by Noah and his three sons over a period 120 years. For all that time Noah preached safety and escape from the coming judgment. But the people did not believe him. There was plenty of room for everyone who would come, but they were left outside to perish because of their unbelief.

 

So the ark speaks of God’s provision to escape the coming judgment. It speaks of safety; security during times of trouble (the great flood and violent seas); and of God’s care for us.

 

In God’s hands we are in our place of safety. We are in our ark.

On We Go

9^th July 2015

 

Heavy rain through the night is all we see of the bad weather. Otherwise it passes us completely.

 

We leave the farm by 9.30 and set out for Oamaru. It is mostly dry on the way, with only the occasional shower, but there is an icy cold wind.

 

Dean is managing the towing very well, but because we don’t go over about 80 kmh he pulls aside frequently to let following traffic pass. Also there are many passing lanes, for which we are very thankful.

 

We stop for lunch at Caroline Bay in Timaru, buying food at Couplands and eating in the caravan. If it was warmer we’d be out on the picnic seats, but at least we have our home with us, so can be comfortable on cold days.

 

By two o’clock we arrive in Oamaru and make our way to the Oamaru Harbour Tourist Park. It is a very small camping ground by the harbour with a lovely view of the boats, but we choose a spot behind the big block building of the Oamaru Rowing Club so we are out of the wind! Facilities are good, but we are all set in our comfortable van anyway. We are glad to plug into mains power again after one night on the gas.

 

The purpose of being here is for my uncle’s 90^th birthday. It was actually yesterday, but the party afternoon tea is on Saturday. We do a quick visit to them both at Iona Home where Mercia is resident and Ray is visiting and catch up with the news.

 

Then home to shower, cook tea, and have a catch-up evening. It will be a fun few days with heaps of relatives in town to celebrate Ray Meikle’s life and special birthday.

 

A funny thing was happening yesterday when we were first travelling. Every now and then I would think of something I wanted, and think, bother I’ve left it behind because I put it in such and such a cupboard or drawer. Then I would remember that of course it was with us because that cupboard or drawer was right behind us.

First Travelling Day

8^th July 2015

 

First Travelling Day

 

Dire weather forecasts came thick and fast. When my friend, Marie, had asked if we had chains for the car and caravan I had laughed at her.

 

 “If there’s snow around, we won’t go,” I said. But now we were about to set off down the east coast where bitter cold and snow were forecast. There had been a few hail showers during the night and the car and campgrounds were still covered with hailstones. We hoped to somehow miss the worst of it as the storm moved north and we moved south. It would pass us by quickly was the theory.

 

The morning was fine and sunny as we prepared to leave, although very cold outside. Inside the caravan it has been cosy with a very effective heater.

 

The first hiccup came as Dean prepared to put the 50mm tow ball on to the tow bar we’d had fitted to the car. (Another task that could have been done a day or so ago, left to the last minute.)  Problem 1: the hole in the tow bar was too small for the high-rise tow ball bolt to fit into; problem 2: the tow ball bracket interfered with the safety chain shackle. So a hasty trip into town to the tow bar fitters was required.

 

With Ashburton only an hour away for normal travelling, we had first thought of leaving after lunch, but in light of the forecasts and the present good weather, we decided to get on the road earlier, so pulled out of the camp at 11.30 am. First stop was the Parkhouse Eco Depot where we could weigh the car and caravan and make sure everything was in balance.  All was good and we were on the way.

 

Dean did well on his first day driving. We were thankful that the road between Christchurch and Ashburton has many passing lanes and he was careful to pull over whenever possible to let cars behind pass us. We stopped at Rakaia for hot pies and coffee and a welcome break, and pulled into our camping site just out of Ashburton at 2.30 pm. The weather remained fine all the way with a good view over to the snow-topped mountains. A text message from my sister reported that Christchurch by now had sleety showers.

 

About an hour after arriving we had a few light showers and the wind got up a bit in the evening. We will see how it goes during the night.

 

We are parked on a POP site, one of many Park Over Properties in the NZ Motor Caravan Association network. These are private properties, mostly of other members, where they allow NZMCA members to park without charge. The farmer, Andrew, came to chat with us briefly and make us feel welcome. We have pigs, sheep and lambs, and horses as our neighbours.

 

Now we get the benefits of our self-containment certificate, without which we couldn’t stay in places like this. We have no power, but have gas, so can boil water on the gas cooker for hot drinks and cook for tea. The heater is on gas, but we won’t leave it on all night as we did when we had power.

 

So our first day has been successful. We will see how things go tomorrow, and hope the worst of the bad weather has passed by morning.

 

 

Ready for the Road

7^th July 2015

All set to go…….                                                                

We’ve been at Amber Park Camping Ground in Christchurch now for six nights, and tomorrow we head off. It will be the first time for Dean to tow the caravan and we plan a gentle amble down to Ashburton (one hour away) for the first day’s travelling, the start of our ‘on-the-road’ adventures. As a friend said at the weekend, we have invested in 'wheel estate'.

Last week was frantic, and we are glad to have it behind us. Far too much ‘stuff’ and far too many jobs left to the last minute. Anyone about to move learn from us! Deal with things earlier, and get rid of ‘stuff’. Ha, easier said than done.

Our storage unit is stuffed full and I wonder, when we come back will we be appalled at the rubbish we have thought important enough to store? Probably, but not knowing what sort of house we will come back to, we do tend to hang on to things in case they will be right for the next house. Time will tell.

Thanks to the wonderful guys at UK Caravans, Peter and Bruce, we feel ready to hit the road. This morning Peter came to show us how to erect the awning, and it will be fun when we have it up for real in Oamaru in a few days time.

The caravan is warm and cosy and in spite of a weather forecast of sleet and maybe snow to low levels, we hope to be fine. We will stop in Ashburton until the bad weather has moved through and then carry on.



(Sorry for the lack of photos. Just spent an hour trying to upload and add two photos, but the laptop is exceedingly slow and the upload keeps cutting out at various stages. Photos next time.......There has been hail overnight, and the forecast is not great, but we will keep an eye out and be careful.)