Cook's Tour 2006

Taking advantage of my redundancy payment whilst still young and healthy to go visit those places I have always dreamt about.

So house and cars are up for sale, the rest will go in a container and I will set off to see what there is to be seen.

House For Sale

Week 1 : 1-7 July 2006

Acquired a new 4 band phone to work anywhere in the world, also a new laptop to keep my diary up to date and copy camcorder DVD images for storage. Decided to visit some local places first, Ironbridge, Sherwood Forest, Jodrell Bank, Lion Salt Works, Donington Grand Prix Collection, Coventry Motor Museum and Duxford Air Museum. Went OK most of the time, MG broke down one day when the fuel pump gave up so had to wait an hour for a lift home. And found out the roof is leaking again in torrential rain, dripping on the front seats so got a wet bum! Apart from that quite uneventful

Major Oak       Broken Down

Week 2 : 8-14 July 2006

Quiet weekend doing admin, took a trip to Mallory Park to see the VMCC Festival of 1000 Bikes which was quite interesting. Went for a ride to Snowdonia but was overcast most of the way and rain and low clouds as soon as I crossed the border into Wales. Forecast was better for the rest of the week so booked myself into Edale Youth Hostel for a couple of nights and set off to the Peak District. Had some nice walks down Dove Dale and up Mam Tor and quite burnt in the sunshine. Coming back through Derby the heater hose blew but managed to fix it just well enough to get me home when the repair gave way. Nice message on my home phone - Barring a last interview I have been passed fit for New Zealand Immigration.

Reynards Cave

Week 3 : 15-21 July

Spent the weekend replacing an oil seal on the MGB, didn't work as well as I'd hoped so in the Mini this week. Fed up with snorers in the hostels so got out my tent and set of for the Yorkshire Dales. Campsite near Hawes and had a great time driving, walking, avoiding the heatwave. Even found where Wallace and Gromit buy their cheese!! Lots of waterfalls and rivers but little water. Mini went well and seemed to like the narrow, twisty and steep roads better than the MG would. Good interview with NZ Immigration, should hear in 2 weeks. Plus someone want's to view the house on Saturday.

Pecca Falls        Wallace and Gromit

Week 4 : 22-28 July

Changed the oil seal in the MG again, still leaking a bit though. Took the Brough to Stanford Hall for Founders Day, a drizzly day but good to meat others Broughers, and also saw a steam powered motorcycle! Took the MG up to South Ferriby to spend the week with Mum. Had to finish the tiling in my sisters bathroom, the tiler made a mess and they kicked him out. Also went to see a storage company in Hull, they have some static containers I can use. MG as playing up in the heat though, did not like the heavy traffic and was close to boiling over. A lazy time really, reading a few books and trying to keep cool. Filled the car up with empty boxes and headed back home on Friday.

Week 5 : 29 July - 4 August

Graham came down for a few beers on Saturday, so went to see what Polesworth had to offer. On Sunday went to the blast furnace at Moira, quite an impressive and well preserved structure on the canal. A quiet week at home. Put new rear springs on the MG and packed the boxes I picked up last week. Got the OK from New Zealand Immigration so sent off my passport to put in the Visa. Took the gas fire apart to fix the pilot light as the local gas man didn't seem too interested in coming out. Spent one day driving around looking for wind and water mills, I'd picked up a guide in Tamworth. Had to change cars after the fist one however when white smoke was coming out the MG exhaust after I'd stopped. So now looks like I've blown the head gasket. Took a drive to Milton Keynes to Bletchley park to see the Enigma decoding museum.

Moira furnace

Week 6 : 5 - 11 August

Mainly at home doing repairs to the Mini (exhaust had a hole in it), to the Hornet (tidying up for sale), the Mg (Engine kaput - look for a replacement) and the Brough (battery kaput). Did manage to fix the Mini and went to see the Shuttleworth Collection of aircraft. Got the Brough all ready for the annual show next Sunday, then saw the forecast for torrential rain and gave up on that idea.

Week 7 : 12 - 18 August

Best weather seemed to be in the SW so packed the tent in the Mini and went down to Dartmoor hunting down standing stones and stone circles. Great success for 3 days until the rain came down and headed home via Bristol to see the SS Great Britain. Back home then to carry out chores and heard I had a 2 year resident visa in NZ which is better than the work to residence I was expecting.

Langstone Moor Stone  SS Great Britain

Week 8 : 19 - 26 August

My passport came through with my New Zealand visa. I have a year to activate it and gives me 2 years re-entry with work permit. So all systems are go. Spent a day at Mini in the Park trying to sell the Hornet, one guy made a low offer which I refused. He was going to think about it and may call back. Had a couple of removals people around to give me quotes for packing, storage and shipping to Wellington. They didn't like me packing the boxes though. Dropped the MG into the garage for a new engine then had fun getting home from Gravelly Hill on the buses. Was planning a few days in Norfolk but the weather looked particularly bad around there and changed plans and went to Wales. Driving around mid Wales for a few days finding a few more stone circles and a gold mine. Managed not to get too wet. Headed to Snowdonia at the end of the week, not realising it was a bank holiday weekend and the traffic came to a halt. Beat a retreat home for the weekend.

Llyn Clywedog Reservoir Dyffryn Burial Chamber

Week 9 : 27th August - 1st September

Spent a day around Warwick looking at watermills and windmills. Rest of the time looking for info on a trip to Iceland. Flights seemed cheap and always wanted to go. Decided to get rid of the plants and furniture I didn't want so hired a long wheelbase van to take to Mum's and Steven & Mary. Needed it because my park bench is 8 foot long. Booked it for Wednesday but the hirer kept it an extra day so didn't get it until Thursday. Never mind I got free fuel for my trouble which saved quite a few pennies. Got all the info together for Iceland and found the cheapest flight at £99 from Gatwick leaving 20th September returning 11th October.

Currie Run trophy

Week 10 : 2nd - 8th September

Found a coach from Birmingham to Gatwick which will get me in in time to catch my flight, save parking fees in London. Took the Brough out on the Currie Run, managed to snap the front brake cable on the way but persevered and won a cup for best sidecar (only sidecar actually). Back to Mum's to spend a week sorting out the garage in case I need to store a Mini, a few more odd jobs such as the guttering and pointing to repair whilst I was at it. Got the garage nice and clear then Mark came off his motorcycle so that appeared to fill up all the space. Nice sunset from the back garden though of the South Ferriby cement works, the odd bullock and Humber .

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Week 11 : 9 - 15th September

Back home with Mum along to do some weeding. Took the Hornet to Stanford Hall but nobody interested. Nice and sunny on Monday so took a trip to Snowdonia again. Took the train up Snowdon but there was demolition work on the line so we couldn't get to the top. Views were still impressive though. Back then to South Ferriby and put up a new gate and a few more odds and end to the Bungalow and garden. Sorted out a route for Iceland and in discussions with the Icelandic YHA to sort out my accommodation.

Week 12 : 16 - 22nd September

Spent a couple of days doing a full and accurate inventory of everything already packed and yet to pack, ready for the removals men when they come. Then off on my first major trip, flying from Gatwick to Keflavik in Iceland for 3 weeks touring. Stayed around Keflavik to start with, getting used to the scenery and way of life up here. Lots of lava fields and hot springs with steam belching out all over the place. The Blue Lagoon is perhaps the most famous, though I was not tempted to go in. It is waste water from the next door power station you know!!

The Blue Lagoon

Week 13 : 23 - 29th September

Continuing my trip around Iceland, heading out of Reykjavik heading in a clockwise direction around the country. More hot springs all over the place, one hostel had a hot tub fed from a spring which was great, but you come out smelling of bad eggs! Some absolutely fantastic scenery though, certainly around the Western Fjords even though it was a bit foggy in places.

Geirpjofsfjordur

Week 14 : 30th September - 6th October

In Iceland still, trekking clockwise from the Western Fjords round the east coast then around the south coast past the large glacial areas. A bit of rain for a day or two but otherwise pleasant, though a bit frosty at times.

Bredamerkurjokull

Week 15 : 7th - 13th October

Finished off the tour of Iceland with a few days around Reykjavik. A bit wet and windy but still managed to see the spectacular Strokkur geyser and Gullfoss waterfalls, had a cracking hot chocolate at the latter.. Back home and the day after sold my house so all systems go now for some serious exploring.

Strokker GeyserGullfoss Hot Chocolate

Week 16 : 14th - 20th October

At home sorting out all my photos and DVD's of the holiday. Also a bit more sorting out of my packing lists and putting more stuff on Ebay to get rid of it.

Week 17 : 21st - 27th October

Went to see Graham for the weekend, went for a walk to the top of Snowdon in the rain. Didn't see much because of the low clouds. Sorting out more rubbish in the garage and sadly sold my beloved Hornet.

Hornet

Week 18 : 28th October - 3rd November

Trip to the NEC to the Classic Car Show, some quite nice cars if a bit too clean for me. Also to an autojumble in Huddersfield but was a waste of time. Then drove to Guildford to see Montfort about sorting out all me pension and tax issues, they will sort them out (for a fee!). Took the lawnmower apart to give it a good clean, surprised it worked after that! Then for the last trip out on the Brough before draining the tank and taking that apart to clean it all.

Week 19 : 4th - 10th November

Finished off cleaning the Brough and putting it all back together nice and clean and waxed for the trip. Trip to Kinver Edge for a walk, some good views and also found a stone circle nearby that wasn't in my records. Finished inventorying the garage at last. Starting some serious route planning now for trip hoping to start in January.

Week 20 : 11th - 17th November

Worked out a route: Bangkok - Singapore - Sydney - Honolulu - Los Angeles - Phoenix - Home. Can do this as a round the world ticket quite cheap. Need to add on Los Angeles - Lima - Santiago - Easter Island return separately. Found a nice tour from Lima to Nazca Lines and Machu Pichu as well as a lot of othersites in a 23 day tour.

Week 21 : 18th - 24th November

Finally got my MG back from the garage, running in the engine but the alternator gave up. Brother gave me a spare and managed to get home ok. Booked all flights at last, route now Singapore, Bangkok, Sydney, Honolulu, (LAX), (Miami), Lima, (Santiago), Easter Island, (Santiago), (Lima), LAX, Phoenix, Home. Also booked campervan in Sydney and hostels in Sydney and Singapore. Had a test packing my case, then had to go out and buy a bigger one!

Week 22 : 25th November - 1st December

A busy week. Resprayed the MG bonnet which had been damaged by the garage. Taking most of the rest of the flat pack furniture apart and finishing off packing lists ready for the move next week. Dropped the MG and Brough at Pickfords. Wondering when I will see them again.

Week 23 : 2nd - 8th December

Final clearout then the packers came to empty the house. Left on Tuesday evening and sale completed on Wednesday. Homeless and jobless now so off to stay with Mum until the New Year.

Week 24 : 9th - 15th December

Started reading guide books on Singapore and Bangkok and finding interesting things to see. Most exciting thing I did was build a small prefab greenhouse.

Week 25 : 16th - 22nd December

Finished off the guide books, Australia taking a while. Most things booked now, only a hostel on Hawaii and the USA leg of the tour to sort out. Foggy and frosty this week, and we lost the Ashes again.

Week 26 : 23rd - 29th December

Christmas came and went. Mostly chocolates and whisky as I hoped, things I could eat before I go and don't have to take with me.

Week 27 : 30th December - 5th January

Through New Year ok. Somewhat sad as I finally sold my Mini. So now all set and ready for start of the major tour next week.

Mini