RV ROADIE – YEAR 2 PART I
It was just over a year ago that I decided to give the RV lifestyle a try, and contrary to the dire predictions of several mates, I found that I enjoyed every moment of it. Well, almost every moment. So sure were my friends that I would probably only tolerate it for little more than a couple of days, I emailed them all after three days to tell them I was absolutely hating it, and was desperate to abandon the trip. A week or so later they realised I was pulling their legs. I then wrote a two-part article for this magazine, and concluded by saying “Would I do it again? Absolutely. I loved every minute of it.”
And so it was that by mid-year I had booked the same model, a Swift Black Bolero, from the same rental company, with plans to take it for six weeks in January and February of 2019. I did specify that I wanted the version with the fixed (hinged) table, not the one with the folding table which lives in a cupboard as we’d found that to be quite annoying.
Once more my delightful English ‘travelling companion, golf partner, navigator, and sous chef ’ Joy, volunteered to join my expedition. After the previous year’s trip we were beginning to think we knew a bit about the finer points of RV travel, as well as what to see and where to go. While not wishing anyone to think I am in a bit of a rut, there did have to be some sameness in that I like attending motor racing each weekend, playing on lots of nice golf courses and visiting as many aircraft museums as possible, while also seeing the countryside during the week.
We arrived into Auckland (from London) on January 9, via Air New Zealand and (which I always buy from the magazine stall upon arrival), until the Iconic depot was open. I then engaged a taxi to take us on the approximately 10-minute drive to the depot, but once he knew how short the journey would be the driver refused to take us. The next taxi back in the rank also refused. I ended up negotiating to share a shuttle, but the fact that taxi drivers can refuse to take a fare I found somewhat surprising. I don’t think they would be allowed to do that in other civilised countries.
