Mahia says "Slow Down"
On the vehicle honeymoon, senses are hightened to monitor rattles, shakes, creaks and vibrations–gradually the sounds determined to be ok melt away and all that’s left is a purring ride. But sometimes they come back. The gauges move a little higher than they normally do or wave erratically. Dashboard notification lights blink…and then stay on.
I’ve made it to Wellington so far. In the last five days, what started as an overheating engine gauge, led to a faulty engine thermometer and has now become a busted radiator with a chance of a damaged engine. Seemingly small changes in the driving experience have quickly spiraled into full blown problems.
The van trouble is not all bad, but rather a blessing. I was aiming to rush down to Wellington in a day, missing the tail end of a swell in hopes of getting to South Island to fully capture the remaining golden hour full of pumping surf and moderate temperatures for a land exposed to the Antarctic ocean. The extra days I spent in Mahia have been filled with good waves and great company. Pumping surf, hot springs and beach fires–all in the same day. It doesn’t get much better. Slow down, let the salty smokey air fill the nostrils and clothes and wash it all away with the rejuvenating mineral scents of the hot springs.
So, while im sitting in the tiny cubby of a lobby at an auto repair shop Wellington, looking out over my van under the rachetting and drilling attack of the Stu the mechanic, wondering if I just cooked my engine and the remainder of my van life in N Zed, I don’t feel all that bad.
