I found Tuakau once, by chance, back in the late 60s or early 70s. Then I could never find it again, until the world got smaller in the 90s. Nowadays the world is very small and Tuakau is just down the road.
When I was a small boy, my father for some reason had occasion to travel form Beachaven , where we lived, to Howick.
This enormous journey, talked over for weeks beforehand, required a weeks stockpiling of bedding (we were to stay one night with relatives on the way out, another on the way home); spare parts sufficient to build several complete spare cars; petrol, oil water, at least half a dozen extra spare tyres and wheels, a toolkit capable of repairing a battleship, and enough food and drink to last a week.
All of this was stowed away in the Studebaker, a task occupying two days (I helped daddy load it in ). The entire inside of the car was crammed full, a large stack of crates and boxes tied to the roof, more stacked up on the running boards, and the rear carrier (cars had no boot in those days) was piled high. I was then perched in the back on top of a pile of jerry cans full of petrol (no nonsense about seat belts or baby seats then), and we set off , farewelled by everybody in the neighbourhood, most of whom were fairly confident we would never be seen again.
The journey took three days (I checked my mothers diary). We broke down five times, including boiling on the dreaded Razorback (everybody did , so that was to be expected). It took my mother months to recover from the journey.
Now, I can pop into Howick for afternoon tea.
The world has indeed grown smaller.
I see all the bikes are reecent models. No girder forks.
Originally Posted by skidmark
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