Marton “Shake-Down” Trip

We have another Safari Trip planned in a couple of weeks, and Geoff was pondering.  Just how would his recently purchased SsangYong vehicle perform as a tow car?  While previously towing with a company car, this question had not arisen.  There was only one answer, a shake-down trip was needed, and we accompanied them on Friday to overnight at the recently opened NZMCA park at Marton.  There were several others campers enjoying this facility, and we joined forces and gathered under some shady trees for afternoon 4zees.

  Marton NZMCA camp site

This site was formerly the Marton Motor Camp, which closed down several years ago.  The NZMCA purchased the land and buildings from the council, and canvassed neighbours to help get Resource Consent.  After this was granted members held work days to remove the old care-taker’s house, cut down a few trees, erect a timber fence around the property and create a new entrance way.  30 sites with hard standing are available to members, and the toilet block was left in place as it was in such good condition.  However, as I found out, glasses are a necessity to gain entrance to the toilet block, as one must not only remember the password, but be able to read the tiny little numbers and press them in the correct sequence, while standing outside the toilet door with crossed legs!  And to take a torch at night as there is no power at all in camp.

Comfort stop – this way

Also in camp were  Rae and Bruce, and like us, they take their Birman cat with them in the caravan.  Misty is a Blue Birman, and quite a large boy too, compared to our little Muffy.  We were interested to see Misty’s new “car seat”, which attaches to the back seat of the car.  The car seat has an attachment which clips through the animal’s harness, keeping him safely contained.  Misty isn’t too sure what to make of it at this stage, but it certainly looks comfy enough to curl up in and snooze the journey away.

The neighbouring cat Misty in his car seat

We strolled through the adjacent Marton Park with it’s pretty flower beds and several large monuments.  This one commemorates the coronation of King Edward VII in 1902, the cessation of hostilities in south  Africa and stands in front of the Jubilee Pavilion.

Memorial and Pavilion Grand-stand

A view of the gardens and kiddies toadstool table and seats

Saturday morning dawned bright and sunny, and after a leisurely lunch we packed up to make the 100km trip back to Otaki.  Mustn’t forget to pay our overnight fees into the “Iron Maiden”.  And I took advantage of the Swap-a-Book selection on offer, choosing a new book, and replacing it with a paperback I had finished.

Paying our fees in the Iron Maiden

Geoff seems well pleased with how his SsangYong Rexton car performed on its first towing trip.  With a towing capacity of  3,200kg, it is described as “perfect for those needing to tow boats, caravans or horse floats”.  Now, we know Geoff doesn’t have a boat or a horse float, and the car handled the first test perfectly.  Looks like Geoff need not worry at all about our up-coming caravan safari, his car will no doubt work like a dream.