Well, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME .. I’m 50 ! 🎂🎉🎉
This is my October round up of 2023 so far 😮

So, last year Lexi passed away ( Lexi Willard 2014 - 2022 ❤️ ), and I’m still really sad about it ! 🥹
But, like I’ve said before, I can’t imagine my life without a dog.
So one thing leads to another, and I end up visiting a Chocolate Labrador litter. 🐶
Introducing Penny, the Chocolate Labrador.

Today, after a very short battle with Pancreatic cancer which had quickly spread to other organs, Lexi passed away while on the operating table.
She was born on the 8th of April, 2014, as an only pup, on a farm in Miranda.
She was special from the beginning.
I love her very much, and will miss her dearly.

After a few months of not blogging I thought it time to do a “catch up” blog of what’s been going on in life.
The truck has been completely repaired after the damage I did at Woodhill.
I’ve bought a roof top tent.
My passenger seat is empty again. 🙄

For so long I have wanted to drive the length of 90 Mile beach.
Back in 2009 or so, I drove out on to the beach with my family.
I have wonderful memories of Ashleigh sitting out the window of the car, and dancing in the wind, while I photographed her across the roof. ❤️
It was time to revisit the beach, but this time drive the length of it!

Bill Hohepa and the team at Keppler’s gave us an invite to come along to drive Whangamõmona road.
The brief was simple (none of us having done that road before), it’ll be about 5 hours, bring your own lunch.
Boy was that wrong! 😅

As part of a GWM Cannon owners group (which I also moderate) I see a lot of Cannon’s doing things in NZ.
Not very many of them do 4wd stuff.
Along comes Mitchell Devonshire, who bought a kitted out Cannon from Northland auto’s, then proceeded to do a couple of runs up Takapari Road.
I want in on that action …. let’s go 😁

All this year I’ve wanted to the do the 42 Traverse.
It’s open from the 1st December to the 30th April each summer for 4wd’s, and open year round for walking and mountain biking.
A lot of research and chatting with Matt, and we set a plan to drive the 42nd Traverse, then camp at Waipakihi river (and maybe even hunt 😛).

For quite some time I’ve been watching the price of wheel flares online.
I had a phone call with Savage Tech in Australia about them, but the shipping was exorbitant.
Finally Northland Autos imported a few from China, along with some snorkels.
I’m in !! 😂

Just in time, before Hamilton went in to lock down this month, I got out for a long weekend!
I had kinda planned 4 different adventures, in 4 days. And, with a little help, it all came together.
Some fishing, some snowboarding, some 4x4 river crossing, and some beach driving.
The GWM Cannon is the bizzo for adventures. 👍