TransAlpine 2020
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30th Oct - 2nd Nov |
This year’s TransAlpine comprised 24 cars and 44 Club Members. We met up at the Rolly Inn at Rolleston on a damp and cool spring morning. After registering and a short briefing, we all set off heading south to Tinwald to meet up with fellow Club Members from Ashburton and then on to Geraldine for a Morning Tea stop at the various Cafes the town has to offer.
With the weather clearing up we then headed off to our lunch stop at Poppys in Twizel for a very nice lunch break. With a couple of cars late to arrive due to some wrong turns, we had the opportunity for a few photos and a catch-up on the lawn.
With the weather clearing up we then headed off to our lunch stop at Poppys in Twizel for a very nice lunch break. With a couple of cars late to arrive due to some wrong turns, we had the opportunity for a few photos and a catch-up on the lawn.
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Then it was off to our destination in Cromwell at Central Park Apartments located next to the track at Highlands Park. Some of the Members took the opportunity to wander over to the track to catch the last of the club meeting races for the day and to view some of the cars and chat with their drivers. Everyone then gathered for the usual pre-dinner drinks before heading off in the shuttle to the Cromwell Working Men’s Club, where we were made most welcome and had a great evening meal and catch-up.
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Saturday morning we were off to Wanaka, where some viewed the Collectables Museum which invoked some great memories of days gone by and vehicles we all once owned. A real trip down memory lane and always worth a visit. Others headed in to Wanaka for some shopping and coffees. Our lunch venue was the historic Cardrona Hotel with its beautiful gardens, but not before some had dropped in to the Cardrona Distillery to taste some of the fine whiskey made there. Arrowtown was the next stop for sightseeing and time to wander around the gift shops and cafes, before heading back to the Apartments to prepare for the evening. Pre-dinner drinks provided some entertainment in the courtyard with the themed evening dress up of “Wild West” in tune with the dinner venue in the old town at the Victoria Arms Hotel. Transport to and from the Hotel proved challenging, with the only shuttle available having done a few hundred thousand k’s starting to show its age, but everyone managed to get there eventually. After the evening meal with the award for the best dress couple being presented to Dave and Mel, we all headed back with one eye on the Rugby Test. Everyone got home safely, even those that chose to walk on a rather chilly evening.
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Sunday morning dawned with fine weather again and those that chose to take their cars on the Highlands track were off early for the briefing and ready to get some spirited driving in. There were only a couple of offs, either in to the kitty litter or up the wrong turn. But everyone arrived back beaming and wishing there were more laps available. Others toured the Museum and had some breakfast before the days run to Chatto Creek Tavern for lunch and on to Naseby. Some left to head home or on to their own destination, leaving the rest on the tour to gather for dinner at night at the “Five Stags” restaurant where everyone enjoyed their meals.
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On the final morning everyone was left to make their own way home in their own time after another great TransAlpine Tour.
Craig Harman,
On behalf of the TransAlpine sub-committee
