Crank Up- 2017

Catch-up

This one's been waiting in the wings for a long while- since Saturday, January 28th, 2017 to be exact, a Saturday that turned out to be the hottest day in the whole of Southland's poor excuse for a summer. 

Crank Up is one of the biggest vintage machinery events in New Zealand and is held in the shadow of the huge Edendale Dairy factory that dominates the landscape in the Southland country town of the same name. This year was the 30th anniversary.

Our Winton family have made it one of their 'must visits' each year and were keen to have us share the day with them this time round. We packed up a picnic lunch and folded ourselves into the people mover and headed off across country to Edendale. Ollie & Ruby were so excited, they spent the whole 55km road trip rattling off a long list of what they thought we should see and what they wanted to have a go at this year.

Once we found ourselves a car park. we hailed a 'taxi' and clambered aboard the quadbike-trailer combo, along with another couple, for an exhilarating ride weaving our way through and down the row upon row of vehicles already parked. I hope we can find our way home later...

Of course first up (and to curtail the excited chatter), were the mini jeeps. Last year Dad drove Ruby's jeep, this year she was determined to do it herself (see the tongue). 

I've never seen so many tractors in one place! I wonder where they all hide for the rest of the year. There were rows and rows of tractors lined up across a couple of large paddocks.

Southland certainly has more than its fair share of vintage tractors and trucks. It's great to see New Zealand's history and heritage is being so well looked after.

The tractor pull was happening near the dairy factory. Tractors in their respective classes pull a set weight on a sled. When a tractor gets to the end of the 100 metre track, it's known as a "full pull". When more than one tractor reaches the end, more weight is added to the sled and the competitors that moved past 100 metres compete in a pull-off; the winner is the one who can pull the sled the farthest. There seems to be a David & Goliath competition going on here. 

Various unusual contraptions trundled and shook their way along the walkways on their way to and from the parade ground. Before this traction engine made it into the alleyway, I had visions of excited kids (not our kids) falling underneath as they pushed each other out of the way and ran across in front of it.

Look at the face on this guy!

Either the guy is very tall (bottom right) or that's a truckie's version of a lowered car. Check the number plate out too. And we certainly knew when the tractor was making it's way through the crowd by its throaty roar, even if you couldn't see it.

Southern police need this secret weapon to chase crims across muddy fodder paddocks and maize fields. Ruby enjoyed climbing up into the cab and pretending to drive the tractor. And, it's a gimmick, the police don't really chase criminals in it, the tractor is used for PR at shows like this one.

These steampunkers wandering through the crowd certainly turned a few heads in conservative Southland.

And I have the feeling that this guy belongs with the others...or he's an extra in a Mad Max movie and has lost his way.

This guy (and his owner) certainly look like they belong with the others but they don't, this Macaw parrot is one of only two privately owned in New Zealand. His owner is a local magician who does shows and children's parties. Aren't those colours just stunning, nature sure is amazing.

Time for lunch....now where did we park the car and more importantly, how the hell do we tell our taxi driver where to go (shout at him loudly) .

After lunch we visited the stationary engines display...

Obviously there are plenty of people who enjoy owning and looking at these engines but personally I prefer something that moves. Fast.

Although I did try to convince David I'd be in seventh heaven towing this generator behind the rig! I don't think our neighbours would be though.

To add to their ever growing list of experiences at Crank Up, Ollie and Ruby were interviewed and videoed for a local newspaper. I'm not sure a ride in the mini jeeps was quite what the reporter was expecting from them when she asked what was the best bit of Crank Up. And 'Frankie' the teddy bear got a starring role.

Next came the parade, first a mock battle between....I'm not too sure, but they made a lot of noise. And don't ask, I have no idea what the Ninja Turtle was up to.

Someone won....but like the Turtle, I'm not so sure the Porta-loo quite fits the scene either.

Next came the steampunk people...

...some of whom didn't look too happy to be walking around the oval. I'm sorry, but I can't contain myself anymore. I wondered if they might have stolen a few subjects from the local rest home. Good on them for doing something outside the norm though.

Then came the Vauxhall parade and a few old memories- Dad's sister's husband was a Vauxhall fan and had many of these models. 

And I drove a few of the later models during my teen years.

It wasn't long before the kids got bored, the sun climbed higher and the queue for an icecream snaked across the yard. We decided to head for home, we missed the dancing tractors and another whole field of diggers and dozers and the kids were most upset that they didn't get to have a go at the 'digger dig' like last year. Cameron thanked his lucky stars we didn't find it, he had to queue with them and the queue was double the length of the ice cream line! 

And the reason why I hadn't done a blog before now? Once again I had to process the photos and as per usual I had far too many of them. I've uploaded them to a Flickr Album, click this link if you'd like to see more.

Cavalcade 2017 - Omakau, Part 2; The Arrival

Continued on from Part 1

Saturday dawned warm and sunny and after looking like not much was happening around the racecourse on Friday, suddenly the place was a hive of activity as stallholders set up their stands under the shade of the trees behind the grandstand, the huge marquees were filled with tables, chairs, a bucking bronco and a stage for the band, trays and trays of food and grates of bottles and glasses were carted in, ready for the Hoedown festivities later in the evening.  

The Grand Parade was due to start at 12pm and I made my way to the grandstand to find myself a good position to take photos. I passed this group of walkers in period costume posing for photos. These walkers were part of a group that started their trail below Lindis Pass and walked through Morven Hills Station and the Dunstan Range.

Many of the motorhomers set themselves up in their comfy chairs for a good view alongside the track, cool drinks not too far away.

I found myself a good position in the grandstand as the cavalcade made their way up the road outside and gathered on the far side of the racecourse.

The three walking trail groups came first for obvious reasons; who wants to be dodging horse poo on the home straight! This group of hardy hikers left from Glenfoyle Station near Luggate and made their way over a number of ranges and passes to Omakau, carrying all their gear with them. 

Other walking trails carried 'only' their day packs; their food, clothing & sleeping gear was transported from site to site each day. Many of the overnight stops for the trails were in or beside the woolsheds of high-country stations.

The Garibaldi Miners Trail left Wedderburn and headed down the White Sow Valley and along Rough Ridge overlooking the Ida Valley.

After the walkers came the riding trails.

Dansys Pass to Omakau-

Styx & Matakanui-

Overland to Omakau- Mt Dasher; this was the trail we'd met on the road near St Bathans the day before. 

Riders gathered on the sand track once they'd paraded past the grandstand.

Two ways of life, or the old and the new.

Some motorhomers had a better view of the proceedings than others-

Lake Ohau to Omakau-

Front & tail end Charlies led and followed the trails when they passed along public roads.

Next came the light wagons and riders- Kurow to Omakau

Followed by the heavy wagons, the ones I'd seen camped at the bottom of Thomsons Gorge Track.

The wagons waited on the grass track while speeches and presentations took place, what a wonderful spectacle with so many horses and riders gathered, and of course the wagons, carts and buggies from a bygone era.

The Otira Hotel (Arthurs Pass) Stage Coach would have to have been a favourite. This was the first year it had participated in the cavalcade, hopefully it won't be the last. 

It would have been a major undertaking and a great expense to transport the coach and Clydesdales to Central Otago, and then to look after both the wagon & horses each day.

The Mayor of Central Otago, Tim Cadogan, welcomed everyone and presentations were made to riders that had ridden in every one of the 25 Cavalcades...

And then a special mention was made and flowers were given to Fleur Sullivan, a lady we've met on our travels when we stopped at Moeraki. This is Fleur of  'Fleurs Place' fame, the famous seafood cafe & restaurant near Moeraki Boulders. Before 'Fleurs Place', Fleur established the award winning Olivers Restaurant & Lodge in Clyde, Central Otago.

This extraordinary lady has another string to her bow, she is responsible for the Cavalcade. In 1991 she had an idea to encourage people to travel further off the main tourist route and see 'the real New Zealand'. She thought it was sad that Otago's small country towns, with their orchards, beautiful old buildings and gold-mining history were in decline and in danger of disappearing. She thought it would be good to draw people into the area to show off some of the unique history by retracing the steps of the pioneering gold miners, and so the Cavalcade was born. 

The Cavalcade has not only been great for the horse industry and Otago in general, its also given local groups such as schools, scouts and Lions a great outlet for fundraising as many of these groups cater each day for the trails and look after the food at the Hoedown and dinner. Many small country schools benefit when trails pass by, the kids come out to greet them and collect donations.

The wagon teamsters patiently stood with their horses as the speeches continued...

By now I'd decided to move down to the fence line and get some close up shots as they waited. It was a surprise when I heard my name being called from the back of this covered wagon. 

Two motorhomers had managed to catch a ride in the parade, lucky (and cheeky) ladies!

Once the formalities were over it was time to head for the shade; first came the light wagons and a few riders, their horses kicking up dust as they made their way off the track.

It was such a hot day by now, this couple had the right idea.

This one's a dinky little buggy with ponies to match, they'd have covered twice the distance with their short legs and small buggy wheels.

And elegant pony trap...

And a sturdy little number with good suspension and comfy seats to match...

The horses and ponies came in all colours...

...and sizes...

Appaloosas always stand out in a crowd, these two were in the trail we'd seen on the road yesterday.

Once the sand track was clear, the heavy wagons made their way off the track.

And although I love the hugely powerful, dependable & friendly Clydesdales I think these were the horses I loved the best; a beautiful team of matching chestnuts with sleek coats, long sweeping manes and white blazes, they effortlessly worked as a team pulling the wagon along. 

As the day drew to a close, I wandered across the lucerne stubble to take a shot of the motorhomes as the sun dropped to the horizon. 

I had a great time watching but I think I'd have preferred to be 'Out There' on the range participating in the Cavalcade. Who knows, it's been a long time between horses but the seed has been sewn so maybe one day... 

If you'd like to see more photos from the Cavalcade, and there are plenty, here's the link to my Flickr Cavalcade Album.