Willdat?

Mid January I have a colleague returning who will get a bit angsty, but otherwise golden.

I can store it at work, how long would I need to hold onto it for?

Hey team, a mate has bought an 2014 Pajero, 4M41 engine, 130km, he's wondering whether an EGR delete is an essential or not? I guess the wounders may have recovered from their tour @DoBro Jesus

Porika is the most challenging part of 2023... to be fair that's not a small ask!

Did the Street Magic make another appearance?

I can't believe you covered that high art with paint. I'd wear it around my neck....

Richmond, which is South of Nelson

I can hold it if needed? I wonder if @Chunky_tccan be convinced to take me to Eastcape with him in 2023?

Still quite glass gearboxes if abused, little bro had a mate in the early 00s who could change one out in less than 30 mins with practice....

@Chunky_tiis I think... He's not quite Nelson though.

Wasn't sure where to put this. No actual building, but a sweet combo for my Jetboil if I need more than 100g of gas on a trip and a 700ml titanium billy for rehydrating, silicone lid is from Macpac, and the cup is from Kmart... Cozy is from a Jetboil micromo.

Those racks love bikes!

I love how much this sounds like some Italian exotica. Who knew an Aqua had such hidden potential, CVT plus this engine would be weirrrrrrrd.

Sorry to hear about your Dad Alex, I only met him once that I remember, over a cup of tea at your folks place. It was on the way to my first Oldschool meet in Kaikoura years ago, I can still remember thinking that this was where you might have got some of your way with words. I hope your Mum is coping OK too. Cheers, Will.

Early prototype CAD model...

I have a student making a laser cut kitset one, wellside modell unfortunately. Will send you one when it's done.

I'd doubt the Porika is doable in anything less than a stock height Prado.

Prius Alpha was the replacement for the Wish. I drove one from Chch to Nelson, the taxi driver/owner encouraged me to use the 'power' mode and told me to go as fast as I wanted.

If they are irreparable/only open to residents by that stage, we also have reverse Maungatapu (from Maitai to Pelorus), -> Queen Charlotte Drive up our sleeves too.

Correct, you'll also spot that that's the biggest day, and that there's flexibility built into the route. Depending on road conditions will dictate exactly how that pans out on the next 5 months. Votes have tallied Rainbow as the preferred route home on Day 3 this year.

Day 3 Back to Hanmer via the Rainbow Road https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Blenheim/-41.7144661,173.0861411/St.+Arnaud/Island+Saddle,+Saint+James+Range/Hanmer+Springs/@-41.9757916,172.7712187,9.54z/data=!4m27!4m26!1m5!1m1!1s0x6d390e0080e269bd:0xa00ef88e796a530!2m2!1d173.9597954!2d-41.513552!1m0!1m5!1m1!1s0x6d3a5373ae70189f:0x500ef868479d1e0!2m2!1d172.8477475!2d-41.8012348!1m5!1m1!1s0x6d3a858e6d10b369:0x121422dcbfd51a99!2m2!1d172.7932104!2d-42.1762125!1m5!1m1!1s0x6d3063796f545947:0x500ef86847973f0!2m2!1d172.8289005!2d-42.5255877!3e0

Day 2 Nelson -> French Pass -> Blenheim https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Nelson/French+Pass,+Marlborough/Blenheim/@-41.3049259,173.570276,10.45z/data=!4m20!4m19!1m5!1m1!1s0x6d3becc491b72e7d:0xa00ef88e796a480!2m2!1d173.2443635!2d-41.2985321!1m5!1m1!1s0x6d3eba31ee78515b:0x2a00ef86ab64ea70!2m2!1d173.83537!2d-40.9214889!1m5!1m1!1s0x6d390e0080e269bd:0xa00ef88e796a530!2m2!1d173.9597954!2d-41.513552!3e0

Day 1 - Missing the Lake Rotoroa -> Porika - (as Google says it's not a road....) but you can see the idea. https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Hanmer+Springs/Springs+Junction/Maruia+Saddle+Road,+Maruia+7077/Matakitaki/Braeburn+Track,+Tasman+7077/Porika+Knob,+Howard/St.+Arnaud/Tophouse,+7072/Eighty+Eight+Valley/Nelson/@-41.9311115,172.6102776,9.27z/data=!4m62!4m61!1m5!1m1!1s0x6d3063796f545947:0x500ef86847973f0!2m2!1d172.8289005!2d-42.5255877!1m5!1m1!1s0x6d2ffe5ac8bc274d:0x4302993409a0ed41!2m2!1d172.1817998!2d-42.3345585!1m5!1m1!1s0x6d3ab47eaea006e5:0x7635b6cb8f265f8!2m2!1d172.2635362!2d-42.0497817!1m5!1m1!1s0x6d3ab0b9ab34fb51:0x500ef868479d080!2m2!1d172.3570113!2d-42.0109032!1m5!1m1!1s0x6d3add73681d0087:0x6d84f7287f43d5b0!2m2!1d172.5428562!2d-41.8033271!1m5!1m1!1s0x6d3ae3c8fb18d56f:0x7bfd65c50c3cedb1!2m2!1d172.6666667!2d-41.7333333!1m5!1m1!1s0x6d3a5373ae70189f:0x500ef868479d1e0!2m2!1d172.8477475!2d-41.8012348!1m5!1m1!1s0x6d3aff450271f61f:0xfa2dd4442861c9ef!2m2!1d172.894111!2d-41.767045!1m5!1m1!1s0x6d3ba6a3bab7a5c9:0x500ef868479cf50!2m2!1d172.9751223!2d-41.4904364!1m5!1m1!1s0x6d3becc491b72e7d:0xa00ef88e796a480!2m2!1d173.2443635!2d-41.2985321!3e0

With less death trappedness included too.

Seems reasonable to me, I always think, 'how long would it take me make it by hand?' $200 doesn't seem bad for a part you know will fit first time.