Janine had a dream, a dream where the Auckland Mercedes-Benz car club members congregated ‘en masse’ to watch the sun rise over Bastion Point before heading off to seek out sustenance and camaraderie. To be fair there was the occasional person that questioned the sanity of expecting the members to rise that early on a winters morning, however, ‘build it and they will come’. And come they did, possibly the biggest turn out in quite some time, 25 cars and 49 members!
The car park at Bastion Point created an excellent circle of fine automobiles to showcase the clubs wares too. The weather Gods played their part well and supplied a balmy, clear, still morning to see the only sunrise on that day, never to be repeated, forever captured in our minds and cameras. Also in attendance were Pikachu, Lion and Piglet resplendent in onesies not often seen outside of their natural habitat.
Darryl and Janine supplied Dunkin Donuts as reward for getting up early and after soaking up the first of the sun’s rays we headed off in convoy over the Harbour Bridge. Our well planned route took us through the sleepy seaside suburbs of Milford, Mairangi Bay and Rothesay Bay, and reminded me that there are parts of Auckland we should get out and explore more often, especially suburbs with that gorgeous Rangitoto Island back drop.
Walnut Café in Orewa was the destination with a perfect outdoor area to make the most of the Sunday brunch in the sun, often read about, seldom experienced. The owners of the café coped extremely well with the larger than expected crowd and over many coffees, eggs, bacon and pancakes we happily sat relaxing and enjoying the company. There was ample time to talk cars and it wasn’t long before a few bonnets were popped for the usual exploration of all things mechanical, as is right for a car enthusiast’s group.
Big thanks to Janine for following her dream and for Daryl plotting our route, and for all those that turned up to make it another memorable affair. And thanks to photographer Greg Lokes and Guenther Wesche’s drone, that captured the day so well.
Angelique de Jong
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