Uretiti Beach on a ho hum day

The Farting Turtle, The Flying Tortoises favourite cousin has come to stay and show off his skills
at Bodyboarding or if you like,
Boogieboarding so it's become a bit of an obsession hare of late...
But only morning noon and night so there is still plenty of time to enjoy the finer things of life
such as good food, the glorious sunshine. hot, hot days and...

The Adventures of The Flying Tortoise...

Normally The Flying Tortoise is somewhere but only sometimes... and for a few days about now is at Uretiti... a favourite resting spot just off SH1 between Waipu to the south and Whangarei to the north of New Zealands North Island... It is a DOC (Department of Conservation) camp ground and at this time of the year is crowded. A fabulous nudist beach, safe swimming and surfing makes this Tortoise very happy.

If you can dream it, you can do it...

Fly me to the Moon and let me stay well clear of cars...
Let me see what life is like in Wanaka and Thames crooned Tortoise,
knowing that the last place should have rhymed with Mars...
but no matter...a little thing like that was not going to ruin the day...

Tortoise was so excited with the prospect of learning to fly
and phoned the 'How to Fly in 3 Easy Lessons' company
and booked a gorgeous instructor to help make learning
so much more pleasurable.
Tortoise turned out to be a wonderful student
and mastered Flying 101 within minutes.

After two lessons, Miss Jones, the beautiful blonde instructor
presented Tortoise with a pair of wonderful silver wings,
said that Tortoise was ready to fly solo or could soar even higher
with a beautiful double act should the occasion arise.
And what about dinner tonight...

Tortoise was over the moon!

The Tortoise dreams of flying...

Come fly with me.
Let's fly.
Let's fly away...
sang Old Blue Eyes as Tortoise listened to breakfast radio one day...
That's a great idea Tortoise thought.
After all, my friend Cow jumped over the moon,
Owl and Pussy Cat went to sea in a pea green boat,
Mouse ran up the clock, Lamb follows that bloody Mary around all day,
Wolf blows down houses for the hell of it,
Mr Ed got famous with his public speaking and has his late night talk show,
Hare's looking for another race.
I've heard of pigs flying so why not me!

In the beginning...

The Flying Tortoise was a 1977 KD Bedford bus built in New Zealand by the well respected Hawke Coach Builders in Papakura. Originally owned by Forest Products, it was used in the Tokaroa and Kinleith forestry areas.

A few owners later and with only 57,000 k's on the clock, Keith Levy, whoever he is, bought the bus in August 07 and set about creating more than just a permanent home on wheels.

Long inspired and having lived by the philosophies of Henry David Thoreau, Zen and the Japanese Wabi-Sabi, The Flying Tortoise was always going to be different.

By October 2007 it was a simple and cosy home with a style combining Scandinavian and Japanese design. Scandenese design perhaps... A small solid fuel fireplace warms the 5.3m x 2.35m, 12.5sq metre (17.6ft x 7.6ft, 131sq ft) home in a few minutes and is also a delight to cook on. Comfortable chairs and table are to relax, work or eat at. A unique PVC shower for use inside, with it's own floor is designed to fold-up and disappear when not required. There's another unique inside/outside shower attached to the main door which gives privacy and is naturally draining. The Flying Tortoise's interior feels spacious and inviting. A specially designed aluminium and black PVC bathtub for two can be used inside by the fire or outside under the stars. Hot water comes from a large specially designed and made 5mm thick aluminium unit that sits on the top of the fireplace. Just turn the tap for constant hot water. A portable toilet slides and stores under the bed and is easily accessible. Cooking is mostly performed on a single highly efficient gas burner. A Tajine is often used as well as a cast iron camp oven for roasting or baking. Flat bread happens either on the fireplace top or on a frying pan. A top-loading amazingly efficient Engel fridge/freezer runs 24 hours a day using a maximum 2.5amp hours.
Two 125watt BP Solar panels are fitted to the roof and supply the energy for the two 12v, 255amp hour AGM storage batteries. An additional 85watt BP 'tracking panel' is used sometimes during winter.
A wetback water heating system was considered but the fireplace is too efficient for the amount of water that's carried on board.
Flowers and vegetables grow on the back deck and a double ocean kayak sits ready for launching from the roof.
Aluminium in the style of the famous Airstreams, she turns heads and minds.

The whimsical logo for The Flying Tortoise was designed by the wonderful and talented Michael Mchalick of Wellington, New Zealand.

HEALTH WARNING:
The Flying Tortoise uses Solar energy from the Sun to power its lights and appliances.
The same electricity is used to transmit this Blog to you.
It contains very high levels of Vitamin D.
If you notice any changes to your health and well being as a result of being exposed to this blog, you should consult a medical practitioner or even a doctor.

The Flying Tortoise Logo...