Postcards While Abroad - Innocents On Tour

Postcards to Us from Abroad
We were the last of our group of Kiwi friends in London, to do the 'Camping Round Europe' part of our 'OE'.
We received a couple of cards and good advice from our mates, before we took off
Our friend Tim, left earlier than most of us and while we were enjoying Summer in Britain,
he was swanning around Europe
I think this was a farewell party for Tim, middle at back and Dave second from right.
They were the first to go

Viaden
25th May
Hippy Ho
Blatting down the Autoban to Munich en route to the famous Hofbrauhaus where we have made a pact to get rotten. Paris was strikebound & weather was a bit damp but we haggled a couple of pros down from 60F to 50F then told them it was too much!
Luxembourg was very pretty & dearer than France. Was right about the Aussie
Bird she’s a bloody raro! Doesn't even drink coffee, let alone grog. Wine is very cheap -about 2 to 3/- per bottle. Saves on milk which is a bit pricey
Van going well so far. Roll on Munich
Tim

Our friends Neil, Glenys, Ray, Pat and Trisha, bravely drove all around Europe, in 2 Mini Vans. Probably not the most comfortable form of transport... but Hey... we were all young
Here's our card from Neil, second from left in the photo above

10.08.68
Venice
Dear Dale and Gillian

Sorry we haven't contacted earlier but there is a bit of a mess. Had trouble with the car seizing and   to have the engine hauled out and discovered a much chewed clutch. 3 days to repair at a cost of £29.10.00 at a place, a couple of hundred miles north of Athens. Running well and had a great trip to the Yugoslavian Coast which was fantastic
Ray still having trouble earning that 1st Beer, tell Gavin. Girls have been out a few times and may have earnt theirs!!!
Have just returned form viewing Venice which was quite intriguing but as there re no cars it’s bloody hard on the feet. Reason for writing is that we shall now be in Munich (X crossed fingers) on 23rd probably 22nd so hope you can be on the same date. Ray and I haven’t had a big night on the suds yet as have little money so looking forward to cheap beers. Consequently have lost 12 lbs to date and Ray, a stone.  Neil

Now, a card from our Mate Dave
As you can gather, we were all meeting up in Munich.
Dave having gone a different route to Neil and Co, was also planning to join us at Camping Ground Thalkirken
That's Dave second from left, this was one of the Summer Afternoons, at The Plough in East Sheen

 La Cite D'azur Summer of '68

16.8.68
Dear D & G

Last beginning our 2nd day on the Riviera. Found a superb campsite and the sun shines. Rained like a B in Paris on 5th and we got a bit damp. Been to Tours, Vichy, Marseille, Toulon. At this stage it seems Rome will be given a miss if the sun holds. Birds look gorgeous, Followed 2 for ½ mile last night, when we discovered their interest in us was purely commercial. A tip for your journey - try and be in camp by 4pm, or you may find it difficult to get in
See you 21st
Dave

As luck would have it I have discovered some Postcards we sent to Dale's Parents while we were traveling through Europe. This was written as we left Munich
We had a great time with our mates. We will never forget that

Koblenz 25th August

Dear Mum, Dad, Craig and Louise

This is Koblenz, our first camping spot. We were actually about 3 miles out of the city. Spent 2 night there. Was wet and overcast most of the time. Quite a nice Camping spot. Spent a day driving down the Rhine River
It’s beautiful also stopped for a couple of German Beers. Beautiful stuff. Polished off a few in Munich
We are leaving Munich this morning, as usual it’s raining
Fun for packing up
We say Goodbye to all our friends and depart to Saltzburg to see the Salt Mines. Mummy hope you are well
Dale is writing to you all. Should get it before you get this
Love G & D

This photo was taken at Dawn after a big night at The Bier Haus, as Dale and Neil thought it was the best dawn, they had ever seen
Been up all night!
Few dead brain cells maybe?

This was just a bit of frivolity probably after an afternoon at the Bier Haus
Left at the rear...out 3 Room Tent and white Mini, on the right, one of the two Mini Vans that our friends spent 3 months in

After that trip abroad. Tim came home and married Gaye, a great wedding in New Plymouth.
Neils and Glenys returned to New Zealand around 1970 and they married, yet another great wedding. Like us, still together after all of these years.
A 2013 update. We had a reunion party at The Windsor Castle.
Tim, Gaye, Glenys and Neil

Letters From Abroad - Sporty Spice

16th May 1968

Mr. and Mrs. P Schultz                    Mrs. G Wrightson
11 Viking Av                                   186 London RD
Hillsborough                                   Twickenham
Auckland NZ                                   Middlesex UK

Dear Sandy and Pete
I am sitting here before going to work with a very straight back not daring to move.
Last night Shipra, (Indian girl), Liz, (Tiddy Australian girl, tell you more later)
Marian ,(English) and me went to keep fit class
which was held at work in the canteen conference room,.
I have the stiffest back imaginable,
God it was a laugh, Shipra who is always clothed in saris, got into a borrowed track suit.
She looked like a cuddly bear.
She had never done anything like this before. It was hilarious.
I’m dying to see how they all are in the morning.
But we are so sporty, we play table tennis nearly every night after work
for 1/2 hour or so, down at the club. Plus, don’t laugh,
we have entered the table tennis championships (Handicapped of course)
We have a handicap of 16 the lowest handicap is –2.
I am already through to the 2nd round.
Isn’t that good. I must be honest though Sandy,
I had a bye, which means you don’t play in the first round. Ha.
We have all entered into the new archery section, which has started,
or is starting shortly
plus we are going to play tennis when the weather improves.
Have you ever know me so active? What a laugh!
This Australian girl Liz, is really tiddy, doesn’t like dirty jokes.
She is quite pleasant.
 (We are having a golden oldie revival in England which means hits from the fifties
are being played on the radio quite often.
Tony Blackburn, who does the morning session plays 2 every half hour,
at the moment is ‘Dream’ Everly Bros and guess what
“Rock Around he Clock” is on the hit parade.
In fact it was on a couple of weeks ago then it disappeared off the top 30,
 this week its back on again).
Back to Liz I don’t really think I can explain.
She has really been unfortunate, lived most of her life in the outback.
Shouldn’t be mean I suppose but Shipra and I are really wicked and
tried to jack her up with a date with Bill, who is quite a smoothie
and spends most of his on working time teasing us.
He was so shocked. I’ve just realized I am burbling, sorry people,
but Sandy its mainly to show you that Shipra and me, are a bit like you and me.
We are naughty.
Oh I forgot to tell you we are going to play Croquet on Friday should be a laugh.

Mum wrote that you asked them for dinner.
They were so thrilled. I haven’t heard yet how your evening went, daresay I will soon.
What a mess I have written you.
Never mind
Lots of love Gillian and Dale

Did a Sunday Drive to Heathrow, we arrived in the UK by ship but were leaving by plane.
Thought we might just suss it out.

Also during our time in London we drove South to Devon to see Wrightson Family friends, The Ledgers. En route we stopped at Stonehenge

Tom and Nora ran a General Store in South Molton.

They took us for a day trip to Ifracombe by the Sea

Plus we went to Clovelly
where the steep, cobbled street tumbles down past
gleaming white cottages to the tiny, deep-blue harbour…
beautiful
Below: Martin Ledger and Moi

Then we traveled to Exmouth, to visit my Father's Sister Blanche

I loved the little Boat sheds that people in Devon use as Baches

Some random shots of the trip.