Bedford key to adventure

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 2, Issue 28, 10 December 1984, Page 11

Bedford key to adventure

By

Rosalind

Donald

A 1951 Bedford bus is the key to a two-year adventure for Ohakune couple Jan and Blue Forrest. They plan to set off in January with their cat and budgie. Blue, a retired army staff sergeant in the Ordinance Corps, bought the bus off another army man in Auckland several months ago. Since then, the Forrests have been converting the Bedford into their travelling home. They have had lots of help from their friends, the McLachlan and Innes families. "Without them I'd be struggling because I'm not really a handyman myself," says Blue. When painting and upholstering the interior, Blue was bemused by the "thousands of screws everywhere" which had to be taken out and then replaced — a difficult task when all the screws are different sizes. The Bedford is a 350 diesel which is "a bit different from today's buses — but still runs really well," according to Blue. Jan, currently a taxi driver in Ohakune, says they will go wherever the mood takes them. "We'll head north for the summer, maybe doing some fruit picking on the way. Lying on the beach will be the best part!" Jan believes their cat should be fine in his new v home "although he hasn't heard the engine yet!" As for the bird — "it couldn't care less!" The Forrests may miss their Ohakune home and garden. "I'm going to miss my waterbed," Blue exclaims, "so I suppose I'll have to get used to sleeping on a hard bed!" The Forrests intend to return to Ohakune during the summer of *86. Rosalind Donald