Tuesday 7.45 am and we're on the road.
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What's that saying about red sky in the morning Col? Least it hasn't got ya before Turangi anyway. Safe & dry trip guys.
Red sky in the morning, the barn is still burning?
That Sun was round this side earlier.. :coffeescreen:
D.D.
All the best Col👍Enjoy
Safe trip to you and the cheese Col stay upright 🙏🙏👍👍
I'm looking forward to your journal of the travels 😳😳
How many litres left when everything is flashing ?
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We sure tested the wet weather gear that last 50kms into Wellington. Stayed dry. 10 outta 10
Ferry to Picton 1.30pm tomorrow.
Not much left in that tank, so close to pushing it. :onya:
Fumes is all there'd be left in most bikes Col 👍
How many kilometres had you travelled ? Two up makes quite a difference too.
Our crossing got cancelled because the swell exceeded the limits set for our ferry. We managed to change from the Bluebridge company to the Interislander.
Sailing was at 4pm now postponed until 5pm.
I guess they didn't have enough life jackets and brown paper bags ready ??
Hope you have good tie downs with ya Col.
Once ya get onboard and get it tied down, straight into the bar n get a few down ya, that way you won't notice the pitching so much & you got the sounds to sober up ;) before the trip to Kaikoura. Getting in at 8pm ish you may stay in Picton? Marlin motel is close to ferries n reasonable.
Quote from: GSXKING on Tuesday, 04 March 2025, 08:19 PMFumes is all there'd be left in most bikes Col 👍
How many kilometres had you travelled ? Two up makes quite a difference too.
With me on it, my bike thinks it's always 2 up!
I couldn't possibly comment Col.
Going to stay at Waikawa Bay if they have room.
On the ferry.....
Only one other bike on but the rest is chocca full of trucks and cars.
Careful looks like some old prick is fiddling with your bike... :mwink:
He's not Old Vlad lol 😂
I'll remember those caustic comments....
Were now in Christchurch, fine but cold. Snow on the hills at Kaikoura. Boss lady got stung by a wasp so lost her sense of humour for a while.... poor thing.
Stayed in Waikawa Bay 5 mins ftom Picton last night got there at 11.40pm after all
the ferry delays.
We did a little over 600k on Tuesday only 90k yesterday and 350k today. Traffic was light and a cloudless sky. Gr
No whale watch then Col? was it too rough in Kaikoura? Poor Mrs KF being stung, what bit was uncovered for her to get zapped?
On the inside of her wrist Col. Stopped for a stretch and a mooch around, we'd just put another layer of clothes on so maybe it was inside the sleeve.
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Ferry arriving in Picton while we were having breakfast.
Snow on the hills just before Kaikoura.
A few more snaps....
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Waiting to board.
My new handbrake, prevents any forward movement. I may have said they had the trucks chained down.
In Kaikoura main street.
The wife's armchair.
Spent the day in Christchurch today. Hopped on a bus and went to Lyttelton then up in the gondola to check out the view. Didn't get a photo but people were going and paragliding from the top. Was amazed to see them above where they took off from.
The Wall of Remembrance for those that lost their lives in the Christchurch earthquake.
I'll try attaching the pics.
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Looking good KF, weather is with you (for now)
Great pics Col thanks 🙏
Col, if you get a chance & time permits, a ride up to the summit road & around to Gebbies Pass was a favourite run of mine. Up Colombo st to the hills, to the top of the hills, turn right at Dyers Pass summit & follow that round the crater rim. either drop down to Governers Bay (left) & back to Chc via Lyttelton of up & over Dyers Pass from the other side or (Right) & end up at Motukarara & back to Chc via Halswell.
Lots of great views & photo op's.
The run to Akaroa is also a favourite for bikes.
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Looks like a nice ride, will submit that to management :onya:
:) City to Akaroa was my regular early Sunday morning ride. A fabulous one. With no chance of a speeding ticket once the twisties start.
The Wall of Remembrance is also very special.
The day of the quake was something I'll never forget.
Keep enjoying your trip Col...I'm envious
Weather's turned to rain.....bugger !!
Bike will be ready to leave it's hiding place. Pic from our motel window
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Pleased you're keeping the country running Rob :cheers:
Quote from: Kiwifruit on Saturday, 08 March 2025, 05:16 AMWeather's turned to rain.....bugger !!
Bike will be ready to leave it's hiding place. Pic from our motel window
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I shouldn't have jinxed it
Where ya at today Col? On the forum at 12.00 so are you stopped in CHC for a while?
Hey we've got wet weather gear so no worries. Kept us warm too.
We are in Alexandra tonight Col. No accomodation in Tekapo, Twizal or Cromwell. Today from Christchurch to Alexandra was 450kms. So you can imagine management was feeling a bit frayed. Good roads nice riding through the Lindis Pass and not much traffic. Always nice when someone else has got Plod to put the red and blues on, it enables one to back off to sedentary and more legal speed without having to pay for the privilege of telling him your details.
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Church of the Good Shepherd, Tekapo.
Left Alexandra after doing our laundromat stop.... smelling fresh now !!
Came through Roxburgh having a coffee in Lawrence. Amazing what you see where..... he's owned it 32 years.
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Stayed in Balclutha last night.
Kaka Point at the start of The Catlins.
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Amazing what you see where..... he's owned it 32 years.
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My back aches just looking at that photo Col. 😱😱😱
Beautiful day in the Catlins yesterday. Lovely weather. Went for a walk to the lighthouse at Nugget Point. New boots and motorcycle gear is not ideal walking gear for the 2km round trip. Stunning scenery and well worth the effort. Stayed in a place called Owaka last evening.
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Took the Mrs to a waterfall I'd visited on my last trip but being late summer there wasn't a lot of water about.20250310_163923.jpg
Went to see why Cannibal Bay got it's name. We did upset the beachmaster !!
Got talking with a local fella that owns a store here in Owaka. He says have you been to Cannibal Bay, we say no because it's 8km of gravel and I'm not keen riding on that. (I don't even like roadworks) Chap says hop in my Landcruiser drive onto the beach and turn right, go to the end of the beach and they should be there. Chap didn't know us at all. Southern hospitality at it's finest, thanks Dane :cheers:
Cannibal Bay
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Like this waterfall Col?
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We were down there 2 years ago on a roady like you, only we were in the Merc. Comparing the 2 pic's, there's hardly any difference in them & they're 2 years apart.
Spectacular pics Col.
The southern hospitality is exceptional.
Looks like perfect weather too.
The locals look well fed on that beach. Lol 😂
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Took wifey to Curio Bay to see the petrified forest. Saw an amazing rock formation in the cliff face. Perhaps we had global warming before ......
We got a good soaking all the way from Curio Bay to Invercargill.
Kingi you and Bobbie may recognize the hotel ??
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Colonial?
In Te Anau this evening.
The Mr Wong's would own plenty of this place.
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Have you found Wunhunglo street yet?
Kingi you and Bobbie may recognize the hotel ??
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Where we first met you mate 🥳
Yes that was a fabulous motel our room was extremely spacious and we dried all our gear.
We did the same Chris, got all our gear dry. Had a great room, the best we've had thus far and not the most expensive. Roast beef dinner in the restaurant. Ascot Park Hotel I'd recommend it to anyone staying in Invercargill.
Has not been easy winging it as far as accomodation is concerned. Not many vacancies anywhere. I have been surprised by how busy tourism is here in the South Island.
Had a good day, clocked up another 300km from Te Anau to Alexandra via Queenstown. Stunning weather, not a cloud in the sky.
Lake Whakatipu, you can see the road winding along the side of the lake.
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That looks a beautiful ride.
That's from the Kingston end heading to Frankton / Queenstown end. Major tourist road, lots of coaches & often lots of cops. Good road surfaces though, way better than they used to be.
Following day we only went from Alexandra to Cromwell as we decided to have a bit of a rest day. Wifey had a cold for best part of a week and now I was getting it. So a lazy day was had. We decided we would stay in the same place a second night. We got up and left to go to Glenorchy on a beautiful cloudless morning.
We had traveled no more than a kilometre, the traffic had stopped, I could hear the fire siren wailing an ambulance was pulling up. Traffic in front of us was turning round. When we got to the front for us to turn around I saw a mangled bike with pannier boxes was laying on the ground, debris strewn across the road. Those from the bike on the road surrounded by people assisting. A car with the left side stoved in stopped to the side.
One person died at the scene another was airlifted to hospital in a serious condition.
They were like us. Two up living the dream touring our lovely country.
It has really rattled us.
The car had turned right in front of the bike and the bike had drilled it. We are invisible aren't we.
We stopped a couple of kms down the road, I rang my dad and my son as they knew we were in that area and would fret once it was reported on the news.
It's risky riding down here. We rent out cars, campervans and motorhomes to anyone that can pay. Every day you see idiotic driving. Today Asians had pulled up to take photos but had 2/3 of the car in the road, it was a 100kph road to Mt Cook. I'm not saying the car driver involved in the accident was a tourist but I'm sure the license they produce at the rental company is only for an electric rickshaw.
Anyhow, we finished up having a great day but somewhat subdued at Glenorchy not much intercom chatter and today went to Mt Cook. I'll post some pics tomorrow.
Very confronting for both of you I'm sure Col 😢.
Glenorchy run from Queenstown and back was a joy for Bobbie and I, we both enjoyed the scenery and the great condition of the road. We encountered careless drivers of motor homes and cars, obviously enjoying the views quite a lot on our journey.
Stay safe and alert Col please 🙏
Your wife will be fine I'm sure but may need some consoling when you've had a close encounter.
Please enjoy the rest of your trip and be very vigilant.
Yes Chris confronting is the word.
However as my wife said to me, I never ride and take for granted that I've been seen.
We are back to enjoying our trip and have been blessed with some amazing weather. Tonight we are in Dunedin.
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Glenorchy
Just roll on Col, speedbumps,stuff ups, change of plans all built into having fun. End result always worth the effort.
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Queenstown
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From the Cardrona skifield.
Mt Cook
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Stayed in a campground in Dunedin last night. When we woke this morning the weather had taken a dive. Looking down on St Clair beach.
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Back in Te Anau doing the Milford Sound cruise tomorrow.
I've heard of rooms being rented out by the hour, this one supplies the pussy ! :facepalm:
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Visited Moeraki Boulders yesterday.
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One had hatched.....
Quote from: Kiwifruit on Tuesday, 18 March 2025, 07:45 PMBack in Te Anau doing the Milford Sound cruise tomorrow.
I've heard of rooms being rented out by the hour, this one supplies the pussy ! :facepalm:
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I had a visitor like that in one place I stopped in Italy. A random cat got on the balcony & wandered in for attention, then left an hour later. I mentioned it in the morning & turns out the couple who run the place used to live that apartment & their cat still occasionally visited it.
Quote from: Kiwifruit on Tuesday, 18 March 2025, 07:53 PMVisited Moeraki Boulders yesterday.
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One had hatched.....
...and out came a GSX1400 FE...
Fabulous ride into Milford Sound. Stunning day.
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Stunning 😎😎😎
Lovely day Col, any sandflys around?
I've taken the Rocket over the hills to Blenheim n ended up in kaikoura for the night. Can't post any pics as they're too big for upload, have to wait till I get home.
Where ya off to next mate?
Yesterday while waiting at the Homer Tunnel heading for Milford Sound.
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Then the contents of a coach pours out and stands in the middle of the road taking photos as the first few cars come out of the tunnel though the passengers.... fast !!
Coach driver yelling, passengers freaking out. I thinking... "thank heavens they're in a coach"
Left Te Anau again and headed to Arrowtown. Lunch and coffee there had a bit of a walk around then off to Wanaka over the Crown Range. A friend has very kindly given us the use of his house. We are likely to stay two or three nights before heading out to the west coast with the intention of staying a night in Fox Glacier or Franz Josef.
Trip so far 4400kms :cheers:
If you stay in Franz, the landing has amazing food.
That's big K's Col, bike will be ready for another oil change by the time you get home.
Yes Col oil & filter, I'll be doing the valve clearances too.
Bumped the preload on the rear up to four rings as id bottomed it out a couple of times putting a small hole in the glovebox.
I've always carried heavy stuff in there, may have stressed the tabs that keep it in place so could finish up using the help of some cable ties to help support it.
Being two up with a fair bit of kit the bikes been riding good but have to say better now with the rear stiffer.
Lazy day tomorrow, hope to catch up with a mate at Wanaka airport.
Looks like great weather Col. :clapping:
How's the missus adjusting to the ride ? It'd still be all new to her I'm guessing. :whistling:
Wanaka is a lovely place, you've got very generous friends. :hat:
The missus is a great pillion Chris, she's well used to spending all day on the bike now. Just need to stop for regular breaks and a stretch.
Been having some chill time in Wanaka. I played tennis all afternoon at the Wanaka Tennis Club and the missus
spruced up the garden at the friend's house where we're staying.
Yesterday I popped out to see an old mate at his business at Wanaka Airport.
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Looking out over the lake.
Speaks for itself....
Stunning backdrop behind the Airport.
Looking out over Wanaka from the Cenotaph.
Could be back on the road tomorrow heading for the West Coast.
Where did ya get to today Col? Franz? I checked the weather for that area & it said wet down Wanaka / Haast & Franz area. Fine tomorrow though.
We are still getting there Col 4.30 @ .....
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Testing the wet weather gear. Booked in at Fox.
Around 2 hours to go.
Is that "The Hard Antler" in Haast? Have been in there for an ale or 2, but were outside in the smoking area.
It was at the Hard Antler. I liked this
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Made it to Fox Glacier :onya:
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OK Mr Rocketman, which bar ??
The only one I've visited in Fox was The White Pub, and that was many years ago, so no idea these days. So I'll plump for that one. Looks like the bike is getting a coast wash . . .
Betsie Jane Eatery and Bar. We're staying at the Top 10, reasonably priced nice studio unit.
Quite a number of bikes heading south, good to see. Loads of waterfalls. It sure tips it down on the West Coast.
Despite the thorough washing the bike appears no cleaner :whatever:
Ya think you'll get to Westport today mate? Thinking of the possibility of meeting up somewhere, say Punakaiki or Fox River sorta thing & ride back together.
Great to catch up with KiwiCol at Punakaiki for a coffee this morning. Sorry we couldn't take you up on your very generous offer of a bed for the night on this trip. Would have liked to see the Rocket.
Tonight we are in Nelson. Had been my intention to get all the way to Picton but I noticed a noise I wasn't happy with so stopped to investigate. The conclusion I came to is the chain is toast. It's always been good but I found a tight spot in it today. I've drenched it in oil again and it seems better. I do oil it each day but at 60k I'm picking it needs replacing along with the sprockets.
5030kms 2 up and loaded in the last 3 weeks will have put some strain on an old chain.
So is it a new chain & sprockets in Nelson or just plenty of oil till ya get back home?
Oh, that appointment I went to, yeah they gonna remove it probably in the next month. :onya:
Just going to keep it oiled till I get home.
Check it again in the morning, might give it some more slack if the tight spots still there.
Nothing worse than hearing a strange noise when you've been riding nearly every day it plays on your mind. Good you've diagnosed it, although I'd personally seek a second opinion from a qualified source, sometimes a different set of eyes will see something you may not.
Big ks Col, you and the cheese must be really enjoying yourselves. :cheers: :cheers:
Keep the pics coming mate 👍
Looking at the chain last evening I noticed one of the rollers was sitting up on the rear sprocket with no pressure on it, I spun it with my finger. That tells me there's no lube left inside that link, all it's friends have done 60k too.
Sounds like it's chain rotation speed more so than wheel speed. Wheel bearings seem OK as it's not a constant, same with sprocket carrier bearing. All the original bearings I have replaced. Countershaft seal looks dry. That's why I am considering giving it some more slack, I dont want pressure put on that shift.
So that's my argument, I've sold myself the theory that 'the chain is shagged'.......it's probably out of warranty.
Today I'm looking forward to taking management around the beautiful Queen Charlotte Drive to Picton.
We are booked on the Interisland ferry back to the North Island at 11.00 tomorrow.
60 of your Ks are about 40 of ours, so yeah I'd suspect the chain was dead too at that age.
Be wary that too much slack and it may jump a tooth. If it was me, I'd keep the same tension, pins etc are hardened and if your are still adding some lube now and then that's better than nothing. New RK Takasago chain and sprockets - part of holiday expenses.
Safe travels to both of you.
Having lunch at Havelock.
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Can of WD40 for the chain....all good :onya:
Bit of a treat for Louise on our last night in the South Island.
Three weeks on the back of a bike is a great effort.
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From our room in Picton
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Is that the Picton Yacht Club Hotel Col? We've stayed there a couple of times n the view is very similar.
She sure does, but that would have also been all the time you've spent together on this fabulous trip.
Very intimate sitting that close to each other for long periods of time.
I know Bobbie spends most of the time sightseeing more than me as I'm concentrating on riding. She often falls asleep for brief moments also. 😴😴
Your pics have been awesome too. 📸📸📸
That actually reminds me of the real Plockton in the Highlands, I can see why they reused the name.
Yes Eric there will be a few holiday related expenses to do with the bike on our return. Chain and sprockets, front discs and pads, valve clearances, oil & filters, small tear in the front of the seat. All just running costs really. Squared the new rear tyre too.
No Col, The Beachcomber Hotel right next door.
Been ten years since our last trip to the South Island together. Wifey has been amazed at the change and growth thats taken place in a decade. Property prices have skyrocketed. So much busier now.
Glorious day for our ferry crossing. We've been really blessed with the weather. Makes life so much more enjoyable when you're on a bike.
Leaving the Marlborough Sounds. Big boat, small gap, big current !!
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Fare Well from the Mainland Col & Mrs Col, safe journey on those busy NI roads. :onya:
No wonder you have to tie the bikes in so securely 🙄
Did you miss the strait when you were here Chris? Yeah, ya did, I remember now. Cook Strait can be a bloody rough stretch of water, normally takes an hour to cross the open bit & an hour or so each side. I recall one transit it took 5 hours because it was so rough & another time the ship broke down going across in shite weather & everyone had to spend the night on it.
Have a google about Cook Strait & the conditions, worth a read. & this is part of our main highway 1.
Imagine the carnage if the ferry ran over a big herring.....
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2006 10 hour crossing.
The Cook Straight can be one of the roughest stretches of water in the world.
Fortunately not today.
Got home at 12.30 lunchtime yesterday.
Of all the wifi connections we've had around the South Island we arrive home to atrocious coverage that drops out all the time. So yesterday's blurb disappeared when the internet had a hissy fit.
We had the greatest time away. Louise was a champion, three weeks on the back of a bike in all conditions was a huge effort.
We've done a lot of miles together, she's a great pillion.
The last leg of our trip was from Taupo thru Rotorua and finally home in Tauranga was only 150km, a lovely run under blue skies.
Louise deserves a medal Col.
As do you for making her comfortable and feeling safe sitting behind you.
How did the chain stand up for the trip home ?
Very happy that you've covered so much on your trip with out any real hassles. Pictures have been really great too.
Time for you to kick back and enjoy some beers :cheers: :cheers: :cheers:
The bike ran faultlessly. Apart from starting with the rear suspension too soft, the front brake pulsing, which I sort of got used to, the chain issue which I nursed, the bike was great to ride. I love that torque when we're loaded like that. Overtaking is effortless, plenty of room on the bike for both of us and all our shite. The 14 still turns heads, our gear was all carried neat and tidy those panniers, tankbag and topbox were excellent. Our bike was not out of place parked beside any bike we saw on our journey and it's only 18 year old !!
Thanks for the interest you guys showed in out trip I hope you enjoyed the photos. Who knows perhaps some of you could be enticed to visit New Zealand.
Start to finish.
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Looked a damned good trip that.
Been home a week today and it's pissed down for most of it. We've enjoyed talking with each other about our time away. We laugh that we spent over three weeks away on the bike. Wifey is back working, her clients took it for granted that we'd gone away in our caravan but were most surprised to learn that no she'd been away on the back of a bike. Very proud of having done something that not many of her mates have had the pleasure of doing
We enjoyed the sights and smells and of just being out in the fresh air that only being on a bike provides.
It all came together with very little planning and with very few hiccups or drama. Unfortunately we were probably three weeks to early to see the autumn colours in all their splendour. (maybe next year's excuse for another trip south)
I've been using the bike a bit this week as traffic been heavy and it been good riding without it being loaded up. I am ashamed to say I haven't cleaned it yet. Have been keeping the chain soaked in WD40 and its quiet at present, so all good.
This life is not a practice run.
We made memories we will treasure forever on our trusty scoota.
Good on you Col those memories will stay with you both.
One of my learned friends says "4 wheels move the body however 2 wheels moves the soul, one wheel moves the bowel".
When we're riding we feel, experience and smell much more than car drivers ever do.
:hat:
Exactly how I see it. In a car you drive past stuff, on a bike you ride through it.