Off to the Catlins

[GSXKING]

 
Kingi you and Bobbie may recognize the hotel ??


[/quote]

Where we first met you mate 🥳

Yes that was a fabulous motel our room was extremely spacious and we dried all our gear.

[Kiwifruit]

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.

[Hooli]

That looks a beautiful ride.

[KiwiCol]

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.

[Kiwifruit]

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.

[GSXKING]

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.

[Kiwifruit]

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.


Glenorchy

[grog]

Just roll on Col, speedbumps,stuff ups, change of plans all built into having fun. End result always worth the effort.

[Kiwifruit]

Queenstown



From the Cardrona skifield.

Mt Cook

[Kiwifruit]

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.

[Kiwifruit]

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 ! 

[Kiwifruit]

Visited Moeraki Boulders yesterday.




One had hatched.....

[Hooli]

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 ! 

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.

[Eric GSX1400K3]

Visited Moeraki Boulders yesterday.




One had hatched.....

...and out came a GSX1400 FE...

[Kiwifruit]

Fabulous ride into Milford Sound. Stunning day.