Off to the Catlins

[Kiwifruit]

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.

[Kiwifruit]

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 !!

[KiwiCol]

Fare Well from the Mainland Col & Mrs Col, safe journey on those busy NI roads.

[GSXKING]

No wonder you have to tie the bikes in so securely 🙄

[KiwiCol]

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.

[Kiwifruit]

Imagine the carnage if the ferry ran over a big herring.....

2006 10 hour crossing.
The Cook Straight can be one of the roughest stretches of water in the world.
Fortunately not today.

[Kiwifruit]

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.

[GSXKING]

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     

[Kiwifruit]

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.

[Kiwifruit]

Start to finish.

[Hooli]

Looked a damned good trip that.

[Kiwifruit]

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.

[GSXKING]

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.

[GSXKING]

 

[Hooli]

Exactly how I see it. In a car you drive past stuff, on a bike you ride through it.