TOTO gets lost

[Sharry]

Early Thursday morning TOTO and Gremlin packed up and set off on their TT200 challange. Any unusual or eventful activies getting to the ferry will be posted by the riders responable.

Apparently all went well untill Picton. When they disembarked the ferry they then split, Gremlin going strait to Christchurch while TOTO took a scenic route.
By 1700 Gremlin was already in Christchurch drying his sodden leggings and gloves by the heater, and awating his companion. He recieved a txt after a while saying TOTO was trying to find the accommodation.
About an hour later TOTO txt to blame Christchurch for being a difficult city to navagate :violin: and Gremlin txt back to say he could collect him if TOTO would give him an intersection then patiently waited and waited................:wait:
I even txt TOTO to ask if he needed me to nip down and lead him to the accommodation, I wouldn't have minded at all.

No answers......... I was hoping TOTO knew to turn around at the light house.

Finnaly around 9pm a call from TOTO to say he is close, Gremlin doesn't hold his breath. Instead he goes to the local pub in search of food.
After he had eaten he recieved the call he was waiting for, after two and a half hours TOTO had found the accommocation :clap:

And the TT2000 hasn't started yet :lol:

Gremlin's tale of how he slowed down to 100kph in zero visabilty rain with lightening strikes will have to be told by himself :)

[crazyhorse]

LOl - good read. hope the rest of the trip went better than the beginning :yes:

[Sharry]

This is the internet and KB so firslty that means this is true and secondly it also means I didn't say it :innocent:

[MadDuck]

TOTO took a scenic route.

I blame GIJoe for this kind of silly behaviour :Punk:

[EJK]

lol where are they now?

[Genie]

This looks like it wil be some interestingn reading, please keep me posted.

The scenic route, well there's a lot of scenery to be covered.

[EJK]

Just got a text from Mr. Toto. He is in Christchurch (and Gremlin). Seems hes fine now.

[Sharry]

What are they doing in Christchurch? I thought they were doing 1000kms today?

[Genie]

Maybe they're still trying to find their way out, it's like a maze, once you're in the middle get out again is difficult.

[Maha]

What are they doing in Christchurch? I thought they were doing 1000kms today?

Maybe they have already done it and will do it again later, you know what they're like.

[Gremlin]

Maybe they have already done it and will do it again later, you know what they're like.
I think he made several passes at me... I've dodged them all so far. Damn you honda riders are scary :bleh:

Ride report (and adventures so far) coming in a few min once I write it up :ride:

[Genie]

come and hurry up.....we're waiting, can't hold my breathe forever........

[Gremlin]

So Sharry has already given you the highlight of the escapade before the real ride had even started.

Thursday morning, we packed and set off. Toto proudly claiming on MSN he had barely looked at the website, had just finished planning his routes and generally giving the impression that he was following me, so it shouldn’t be too difficult. (There would be a recurring theme that Toto barely ever knew where he was, didn’t know any town names, and couldn’t remember any from the discussion we had had for the past 5 minutes).

Set off from the BP Autobahn on Thursday at 10am (a bit late, but still in time for the ferry) and spent an uneventful 7.5 hours trekking down to Wellington (at least completely quiet by our usual standards). I had just got my bike back from the shop on Wednesday afternoon, after a service and more custom work, and Katie was now sporting a 11.5L marine tank strapped to the back seat and fuel line running into the main line. In theory, it would increase my main tank from a max of 250km before reserve to 400+ km before reserve. I say in theory, as this was completely untested, right before a 2000km+ journey that would depend on it. Excellent :D The ride down was of course, the best way to test it, so stopping in Tokoroa for Toto to gas up (and asked him to fill his spare tank as well), I noticed my 2nd tank hadn’t gone down at all. Good sign for the next 200km to Taihape!

Yes well… the first 3 attempts to get the 2nd tank working failed. The bike would run for 5-10km then grind to a halt. Giving up for the moment, we poured Toto’s spare tank in (y’know, to help make his bike lighter) and we carried on to Taihape. While riding, I remembered the shop advising the breather could be left closed as the fuel pump would draw the gas, but thought, just how strong is the suction? Air has to get in somehow to replace the lost fuel, and this would explain why I can go for a few kilometres, then it dies. Opened the breather and sure enough, the tank had gone down when I checked in Wellington.

Checked into Interislander just after 5.30pm for the 6.30pm sailing, had a chat to a Speed Triple and Street Triple who were separately heading down for their own rides, but nothing TT related. Helped them tie down their bikes, all secure, and headed upstairs for dinner. Chat, banter and food for 3 hours, explaining the South Island, TT, routes etc to Toto, unfamiliar with the position of newbie (his first time to South Island). Off the ferry at Picton and across the road to Tombstone Backpackers (excellent accommodation really).

I used my GPS software to give Toto an overview of the South Island, main routes, particular roads etc as he didn’t have a single map yet (good sign huh?). Had what sleep I could that night, with the freight training snoring next to me. Morning dawned fantastic, ended up leaving Picton at 10am, with Toto now in possession of a big map and map book, and a rough idea of where to go. I had to go direct to Christchurch to visit a client, while Toto was doing Takaka, West coast and Arthur’s Pass to Christchurch. A great opportunity to test the tank again, and with no Toto following, it was the last test before the actual TT2000. Finally, it worked smoothly, and I made Christchurch without a single stop, and getting a weird feeling of seeing the trip meter casually tick over 300km and keep going :)

I got a hearty welcome north of Christchurch by the storm front that swept up the east coast. I could see the black clouds ahead, so stopped to put my rain jacket on, leaving the pants off, as it wouldn’t be too bad. Little did I know, it was the wildest weather I have ever ridden through. Rain so thick I could barely see the tail lights of the vehicle in front, which was vital, as I had no idea where the road was going and couldn’t see it either. Two sets of lightning and I was thinking about the clever idea of being on top of metal in the open country. When the wind came as the rain started to ease (making it normal heavy rain) and I started seeing cars almost get blown off the road it certainly put things into perspective. Arrived in chch, bottom half soaked, and sent a warning txt to Toto (who missed the whole lot).

Sorted client and found accommodation. Settled in and waited. And waited. And got bored and waited some more. Sporadic communication, and he’s somewhere in Christchurch, thinks the town is shit, and evidently lost. More txt, offering to come get him if he can tell me where he is, and at 8.30pm I give up and go to pub down the road for dinner. I’ve missed the meals, so settle for a pie and wedges. 2.5 hours after entering Christchurch he appears. It turns out that despite my instructions to go through the city, stay on SH1 and you will find it, because I said it several times, he thought it better to go through the city centre for an unknown reason. Idiot. He loses one map along the way somewhere, and that evening, I go through all the required points for each day… again. I had also emailed him an A4 page of all the accommodation, address and contact details. He decided that, along with the website, it was far too much text, didn’t print it, didn’t read it… have I already said he’s an idiot? He was starting to make me look far too sorted for my reputation.

Up at 5am (after another freight train went through my head during the night) and we filled up, went to the shop and signed in. We received our starter tickets, and the TT2000 was all go.

Going to leave it here for now, got stuff to do, and by the time I’m probably posting the ride itself, Toto may have come across this thread…. hehehehehehe

I am currently working in Christchurch, and will be in Picton this evening. Toto has had lunch in Arthurs Pass, and will do a long trip round to Picton for this evening. Give he's done a lot of the roads on the TT2000, I think he will be OK... He's also been to the accommodation on Thursday, so *fingers crossed* he's going to make it.

[Sharry]

Fabulous Gremlin, after all the hullabaloo that his royal TOTOness has gone through, organising and navagating his way to Christchurch, you have let him try and find his own way off the South Island on his own? :weird:

[Shadowjack]

Toto? Ah, that Toto, *penny drops*, the Toto I met at my first fuel stop at Springfield, and shared a few checkpoint comments with all the way to the end. And then, usually, seen disappearing into the distance (I'm a slow old codger, really) in a haze of lime-green howlingness. Nice to put a face to the name, if rather belatedly.

[STJim]

You will recall that I bumped into you at Westport and later at Springs Junction. I also thought I saw you on the Takaka Hill. Comming down towards Takaka as I was going up. Keen to know what you achaeived. Looking forward to reading your next post with the rest of your story

[Mom]

Idiot. so *fingers crossed* he's going to make it.

Feel the love *hugs*

[TOTO]

OoooooK. In my defence I have to say that I had decided that this will be an adventure and given that Sir Gremlin has his trusty GPS, and we were going to end up following everything that grazy gadget said meant that wether I looked at maps prior to the trip it didnt really matter.... tahts my story and I'm sticking to it :p

Pleanty of adventures and stories for the past 5 days. reports are to come soon... :)

[Gremlin]

The alarms came at 0430, much too early for my liking but no choice to be had and after half a year of waiting (I didn't do the first as the bike was in the shop being repaired) the 2010 TT2000 was finally here.

Showered in the freezing cold... damn toilet block was separate and breezy. Gear was put on and packed into the luggage with the noise of bikes constantly going past and we headed the 7km down the road filling up our tanks and grabbing some drinks for later in the day. At Hampton Honda, the main group had already left, apparently they had let out a couple to take photographs, and everyone had taken it as the time to leave. Toto was staying with me until Rakaia, where he would continue the basic route as it was his first time in the South Island and sightseeing was on his list. I was continuing down to Geraldine for the first of 3 flyers, aiming for a Silver Award. Left Hampton Honda around 6am.

It was cold, very cold heading down the straights, and I quickly found my right hand heated grip was definitely not working. Not such a great start when the bike is saying the air temp is hovering between 1 and 2 degrees, but I was fresh and knowing it wasn't quite the difficulty of the Grand Challenge, I would be reasonably OK. Pace was brisk, enough to pass some bikes, but passed by others. Didn't want to be stopping and chatting at this early stage, but the cover of night was a handy thing to polish off some early boring kilometres. Rakaia came into view, a quick stop to photograph the 50kph speed sign and say my goodbyes to Toto, who was already asking if I knew where the turn off was...

I had decided photograph almost every town or place required, as it was quick and I was aiming to stop 2-3 times a day with my increased gas range. I had even purchased a bum bag that sat on my gut, allowing me to take 1 glove off, phone out, take picture, put away, glove on and go. On top of the radar detector was also a small piece of paper with the places required, and the flyers of my choosing. Handy quick reference when you're tired. On the way down to Geraldine, I came across a Holden that was in a similar mindset to me, not going too far about 110, but slowing for oncoming cars. Used him as a rabbit until my turn off. Few bikes had been seen so far, but had no idea who was doing which circuit first, who was actually going for flyers etc, and travelling the same way, finding bikes was going to be rare. At Geraldine I decided to stop and eat, as my next stop was 400km. I had had some muesli bars made in preparation for the trip, and this was my sole food during the riding. All vital nutrition and quite tasty. There were bikes in Geraldine already and a few more arrived while stopped. Chatted to a father-daughter on a Pegaso from Lyttleton, who had forgotten his notes at home, so showed him the brief run down. Didn't end up seeing them again.

From Geraldine it was a boring run to Coleridge, but excellent time was made, and I suspect, made the big impact on the schedule, maintaining consistent speeds for long periods of time. Dawn had broken, so traffic was increasing a little, and some horse event thing was on somewhere. Up to Coleridge, a great road with rises and falls, and a few coleridge locals looking puzzled to see another bike. From here, I took the shortcut across to Arthur's Pass, using Lyndon Rd, as I had the gas range and the SM wouldn't have a problem with the road which turned out to be quite easy (at least perhaps in summer and dry).

Great run through Arthur's Pass, apparently missing the cops in it, perhaps they were south of Lyndon Rd, but I didn't see a single one, not that it would have presented a problem, as I try to maintain 110kph most of the time on the more main roads. Approaching Greymouth, I was tossing up between passing the 3 bikes in front of me and not, aware of the town approaching, but 90-95kph was robbing me of time. While thinking, ran a bit close to the bike in front, so decided to overtake, but as I did so, the radar detector chirped for the first time, so tucked back in. Sure enough, 1 parked on the side of the road, and as I was getting relaxed, more blue and reds with a sv1000 parked up... oh dear, looks like it was busy, with the food festival etc. As we rounded the corner to the roundabout, another cop, oncoming. Wow... 3 in one hit. Greymouth was the next stop, so knowing the KTM ran great on 98, into BP. Pity I didn't know the price until that evening. A whopping $2.139 per litre. Either they have big litres there, or I just got ripped a new hole.

Food and drink consumed and a short break, on to Ikamatua and Blackball. Had a blue/purple gsxf or something and a vstrom sweep pass, it turned out I would see them from time to time, and kept a pace similar to mine. At Ikamatua, they went into the town to go to the store to get a receipt, while I did my usual trick of stopping at the town sign. This in turn put me just in front at the turn off in Ikamatua and while they caught up quickly enough down the straights, they didn't pass. I assume it was my turn to be a rabbit. Stopped at the Blackball sign, this time, they copied me. I checked if I was holding them up, but wasn't, so carried on, them behind me. Excellent pace maintained, they stayed right behind until Punakaiki, where I saw the town sign, mentally nodded, then realised I needed to stop. Slid to a stop, preferring this to Pancake rocks, which would be busy.

Saw the guys stopped outside the pancakes rock entrance, and sure enough, they took a bit longer to latch on coming up behind near Westport. Didn't need to stop yet, so carried on through, while they stopped. I had chosen the Denniston flyer as the last for the day, as I have done it before, but this time, the road was not in a great condition, a lot of pea sized gravel on seal, which can be very slippery. Saw the two bikes going up as I was coming down. Up to Karamea, a great ride as always, but had a bit of a close call getting to Karamea, when I didn't realise how new the new seal was, and had a two wheel slide from left wheel track to right around a left hand. Slowed the pace a bit on the seal after that.

Found the Karamea sign and headed back to Westport, but with more of a head wind now, and hard going. Sorta struggled to get much over 120kph, what with full luggage and being a naked bike, so didn't try as I needed decent consumption to get back to Westport. 220km odd from Greymouth, another 220km for Denniston and Karamea... walking is muuuuch slower than doing 120kph. On the way south, I started thinking about the end of the route. My eta was already estimated at 1815 by the GPS, which, if I wanted, could leave plenty of time for another flyer, perhaps gold was possible. Not having the documentation for other flyers, I hoped there would be bikers at Westport Caltex, and sure enough, ran into STJim (who I've met on a GC prep ride) and a fella on a gsxr that had passed me twice on the straights to Geraldine (hehehe, tortoise and the hare, I have a bigger gas range :D)

They told me the proof was Springs Juction, for that flyer, the other 2 possible flyers for the day, I had already passed. Thought, oh why not, don't have anything else to do (definition of crazy perhaps? Doing over 1000km in 16 hours, I'm ahead of time, so may as well do some more?). STJim didn't stop long, but I stopped again, feeling sore from the pace and the previous stop was Greymouth. Gsxr was also doing Springs Junction, with STJim and I, but we did it separately. Buller Gorge, a delight as always, few spots of rain on the visor, but realised the extra flyer was going to allow me to dodge the front, which it did.

Got a good break going through Reefton etc, finding a cop parked up fishing, but pointing the other way so I saw him as I exited a corner, in plain view. With a pace of 120kph ish, it might have been worse if either of us were doing the opposite. Saw STJim stopped in Springs Junction after I had taken my photo, he was wondering what he could take. Told him to take the town sign, it would be fine.

I was really starting to feel it now. A little more than 300km remained, the 1000km mark ticked over and the strain was obvious. Back, neck, arse, all hurting, and the overwhelming sense of just wanting to be finished was growing. Corners were no longer entertainment, they were a small chore. An accident scene broke the monotony, but it was all cleared, except for a bashed up car sitting on a truck.

The Mot Valley highway was a great break from the straights of boredom, just a brilliant road and helped me ignore the pain. A long half hour spent trundling to Nelson, and Morley Honda for the completion of Day 1 just before 8pm. Checked the stats on the GPS. I had been on the road for 14 hours, 1 hour of stops. A moving average of 97kph and an overall average of 89kph ish from memory. Toto arrives within minutes, sporting a BP pie, the bastard. Nothing for me.

Trundled off the find the night's accommodation, organisers had said they would be much more strict on the 6am start for Sunday. Turned out the Hell's Angels were in town for their meeting, so the cops were kept busy, which was great from my view point, hoping it would extend to morning as well (or that the cops were tired and sleeping - either way, not interested in us). A great burger each from Smugglers or something, shower and bed. Freight train returned to haunt me, but not much, as I was too tired.

[Gremlin]

Cursed alarms... 0500... this was hard work, but at least my back felt a lot better than the previous night... These rides are hard work at pace on a naked, but hey, they were great in corners, which is what I wanted.

Doing the maths last night, I had decided that with being more tired on the 2nd day, getting 2800 points in the bag on the first day, it would be extremely unwise to push for the remainder of the required 7000 points to get a gold award, and scaled back my ride for Sunday to comfortably achieve Silver. Oyster Bay was dropped from the list, and Kaiteriteri-Marahau and Portage were all that was needed.

Got to Morley Honda late, around 0610, the main bulk of riders had already pulled out, but no problem, this day would be more of a cruise, and no need to push. Ended up leaving Richmond at 0630, after spending time cleaning my visor, filling up the hydrabak etc. Toto had already left, with his own route in mind.

Kaiteriteri was tackled first, thinking the extra light for Takaka would be nice. Struggled a bit to find the Marahau fire station, but asking a local, and I headed next door. Exiting Marahau, my first cop, why on earth was he going there at 0730 in the morning? Didn't dwell on it as it meant one less on Takaka Hill.

Raced up it, finding plenty of bikes coming the other way, and on the return journey, passed a few. Round Nelson, stuck behind incredibly slow cars through Nelson, doing 30-40... what is this? Early Sunday morning? Sheesh!!....

The aches and pains were back in their familiar places again, making me glad I had chosen to have a slower day. Passed a few bikes on the way to Queen Charlotte Drive, and judging by their pace, I was somewhere near the back of the pack, but no problem. GPS and calculations, I knew I had plenty of time.

Portage flyer was next on the hit list. Wow... how to describe it? 30km one way, at least 15km of that was 2nd gear, incredibly tight and narrow. Queen Charlotte Drive has nothing on this road. On the way out, came across a crazy fellow. Thought they had broken down, so stopped and asked if they were OK. Yes, they were, and was I on the TT2000? I have no idea how he knew, but confirmed, and he told me to get on with it. Hardly one to refuse, and seemingly havign obtained my own personal cheer squad, I returned to finding out how well a fully laden supermoto can go around corners. Got to the Portage Resort, having seen 1 bike leaving it, and I was pretty stuffed. Saw dreadlocks when going back to Queen Charlotte Drive, it looked like he was having a lot of fun as well. My flyers for the day were complete, and provided I still had all my proof, Silver had been achieved.

Roadworks continuing to be a common theme, Picton eventually arrived, and my first gas stop for the day. Felt like the end of Day 1 all over again. Knowing I was heading into cop country, the pace was legal for the most part, enough traffic had to be dealt with etc, but detoured around Blenheim, which would have sped things up a bit. Murchison came and went, the feeling of just wanting to be finished was strong again (seems to come up every time there's an abundance of straights). I could tell I was tired, I wasn't doing my calculations, keeping an eye on distances, just using the GPS and whether my final ETA was going up or down - it barely ever seemed to go down... just up, rather disheartening.

Got bored before reaching Hanmer Springs so upped the pace and eventually tacked onto the back of a busa and ST1300. Hanmer Springs was my 2nd and last break for the day. Found myself annoyed that I was thinking, the final leg, almost the end... and yet I still had over 300km to complete, and more than 3 hours... a whole ride for some... but short when you're doing more than a thousand a day. Busa and ST1300 had already carried on, I never saw them again.

Inland Rd to Kaikoura wasn't too bad, but couldn't fully enjoy it was I was too tired. Good road nonetheless (better than the boredom of SH1 anyway). Ended up upping the pace again, going unusually quick down the straights, but a strong sense of wanting to fucken finish the goddamn pain and punishment. Kaikoura to Chrischurch I can barely remember, lots of corners, more cars, nothing different to the other thousand kilometres that had passed under my wheels earlier in the day. I'd done the road on Friday anyway, but at least I didn't get the same greeting all over again. Didn't see a single TT2000 bike, a lonely ride.

Checked into Hampton Honda, Toto had been there a short while, and told of his humiliation by a scooter... well, he didn't say that exactly, but I read it like that. Stats for the day, I had been on the road for about 13 hours and covered over 1100km, stopped for about 1-1.5 hours, and overall average was high 70s or low 80s. Moving average was high 80s I think. Too tired to really care or think I should check it, but I had completed my goals.

Took proof to scrutineers, Silver was confirmed, then support the awesome organisers by buying the achievers pack, polo shirt, award etc. Hey, its not like you do these rides every fortnight. Consumed the sausages and drink on offer, and spoke to some of the other riders, bumping into LBD (now there's one crazy fella... the TT2000 was a leadup for the Rusty Nuts Super Tour starting tomorrrow...)

Eventually, we decide bugger it, no point still being here, thank the organisers and promise to return next year (which I definitely want to) and gear up. Toto needs gas, so he says, see you at the petrol station, which I confirm. As he rides off, I think damn, which one? No problem, as I pull out the drive, he's coming back, saying he can't find it!! Some things never change, how he ever completed the route must be one of Toto's wonders of the world, because I'll never know.

Back to the accommodation, still had the key from Saturday morning... lucky Toto didn't keep it. Still had two packs of muesli bars left (from 3) so had them for dinner and breakfast, Toto agreeing they were awesome, and he wanted some in the future.

Covered more than 2300km for the 2010 TT2000, in about 27 hours. Excludes the "commute" from Auckland :ride:

Currently in Wellington... rest of the ride north will come on another day... only getting back to Auckland late on Thursday

[gijoe1313]

Oh I chortled, I smirked, I guffawed, I laughed and I cried! Sounds like a fantastafabulous ride! My only gripe is ... I wasn't doing it myself! :weep:

Will be good to hear TOTO's side of things!

[MaxB]

Great reading - thanks for the reports

[Mom]

Pair of menatlists!

[KoroJ]

Aahh! so I was riding with a Gremlin on my back...Lucky I didn't come off.

Steve did say he recognised you from the GC's.

[TOTO]

So Thursday morning rolls in and at 6am I finally open my eyes from the nervous/excited sleep due to the long trip being round the corner. Long into MSN and what do I see , Gremlin on-line, telling me what an workaholic he is and how technology does not behave in the way he want, and he has had really not enough sleep. Being such a caring soul I decided to comfort him a little by telling him me just like him has just begun prepping for the trip, so we kinda in the same boat....kinda. I had been finished prepping and packing in 24 minutes while our knight in black had yet to start. haha such is Gremlin's world. :killingme

We were supposedly gonna meet at the petrol station at 9am, and leave at 10am. Some little bird had told me earlier in my sleep that that wont happen anyway so needn't I worry. So I roll in the petrol station , thinking oh, it seems I am late this time, but No. It was the Gremlin that was even more chilled than me and rolled up 30minutes after I had. I was trying very hard to hide my bemusement of his extra fuel tank that I had been hearing for the past 5 weeks prior to the adventure, and how this invention was going to work. I was soon about to find out...

Said goodbye to Sin City and off we went south on our adventure. We kept a good legalish pace so not to attract attention to ourselves. Turned out that even tho we were going almost straight route from Auckland to Wellington the route going on the western side of lake Taupo was really really fun and enjoyable. There were occasions that we would spontaneously turn into a direction unknown to me and there would be corn fields around and I was thinking " oh boy, here we go again" , but i must say that i was pleasantly surprised when it actually turned out to be a real shortcut as opposed to some extra 100kms of metal road like the Christmas tour...

It turned out that our man in black had not really a clue on how to use his new petrol tank in theory it was supposed to be "really simple". At the end of his patience he resorted to asking for my fuel can in order to make it to the petrol station, which I was kind to oblige. It seemed only natural to think that he had somehow broken it in the one day he had the bike back from the shop. He was gremlin after all - Gremlin by name, gremlin by nature as GiJoe says. So Gremlin enjoyed the feeling of filling Katie back with petrol while I strolled along in the military mine fields of the desert road, and took some scenery snaps...

http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs454.snc3/25979_420149167264_581372264_4973795_3457018_n.jpg

We arrived into Wellington, to strong winds and a storm boiling in the sky. I was thinking , boy wonder what the sea will be like. Turned out we had gotten to the ferry just in time. We found this out because by the time we had secure the bikes on to the ferry deck we were already kms away from shore. It didn't help us that the chains that the ferry crew had to pull across for us to tie our bikes onto were missing and we had to strap the bikes in all sorts of weird and wonderful ways to make sure they ain't going anywhere we didn't desire. The good thing was that the ferry crew provided us with good strap on equipment so I almost didn't use some of mine I had bough especially for the journey across.

http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs474.snc3/25979_420149217264_581372264_4973796_5295078_n.jpg

http://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs474.snc3/25979_420149267264_581372264_4973797_2334551_n.jpg


Talked to a few bikers on the ferry, exchanged experiences and learned how some other travellers were going to spend their time on the mainland. I was well jealous of the guy on the Street Triple who turned out was making such a journey to the south island every few weeks to get some nice riding in. Well done sir, we should be all as lucky as you :yes:

Off the ferry we went in 3 hours and straight into the per-booked accommodation where I was told stories of other times at the same place where Gremlin had broken a good part of the inventory and so the owner remembered him well. Even despite that dark past the Graveyard/tombstone backpackers were amazing with their service, facilities, free breakfast, and continuous supply of cute foreigners of the female kind to keep me entertained:)

The day after I was finally gonna get a taste of the south island :ride: ................

p.s. here is a picture of how Katie and the Hooligan spent the night together - Honda love from first site...

http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs454.snc3/25979_420149282264_581372264_4973798_5999133_n.jpg

[Hopeful Bastard]

You boys are truely a worry!

[Sharry]

Your parents must worry everytime you boys pack your bike gear:yes:

[TOTO]

Well we got up on friday morning, with an abundance of Honda, Ktm, and Harley jokes. Got ready ra ra ra, and the Gremlin decided he must go straight down on sh1 to Christchurch due to his workaholism, but since I was a free soul for the whole day with no commitments I decided to ride to the garden city via the scenic route. And seiing that I'll be doing that I taught I may as well check out the condition of some of the roads that we were gonna be doing on the TT2000 the next day. So my route was as follows: Picton>via Queen Charlote Drive>Nelson>Takaka>Murchison>Springs Junction> Christchurch (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=picton&daddr=takaka+to:murchison+to:christchurch&geocode=FbPrif0dLh5fCikh1ZAu-Dk5bTEzMpPRzPsTOA%3BFUudkP0d-tJMCinjwZzs-448bTGqQSon4S7QWQ%3BFSEugv0dE4pFCinnp1glRtE6bTEAu4 2Di4Qc_g%3BFYvCZ_0d5TlKCimBC3YDPooxbTG_g5lNp_4isA&hl=en&mra=ls&sll=-42.172593,173.126184&sspn=2.943509,4.938354&ie=UTF8&ll=-42.134895,173.111572&spn=2.945213,4.938354&z=8) - a good 700km warm-up route for the TT2000.

Started off trough Queen Charlote drive and almost had to force myself to look at the road as every time there was an elevation in the road I was subjected to the unprecedented beauty of the sounds. It was fantastic. I stopped and took a few pictures, but if I had taken every photo oportinity I was not gonna make it to Christchurch that day. I also got my first taste of the South island straights, and the words of one of my colleagues were in my mind like a warning "Don't speed on the straights, don't speed on the straights..." . So I managed to exercise self control with the throttle and take in the views instead. The views were amazing.

http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs454.snc3/25979_421855702264_581372264_4981177_3341_n.jpg

I got to nelson in no big hurry got the impression that it was a really chilled out, clean town with plenty of people out and about. A generally fun city that I wouldnt mind living in. From what I had seen on the maps there were plenty of twisty roads around too to keep a biker happy. I headed for Takaka, which was supposed to have one of those super twisty roads leading up to it, and given that it was part of the TT2000 the next day I knew I was in for a treat. Before I get to Takaka however ther was a place that I had to go trough first. A place I found to have horrendous driving culture, where people don't look pulling out of driveways, reverse for no apparent reason, pedestrians are walking on the streets like drunks and ton top of all that the old grannies are driving with 25km/h on the main road. A biker's nightmare. The name of this place is Motueka. If you have to go trough there be on maximum alert in order to prevent some idiot taking your life, and if you get trough there alive and in one piece, you mist thank your lucky stars, and subsequently go to the nearest Lotto shop and buy a ticket. You would have been lucky. I'm happy to report that despite the dificulties I made it out of Motueka in one piece, but given that I would have to go trough this place 4 more times over the next few days I would need to come up with a survival strategy.

Got to Takaka hill and that was pure magic. Fantastic surface, great banking on the corners, almost no traffic, and the ones I came across gave me way asap. I imagine that catching them in the twisties in second gear at 7-8000 rpm and around 160 Db coming out from the pipe had something to do with it :innocent: I saw plenty of camper vans parked on the lookouts and one was even shaking vigorously. I'm guessing the views have aphrodisiac like properties to the German tourists. The Takaka hill however had a secret to it. Any bike who rode it, had better do his/her homework really well. The fact is that the NZ cost saving technique while building the Takaka hill road had to show somewhere, and it wasn't in the road surface or the banking, so it showed in the barriers. Cheescutters. If you happened to run a corner wide into the barrier, you had a cheescutter there to stop you and since we know what happens to bikers who hit the cheesecutters, you would have an unpleasant situation on your hands to say the least. And this is all before you experience the 800m drop that follows after you collide with the cheesecutters. So the Takaka Hill road is a fun piece of tarmac, but care must be taken while riding it.

Got to Takaka, filled with petrol, enjoyed a refreshing E2 drink and on the way South to Murchison. I took Sh6 south which was amazing. really nice sweepers with the combination of some twisties every 10-15kms or so. brilliant riding. I had a good pace there and the lack of Smurfs, meant that I could enjoy myself to the max. 188kms took about 2hours, so an average of 94km/h. Good pace with a smile on my face :D I must say I did not go into licence loosing speeds, as loosing my license on the south island would be major inconvenience. So I had a stop at Murchison for gas, refreshing drink and off I went further. I tried to do the stop as short as possible as I was planning in being in Christchurch by 7:30 to see EJK. Needless to say due to the title of this thread, this didn't happen....

On I went trough springs junction, and trough Lui's pass. I was so busy having fun on the road that at one point had forgotten to look at the scenery, and only managed to do so when my teeth started shaking due to low ambient temperature. I looked around and what do I see - 200m above me on the peaks of the mountains there is SNOW. Well, that explained everything. That also explained the dark shiny parches on the road I was seeing in places of higher elevation. Black Ice. You can see a few photos I took in the pass...

http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs443.snc3/25446_412539682264_581372264_4953530_7641173_n.jpg

http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs474.ash1/25979_421855707264_581372264_4981178_6619171_n.jpg

Anyhow I finished the inland road and got back on Sh1 to Christchurch. I didnt expect this to be the longest and most boring part of the trip. You see the problem as they simply put it in The Matrix is Choice. If they had put on the sign "Christchurts - follow only this road" would have been fine. but because there were a number of options to get to to christchurch - via this plance, via that place, I decided that it might be more interesting that the sh1 and also meant that I could get gas somewhere which was magically almost gone from my tank. finally found a ptrol station and filled up. Met a few local hippies who offered to help me find my way seeing that I was from out of town adn was holding a map, but I kindly rejected the offer. I started getting txt messages - where are you , how is all going, but the top was when I started getting messages from Sharry in Auckland who knew I was lost. I decided not to answer but instead to find my way to the accommodation first and then casually reply that I was not lost, but taken the long way home. unfortunately from me entering Christchurch region at 7:30 till about 10:30pm it was know that I was lost and hence this thread is the result. Funny that it was created from a person who herself has the reputation of being a Lost Bitch :killingme

It had only taken me 3hours to navigate around Christchurch and clock up 70 city kms. not all that bad :innocent:. On top of everything I was told that the showers were actually outside the building and after everything I had gone trough I had to take a shower outside the building at 11pm and the hot water was only half operational....did I mention I DON'T like Christchurch.... :brick:

[Sharry]

If you can get from Picton to Nelson then Christchurch and back twice and escape the South Island then, your Royal TOTOness, I am sure I can do this too :lol:

[TOTO]

well i get lost in urban aread, outside of town i'm kinda ok ;)

[Gremlin]

Finally... an alarm that sounds after the sun has risen and the birds have started chirping. Set the alarm for about 0830 if I remember rightly, but we probably only got up around 9am. Finally able to take our sweet time getting ready, we did just that, away from the accommodation around 11am.

Toto was once again doing the long route to Picton (such is the luxury of not having to work), so... fingers crossed, he was going to make it to Picton. In reality, he would probably make it fine, and Picton being just fractionally smaller than Christchurch, I doubted it would take him long to find the Backpackers (and he had already been there anyway).

Sorted out the client, wrote up the first report, and received a txt from Toto informing me he was in Arthur's Pass, enjoying pancakes for lunch. Left Christchurch around 3pm, at least refreshed for another boring ride to Picton. Before this trip, I had never done the route between Blenheim and Kaikoura. Now, I was doing this route for the 2nd time in 4 days... There are some good parts, but mostly its pretty damn boring. Oh for the time to do a longer route.

The "highlight" of the trip was encountering a stock truck dumping a steady stream of effluent down the middle of the road. A blue MX5 in front of me certainly didn't seem to impressed with this, and we both passed it as quickly as possible (with as little shit being slung in my direction as possible). By the time I had reached Domett, I was cold and tired, the sun had disappeared, and instead of making do, I decided to stop to don thermal top and rain jacket. Trying to keep my helmet on because my ears hurt like hell from the constant use of earplugs... I failed miserably. Polo tops don't stretch over helmets :(

In the workout that could also be described as wriggling into more gear, I was again passed by the shit-spewing truck. Oh yay. The roads leading to the offending truck smelt of shit (funnily enough) and time was spent trying to keep my tyres out of the trucks line, which seemed to vary from corner to corner. I caught up to the truck just before the Kaikoura coast, and in the slow vehicle bay, I was able to motion him to pull over. The useful chat went as follows:

Me: Do you know you're dumping your stock effluent all over the road?
Truck: Yep
Me: Do you know its illegal?
Truck: No, its not.
Me: Well, it is. (at this point, I'm reasonably certain, as I think I've read a post on KB... so it must be true :D)
Truck: No, it ain't.

This was obviously going far places in a short space of time, so I shrugged, walked back off the road, noted his rego, and motioned for him to carry on. I must follow this up, and see what the ruling is, as its dangerous, disgusting, and I'm sure there are rules about unloading on the public roads. Unfortunately, not a cop was seen all the way to Picton, otherwise, I would have stopped to find out an answer.

Passed the truck shortly after, the road smelt better and I didn't have to dodge shit any more. The rest of the trip to Picton passed without incident.

Sure enough, checking into Tombstone Backpackers, Mr Toto was nowhere to be seen. This was expected and I settled in to wait. I heard his arrival a good 30-60 seconds before sighting him, enabling me to walk out from the room to the driveway (on the opposite side of the complex) and motion him to his park (which was kindly provided under cover, at the front door, by the owners).

This time, he approved of the accommodation, complimented the scalding temperature of the shower and while he was showering and settling, I set off to rustle up some grub (having missed any proper lunch). I found it in the form of DA Restaurant, an expensive pizza, but damn tasty, and the largest I have set eyes on (pic attached for proof). I timed the walk back to the backpackers... two pizza slices long.

Toto was still in the shower, claiming they had been occupied, so I kindly left him a couple of slices (he did say he didn't want anything, but knowing him, he would never pass up pizza). I then showered and on the way out of the room, I told him there was a thread on KB about him :D Found him in front of the computer and retrieved the key. I didn't make it out of the room as I ended up interrupting a couple of girls (american and israeli) in their discussion about where to exercise and ended talking with them until 0030, about everything ranging from travelling NZ and good backpackers, to Israel's 6 day war.

Toto (the actual single male) joined us only shortly, took no advantage and retrieved the key. Realising the time, goodnights were made, as we were up horribly early again (self inflicted punishment).

[Gremlin]

Tuesday...

Early alarms were an old joke by now, but 0500 still wasn't an easy rise. This time, it was a ferry at 0630, check in at 0530. The owners had kindly left the complimentary breakfast out for us, knowing we were leaving early. Hastily consumed, gear packed, the other two bikers staying at the backpackers had already left several minutes prior.

They didn't get far ahead... one vehicle in front of us in Lane 9. No chains out again on the ferry, so a bit of fiddling with the truck tie down points and the bikes were safely secured. Overpriced food on the ferry not required, the trip was spent dozing and chatting with one of the bikers who was from up north, and knew the bikers involved in the accident (and while not in the same group TT wise, were all travelling together) in Golden Downs.

With Toto due in Auckland by nightfall, and with me staying in Wellington, due to work, we said our goodbyes on the ferry. Left Toto following the right route out of Wellington, I reckoned he should make Auckland without many problems. Rest of the day was seeing clients. Went hunting for dinner around the West Plaza Hotel and found a small fish and chip place and enjoyed a meal.


Wednesday...


As usual, didn't get enough sleep, watching too many movies and up early around 0830. Continental breakfast was included (gotta love wotif) and once that was clarified with the front desk on checkout, more clients until the early afternoon.

The previous day, I had found a great Takeaways between Lambton Quay and Featherston street, which had lasagne and bolognese and run by a very nice old lady. Back there for another lunch stop, there was a bit of no mans land opposite, next to the entry to a parking garage, and with all the bike spaces full (let alone find a space that would fit panniers) the space was handy.

With a sense of relief, I left Wellington. I had got used to the country, with small towns, little traffic and easy navigation far too easily but who cares. It was great being in the country. The night stop was Turangi, and I wasn't going to suffer through SH1 again, and the straights around Marton. This time, I chose the Rimutakas, briefly stopping for gas in Featherston. Gotta love a long range, as I hadn't filled since Christchurch on Monday. The old petrol station attendant was stunned, and almost charged my gas to another person who had a small fill. He had previously ridden, so a few stories were swapped and I was on my way. No fill would be required to make Turangi.

As I approached the turn off for Mangamarie, I was reminded of the back route I had learned from locals in Carterton on a previous trip. Brakes applied with haste, I just made the turn off, and proceeded the back way to the Pahiatua Track. More corners, turns and SH54 later and guided by the GPS I was back on SH1, but thoroughly enjoying my meandering trip north. Travelling with less time pressures yielded such great riding! With the GPS now listing my ETA around 1930, it was time to reach Turangi, so proceeded up SH1 at legal pace. Desert Rd isn't too bad, certainly not the best road in the country, but better than a lot.

Exiting Desert Rd, I had the satisfaction of meeting someone more crazy than me. The bike was listing an air temperature around 6 degrees, and a cyclist came the opposite way, wearing nothing but her lycra shorts and T-shirt. Definitely crazy in those temperatures. The only other interruption to the monotony was coming over a crest onto a straight and finding an oncoming cop. Apparently my mkII eyeballs were better than his markI ones, and jumping on the rear brake dropped the handful of kph required to be legal. Unmolested, I carried on the short distance to Turangi and checked in around 1930.

By 2000, I was unpacked, bedding made. Difficult decisions such as finding a meal, showering in the open block and what to do for the evening were solved by jumping into bed and going to sleep. I fell asleep pondering when I last went to bed by 2015, but fell asleep before finding an answer :zzzz:

[Gremlin]

Thursday was the final day of "leave", but no work was required. While the alarm went off at 0800, I didn't crawl out of bed until 0845, a good 12.5 hours sleep. Damn, I felt great, not a cloud in the sky, it was going to be a great day.

Careful not to waste any of it, I sought out the Turangi bakery for a late breakfast / early lunch. Chicken and vegetable pie, filled roll of avocado, chicken and relish, and an enormous piece of carrot cake at a bargain price, I wobbled out of Turangi about 11am.

Again, I stunned the petrol station lady in Tokaanu, she commented she had barely seen another bike fill with more than $25. $45-50 wasn't uncommon for me. Leaving Tokaanu, I stopped for a pic at the lookout where the view was stunning. Searching the GPS, I found my required road on the western side of Lake Taupo. Kakaho Rd, an initially sealed road quickly turning to gravel, but more importantly it led to the Pureora Forest.

Having already been into this forest once before, I had missed some of it due to time and gas constraints. This time, I wanted to explore the roads I hadn't done and also allow me to provide the tracks to the NZ Open GPS guys, as none of the roads were on the map. This went well... perhaps too well, as the photographs will show. Sometimes, its best to know your limits before you're in the thick of it, and when you're on road tyres and walking forward to see if the terrain is possible, its usually the point at which you should turn around. Ignoring road closure signs due to washouts, or ducking and bumping your way through bushes will only lead to turning around much later :D However... you still get to try the road until you have to turn around.

With several roads ridden through, and another section of the forest mapped out, time was again in short supply. Heading to the other side of the forest, aiming for Bennydale, I found yet more roads I have not yet done, so *sigh* it will necessitate at least one more trip *sigh* :devil2: I love the road through to Te Kuiti, so I enjoyed this once more. Ignoring the GPS, I avoided SH1 until Ngaruawahia, satisfied that I had at least done a few more back roads.

Rest of the trip as they say, is history. Nothing to write about on SH1 is there?

All up, about 4400km covered in 8 days. About 2.5 days of that was spent working. Bike ticked over the 40k mark entering Manukau, all goals achieved, and on Friday I let my boss know I need to go to the South Island next year :ride:

[Mom]

Best you be carrying a spare set of rims Gremlin, for those off road opportunities, fantastic ride reports you mad buggers!

[Sharry]

Very cool write ups dudes, you guys have had a heck of a great time. Good on yas:niceone:

[TOTO]

As some of you will know, I have a rather cool and annoying to Gremlin (double points) alarm ring tone, for when I really really need to get up as soon as possible. I had made sure that this tone sounded at 4:30am - just for Gremlin's annoyance. I can sleep trough that tone if I ducked under the dubet and was planning on doing that, but Gremlins screams of "Turn that shit off" " what the heeeeel is wrong with you" "waaaaaaaaaaaa" made me reconsider and turn the phone alarm off. It was an early, cold saturday morning and already we could hear the noises of motorcycles going past our accommodation place. It was at this brisk morning time that the Gremlin had to take a shower in the freezing cold sowers outside the building. The ambient temperature as we found a little later was only 3 degrees north of zero, so that explains why the Gremlin could only treat Himself to a 5 minute shower.

By the time we got ready, packed, I had lubed my chain it was coming close to 6am and we were planning to be doing the TT2000 starting at 0600. Rocked up to the gas station where we bumped into a few riders, exchanged greetings. I asked if they were also doing the TT2000 same as us. The answer was "Yes", followed by a rather unmotivated " I have no idea why the hell I'm doing it tho". I would have taught that the adventure, challenge, adrenalin, being part of something that 150 other people are passionate about, riding some of the best motorbike roads on the planet and the satisfaction of personal achievement would have been enough of a reason for that guy. I guess not everyone was seeing as much \in this event as was Gremlin and Myself.

6:10 - We are on the road. Route for me for today was as follows: Christchurch > Rakaia > Methven > Kumara > Blackball > Ikamatua > Karamea > Motueka > Nelson. (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=christchurch&daddr=rakaia+to:methven+to:Kumara+to:Blackball+to: ikamatua+to:karamea+to:motueka+to:nelson&geocode=FYvCZ_0d5TlKCimBC3YDPooxbTG_g5lNp_4isA%3BF c9UZP0dBeVACin7qF58FO0tbTEmoecTnGF_TQ%3BFYo3Zv0dKi A7CinxzQzIXc4tbTEH33IqzLAMdA%3BFYt3df0d5Qw0CimdR9a oNxYvbTFkyQu3ao6o_A%3BFW6Jef0d6o03Cimh6vCyhnovbTGa QgZObRVShw%3BFQBZev0dcB0-CilHjWiILosvbTHt9EKtk1NhtQ%3B%3B%3B&hl=en&mra=ls&sll=-41.450961,172.666626&sspn=1.4884,2.469177&ie=UTF8&z=8) We were traveled down to Rakaiana with Gremlin leading me. Got to the sign, took our pictures and off he went in the pusuit of his silver award, leaving by myself in the middle of the south island to combat the lements :lol:

I found the turn off to Methven ok, even tho it took me 3 circles trough a gas station, pavement, grass and another street, all done under the observant eyes of other participants in the TT2000 who had stopped in the said gas station to have a cup of coffee and warm up. Got the Methven where I met the folks on the trike and a bunch of other rider, and by their words, they were even more lost than I was. You see at that point in time, Gremlin had talked my sense of orientation down so much that I taught I must be the most lost planet in the south island are at that point in time. Turns out that he (and Sharry) were wrong and there were people who were more lost than me. That made me feel a bit better :)

Left Methven at something like 7:10 and took to the road to Kumara, which was going trough Arthur's pass. My self contol was tested again coming up to the mountainous areas as it was mainly riding in a straigh line for probably 30-40kms. About 10kms before the road started getting interesting (and cold) I stopped, to fill up with gas, and put on all the available layers of clothing I could including my wets. At the gassy I met more of the tour's participants including Shadowjack. At that point I had stated to feel the limitations of the comfort of the stock seat of my bike and was admiring his sheepskin saddle. Really cool :) I saw a person who was doing the TT2000, who I taught was terribly underdressed for the occasion - summer gloves, jeather jacket with a t-shirt underneath and kevlar jeans and boots. I taught - you either have big balls or a small brain buddy - given that it was about to get colder real soon :cold: Filled up and god psyched for the trip ahead and the fun part was only beginning.

Started my going towards the mountainous terrain which had a few straights on which we were all behaving, and sure enough there were two Smurfs with their Smurfmobiles on the side of the road who were looking for prey. I wasn't it, but I did a nice long stare from them seeing that I was on a super loud bike, super loaded with luggage, bike green in colour while I was wearing day glow high visibility pants and day glow high visibility jacket (my wets) and I had the other 3-4 layers underneath. I'm sure I must have awaken curiosity in their Smurfy brains looking like marshmallow dipped in construction site paint soundling like Boeing 747 in reverse thrust :innocent:

Got going trough Arthur's pass, passing a number of camper vans full with polish tourists. The roads were very nice and people were letting us bikes pass easy. There was some black Ice on the road at some parts due to it being an early morning, but nothing to major. At about 3/4 of the way to Kumara, while enjoying a nice touring pace trough the sweepers I got passes by a dude on a blue SV1000 and his friend on a red adventure bike of some sort. Those guys were riding their bike up to 100% of their capabilities, knew the roads well it seems and were doing twis my speed in the sweepers (well deep into licence loosing speeds). It was interesting to see how other riders were having fun from one side and hoping I don't find them behind some bend - stationary. Got to Kumara and took my photo of the sign as a proof that I had been there. The first straigh out of the town I see the SV boy and his buddy on the side of the road. Stationery. Lucky for them they were talking to a Smurf. Turns out that SV boy and his buddy were too enthusiastic on the throttle and unknowingly (of knowingly) gotten them selfs all the way to the forest of lost licenses. needless to say I didn't see them again.

Got to Greymouth and filled up before going to Blackball and Ikamatua for the extra kms. Got on to the road for blackball and was nice to see soo many bikes on it. Turns out I was just in the mix of the main group of riders, some of which had just gotten their proof of ride to the towns and the rest who were just on their way. Everyone waved and behaved. Got the Blackball photo abd on another 30kms to Ihamatua. There were some nice straights between those two towns :devil: Got to Ikamatua, took clothes off (read riding gear), bought a biscuit as a proof I was in the town (the receipt) and proceeded to eat my cookie. Watched numerous bikes arrive in frtont of the Ikamatua Hotel sign, take picture and soot off. seeing that there was more than just a few bikes doing it, the locals got interested and by the 10th minute I was there eating my cookie, a small croud had gathered up to watch all the bikes coming up as in they were coming into a MotorGp pit stop, hopping off their bikes, taking a picture and shooting aways again in race pace. Some were even cheering them on. haha - simple pleasures in life. I finished my cookie and put my clothes back on (read riding gear), and left the same MotoGp style as the rest of the riders letting the bike get to the top of the rev range before shifting up. The was the slight downside of this action that there was a turn off to get back on route was only a few hundred meters away so as bikes accelerate MotoGp style they soon remember that they better brake MotoGp style if they want to make the turnoff. It was interesting that the turnoff was also over a crest and railway lines on top of that, so as riders were taking the turnoff and accelerating fast so the local can see, they had forgotten that the crest has a dip on the other side, thus causing the motorcycles' front wheel to experience a sudden elevation change related to seal level - no wonder the crowd had gathered :D

Proceeded mack to the main route, refilled at Greymouth with the amused gas station attendant who I had seen about an hour earlier and seeing her disbelief that I had covered 120 kms since I last saw her - not telling how long ago :p On the way to Karamea. Riding that west coast was just magic. I got my Mojo going there full on. Man and machine became one. The tarmac was moving underneath and the sense of flying and freedom was truly upon me. Big smile on my face. Magnificent. The corners to karamea are some of the most challenging I have had the pleasure to play on and it was fantastic to be able to do such an amazing piece of road on a dry and sunny day with heps of bikes around. It is a true must do for people who go to the south island riding. This is where I first saw the Gremlin, who at that point in time had overtaken me somehow and was already coming back from Karamea. Got a nice big wave out of him on I went to karamea. It was windy in that west coast though, and being on a naked bike it was a slight disadvantage to all those lazy boy chairs with wheels and screen - the Gold Wing. Ah well I spose everything has its own purpose.

Filled up at Westport, enjoyed a pie with some bikers also doing the TT2000 and on we went to karamea. SH6 is also one of the roads that if a rider is on the south island, is a must ride. Corner were flowing smoothly, the view was amazing. It was a point where even tho I could feel that I had already clocked about 700km was so much fun that fatigue did not really have a way to kick in. I'm guessing due to the adrenalin rush from the twisties.

By the time I got to Motueka It was about 6pm already. A stop at the gassy was in order to take on some fluids - both the bike and myself. A cold during went down really well after the got sun and the adrenalin had made me slightly warmed up. i think that the 3l ayers of clothing I was wearing had also something to do with it. I got to nelson about 7 pm but got to the checkpoint at about 8. That delay was due to slight detour in the town of Nelson, but it was nowhere near the same scale as the Christchurch detour the day before.

At 8am I was finally reunited with my KTM riding friend Gremin, who got immediately to teasing me about getting lost, being a honda rider, and so on and so on. Had started ti miss the honda jokes the whole day :D

In the night the Gremlin and I hot the town, and got in the mix of Hells Angels, police and horny Irish girls......but that is the subject to a different tale ;)

Day 2 of the TT2000 was only a few hours away ...

[Shadowjack]

Nice write-up, Toto. And I have enjoyed Gremiln's as well.
You mention my sheepskin saddle. I have a confession - comfort for the TT2000 event (and the NI tour which preceded it) was immeasurably enhanced by the Airhawk strategically placed underneath, and camouflaged by, the sheepskin. I must have forgotten to mention it - you know, adrenalin/pressure of the event, etc, etc....