Lost Biker says thanks

[Kwaky]

As you may be aware a biker got lost in the Akatarawas over the weekend unfortunately I was that person. At the moment I'm working through a very long list of people I need to say thank you to and that’s the reason I'm posting a note here.

I just want to say thank you very much to all of you who were in some way involved in the search in one way or another. The situation could have so easily turned out very differently. I must confess to making several mistakes that meant a lot of people had to put in a lot of effort to bring me home. So whilst I am eternally grateful and humbled, I am also very embarrassed by how my actions impacted on other people. In terms of the situation I found myself in I was lucky in that I always take some survival gear with me and it was these items that helped me survive a very difficult situation. Unfortunately the one thing I normally have but did not in this situation was a lighter....and I spent much time whilst in the forest berating myself for this slip up as it may have reduced the time and effort people would have had to spent looking for me as I could have lit a signal fire.

Finally a very big thank you to Nasty to who first posted my predicament on Kiwi Biker, your effort is very much appreciated by both my family, friends and myself.

I can now say that I have learnt some very valuable lessons from this experience which I will carry with for the rest of my life. Once again thank you all for your effort.

[Taz]

Hey well done. Can I come riding with you? :)

[chanceyy]

life is full of adventure & lessons .. but it was really good news to hear that you had been located

Welcome to KB btw .. :)

[Jantar]

From all accounts you did exactly the right thing. So well done. I see this is your first post on this site, so please don't be a stranger to us. :)

[Dutchee]

Welcome to KB (huge welcome from moi). It's very cool to see you posting but it was better hearing you were found.
I'm great at getting lost (friends were trying to figure out how to explain to my husband why I'd missed my flight back to NZ, and how to explain to the owner of the bike as to how they'd lost it and me). Thankfully it was summer there, only lost for a little while, I knew where I was and could hear them, but didn't find the right trail back there hehehe
Damn, I've done stoopid things too. Great stories with happy endings, which is what we really do like to see.
Nasty was brilliant (as always) at keeping us up to date with everything. But you did have us seriously worried it wasn't going to be a story with a happy ending.
"Why do you smoke still" - "Just in case I need to light a fire, I ain't heading out without a lighter" hehehe (sorry, on the rum)
Oops, but it really is brilliant to hear from you and lovely to meet you under better circumstances :)

[Danger]

Good on you Kwaky for posting up and glad it worked out good for you in the end.

[rustic101]

Pleased this ended well for you chap. Welcome on board too by the way

p.s never take anything said on here to personal ;)

[Nasty]

Cheers mate ... I am so glad that you are ok ... there were many on here that contacted me offering help in the search etc ... I am glad that I could help in any way that I could.

Bet ya can't wait for Wannabiker to come back and share your tails with him. I knew you would be ok when he contacted me and told me that you had really good survival skills!!!

[hayd3n]

welcome home and glad you made it out :)

[MIXONE]

Mate you being found alive and well gave us all a huge boost after a weekend of tragedies for bikers here in Welly.
Welcome aboard.

[Genie]

Wow and aren't you just so pleased to be able to come here and share your tale. Glad it did all end happily.

Welcome to kb....you won't be riding on your on again....you'll be making loads of new friends.

[Quasi]

welcome to KB, but more importantly, welcome to being unlost. Last weekend in Welly had started off as a dreadful weekend for riders, so the news that you had been found and was okay was such good news for us all, and for your family. WE are just delighted that this story had a happy ending.

[crfchick]

You were one lucky guy! I know how easy it is to get lost - even on a marked trail ride sometimes!!
Welcome to k.b!

[dogsnbikes]

Nice one :clap:and welcome aboard,we can be a well behaved lot most of the time :shutup:

[imdying]

You shouldn't sweat it... noone has a problem with searchers going out looking for someone staying put wrapped up in their survival blanket. Dumb arse tourists that are doing the Abel Tasman in street shoes and tshirts, those are the plonkers that deserve all they get.

[Crasherfromwayback]

Well done to you mate for getting through it alright!

[Gone Burger]

Wonderful to see a post from you Kwaky, and it was even better to see you found. I live up in the Akatarawas, and it was truly wonderful to see all the people out that way with quad bikes, local farmers, etc. trying to find you. I was very concerned as they helicopter kept flying over my house. And then a convoy of traffic headed back down the road, and I knew that they must have found you! So we were all thrilled - ESPECIALLY as Quasi said, after such an awful start to the weekend for 2 other bikers. No better feeling than hearing such positive news like that.

You did very well to stay warm for the night and trust your instincts to stay put. It gets incredibly cold out there, as you now know, and I imagine it was a very very long night for you. So welcome home, and to KB.

[Ronin]

+1 to imdying (but don't tell anyone)

To hear that you stayed put and did the right things was great. I really feel the Police need to make more of a point of saying when people have done the right thing.

[jim.cox]

Nice one :clap:and welcome aboard,we can be a well behaved lot most of the time :shutup:

Yer, wot 'e sed

Welcome to KB madhouse

You'll fit right in 'round 'ere

[GOONR]

I share the same sentiments as everyone else here, just glad that you are Ok and are at home with the family. You did everything you could with what you had available to you at the time. I think it's safe to say that no one would feel that they have been put out or inconvenienced by looking for you so don't be hard on ya self aye!

[Blagger]

Having once been stuck in the Rock Garden/Devil's Staircase myself - it took two of us all afternoon and early evening to find out that going up the staircase was the wrong way, even though we bludgeoned through- I sympathise and also am happy that you are alive to say so.
It's great that you've got a future.

[That Guy]

Great you are OK.

Me and a couple of others often go riding around there, PM me if, next time, you'd rather ride with a couple of others instead of on your own, you'd be most wlecome... Makes sense to go into that area with another rider.

[Pornstar]

Great to hear your alive and well mate. your drama prompted me to contact SAR to offer my services for such searches, but jeez did i get talked down to by the woman i spoke with. I realise there are criteria to be met to carry out these searches, but she pretty much fobbed me off. I am sure that a competent rider with the correct training (I do have some) could be of benifit in a search, even on many the walking trails as a first sweep. We can carry spare clothes and food and possibly save much time. I will keep up this inquiry as I have read about this being done in Australia and believe this could work.

[Ride it till the red]

Great to hear your alive and well mate. your drama prompted me to contact SAR to offer my services for such searches, but jeez did i get talked down to by the woman i spoke with. I realise there are criteria to be met to carry out these searches, but she pretty much fobbed me off. I am sure that a competent rider with the correct training (I do have some) could be of benifit in a search, even on many the walking trails as a first sweep. We can carry spare clothes and food and possibly save much time. I will keep up this inquiry as I have read about this being done in Australia and believe this could work.

A good way to start might be contacting ARAC (Akatarawa Recreational Access Committee) http://arac.org.nz/news.php (Crap Site). Although it's not the main focus of their group they can likely put you onto the appropriate people. And they have good links and reputation with the ranger and regional council. Somewhat obviously your alot more likely to be taken seriously by SAR if your part of some kind of group....

The 4wd guys are sometimes utilised in situations such as this (my father has been 4wd club president and ARAC member etc etc) so I don't see why bikes couldn't be.
If you have no luck let me know and I can speak to the old fella and find out who he reccomends calling.