The beauty of the Sth Island !!!

[MD]

Thought I might post a few pics of my last 5 days ripping around the home town. Those SI roads are truly the best in NZ. Especially after returning to so much sad KBer news I had to think whether or not to even post a cheerful story.
Quick run down.
Friday: Wgtn to Fox Glacier
Sat: Fox-Haast-Wanaka-crown range (whoopee!) te Anau-Milford Snds and back to Te Anau for well earned bourbons and sleep.
Sun: I got lost from the group who went to Bluff. So I played tourist around Queenstown area then found the gang in Alexandra and we kipped the night in Clyde- see pic of Dunstan pub, great place to stay.
Mon- up through the centre passed Mt Cook-Geraldine-Hanmer Springs. Some went Arthurs-Lewis to get to the Springs. Shagged their tyres, surprise surprise.
Tues- Hanmer-Lewis Pass-some detours and popped out at Motueka then off to catch the ferry home.
The kwak 636 proved itself a true tourer again. Faultless performance but at 2900kms in 5 days I've also shagged a near new rear tyre.
So many highlights - one was riding the MV1000 Senna through the Haast Pass followed by chasing it at mach2 around lakes Wanaka and Hawea.
The scenery- well as always I failed to get the camera out much. Here's a few for those not sure what the SI looks like.
Milford, Homer tunnel x2, Dunstan pub (notice how my bike refuses to get dirty!) And the dam is at far upper right.

[98tls]

Great pics MD...............got to agree....riding the MV through the Haast would have been an awsome experiance...

[MD]

Tarras- the calm before the storm i.e. the sprint over the Lindis Pass.
Lake Pukaki- words aren't enough to describe that colour.
The whole gang caught in one picture while paying respects at a friend's memorial

[MD]

Great pics MD...............got to agree....riding the MV through the Haast would have been an awsome experiance...
Thanks. Yes it was an amazing bike. I've ridden the owners previous standard MV1000 and the difference was obvious. Handling and power on a new scale.
As I first fired the motor I reminded myself this is someone else's $62,000 bike. So I take off in front of watching backpackers on one wheel. So much for self control. Within seconds I was throwing it into turns with heaps of lean and just laying down power where other bikes wouldn't let you even think about gasing it until past the apex. Comfortable too and the best screen ever for looking cool while giving excellent wind protection.
I had to force myself to pull over and hand it back before the adrenaline rush got the better of me, but only after covering most of the Haast Pass.

[MD]

As real estate on a sports bike for luggage is at a premium I have a handy touring policy- ride and discard.
I take old clothes with me that I dump each night. Sort of a tip for the motel cleaners. Especially socks, jocks and shirts. Shit you really don't want to stuff back in your pack for days and cart around the place. Each day you start off with fresh clothes and less luggage- works a treat.

[T.W.R]

Great pics MD, It's a beauty wee playground we have down here huh:Punk:
Always good to venture around the old home turf:msn-wink:
1000 senna mmm nice!

[Fat Tony]

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=47763&d=1165399021

Hell, that road surface looks like it'd eat tyres

[Jantar]

Don't let too many of secrets out or everyone will want to come riding down here. I'm disappointed you didn't ring. I would come down to my local and joined you for a beer or two. :apint:

[oldrider]

As real estate on a sports bike for luggage is at a premium I have a handy touring policy- ride and discard.
I take old clothes with me that I dump each night. Sort of a tip for the motel cleaners. Especially socks, jocks and shirts. Shit you really don't want to stuff back in your pack for days and cart around the place. Each day you start off with fresh clothes and less luggage- works a treat.

Riding through the Lindis today got my air filter clogged with old undies socks bits of barbed wire and old light bulbs,used fanny pads etc etc!

I wondered where they had come from, bloody Kiwi Bikers huh! :innocent:

Glad you enjoyed your trip. :yes: Cheers John.

[scumdog]

Tarras- the calm before the storm i.e. the sprint over the Lindis Pass.
Lake Pukaki- words aren't enough to describe that colour.
The whole gang caught in one picture while paying respects at a friend's memorial

Amazing how blah-zay one gets when it's all right at you door so to speak.

You certainly made me more aware of what we have down here.:yes:

[MD]

Don't let too many of secrets out or everyone will want to come riding down here. I'm disappointed you didn't ring. I would come down to my local and joined you for a beer or two. :apint:

As I was riding from town to town I did think "there's probably a local KBer around here somewhere" I have other better scenery pics e.g. Fox Glacier, Manapouri.. but I don't feel right posting the other blokes faces on the web.
Jantar- I had a slow late evening ride around Alex and up that dirt track to the lookout above Clyde with the guy on the old 850 Guzzi. That was a test on sports tyres, bike sliding most of the way down. Spectacular views of the plains and orchards and.. and ... And what's with the rock structures around Alex? I was looking out for Fred Flintstone and Barney Rubble.
I thought about finding a net cafe so I could track down those names I knew were local like Scumdog and Oldrider and HondaV2. maybe next time i will be more prepared.
Yes SD you step out your door into a postcard world (well maybe not literally your door? but you get my gist) Lucky you all. Just lose that Speights shit.

[k14]

Yeah and me too. Next time make sure you give us a yell next time.

[merv]

Beautiful. You didn't mention talking to any cops but then I suppose you boys wouldn't go over 100 seeing you know its against the law.

Lindis to me is pure magic on a bike - always one of my favs - those corners are just so smooth.

[MD]

K14- oh bugger another name I wasn't aware of. Sorry mate. I had a nosey around Cromwell too. That road out of Clyde (HW8?) was stunning with that weird enormous brick terrace structure on the other side of the dam. Water drainage so I was told. One of the seven wonders of NZ that. And don't start me on the joy of the crown range- absolute bliss on a bike like mine.
merv- I'm pleased to say no roadside chats or speed certificates. In fact we met up with 3 holidaying Mr Plods on bikes. We knew who/what they were so when I came up behind them and they were cruising at 125 I eventually slipped pass and went on at 135 and they tagged along. Later one said. That was great I saw you had a radar so fell in behind, thanks. Good blokes aswell. And very human.

[bistard]

Mark,great to hear the December dash lives on,I am a little suprised to hear,this year no one had their bikes impounded or fell off(sorry brent)
Sounds like a fantastic trip
Say gidday to Dion for me & glad you enjoyed riding the Senna,now can you see why you spend the extra money
Was the memorial for Grant??

[MD]

Mark,great to hear the December dash lives on,I am a little suprised to hear,this year no one had their bikes impounded or fell off(sorry brent)
Sounds like a fantastic trip
Say gidday to Dion for me & glad you enjoyed riding the Senna,now can you see why you spend the extra money
Was the memorial for Grant??
Hi, I just realised who you are! Doh. Thanks for everything you've done for me over the years and look forward to seeing you around. A hell of a lot of people appreciated dealing with you.
Yes it was Grant's memorial. No one arrested this time, no bikes upside in a tree.
The memorial is a really nice silver plague on a rock. Each year the boys add another rock when on the Dash.
And yes one ride and you appreciate how special the Senna is. You never told me that was a tourer you sold me. Where's the hard luggage attach?
Cheers

[k14]

K14- oh bugger another name I wasn't aware of. Sorry mate. I had a nosey around Cromwell too. That road out of Clyde (HW8?) was stunning with that weird enormous brick terrace structure on the other side of the dam. Water drainage so I was told. One of the seven wonders of NZ that. And don't start me on the joy of the crown range- absolute bliss on a bike like mine.
yes indeed. known as the Cairnmuir slide. It isnt actually brick, it is terraces with a special membrane covering it to stop water getting into the rock, thus preventing a landslide. Something equally interesting is directly below the road opposite. One of the various tunnels through the gorge, goes approx 60m down and along below the road (and at a lower level than the bottom of lake dunstan) for about 2.5 or 3km.

Just a useless piece of info anyway.

[jumma]

Good read MD. Just got back from the south myself and found the Lindis and Crown ranges my favourtie two bits of road. The Haast Pass was amazing too, absolutely stunning scenery if you get time to enjoy it. Gutted I didn't take more photos but once I got going I didn't want to stop.

Nevermind, I know it won't be long till I'm tying the bike down on the ferry again.

[vifferman]

Bastids! Youz all bastids! :Pokey:

The Sarf Oilund is like my spritual home (well, it's probably genetic or summat, seeing as my Dad's family all come from there). Everytime I visit Central Otago and environs I feel like I've arrived.

Thanx for the pix - it's high time I rode those places instead of just driving around them.

[Alice]

Very jealous reading your story, sounds like you had an awesome time.
I love the country down there, Kaikoura, across Arthurs Pass, the West Coast, Franz and Fox, Hasst, Wanaka, Catlins Coast, back inland through Roxborough, Mount Cook, The Lakes in colours that are so beautiful, its pure magic down there.That country does something to your soul that cannot be described unless you experience the feeling I mean.

Good roads, hardly any traffic outside of the cities, and chances of seeing cops on the road less.I guess you had detectors anyway.

[gijoe1313]

Brilliant - just brilliant. Definitely brings back memories when I did the SI in a cage. This year I will be going back on my little twofiddy! Great photos and it sounds like you had an awesome experience. Will be great to get back down there again, but on two wheels of freedom!

[NinjaBoy]

Sounds like you had a great trip... and good to meet up again with you in Welly on Friday.

I'm planning a similar trip early next year when the weather is less ummm... rugged. Thanks for the luggage tip although I'm a cheap bassa who can't bear to throw anything away.

[limbimtimwim]

GAH!!!

This just makes me wish it was Feb. already so I can be on holiday again.

[Macktheknife]

Thanks for the luggage tip although I'm a cheap bassa who can't bear to throw anything away.

I have a similar way, just buy new socks/undies/shirt at warehouse or such every day, no washing, drying or faffing about. Costs a little bit but worth it for the ease of travel, $7-$10 per day = lots less luggage.

[limbimtimwim]

I have a similar way, just buy new socks/undies/shirt at warehouse or such every day, no washing, drying or faffing about. Costs a little bit but worth it for the ease of travel, $7-$10 per day = lots less luggage.Per day? Come on, wear 'em a couple of days ;)

[gijoe1313]

Per day? Come on, wear 'em a couple of days ;)

Remind me not to stand downwind of you after touring for a couple of days! :sick:

[idb]

Meh!
I just call it 'outside'.

[Ghost_Bullet]

The South Island uh :2thumbsup

[MD]

Sounds like you had a great trip... and good to meet up again with you in Welly on Friday.

I'm planning a similar trip early next year when the weather is less ummm... rugged. Thanks for the luggage tip although I'm a cheap bassa who can't bear to throw anything away.
Umm. I seem to recall you throwing your bike away! But you can't part with your dirty laundry? Go figure. Just joking. Really good of you guys to travel so far to farewell Bruce. Now look after that ZX6R tourer. You shouldn't be riding it likes it's a sports bike on a racetrack anyway.

[NinjaBoy]

Umm. I seem to recall you throwing your bike away! But you can't part with your dirty laundry? Go figure. Just joking. Really good of you guys to travel so far to farewell Bruce. Now look after that ZX6R tourer. You shouldn't be riding it likes it's a sports bike on a racetrack anyway.

Don't confuse me with the other Ninja rider (Nhuanh) - I have the Titanium Silver one.

[MyGSXF]

Bloody brilliant mate!! :Punk: I have just got home tonight, from spending the past 12 days blatting around a lot of the same roads you have done here.. !!! had a 50th to go to in Timaru last weekend, then the KB Otematata doo this weekend.. so made a trip of it! Beautiful scenery down there aye!!!! I'll be doing a similar write up of my trip soon too!

Jen :rockon: