Xmas trips so far

[jeff]

Went through to Taupo for the bike racing on 28 December. Have attached a pic of the yellow sidecar outfit (these blokes were really entertaining!). Also a pic of crossing the Desert Road - lot of snow for December. (800k round trip).

Came back home for a day then went up to Kawhia via Wanganui, Raetihi, Turangi and Te Kuiti. Left Lower Hutt at 7am and did 625ks that day. Stayed at Kawhia for the night and then came back from Otorohanga to New Plymouth - really nice scenery through there and stopped at Awakino for a bit of fishing. Really nice spot there.

Have attached some piccies.

Stayed the night at Hawera motor camp and then back home. Hit rain at Foxton through to Otaki, then again in the Hutt Valley. (1300ks round trip).

Before we left Jeff changed the handlebars on my 400 Bros from the low bars - now I have risers and Venture VH2 handlebars. Made the riding long distances a lot easier. No more numb hands and sore back.

Heading off tomorrow 2 up on the Transalp to check out the back roads out towards the coast from Dannevirke.

We are both back to work next week and are cramming as much as we can into the holidays. Lots of pub meals and all day brekkies and cup of tea stops included.

Chrissie and Jeff

[jeff]

Off again on the Transalp - went up through Masterton,Pongaroa and out to Aikito - stayed at the motorcamp there (well run camp and nice owners) - had a fish in the river for a while. A bloke caught a 3½ kg kawahai off the beach while we were there. Got pretty windy in the night and shook the tent quite a bit. Came back to Pongaroa on the gravel road through Owahanga down through Makuri Gorge, Paihatua and then back home about 2pm. (470k all up)

Left the following morning on the ZRX1200S and went straight through to Dannevirke. Dropped our luggage at a cabin at the Dannevirke motor camp - really nice camp surrounded by big redwoods. Our cabin was an A frame style and looked like a dolls house. There is a deer park also in there and a duckpond and avaries - so nice to take a wander about after dinner.

Headed out to Herbertville - stopped at the pub for a pie (only pies left - well it was 2pm) - good bloke running the place, only took over recently - then went on to Porangahau (bigger place than what we thought (garage- tackle shop - heaps of houses) then went out towards Blackhead but the road turned to gravel so we went on to Waipukurau then back to Dannevirke for the night.

Left the following morning and came down the Palmy side and checked out the bike shops (Chrissie says "god they have got some pig ugly harleys in there" - well one shop in particular) - then home (700k)

All up we did 3270k for 7 days riding!

We stayed in our tent, cabins and a linen cupboard masquerading as a cabin!

Jeff and Chrissie