Personal entry

First, some consistencies I am finding in New Zealand: The people. Friendly with a spirit for adventure. If not including me in the things they like to do (be that watersports, fishing or enjoying a scenic motorbike ride), they seem to be wishing they were coming along with me when I mount the fully packed bike again. The Chai tea. As you may know or have heard, Kiwis seem to hold fond appreciation for a nice cafe and coffee; they are both readily available in even the smallest stops (so far ...

The first day of 2009 dawned sunny and clear and with nothing in particular to do, we felt the need for a ride, so decided to go to Masterton to visit and pay our respects at my fathers grave.

By the time we got ready it was 1205 when we left and a very warm 22° as we puttered along the Hutt Road, encountering the odd caged psycho, but staying well clear of trouble. There's a lot to be said for reading body language, even when it is a cage, but having plates like HIRISK certainly ...

What another great year it’s been! At this time last year I decided I had blown the budget and should ease up on the K's after having done 30,000 for the year. I didn't do very well though because I've managed 28,000 this year, which is odd because it feels like I've done a lot less riding this year.

My highlights for the year were;

Going to the Australian Tennis Open in January, which was a good trip even though I’m not really into tennis. I’d probably prefer Melbourne ...

Time flies.....I’ll just pick up from the present and look back over the last few days for the highlights.
I’m sitting here on my yellow waterproof bag because the grass is already dewey. Its about 9:30 pm and the sun is finally setting. I lose track of the time because of the long days. I find myself doing stuff until late...then the shops are closed...Oyy! Its not that summers aren’t long in the US, but its Winter! I am in a hippie camp in Takaka, Golden Bay. The rap around here ...

I don’t even really know where to begin. Its been a pretty amazing few days. The most unbelievable yet simple circumstances have unfolded for me in the last 2-3 days. Up to now I have been torn between trying to have ‘a plan’ and just letting go and seeing what comes...my mantra now.....'Stop planning your life, just live'...I rolled into Wellington, greeted by Kari. I was welcomed, fed and given a place to sleep as if I was family. She went out of her way to help me including taxi-ing me around ...

OK, I think this is going to work better than the thread; thanks to Klingon and Nasty for the suggestions.

So I spent the night up in Fletcher Bay DOC campsite (14 or so December)and did some hiking from there as you've seen and heard. The next day I rode south again back to Coromandel town, but not before some looking around the Tibetan Buddhist Meditation center just outside of Colville, and a stop at the Colville Cafe for some tea and.......a delicious piece of cheesecake for ...

The Route:
Departing from Dunedin through the Catlins to...
Invercargill and Bluff then up to Te Anua.

Next is Queenstown up the Crown Range and along the Cardrona Valley.

Up the West Coast. (Hast, Fox Glacier, Franz Josef, Hokitika, Westport)

Once arriving in Nelson continue on, to the very top of the South Island to Collingwood and returning to Nelson.

Begin comming down the East Coast to Blenheim and upon reaching Kaikoura ...

I wrote this the day after Brett died to help me through the 'process' of witnessing a tragedy. It wasn't intended for general consumption, but I have decided to post it after being encouraged to do so by Kari and others. I still struggle with the fact that the incident happened, I speculate on what could have caused Brett to 'lose it', and the fact that, if it happened to any one of those riding with him, we would probably still be here. That he was on this type of ride, knowing the risks to himself, ...