15 minutes down the road

[NC]

After getting off the boat on Friday morning at 0430, I was thinking it would be a “little cold”. I was wrong, it was freezing, I was going to have a sleep in Blenium but I carried on through to Wairau Valley were I stopped at a B & B. by this time I was absolutely freezing with all my clothes on that I took with me, under my leathers.. The people at the B&B turned me away because they were full. (I didn’t see any fucken cars in the car park) So I asked them where the next B&B was “apparently 15 minutes down the road” Well an hour later I ran out of gas and it was 0600 in the morning will a nice Gail force wind coming off the mountains 20kms out of St Anard. 1 ½ hours huddled up to the side of the bike in the freezing cold the first car comes past with 2 very southerly manly men. Who give me chainsaw gas.. By the way, I was a typical female, and I did do lots of panicking. And there was NO cell reception at all!
So after I got the gas I drove 20kms up the road (frost everywhere) and waited for the gas station to open.. The lady who owned it was from Wahi!
Anyway blah blah I carried on through, buy this time I was even more tired and more cold, feeling like shit I stopped at ‘The Crazy Cow Backpackers’ and asked if I could have one of there beds for an hour, then explained what had happened. The guy was awesome; he let me have a sleep and didn’t charge me for it, just asked me to pop in when I come back in the area again. Those guys are getting a few dozen in the mail.
Still freezing I had a nap for an hour and then carried on through to Hokitika.

Well I was there I had a awesome ride up past Punakaiki with feral1 and my friends fiancé Dennis, who is now Kaos on the site. Hehe. Feral is a good dude, and man he can ride that TLS .. Oh and when I was at the pub, I almost got into a fight with a local…


Yeah, the trip back was a hell of a lot better, only took me just on 4 hours. And it was clear sky’s all the way home
Uh I have a few pics, but mostly video.

[bungbung]

What a mission! good to hear you've made it back in one piece.

[Riff Raff]

Farkin hell chick - what a nightmare! I would have had a big girly moment too if that had happened to me (as would a lot of the boys i suspect). Glad you came out of it ok.

[Madguitarist!]

WOw, that must have been some trip! Would love to get some vids!! Never been to the mainland except for CC and that wasn't on a bike...

Good to have ya back in one piece!

[sAsLEX]

I rode to St Arnaud at Christmas and it was fuckin freezin then!! Dont really envy you at all!

[Maximus]

Anyway blah blah I carried on through, buy this time I was even more tired and more cold, feeling like shit I stopped at ‘The Crazy Cow Backpackers’ and asked if I could have one of there beds for an hour, then explained what had happened. The guy was awesome; he let me have a sleep and didn’t charge me for it, just asked me to pop in when I come back in the area again. Those guys are getting a few dozen in the mail.
Still freezing I had a nap for an hour and then carried on through to Hokitika.

Big ups to these guy's, I was there a coupla weeks ago after almost falling asleep WHILST carrying a pillion, went and asked the same thing, they let me and my partner sleep there for FREE for 3 hours - what good bastards!

Good luck with the rest of ya trip its bloody freezing down here!

[crashe]

Holy shit..... wow what a adventure that turned into for you...

I cant say that I would want to be sitting on the side of the road at night time and when its that freezing either...

I wouldnt be recommending the first B&B to anyone... heck they could have even let you sleep on the couch...

But good on the guy to let you stay for nothing...

But Im glad you made it all back in one piece....

(I was frozen riding back throu the Napier/taupo road yesterday... and was thinking gee I dont want to have a break down here...snow down to the road side in certain sections of the road - Napier side)

[erik]

Far out, glad you made it back ok. Must've been a long hour and a half waiting by your bike!

[Oakie]

I stopped at ‘The Crazy Cow Backpackers’ and asked if I could have one of there beds for an hour, then explained what had happened. The guy was awesome; he let me have a sleep and didn’t charge me for it, just asked me to pop in when I come back in the area again.

"The Crazy Cow Backpackers" huh? We're planning a bit of a trip over that way sometime and I think that having read this, I reckon we'll stay a night at the Crazy Cow, just on principle.

[Velox]

You poor lass - that must've been horrible!!! I'd shrivel up under a bush and die probably. Glad to hear that you're back on the road and tearing up the South Island! Stories like that make me want to go and support the Crazy Cow folk too. Where exactly are they?
Have an awesome time for the rest of your trip!

[Lias]

Sounds like a blast (of cold wind eheheh)

When i did outward bound a few years back it was about this time of year, and it was mighty cold down in those parts.. Camped on the side of a mountain in the richmond ranges, waking up to find yourself surrounded by some of the meanest hoar frost youve ever seen hehe.

[Paul in NZ]

Ah crap.... That sucks... (but what an adventure)

Well I'm sure you don't need to be told that cellphones don't work in all the places you want them too and to make sure you really do have enough gas to get to the next town... (no I'm not having a go at you - been there done similar) That road has caught out more than a few folks and often the names on the map in the south island are just that and you can't rely on anything being there.. The whole place shuts at 10pm so I'm glad you made it in the end (and what a cool story to tell)

I'm afraid you take you chances with the B&B crowd. A lot of them really don't like bike people as we have a lot of in convenient dirty gear that needs drying out and are not the 'naice' people (ie just like them) that they envisaged stopping at their overpriced, doyley laded shit holes.... Hardly any of them have any clue about customer relations etc etc. They just whack up a sign and expect to retire... Most of them thought Fawlty Towers was an instructional video..

'15 mins down the road' could be any friggin direction and that they didn't supply an actual address or offer to call up and see if the other B&B had a free bed coupled wth the no cars would have set off alarm bells in me (but I'm a cynic).

I'd suggest a shitty letter to them but that would not work. However I will bet there is an accomodation guide or a regulatory body that covers some thing. I'd be making a complaint to them and hopefully bringing down the wrath of some govt dept on them.... Shock them out of their apathy to the plights of others... I dunno...

Paul N

ps If ya think you are about to run out of gas before the next town you are sometimes better to stop early under a bridge or a nice big country mail box thingy to hole up in until the morning (or some kinda shelter). Hypothermia is no laughing matter.

[Ixion]

..
ps If ya think you are about to run out of gas before the next town you are sometimes better to stop early under a bridge or a nice big country mail box thingy to hole up in until the morning (or some kinda shelter). Hypothermia is no laughing matter.

Better still, somewhere sheltered where you can light a fire. When touring, fire is your friend. I always carry matches, lighters, a tiny amount of kindling and kerosene in a waterproof container. And a small axe (doubles as a spade) . In extremis, those little hutches they used to use to put the milk cans in are surprisingly confortable (sort of. Depends on the alternative!).

Also wrap all your gear in a waterproof, windproof sheet. If you can't find anything better, use the bike as a windbreak and hang the sheet over one side of it as an improvised tent.

And get that fire going. Like the man said , hypothermia is not fun.

[Fart]

It is freezing up here in Auckland. I can only imagine how cold it is down there. Poor thing. You are way more brave than I am when it comes to the cold.

[Paul in NZ]

Also wrap all your gear in a waterproof, windproof sheet. If you can't find anything better, use the bike as a windbreak and hang the sheet over one side of it as an improvised tent.

And get that fire going. Like the man said , hypothermia is not fun.

Actually... You said a mouthfull... When travelling alone I usually take my old oil skin sleeping bag cover for use as a bike cover. In extremis you can get inside it and be reasonably comfy. (not dry or warm but you will live)

Damn thing literally saved my life once on top of a mountan pass but that was a younger fitter other me...

A few snack bars are good too...