A San Franciscan in New Zealand.

[Skunk]

If you're sticking to the upper North you're missing the best roads and scenery that NZ offers - the South Island.

You'll have to come back and do that... Give yourself a couple of weeks minimum.

[DMNTD:Me]

... missing the best roads and scenery that NZ offers - the South Island.
You'll have to come back and do that... Give yourself a couple of weeks minimum.

Agreed as most would. I reckon the Sth Island deserves at least 2 weeks on its own.

[jbauer]

Hi All,

Me again. Have made some progress...

So I told you guys/gals about the Segway Polo thing we are planning for the week before I start my motorcycle journey... That has turned into a much larger event. We are expecting about 1,000 spectators for our first game, on Feb 18th, at the Auckland Domain and about 1,500 spectators for our second game at the NZ Polo Open. Of course, we aren't the main event - the horse polo is, but nonetheless, we have ESPN and other press covering it all. Should be fun.

My flight to Auckland is coming in a day before my Segway brotherhood arrives (my flight gets to Auckland at 3:00 PM on February 16th). We are all staying at The Spencer On Bryon Hotel, and I can check into it for another day, but...

I'd much rather stay with one of you! I'm not looking for a free ride - I will buy dinner and beer(s). Anyone interested in taking me in for a night? I only need a floor and a small blanket (said in my best Oliver Twist voice)...

It would be great if a group of us could get together that night - I wanna hear some stories about riding a motorcycle in NZ. I cannot WAIT!!!!

- Jon

[ManDownUnder]

Sounds like a visit to a pub in Takapuna is on the cards for the night of 17 or 18 Feb... Jon - can you confirm your preference... even the 19th?

Dunno - your call.

Jon, we have a baby due 2 Feb and a house full of relatives - and let's face it - you'd rather get a whole night's sleep right?

That being said - I'm fine if you want to sleep at our place and you're more than welcome to stay a night or 3. I know you might be more comfortable elsewhere that's all.

Gimme a yell if you're stuck.
MDU aka Nigel

[MSTRS:Me]

I wanna hear some stories about riding a motorcycle in NZ. I cannot WAIT!!!!

- Jon

You'll need more than a week for that, without doing any riding. And then most of the stories will be 'embellished' if told by Aucklanders, esp White Trash.

[jbauer]

Sounds like a visit to a pub in Takapuna is on the cards for the night of 17 or 18 Feb... Jon - can you confirm your preference... even the 19th?

Sorry - I wasn't clear - I'm arriving on the 16th (my friends get in on the 17th) and would love for us all to get together on that night (the 16th). Unfortunately, I'll be tied up with SegPolo stuff for the rest of that week. I'm still planning to pick up my Bandit on the morning of February 25th and would love to go on a ride with you guys that day and perhaps for some more after that!

MDU/Nigel - thanks so much for the offer - you are very kind - obviously, you have your hands full and would not dare want to be in the way when you have all that stuff going on. Wow, February 2nd? We will be celebrating for sure.

MSTRS - I can tell some lie--- stories too. We'll need to get together for sure. Looking forward to it. I posted my trip plans on some other boards that I frequent (http://empegbbs.com/ubbthreads/showf...ge=0&fpart=all) and there are a lot of jealous American's out here. I thought you guys would enjoy the banter on that other board as well...

- Jon

[ManDownUnder]

All good - the 16th it is...

I'm aware you may be jetlagged that night so don;t plan on it being a late one (although I'm sure we can accommodate if it is...)

[Badcat]

Hi All,

My name is Jon Bauer. I live in San Francisco, am an avid motorcyclist of about 20 years. I'm planning to visit New Zealand in February of 2006. The dates I'm carving out are Feb 25th through March 3rd.

I'm planning to explore the North Island mostly. I have a Bandit 600 reserved! Yay!

Anyone want to meet up? I'd love to meet y'all and see some local good spots. I will GLADLY reciprocate on YOUR visit to San Fran!!!

Thanks in advance all!

- Jon

hey jon.
i'm in SF for macworld jan 9-15, staying at the handlery in union square.
can you help me with a recommendation for a good bike jacket shop?
i'm also building a flat tracker for the street - do you know of any places that specialise in that vintage racer sort of stuff?
also - are you a coffee fan? i usually go to the original Trieste, but if there is somewhere close to where i am that is better - please let me know.
oh, and i have a beautiful old La rancilio espresso machine in auckland - so drop by for a coffee when you get here.

ken

[jbauer]

hey jon.
i'm in SF for macworld jan 9-15, staying at the handlery in union square.
can you help me with a recommendation for a good bike jacket shop?
i'm also building a flat tracker for the street - do you know of any places that specialise in that vintage racer sort of stuff?
also - are you a coffee fan? i usually go to the original Trieste, but if there is somewhere close to where i am that is better - please let me know.
oh, and i have a beautiful old La rancilio espresso machine in auckland - so drop by for a coffee when you get here.

ken

Ken,

Excellent. I live in SF, so please give me a call when you get here. I'll PM you my home #. As far as a good bike jacket shop - my favorite is Scuderia West (http://www.scuderiawest.com/) - they have Vanson, which is one of my favorites. Vintage racer? Hm. Let me think about that.

YES, I'm a HUGE coffee fan. In North Beach, I always go to Cafe Grecco (423 Columbus Ave) but the BEST coffee shops in SF are Ritual Roasters on Valencia (http://ritualroasters.com/) and Blue Bottle (http://www.bluebottlecoffee.net/) in Hayes Valley. Ritual is a great place to hang out (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jonbauer/21501935/) and they import their beans from a place in Oregon called "Stumptown Roasters." Blue Bottle has excellent brew, but it's only a small street walk up type place.

I'd DEFINITELY like to sample your Rancilio. I'll plan for it.

- Jon

[ManDownUnder]

YES, I'm a HUGE coffee fan. In North Beach, I always go to Cafe Grecco (423 Columbus Ave) but the BEST coffee shops in SF are Ritual Roasters on Valencia (http://ritualroasters.com/) and Blue Bottle (http://www.bluebottlecoffee.net/) in Hayes Valley. Ritual is a great place to hang out (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jonbauer/21501935/) and they import their beans from a place in Oregon called "Stumptown Roasters." Blue Bottle has excellent brew, but it's only a small street walk up type place.

I'd DEFINITELY like to sample your Rancilio. I'll plan for it.

- Jon

Mate - remind me to introduce you to a friend of mine (Shade Grown, Fair Trade coffee roaster... silver award winning and a fun ride too...)

[zadok]

Hey Jon, is that the Silver Fern I see in your coffee!?

[zadok]

Pic didn't load. K.B's, you will have to go to the Flickr link and look for yourselves.

[jbauer]

Pic didn't load. K.B's, you will have to go to the Flickr link and look for yourselves.

Oh wow! It IS a Silver Fern! I never even knew about that! I thought they were just pouring a leaf! Wow, my whole world just went into sharp focus! :-)

- Jon

[Zapf]

More than happy to cover some fine roads with you

Think you should pretty much do a loop de loop around the north island... down the west coast and up the east and then cut back to Taupo to do the national park before heading up back via Coromandle if you are still up to it

[zadok]

Just got back from the gym, where for a change, they were playng music more suited to us 'oldies'. Scott McKenzie's "San Francisco" came on. I immediately thought of you. One of my all time favourite songs.