Took the two Bros's away at Xmas. Went to the Boxing Day races at Wanganui and then onto Taupo for the racing there. Camped at the track. The racing finished early due to the heavy rain. We left Taupo and headed for Napier. Rode in heavy rain until we reached the "5k to Napier" sign. The rain went through my jacket and into my boots so I was feeling a bit sour so we stayed in a motel that night and then came down through the Wairarapa to home for a few days.
We crossed over on the 6am ferry on the 2nd (that was the day of the gale force winds). When we arrived in Picton we went via the Queen Charlotte Drive. It was really wet and twisty through the first part and I don't think I would go that way again when it was really wet. We were just on the hill coming into Havelock when Jeff obviously decided he hadn't had enough sleep and nodded off on the job. I heard a loud bang when the bike went down behind me and couldn't quite believe he had dropped it. Went round the corner and a bloke pulled up and said "your mate is in the ditch back there". He was lucky where he went into the ditch at the side of the road, a couple of feet away it was a 6ft drop. The bit that holds the dials was broken, handlebar turned round, tank dented on both sides and the plastic seat cowling broken and a really muddy bike. However, Jeff was okay except for a few bruises - bit pissed off though! This is Jeff's first bin in 35+ years of riding!! Just as well it wasn't one of his Nortons or I might have had to have him tranquilised! Few roadside repairs and we made it to the local garage in Havelock and got the bike cleaned up a bit. His was the bike on the ferry with bits of string holding it together.
Finally made it to the Nelson street races during the lunch break. Really hot weather and good racing. Saw lots of bikes we hadn't seen before. Spent the night at the motorcamp at Nelson and then went onto Westport the next day. We had hoped to go to Greymouth but they were in the midst of torrential rain. Not long after we left Nelson we hit heavy rain and arrived in Murchison feeling wet and cold. The Buller Gorge was pretty spectacular even in the pouring rain.
When we left Westport we were dry until just before Reefton and then struck more heavy rain until we got to Maruia Springs. We stopped at Springs Junction for gas (what a wet miserable hole!). After Maruia Springs we came into sunshine for the rest of the Lewis Pass. We stopped at a really nice little pub at Rotherham (do a really good all day brekky) then continued to Kaikoura where we hit more rain. All the motels were chokka but we managed to get a motel at a place called Ward 90k north. Ward consists of a gas station, motel and small bar/tearooms that's it!
Went onto Blenheim and Picton yesterday and had a good crossing back over on the ferry, really calm.
We have had rain, rain and more rain these holidays and the tent didn't get a whole lot of use. We have done just over 2000k these holidays. Think we will stick close to home and take the Nortons out now - until we go up to Pukekohe in early February.
So there you go Hitcher. You were not the only one getting up close and personal with the ground this Xmas. I might have to get Jeff a serious off road bike if he wants to go via the drain again!
Chrissie and Jeff (dirt boy!)
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Originally Posted by jeff
yank tank at Glenorchy 2006 rally
Next time we will say gidday!
or something!
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