Epic one day, 1000+kms and 4 passes

[MD]

Great write up. You guys are nuts but good on ya & respect for taking a break.
For future reference there is a place 12kms from Reefton heading towards Springs Junction on the left in Garvey's Creek called Motorcycle & ATV repairs & servicing. They have a tyre changing machine, & may have been able to help with tyres, Good bloke.

Cheers. We could do with a directory of where to find bike service when stranded in the wop wops (like Courtenay Place, Papanui Rd and...)

[Ruralman]

Great write up. I'm impressed, you're crazy but I'm impressed. Amazing how far you can go when you just grit your teeth and get on with it aye.
I don't think I'll ever put too much faith in a rain free forecast for the West Coast. I've bought a one piece waterproof overall from www.oringi.co.nz (if that doesn't work it must be .com) for the Sth Island Passes trip we are planning. The dririder gear I've got is bloody good but if you have multi days of heavy rain then everything gets heavy and eventually it seeps through somewhere.
They had a special on these suits - were $260 and got it for $120 - its really good stuff, flexible, breathable and resists holing pretty well. We use their stuff on the farm and it certainly copes with that.

[TonyB]

Now THATS an epic journey! I'm quite fond of the odd 1000k day, but that was in a whole different league, without even taking the weather into account! Good on you for pulling out when you did though.

So one guy crashed his Ducati TWICE? Once on each side?!? Both due to road/ rail bridges? Geeze these NI boys are slow to learn