Wot I dun in my holidays

[geoffm]

I took a few days off and went up to Nelson on the BMW over the weekend. The backpackers I was going to stay at was full (Alan's Place - own a VFR - met them on the ferry in Feb - nice folks) so ended up staying above the Cobb and Co. At least it was a short crawl from the Irish bar : across the road to get home (hmm cider on tap).
A late start the next morning saw me stop in at the Mac's Brewery (well you would have to) and a good second hand bookshop in Stoke. I had vague plans of heading up to Abel Tasman, since I haven't been there. Took the road through Upper Motere to Motueka and saw an interesting turnoff - "wonder where this goes?". It was the road to Motopiro - and mighty nice it is too. It brings you out on SH6 to the West Coast. I had a look around the Pigeon Mountain Steam Engine Museum whcih was not officially open(live day 1st Sunday of the month, and 8th August as well). Be worth another trip there one day when it is steamed up and running.
Since I didn't feel like heading back to Nelson, and it was only 100km to Murchison, off I went. It seemed like a good idea at the time, but towards the end I was defintely feeling the cold (longjohns, sweatshirt, leathers and Cordura jacket), and watching the gas guage pretty closely!
Down to the pub (again) for dinner and a pint or 3...
Next day, back via St Anauld and Rainbow Mountain (damn it was cold - I love my heated grips) to Blenhiem for a cuppa with a mate. A bit of ice and gravel on the roads. Stopped and got some smelly soaps for the wife's birthday (last month) and away to Kaikoura. Good pizza for dinner, overnight in the New Commercial Hotel (and a pint or so there as well). Back to Christchurch and the Real World.
A damn good trip away 1300km or so. Only a few cops (1), nice wide open spaces and damn all traffic.
Geoff
(1) I would like to thank the copper who gave me the "naughty boy finger waggle" as I was hard on the picks and still at 120kph as he zapped me with the radar...

[Mongoose]

Great riding up that end of the SI, have done simular trips up there myself before, one down fall is the extra 6 hours or there abouts in getting home for me.Thru one reason or another I have not managed it recently though, usually try to head up the Coast/Nelson way once a year. Oh well, another summer is coming and hopefully I will beable to participate in some more riding again.
On your return trip you must have been pretty lucky as there are some Hot-spots* for *speed detection* fellas.

[duckman]

Heya Geoff,

I stayed above that Cobb n Co in Nelson in Feb this year. The owner gave me a double room for the price of a single.

He let me lock the bike up in his garage where his son kept his dirt bike and threw in a breakfast the next day!! Bloody good people down there!!

[Hitcher]

Ahhhh, nostalgia. It's nice country down there for sure. Nelson is a real biking mecca with so many great rides in every direction. That Macs draught red cider is a heap good beverage!

Mrs H has been extremely smug since getting her heated hand grips. Maybe I should get some for the Zrex...

[Ms Piggy]

That's what I would have liked to have done for my hols! Ahhhh well, roll on summer. I am a little confused though...if you're in Auckland wouldn't you "go down" to Nelson?

[LB]

I am a little confused though...if you're in Auckland wouldn't you "go down" to Nelson?

Yeah, I'd wondered that too!

Good write up.

Hitcher, don't stuff around, just get the grips!!

[geoffm]

That's what I would have liked to have done for my hols! Ahhhh well, roll on summer. I am a little confused though...if you're in Auckland wouldn't you "go down" to Nelson?

Living in Christchurch for the year - going to Uni doing a ME(fire).
I have cursed the Bemmer in the past (eye watering parts and serving prices, no second hand spares, only 1 dealer in any town, etc) but that trip was great, and what it was made for. Not to mention, once you have travelled with hard luggage, you would never go back.
Stayed at the Rydges in Rotorua a while back - roll up to the valet parking, give the bags to the bellboy...
Geoff

[toads]

sounds like you had an awesome time, good for you braving the cold, I confess I'm a wusss and I'm in the north island too!