First big ride was to Nelson, from Dunedin

[woodybee]

Yes I know its been a while since the Nelson rally but I really have to put pen to paper or pads to board and rave on about what a great ride/rally it was. Normally I listen to folks ramble on how its the ride there which makes the rally, and as I was pillion for all of last years rally's I was scratching my head, as to why, but then this trip changed my view forever.

I took delivery of Tex, my 2005 T100 Bonny Trumpet (in Tangerine and Cream!!) recently and thought it was a long ride home from the Waikai Rally, recently and was starting to feel a little concerned about the ride to Nelson, as I have never done a big ride before, (Well obviously I have, but thats not for readable purposes, ha ha!).

Anyway, I set off from Dunedin, with enough gear on board to start another life, (I really must learn to pack properly) and gingerly made my way to Christchurch to stop a mutualy friend Mikes place in Avonside, (Ta Mike), then the next morning, I set off on my merry jaunt to Nelson, and when I hit the Weka Pass I stopped and had a dance, as that was such a crucially special place.

I made a point of stopping lots as didnt want to get too knackered. The Lewis Pass however, was great first of all then got a bit, "okay where has civilistion gone," and I guess if your'e in a group then the others keep you going, and it did cross my mind, that if I went off the road, then the only things left for folk to find would be dental records and a skeleton bike, so I put the pedal to the metal and cleared Lewis and got to Springs Junction, (man that place is in the middle of nowhere eh!), and has the best beetroot doorstop Burger Buns I have ever tasted..... two then that I trotted along the rest of the way and then had a stop to peel off some gear in Murcheson, it was like stepping off a plane in a warm place, it was baking, and managed to secure the thermals to the bike.

But the most awe inspiring view was when I got to the top of the hill when you first catch a glimpse of Nelson, wow what I sight. I would now like to thank or rather Condem those cops in 2 cars, who decided there an amateur on a bike, and cut me up in the 35kmph spiral staircase into Nelson, thank you guys, hope the blue bird of happiness flies over your heads one of these days, and drops something delightful on your head.!! I couldnt even take my hands off to wave nicely at them!!) Was a cop in England and can argue my way out of a one fingered salute with these best of them, my word against them, you know.......................

Then off to my mates places if Lud Valley (probably not spelt right, sorry Jeanette), this woman has a Triumph Garage from Heaven and spent a groovy night lighting sparklers in her kitchen (dont try this at home children!!)

Then to set the tents up, met the hecklers on the corner, of the entrance, who were a group of guys from Invers, Auck and some far flung place right up North, anyway, brilliant set of blokes, then the fab crew from Christchurch turned up and pitched next to me, (thanks for the food!!) and the fun and funky folk from Westport rumbled in, and I spent an incredibly fun couple of days with the top groups of newly acquired mates)

Friday night in the tent ended up being rather larger than I thought and consequently I decided not to ride my gorgeous tex into town for the Thunderun, so jumped on the back of Jeanettes Bike and into Town.

Saturday night proved rather quieter than Friday due to the same for everyone else I guess, too much excitable fun was had on the Friday, so I retired to bed to feel not too bad the next morning.

Then rode back to Dunedin, some 4 days later as I stopped in Tanuini Hills area, (thanks Dawn, sorry to Dawns Neighbours, Sweet Child of Mine was well and truly turned up and danced to!), and then off to Motchuaka to stop at a groovy guys pad. (Ta Parish)

The ride back was fun and caught up with Babes of Bike Rally in Akaroa (what a top place in NZ that is) and what a great bunch of birds and a top fun night there was had too) then the ride from Akaroa to home, started off lovely very wam, little windy, however Mother Nature decided then to let the party animal have some of her fun on the warm home, and it totally bucketed with rain all the way home, I found out my lights were crap in the dark (so new bulbs now fitted!) and it got windier and wetter and darker, but somehow got home to my little St Clair pad and fell asleep in my motorbike gear, complete with boots!!) Thankfully I had the presence of mind to remove my Helmet!!

So I felt rather chuffed with myself for getting to and from from Nelson, what a terrificly mad 10 days I had there, going there for Christmas, but not the bike this time.

In the meantime there Dunedins Toy Run, The Long Drop rally Twizel run that Rural Mans organising.

Love this biking lark should have got into it years ago.

Thank you to IDB for introducing me to the rallies, as life has changed for the better to have these mad weekends to look forward to. And the folk that go to them are fun fun fun, I'm loving it, loving it, loving it. To sum up a rally nowadays, its all about the run, there, the pubs on the way, seeing folk you've partied on with before, drinking lots dancing even more and talking absolute b..lox. What a scream

Coi for now dudes and dudess's

And Remember,

Life is a Garden Dig It!" :

[scumdog]

Ripper write up Woodybee, see ya at the Longdrop maybe?
BTW: Saw the twin of your bike heading down to the Burt Munro (unless it was you) and then saw it again near Hampden when I was heading back from the Magpie, common as muck they are!

[Rashika]

damn fine writeup woman!
I didn't know you made it to the Babes ride... drats, missed blimmin heaps of people on that ride, never mind.

So we will maybe see you in nelson at the st races on Jan 2nd then? We will be in the truck, with the bikes on the back... find us in the pits somewhere, me on 99 (hopefully) Dangerous on 68

[NighthawkNZ:Me]

Great write up.... glad you enjoyed your self and are having fun on this biking lark thing