South Island Safari - the daily blog (19 February)

**scumdog** · 26th February 2007, 20:23

Originally Posted by terbang

Whadaya mean? All worn out in the centre and managing 18 kays to the litre..!

Hmm, 51m.p.g huh?.

Well, I suppose it's not TOO far behind my T-Sports 58mpg when two up with all the touring gear for two on board.

BTW Took the T-Bird in to get VIN'd, one of the things it was turned down for was the windscreen washer squirted the water over the roof onto the ground behind the car!

Of course, at a 100kph it would be hitting the windscreen - but the dude mustn't have thought THAT I guess.

AND Thanks for the 'koha' terbang - having a tipple with it right now and CB agrees it's quite tasty too!!

**TONO** · 26th February 2007, 20:29

Hey you guys just found the thread, awesome trip and great photo's.

Remember Bruce saying you were going to do the S.I.trip in the New Year.
Have convinced my other 1/2 that we should do it to and are looking at Next March/April.
You guys have a safe ride home and we will catch up with you later no doubt.

**RedKLR650** · 27th February 2007, 06:52

Originally Posted by terbang

.......to Christchurch where we stay overnight. I've gotta do something about my tyres as they are both pretty shagged and will (if I ride quietly) only get me to Wellington.

Go and see Don at Cycletreads on Manchester St, Christchurch. I can reccomend their service highly, and the $$$$ are very competitive ( read as cheap as chips..... ) Park the bike outside, give him the keys, go for a coffee and in 15 min you can come back, give the man some fun vouchers and ride away......

Good luck for the rest of the trip

Stu

**terbang** · 27th February 2007, 07:32

Originally Posted by RedKLR650

Go and see Don at Cycletreads on Manchester St, Christchurch. I can reccomend their service highly, and the $$$$ are very competitive ( read as cheap as chips..... ) Park the bike outside, give him the keys, go for a coffee and in 15 min you can come back, give the man some fun vouchers and ride away......

Good luck for the rest of the trip

Stu

Thanks for that and will make my way over there this morning..

**u4ea** · 27th February 2007, 08:24

wow!!!What a a great trip so far

.have to love those keas too...and Terbang I hope Scumdog gave you a "hair of a dog" for those hic hic moments!!!!The photos and blogs are awesome .......thanx guys!!

**chanceyy** · 27th February 2007, 11:38

finally caught up with ya blog there Blair .. great read fabulous pics

keep them coming

**Blairos** · 28th February 2007, 07:15

Originally Posted by girlygirl

What day are you coming back through to Auckland? Might ride down to accompany you through, so I can pretend I have been on a South Island tour

G

We are leaving the Wellington area about 9am this morning, will be heading back via New Plymouth (should be through there around 12 or 1), so send me a txt on 021-471-317 - you can link up and be part of the trip!

**terbang** · 28th February 2007, 19:09

4938 KM and 11 days after heading south I ride up my driveway. A fairly leisurely daily pace that has seen us ride a lot of the country's notorious roads. Biggish push today of nearly 700 KM from Waikanai, New plymouth to AKL. A good exercise in steady riding and group thought though. Had to fit new tyres in CHC where I changed brands to Michelin Pilot power which are so far nice tyres, especially in the wet. Though after the Avons they feel a bit rubbery (no pun).

**Blairos** · 28th February 2007, 19:39

As per Terbangs post - we completed our adventure today, I arrived at home around 6pm-ish.

So, to recap, this is what we covered...

Day 1 - Auckland-Ohakune-Palmy North

Day 2 - Palmy North-Pahiatua Track-Ekatahuna-Featherston-Rimutakas-Wellington-Picton-Queen Charlotte Drive-Rai Saddle-Nelson

Day 3 - Nelson-Motueka-Takaka Hill-Takaka-Pohara Beach-Takaka Hill (again)-Riwaka-Motueka-Tapawera-Kohatu-Murchison

Day 4 - Murchison-Berlins-Buller Gorge-Punakaiki-Blackball-Greymouth-Hokitika-Mahinapua-Ross

Day 5 - Ross-Franz Joseph Glacier-Fox Glacier-Haast-Makarora-Hawea

Day 6 - Hawea-Wanaka-Crown Range-Queenstown-Kingston-5 Rivers-Te Anau-Milford Sound-Te Anau

Day 7 - Te Anau-Manapouri-Tuatapere-Riverton-Invercargill-Catlins Coastal Route-Balclutha

Day 8 - Balclutha-Taieri Mouth-Mosgiel-Middlemarch-Ranfurly-Alexandra-Cromwell-Tarras-Lindis Pass-Omarama-Benmore Dam-Kurow

Day 9 - Kurow-Omarama-Lake Ohau Road-Twizel-Pukaki-Canal Roads-Tekapo-Burkes Pass-Geraldine-Mayfield-Rakaia Gorge-Darfield-Rolleston

Day 10 - Rolleston-ChCh-Kaikoura-Blenheim-Picton-Wellington-Waikanae

Day 11 - Waikanae-Levin-Sanson-Bulls-Wanganui-Hawera-Eltham-Stratford-New Plymouth-Mokau-Te Kuiti- Otarahanga-Ngaruawahia-Auckland/Waiuku

An awesome trip - am collating all the pics in the next day and will post a link to the album!

Highlights:
The Scenery (goes without saying)
The Roads
The company
The Food
The Beer
The Accommodation
The reliability of all our Bikes
How group riding should be (one or two blips along the way, but I sure learnt a lot)
Scumdogs Hospitality

Lowlights:
My Bin near Makarora
The weather on the way to Haast
The state of North Island roads compared to the South
The wind on day 9

I want to thank Terbang for his wisdom and experience, I learnt a hell of a lot about motorcycling on this trip, Nigel (non-KBer) for being the practical joker at every opportunity, Shane and his missus (whos name escapes me presently, I must be tired

) for being 2-up on some real challenging roads, and for the foot-pegs pointer... Thanks to all the people who put us up on our travels

I hope this blog has kept you all informed along the way - will let you know once the album is up

Cheers!

**terbang** · 28th February 2007, 21:31

Originally Posted by Blairos

Scumdogs Hospitality

Yup Scumdog... Calls himself loud and uncouth. Well the whole Riviera of the south package, including the bike and riding gear is different, maybe a bit loud but definatly not uncouth.
Top people him and CB, who made us very welcome in their home, proving the old saying 'you cant judge a book by it's Avatar'..!