We made it!!! - A BIG THANK YOU

**Zukin** · 25th February 2007, 15:42

Well it’s all over now, and what a ride!!!
Just over 6000km in 14 riding days on our little DRZ 250’s
We just about made every corner of New Zealand, and to get to ride some of the best roads in the country, and to meet some of the best people in the world.
Why do so many New Zealanders take holidays overseas, when there is so much to see and do in our own backyard??

I just wanted to say a HUGE THANK YOU to the hundreds of riders and their families for their encouragement prior to and during the event.
In particular the Hawkes Bay Riders that had to endure our slower riding style when we were starting out!! MSTRS and Gixxer 4 ever for their mentoring and for allowing us to follow their riding lines and styles (even they didn’t know about it, we were watching their every move), it must of paid off as we didn’t have any incidents, the advice they gave was reflected on a lot during wet weather etc.
To Yungatart, what a lady!! She was loading all our info onto KB whilst we were on the road, something that we could not have managed without her.
Also to Suzuki NZ for allowing us to use the DRZ250, they went and went and went, through freezing weather, torrential rain, 30+ dusty regions, they endured everything you could throw at them and they kept on going!!! We had no mechanical problems, not even a blown bulb. It will be very sad to see them go!!! We have become quite attached to them.
To my Mum and our daughter Lany, they were the support crew, and whilst in the relative comfort of a van, they did the same miles as us each day and made sure everything was in order.
To all the other entire trip riders, Wayne and Jill in the Ural, Dave on the Suzuki Boulevard, Gavin on the DR650 and Pam on the KTM 450, it was great to have your company on the trip as it would have been rather lonely by ourselves.

To our other sponsors – Motomail, Dririder, Interislander, Mus Design, Twin City Motorcycles and ISG Signs
There will be more info posted soon in regards to Product Reviews for your information. But overall excellent guys to have on board

The biggest congrats must go to my best friend and wife, Carissa for her expert riding throughout the duration of the trip, after all she is still on here learners licence and has only been riding for 4 months now!
The only problem (believe it or not) is she is missing it more than me now.
So depending on what Suzuki says, we will be shopping for a bike for her now once our very depleted savings are back in order.

To all the KBers we met throughout our journey (there was too many to mention individually)
We had the pleasure of meeting a lot throughout the country, and the same thing applied
They were all very good ambassadors for bikes here in NZ, and they always made a contribution to our ride, whether it was monetary or just advice.
It did not go unnoticed.

See ya next year (but hopefully sooner) when we do it all again!!!

P.S I will post some photos soon, I promise

**Gixxer 4 ever** · 25th February 2007, 17:17

As I followed you home, yesterday, I noted I had a lot to learn. The trip has given you lines and riding skills we long for. I have always said practice practice and then practice again. You jumped in and did plenty of that. You are the ones that rock and we are proud to have had the chance to ride with you. Thanks for letting K/B in on the action.

Could go on and on but it was great to ride with you and meet all the people.

Missed you yesterday Moko. Hope all is well.

**yungatart** · 25th February 2007, 17:54

Originally Posted by Gixxer 4 ever

As I followed you home, yesterday, I noted I had a lot to learn. The trip has given you lines and riding skills we long for. I have always said practice practice and then practice again. You jumped in and did plenty of that. You are the ones that rock and we are proud to have had the chance to ride with you. Thanks for letting K/B in on the action.

Could go on and on but it was great to ride with you and meet all the people.

Missed you yesterday Moko. Hope all is well.

Yeah, guys, what he said!
Where do you get off putting us up as wonderful - sheesh, all we did was sit at home, post about ya, talk about ya, and think about ya.
You people did the riding, walked the walk... so to speak.
Any accolades belong to you!

**Nasty** · 25th February 2007, 18:04

You guys did awesome .. more power to ya .... was great to be allowed to support you in any way we could

**MyGSXF:Me** · 25th February 2007, 18:12

You guys ROCK!!!!!

Bloody well done!!!!

Jen

**Crisis management** · 25th February 2007, 18:26

Well done you lot!!

As yungatart says, we were the choir, you lot were the main act and a fantastic act it was!

Congratulations.

**Nasty** · 25th February 2007, 19:26

Scott, Carissa and Pam - hands in victory
Lanny on Beemer

Lap of honor starting
Scott and Carissa
Pam and Lanny

**ynot slow** · 25th February 2007, 19:37

thanks for giving us all the chance to join in the ride,great cause,proud to have been honored with your presence,will remember for ever chasing you guys back to hawera lol

**sels1** · 25th February 2007, 19:55

Congrats on your awesome effort guys. It was a pleasure to meet you and ride with you a while

**Lissa** · 25th February 2007, 21:24

Well done guys.. it was great riding with you for a little while. An awesome effort for a worthwhile cause. I hope Carissa enjoyed her own bed, I know she was looking forward to it. Rest up. You fully deserved that lap of honor!!!!

**Grub** · 25th February 2007, 21:48

A couple of pics that I liked...

1) Scott & Carissa leading the Rely for Life walkers and the Ride fo Life around-nz riders

2) The obligatory pic at Mangitanoka. (BTW - All the gorgeous women were on the ride)

**86GSXR** · 25th February 2007, 22:02

Thanks guys, it was a real pleasure to be able to do the last few miles with you for such a good cause! Take care

**Guitana** · 26th February 2007, 07:05

Why do so many New Zealanders take holidays overseas, when there is so much to see and do in our own backyard??

I can answer that! Because it's cheaper to have a holiday overseas than it is to holiday in NZ!

**SDU** · 26th February 2007, 14:07

Originally Posted by Zukin

Well it’s all over now, and what a ride!!!
The biggest congrats must go to my best friend and wife, Carissa for her expert riding throughout the duration of the trip, after all she is still on here learners licence and has only been riding for 4 months now!
The only problem (believe it or not) is she is missing it more than me now.
So depending on what Suzuki says, we will be shopping for a bike for her now once our very depleted savings are back in order.
It did not go unnoticed.

See ya next year (but hopefully sooner) when we do it all again!!!

P.S I will post some photos soon, I promise

Congrats to all of you doing the ride / drive You are all awesome & unselfish people

Totally understand Carissa's itchy feet & wanting her bike, hopefully will get it soon & I hope she gets her licence soon, pity she isn't given her full out right after the huge learning curve and the experience she has gained.

Look forward to seeing the photo's & write ups