After a small piece of planning I undertook a lightening strike on Nelson over the past weekend.
Finished work at lunchtime on Friday and after some farting around managed to get on the road at 2.30pm with the 1st stop being fuel at Rakaia. Hoping for an easy run upto Waipara I was let down by a stiff northerly wind, shitty traffic, roadworks, & the constabulary (wasn't sprung but the boys & girls were out in force either side of ChCh).
Upon turning off SH1 at Waipara I was able to start making up some lost time and got into the swing of things heading up through Weka pass and onto the 1st stop at Culverden for fuel. On travelling up SH1 I'd been taking note of how the Alps looked & was a bit concerned about running into rain through the Lewis & onwards towards Nelson, Once past the Hanmer turn-off I was charging into a stiff Norwester & things looked ugly further into the main divide.
Apart from the threatening weather I managed to crack along unhindered by west bound traffic, passing a couple of small groups of bikes heading towards ChCh and arrived in Springs Junction 1hr later to heavy clouds hanging down past the mountain tops and the local nuisances (bloody wasps). The northern horizon was looking slightly clearer so I decided to make it a quick run through to Murchison to try & get ahead of what every weather was on it's way, managing to catch about 5mins worth of light rain close to Maruia. Getting closer towards the Buller Gorge I had a feeling I'd strike a cop and whether it be 6th sense or what, but within 5kms sure enough there she was, a HP car parked up in a nice wee siding.
Just south of Murchison I had a bit ofmoment being greeted by a TOPPS Foden (I know as I saw it close up) stock truck heading the opposite direction around a 85km/h posted corner using the centre line a running mark for the centre of of his truck (Bastard!!!) and needless to say being a corner of that type I was punting along so there was a BIG
involved. Rolled into Murch for fuel & quick feed.
On leaving Murchison for the final leg of the trip I was into continuous 65/75/85km/hcorners through Owen River, Gowanbridge, Hope Saddle, Korere and on to Richmond, arriving 7.30ish & 470km later.
Saturday meant a compulsory trot up the Takaka hill, which was a great trip down memory lane as it had been a substantial number of years since I'd been over it (too many if the truth be known) though I've got to admit using 1st & 2nd all the time doesn't really do it for me
The rest of the weekend is pretty muchand come Monday arvo it was time for the return journey over the same roads and in similar conditions. 1069kms later getting home the ZXR went like a dream & never missed a beat
, the roads through Nelson lakes National park are
. Big thanks MyGSXF for an awesome time
Here's some pics from the return journey as I accidentally erased ones I'd taken on the way up whilst fiddling with the camera at the Riwaka Pub
Takaka Hill pic
1) Gowanbridge
2) Springs Junction
3) Looking Back up the Lewis pass (camera shot doesn't do it justice)
4) Riwaka Pub
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... hope the weather is sweet for the Mokinhinui run.
??? 
Originally Posted by Ghost_Bullet
It had been a few years since I'd travelled those roads but it was like revisiting an old friend 
some of my most fav!!! I've lost count of how many times I have travelled it now.. especially over the past year or so !! Hope Saddle is definately boot scraping territory!!!! 
lols harden up huh??? It's just point n squirt on that road 
next time you follow me up the hill 
Was on a mission this time round 
no warmth, I'm disappointed old fella 
mmm next Otematata wk/end? you going to hide till then are ya 
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