Got back from a “Birds Galore” 2 week tour of the South Island last night and what a blast it was! Travelled in the company of KB’ers Hammer, Bykey Cop, Dave Easey, plus Hammer’s partner Karen and my wife Jennie in the car as they didn’t want to spend 2 weeks on the bikes!
It would take pages to do justice to the trip, so here’s a short précis.
Our route took us down to Kaikoura for a bit of whale watching. At one stage, literally hundreds of dolphins surrounded the boat in perfect conditions – an incredible sight with them all stacking on a great show for us. We then zipped across the Lewis Pass staying at the Blackball Hilton – a “must” for any biker. From there, it was over Arthur’s Pass and down to Tekapo in rather a rapid time. Hammer and Karen departed to Dunedin for a short spell whilst the rest headed for Wanaka via the Lindis Pass. Another 5 star experience going up the Matukituki River by jet boat, and then being met by helicopter and landing on the the snow in Mt Aspiring National Park. Special mention must be made of the pilot Alex. I’d guess she must have been in her mid-20’s, had 5 years experience flying fixed wing aircraft and another 2 in choppers – a superb pilot.
Sadly, Dave Easey had to leave us on the last day in Wanaka to return to work in Auckland. Dave had a great run up the West Coast through to Picton, then home to Auckland. It was at Wanaka that we were joined by fellow KB’er and old friend Jantar who accompanied us down to Te Anau and a stunning Milford Sound trip. Boy, he can make that V-Strom boogie! The rest of us left Te Anau it was back to stay at Cromwell, a tour of the Clyde Dam courtesy of Jantar and a great BBQ at Jantar and Paulette’s superb property just outside Alexandra. Thanks for the fabulous hospitality, M&P!
From Cromwell, over the Haast Pass to Franz Josef, it was a wet and cold trip with snow to low levels. Funnily enough, although we’d have preferred better weather, riding in adverse conditions was still good fun as well as a test of character! Just as well really as the next couple of days up the west coast and through the Buller Gorge to Nelson were in similar conditions but it was still huge fun! At least Nelson turned on its characteristic good weather.
Yesterday, it was back to the crap weather riding from Nelson to catch the ferry and the Queen Charlotte Drive route was a bit of a mission with plenty of loose gravel and crappy road surfaces. It was great to meet KB’er Alice at the ferry terminal. She had been doing a solo tour on her VTR 250 and had similar tales of riding in extremely cold and wet conditions. We were all extremely impressed with her riding exploits!
Unfortunately, my Blackbird had an alternator problem in the first week of the trip and I’d continued the trip by swapping 2 batteries and charging them up overnight. The ferry was a bit late in arriving in Wellington and I didn’t want to risk being caught in the dark on the trip up to Tokoroa, so made the decision to leave it at KB’er Freebird’s place north of Wellington (Thanks so much Davey and Jo!) and travel up with the girls in the car. The boys braved the terrible weather, especially the vicious crosswinds which made overtaking treacherous. Wind-blown ash on the Desert Road added to the hazardous conditions. All reached Tokoroa safely and then it was on to Auckland for the others.
A wonderful 2 weeks in truly fantastic company and Jennie and I would do it all again tomorrow!
Here’s just a small selection of the literally hundreds of pictures we took between us.
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Rugby - A Hooligans Game played by Gentlemen. 
Originally Posted by Blackbird
We still need to have a cuppa or a beer together! 
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