Another South Island Tour report.

[Taz]

And some more.....

Pic 1/2. Cape foulwind
Pic 3/4. Star Tavern.
Pic 5. West coast.
Pic 6. Westport Motorcamp.

[Taz]

Fine and sunny in Westport this morning. Headed thru the Buller Gorge to Murchison and up SH6 to Kohatu and up thru woodstock to Motueka. We dropped off our luggage at my sisters place and took off over the hill to Takaka and Collingwood then up to Farewell spit. The Takaka Hill was great with only a little traffic and a few patches of road works to slow us down. Stopped at the pub in Takaka on the way back and then back to my sisters place for the night.

Kms today 467.

Pic 1-3. Buller Gorge.
Pic 4. Takaka Hill.
Pic 5. Telegraph Hotel, Takaka. Mmmmm beer.
Pic 6. Farewell Spit.

[Taz]

More Pics........

Pic 1. Whale skeleton at Farewell Spit.
Pic 2-5. Riwaka.

[Taz]

Easy day today. Only have to make it to mums in Picton. Did some shopping in Motueka. There's a neat little co-op craft shop on the main street called Potters Patch, an excellent place to buy gifts for those at home..... Had breakfast at the Moorings then off to picton via Queen Charlotte Drive. Arrived at mum's then headed into downtown Picton for a game of mini golf, visited the Aquarium and most of the pubs in town. Went with mum and the other olds to the RSA for dinner then home to bed as we had to catch the 8am ferry the next day.

Pics 1-4. Queen Charlotte Drive.
Pic 5. Picton RSA.

[Taz]

Woke early, said goodbye to Mum and left at 7 to catch the ferry. Was calm and a little overcast. Very smooth trip across the strait on the Bluebridge ship Santa Regina. Saw a pod of dolphins on the way over. Got off the ferry at around 11:30 and headed to Upper hutt for lunch. Cary was off to Napier for the night while I'd head up SH2 then over to Ohakune. Saturday I left ohakune and headed for home with the rain slowly setting in. arrived home at about 1pm after 6711kms. The kids were real glad to see me and I had really missed them. It was a great trip and there was still heaps we didn't se and do. Maybe next time? My rear Tourance was in need of replacement after 12000kms of road and gravel punishment. Cary informed me that he had to replace his rear Anakee in Napier as it was down to the canvas.
Thanks all who made this trip special especially my family.


Andy.

The End.

Pic 1. Dolphins.
Pic 2. Picton.
Pic 3. Cary cruisin on the Santa Regina.
Pic 4. Wellington.

[Cary]

Had breakfast at the Moorings then off to picton via Queen Charlotte Drive. Arrived at mum's then headed into downtown Picton for a game of mini golf.

I won that one to

It was a great trip and there was still heaps we didn't se and do. Maybe next time? My rear Tourance was in need of replacement after 12000kms of road and gravel punishment. Cary informed me that he had to replace his rear Anakee in Napier as it was down to the canvas.

Sure was. Thanks for all the pre trip planning & to your family. Also to John(oldrider) & Philipa for taking in a couple of strangers for the night, dinner & the fantastic cooked b'fast

Tyre was sure buggered, would have been a worrying 300k ride to Ohope if the folks at 5 Star Suzuki (Napier) haden't fitted new tyre.

[Taz]

How many miles/K's did you get from that Anakee?

Here's the metzeler at 11000 Kms.
Didn't look too much worse when I got home.

[Cary]

How many miles/K's did you get from that Anakee?

6900miles(11000k's) & thats 500 past safe!

[chrisso]

Awesome mate! Ive always wanted to do the Molesworth ride. I worked up the Awatere Valley on a farm in the late 70's -dont think the farmers CT 125 would have got me too far.The country looks like Afganistan--Taliban hiding behind the pilons haha..