Visiting NZ (from USA) in April

[karla]

Tim, if you want to go to our rally, it looks like I possibly have a friends bike jacked up for you to use for the weekend... we would just have to sort out time management details.... (rally site is only about 90ks from ChCh )

If not, & ya just wanna chill & hang out in ChCh.. will see ya when ya get up this way!

Jen

Atta girl (I'd give bling but it won't let me) - makes me proud to be a kiwi. I've offered Tim one of my bikes so looks like he will be there one way or the other. Now, which bike am I going to ride? Whoever would have dreamed I'd have that kind of dilemma going on in my life ~

[MyGSXF:Me]

I've offered Tim one of my bikes so looks like he will be there one way or the other

Awesome stuff Karla!!! Great minds think alike aye chick!!

Jus thinkin then.. due to the time Tim gets in & gets through customs, it might be easier if he can use your bike.. coz our crew, being the rally organisers, (including owner of said bike) have to get to the site early Fri to get set up.. so knowing there is another option now, it might be easier on us (time management wise ) if he can use yours m'dear.. how is that for you??

Jen

[karla]

It's all good here, cruising into the idea and looking forward to the rally. Just started raining here, hope it's over before the weekend. We will probably arrive Sat morning, and will keep our eyes open for you ... will you be meeting us all at the gate - all 500 rally goers that is? .

Awesome stuff Karla!!! Great minds think alike aye chick!!

Jus thinkin then.. due to the time Tim gets in & gets through customs, it might be easier if he can use your bike.. coz our crew, being the rally organisers, (including owner of said bike) have to get to the site early Fri to get set up.. so knowing there is another option now, it might be easier on us (time management wise ) if he can use yours m'dear.. how is that for you??

Jen

[Radar]

I'm open to suggestions on places to stay (low-to-mid budget preferred, or a friendly couch ), good places to eat (would rather spend more money on food & drink and less on rooms), and of course great roads to ride.

Of course if anybody is interested in getting together for drinks and/or food and/or riding, I would love to meet up!

-tim

Tim, join Couchsurfing ! http://www.couchsurfing.com

It is an international organization, with an official charitable status, costs nothing (unless you want to donate $), and you will meet some of the nicest most interesting people while traveling - AND you can stay at their house for free! Safe and legit. Highly recommended.

Before you get to Upper/Lower Hutt, make a post and some of us KB'ers will meet up with you.

Have a great flight and don't forget to bring some warm weather gear as our current warm weather will not last.

Cheers - Radar

[MyGSXF:Me]

It's all good here, cruising into the idea and looking forward to the rally. We will probably arrive Sat morning, and will keep our eyes open for you ... will you be meeting us all at the gate - all 500 rally goers that is? .

Awesome, Karla!!!! Have you heard back from Tim re: going to rally? Yep, I'll be floating round the gate most of the time! See you there!!!

Jen

[Kazza]

Have a fantatic weekend Jen, wish I was there to come too but alas the North Island has to take precidence this time :-( Say Hi to Mike if you happen to run into him and watch out for the idiots on the road

[karla]

Tim is sleeping safely on my couch, will be riding my bike tomorrow to the rally ... life is good, i think he will agree See you soon

Awesome, Karla!!!! Have you heard back from Tim re: going to rally? Yep, I'll be floating round the gate most of the time! See you there!!!

Jen

[karla]

Tim is sleeping safely on my couch, will be riding my bike tomorrow to the rally ... life is good, i think he will agree See you soon

Well, Tim left today for his solo around the islands on his V-Strom. What an awesome, interesting guy, feel totally privileged to have had him staying with us, and looking forward to his return on 24/25th April already.

As well as fitting in the Sundown Rally we had a couple of cruises around the bays, once out to Diamond Harbour and another out to Akaroa over Dyers Pass and along the summit road to Gebbies Pass, returning in the crisp cool evening escorted by red and blue lights.

He looks comfortable riding on the wrong (right?) side of the road, deals masterfully with Sunday drivers, can assume a position of sustained interest when confronted with having to listen to me blah blah on, and hasn't grown out of tree climbing yet. He hasn't quite earned the reputation of best horizontal bungier, but gets points for his excellent rally attempt. He is also eating Marmite without grimacing.

What can I say?! Jen - I know you will take good care of him. Lucky girl.

[MyGSXF:Me]

Well, Tim left today for his solo around the islands on his V-Strom.
He hasn't quite earned the reputation of best horizontal bungier, but gets points for his excellent rally attempt. He is also eating Marmite without grimacing.
What can I say?! Jen - I know you will take good care of him. Lucky girl.

Awesome stuff Karla!!! Sounds like you've had a FAB time!!!

But what's this bout red & blue flashing lights hmmm??!!

Tim's effort at the bungy was truly impressive.. he did bloody well all round over the weekend really.. considering the jet lag he musta been feeling!!

As for marmite.. I just sat down to read your post.. eating a marmite sandwich!!!! SPOOOOOKY!

Yep.. looking forward to his return visit.. & hitting the mighty Takaka Hill.. & Nelson Lakes.. which is gorgeous this time of year.. with the colour of the trees up that way.. hence the name "Golden Downs"

I promise to send him back in one piece Karla!!

Jen

[karla]

I promise to send him back in one piece Karla!!

Jen

Has he arrived yet, Jen?

[MyGSXF:Me]

Has he arrived yet, Jen?

nope.. haven't heard from him yet...

[karla]

nope.. haven't heard from him yet...

He was going to Wellington first (I think), so maybe it will be a few more days before he gets back to the South Island....

[MyGSXF:Me]

He was going to Wellington first (I think), so maybe it will be a few more days before he gets back to the South Island....

Yeah.. he was going riding with friends in Stokes Valley for the weekend.. then heading back down this way..

[karla]

Yeah.. he was going riding with friends in Stokes Valley for the weekend.. then heading back down this way..

Update:

Dropped Tim at the airport this afternoon, and he is currently in the air and heading back home to an election and a summer of motorbike racing. His trip turned out well, he covered a respectable part of the South Island with no mishaps and met some interesting kiwis along the way. And - what a bonus - Jen turned up at the airport to see him off as well!! Well done girl! ~

To anyone who is thinking about putting up a visitor - I highly recommend it!

Tim was an interesting and inspiring visitor, and I think it was us rather than him who benefited most from the experience.

Having him here just for a few days was enough to bump me out of my rut and get me thinking again. It has helped me to see to some degree just how narrow my focus (world view?) had become.Being a working mother I generally tend to leave the world to look after itself while I care for those in my immediate circle of influence and think of ways that I can get out of mowing lawns and escape on my motorbike.

However I am now inspired to watch the US election more closely, listen to more eclectic music, watch more movies, refine my views on genetically modified foods and our world footprint, and think about progressing from instant coffee to filter coffee. I'm also aware of my need to get out and learn more about my own home, and to climb more hills.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that it is a real gift to have a visitor! "Every person we meet is a cupful of delight" (Rumi).

Thank you Tim - hope you come back one day, our door will always be open to you and your friends ~

[MyGSXF:Me]

And - what a bonus - Jen turned up at the airport to see him off as well!! Well done girl! ~

Lols.. how funny the way things work out aye chick!! was a real bonus to be able to get to the airport today & just in time to say see ya to Tim!!!

Tim arrived at home a couple of weeks ago.. in the dark & pouring rain, after a quick visit up North. Had a hot roast & cold beer waiting for him.. & the little fella made himself quickly at home on Tim's lap.. who took it all in his stride!! A couple of Amarulas & a few more yellow lines on his map, he headed off for a good sleep.

We were supposed to ride the Takaka Hill the following day.. alas it was still bucketing down in the morning.. & after realising that there was more to see & further to go.. but with the number of days running out, Tim made the call to carry on & head towards the West Coast. So rugged up again & with vastly drier gloves Tim headed off.. once again.. in the rain..

At the airport tonight it sounded like he has had a fantastic trip & I feel really priviledged to have been able to be a part of it!!

Thank you Tim - hope you come back one day, our door will always be open to you and your friends ~

Ditto!!!!!

ps: see ya tomorrow chick!