Highlander's TMR report...

**Highlander** · 3rd April 2008, 13:41

Almost lost for words.
On the road for Two Sundays and the week in between.

Day 1 Tauranga to Wellington 517 Km
Day 2 Wellington to Geraldine 549 Km
Day 3 Geraldine to Bluff 591 Km
Day 4 Invercargill to Greymouth 1022 Km
Day 5 Greymouth to Picton 606 Km
Day 6 Picton to Wanganui 204 Km
Day 7 Wanganui to Kaitaia 785 Km
Day 8 Kaitaia to Tauranga (via Cape Reinga) 776 Km

Total 5050Km

Fantastic roads.
Bike ran sweet. In for a service and two new tyres the week after and I get a phone call "did you know there are only 4 strands holding your clutch cable together..."

Rude not to go to Cape Reinga after having come from Bluff, why stop 105Km short?

Our son left home at 0300 (yes that would be A.M as in "in the morning" ) on Good Friday, travelling in his 30 year old mini with a mate and was waiting for me when I got off the Ferry in Wellington.
The Mini got to Kaitaia and home with a push. Literally - it rejected the starter motor at the lights in Auckland and had to be push started from there on. The boys had a blast and really liked the way the riders accepted them and made them feel part of it at the end.

Great to meet some of you guys in the flesh.

Map here: http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UT...a47256fefdeb17

Edit: for those interested, the word document is a full report.

**Maha** · 3rd April 2008, 13:46

Day four must have seemed like the longest day?
Twice the K's travelled compared to the three days prior.
Top effort Highlander....bling sent, get it while you can.

**Jantar** · 3rd April 2008, 18:50

Top effort. Bloody good skills to avoid those camper vans too.

**banditrider** · 3rd April 2008, 18:54

Sux being back at work though...

**Highlander** · 5th April 2008, 14:50

Originally Posted by banditrider

Sux being back at work though...

Sux with an oversized capital S.

18 million up for grabs in LOTTO tonight. If I won that I may not even work out my 2 weeks notice!

**banditrider** · 5th April 2008, 14:54

Originally Posted by Highlander

Sux with an oversized capital S.

18 million up for grabs in LOTTO tonight. If I won that I may not even work out my 2 weeks notice!

Already got my ticket and it would 4 weeks notice that I'd have to decide whether to work - not that big a decision really...

**shafty** · 7th April 2008, 10:26

Great write up Jym, of a great ride!

**DougieNZ** · 7th April 2008, 16:34

Excellent report. Bloody well done...!

One thing that is interesting... The Original GPP Mini must have come in to Dunedin via the Pig Route, as they met up with the guy on the bike at Waitati and then entered Dunedin via the back road to Port Chalmers.. (to avoid the cops). Then they headed down to Taieri Mouth and accross to Waihola (I think that road may still be unsealed).
I can understand no unsealed roads, but I wonder why the rally didn't follow that route?

**EJK** · 7th April 2008, 16:37

Holy.... How long did it took to go 780kms in one day? 12hrs straight riding?

**Highlander** · 7th April 2008, 16:51

Originally Posted by EJKDDORAI

Holy.... How long did it took to go 780kms in one day? 12hrs straight riding?

GPS I had clipped to the handle bars tells me I averaged 87 Km/h while moving. I reset it each morning but 85 - 88 is pretty normal at the end of each days ride.

The 1000Km day (day 4) took just on 12 hrs including stops.
The Wanganui to Kaitaia day (day 7) was 11 hrs including stops.

Dougie, I wondered that too but as they didn't specify the route other than checkpoints in Dunedin and Cromwell I went Milton / Roxburgh to catch up with Jantar.

**Snakeman** · 18th May 2008, 11:14

Originally Posted by Highlander

Almost lost for words.
On the road for Two Sundays and the week in between.

Day 1 Tauranga to Wellington 517 Km
Day 2 Wellington to Geraldine 549 Km
Day 3 Geraldine to Bluff 591 Km
Day 4 Invercargill to Greymouth 1022 Km
Day 5 Greymouth to Picton 606 Km
Day 6 Picton to Wanganui 204 Km
Day 7 Wanganui to Kaitaia 785 Km
Day 8 Kaitaia to Tauranga (via Cape Reinga) 776 Km

Total 5050Km

Edit: for those interested, the word document is a full report.

That was a really good read.... thanks for the report and it sounded like a great trip

**RichardC** · 22nd May 2008, 20:09

Hi Jim,
Are you practicing for the next Southern Cross ( 10- K) ?
Good effort
Richard

**Jantar** · 22nd May 2008, 20:12

Richard, Are you back in the country, or still across the ditch?

Hopefully I'll see you you on the next SC as well.

**cowboyz** · 25th May 2008, 19:47

magic. One day I am going to just do it. One day...................

Still havent managed to get down south and everyone keeps telling me how good it is.