I had intended to join the Welly Cruisy Sunday ride but at 1030pm Sat night i was online booking tickets for my Mum and myself to Picton. The plan was to take her down on the bike and drop her to the local marae for a tangi, then whilst she was there i would try and get to Takaka hill and back. Gotta love when someone else funds the riding trip.
Bit of background, my mum used to ride as a teen in Auckland with all my uncles etc, lotsa Triumphs and Nortons for them back then. she learnt to ride on a Jawa 350cc and hadnt been on a biek again in about 30yrs. So she was excited to go pillion on the mighty Ape.
So booked on 9am sailing and 6pm return sailing, this in my mind left enough time to get there and go for ride then get Ferry back.
8am we rolled up and were the first bike onto the Kaitaki. Now id read teh horror stories of 'take your own straps' on here but didnt want to carry them as extra as mum had her Tangi gear in our bag. so i rolled on expecting to have to use ropes to tie the ape down(no worries tying knots etc are fine with me). Well lo and behold i get to the bike parking area and there are two guys waiting for me, they shepherd me into the Front wheel bike cradle, then proceed to place purpose made straps over my grips and secured to the front. Bike all sorted. No horror stories at all.
Ferry leaves about 20min late and its a smooth sailing(moderate they called it) only could have been smoother if the water was glass.
Arrive at Picton and head down to the bike parks, notice there are 4 bikes there now, must have been italian bike day - we had my Ape, Two Ducati's and a KTM Superduke. Had a quick chat to fulla with Ducati and he said that i could get to St Arnaud, then up to Takaka then back down Queen Charlotte to Picton in about 3hrs - sounded like a plan to me.
Dropped my Mum off at the Marae and quickly headed back to I-site for a map or two. Talked to the lady in there who told me that it was about 2.5hrs drive to St Arnaud so quickly i relaised that i would need to be caning it to get to takaka and back, thats not my style of riding expecially on new to me roads so i elected to go for a pootle around the surrounding area instead.
Firstly went up Queen Charlotte Drive, kind of reminded me of the Akatarawa hill Road here in Upper hutt, but to amke matter worse it had grit all over it, so it was very nerve wracking riding along, took a few photos along the way.
Then i pulled in at Nga Kuta Bay as it looked absolutely beautiful (i needed to take a piss and they had a toilet sign!) parked up and had a gawk at the views of the waterways.
Next i headed back through Picton and then thought id go along the main road out. Sign told me straight ahead to Blenheim or right to Nelson. Blenheim was closer on the map so went that path. Couldnt find any bloody signs with distances to Blenheim etc and it wasnt till i reached a built up part that i stopped at a Shell Station to fuel up, thought this must be Blenheim. Was funny rang my accountant to ensure had enough funds and whilst i had my cellphone tucked inside my helmet a 4wd pulls up in front of me asking what it was i had in my helmet. Turns out him and his wife ride and they thought i had some new fandangled piece of techy gear that they hadnt seen before. "Whats that?" he asked, and as i proceeded to remove cellphone from my helmet all i could think was - yip South Island ay, hadnt seen one of these things j/k. Told him it was a cellphone and he cracked up laughing. He then asked me where i was heading? to which i replied - dunno! where am i at now? then it was confirmed, Blenheim.
From the newly found Blenheim i headed back to Picton and i finally saw a sign that said 28km to Picton!.
This time back in Picton i headed out past Waikawa along Port Underwood road, basically the same experience as Queen Charlotte Drive just in the other direction, lots of corners and lots of grit on them. Pulled up at one of the lookouts and just basked in the sun staring at the sounds. Sun was shining, not even a breath of wind and the view was amazing. Then my cellphone went off and it was time to go back to the marae, stuffed if i know where all the time went but it had gone and we were heading back towards the Ferry to check the bike back on.
Whilst waiting for the Ferry i noticed i still had an oil drip and finally tracked it down(have tightened the drain plug now), also whilst waiting, up rolled a Honda Blackbird so was chatting away with the rider. He'd just bought it in Timaru and was heading back to Auckland with it he liked the matte back of my ape and was looking at spraying his Bird matte black also. We rode onto the Aratere and had to use the straps to secure the bikes(how primitive after my Kaitaki experience) no issues for me - pillion pegs secured pulling backwards and down then i put another strap from front tiedown point around the tank pad and then back to other front tiedown (good ole opposing forces working a treat). I was secured but Mr Blackbird was having issues, helped a little then left him waiting for the Ferry Crew to check it for him. He had malfunctioning straps.
Back in Welly at 920pm and on the bike and home by 10pm.
Saw heaps of bikes and they all gave a nod or a wave back to me.
Had a great day out on the bike and was nice to see what is involved with taking down a bike and pillion on the Ferry, smooth as sailing and good kai on the boat too. Didnt get to Takaka Hill, didnt enjoy the grit on the corners but the views were absolutely stunning down there and it was a great day out and about, a blat over the takas and around the rapa is fun but this was a different type of fun. cant wait to get down there again sometime soon.
UncleB showed me the online pics of a trip to Takaka Hill and ive always wanted to do it, so i think next time ill organise a bit more instead of a few hrs before the sailing time.
Heres some piccies of the day out.
Reply With Quote
Originally Posted by chubby
well its only about 9 months for her from start to finish now if she'll do an advanced training course. Nice little night train for her. 
Lady riders.
Bookmarks