gijoe1313 and Gremlin invade the Mainland!

**gijoe1313** · 8th January 2009, 07:20

Originally Posted by Gremlin

Ah yes... the milford tunnel is to blame, or so he will tell you. Actually, come to think of it... can't remember the last time he admitted he was to blame for anything

We were going through the tunnel, and I was rather enjoying the sound of my twin (as y'do) and he was enjoying the sound of his nautilus? (whatever floats your boat). That was until he managed to overload the circuits, and blew the fuse for the dash/horn. That was a quick fault find and a spare chucked in, at Milford Sound.

Road wise, the Catlins is a better route than Milford, but the scenery to and from Milford is outstanding (if the cloud hasn't made it go away).

The funny thing is I know I am the source of all my own misfortunes and travelling mishaps when I ride ... alone!

I have noticed how incidents that stretch the realms of credulity and sanity is only increased with Gremlin around. And not to mention, Gremlin makes such an easy target to blame. If there was a police line up, the victim(s) would just automatically point at him.

The fact that I have to point out to Gremlin when we visit places "Don't break anything!" shows his perchance and appetite for destruction. It wasn't until last night I found out he had a job as a labourer and gleefully loved to destruct things rather than construct! :slap:

On a lighter note, that KTM and him are well matched. They go around wrecking merry havoc and the wake of destruction left behind would do a viking raiding party proud.

**gijoe1313** · 8th January 2009, 07:29

Originally Posted by Ixion

Ah so. AngelKwan eh?. Asleep on Mr Joe's back. Practically, that is to say, in his arms. The news of this Angel binti will promptly be relayed to Mama San. It will be a great relief to her.

Full (meaning FULL) details of said Angel will be required ASAP for due consideration by the mah jong group. (And does Trump Lady know about AngelKwan ?)

I must go spread the gossip. Sounds like Mr Joe's carefree pootling days may be numbered.

Dear sir,

Thank for your kind observations regarding my status as a bachelor and happenstance meant that this journey could occur with AngelKwan.

It somes as some small surprise to me, that such inference that a more intimate and closeness of relationship could be noted from this.

As some are well aware, the solitary cruising of my way through life, as a simple and learned man is of a vexatious and galling note in my maternal parental unit.

She has laid down dire threats, evinced horror and guilt about my failings to do as one is meant to do in life's journey. I fear that my happy and contented ways is not to be the way of things and that I am also meant to suffer the highs and lows of a matched pairing.

So, in summary sir, I do so humbly beseech that such quips, allusions and other nefarious suppositions about my personal life be reduced to "How d'you do sir" and "The weather is quite changeable isn't it?"

Herein ends the communicative missive that hopefully puts paid to anymore musings on the matter.

**Donor** · 8th January 2009, 07:37

Originally Posted by gijoe1313

As some are well aware, the solitary cruising of my way through life, as a simple and learned man is of a vexatious and galling note in my maternal parental unit.

She has laid down dire threats, evinced horror and guilt about my failings to do as one is meant to do in life's journey.

Yer... and that's just from Angel... the grief he is copping from Mum is WAAAAAY much more lots worserer (and that's pretty bad, as ANY 6 year old will tell you!) than as he has described above.

**Mr Merde** · 8th January 2009, 07:39

Originally Posted by gijoe1313

Dear sir,

...... "How d'you do sir" and "The weather is quite changeable isn't it?"

Herein ends the communicative missive that hopefully puts paid to anymore musings on the matter.

Justin,

Is it only now, that personages other than myself have only just realised that you are subserviant to the matriarchial aspect of you family?

Is it only now that the idea that if you dont find a suitable mate then on will be found for you.

Have I not been pondering this for a number of years now, with you?

Merde

**trump-lady** · 8th January 2009, 07:52

Originally Posted by Ixion

Ah so. AngelKwan eh?. Asleep on Mr Joe's back. Practically, that is to say, in his arms. The news of this Angel binti will promptly be relayed to Mama San. It will be a great relief to her.

Full (meaning FULL) details of said Angel will be required ASAP for due consideration by the mah jong group. (And does Trump Lady know about AngelKwan ?)

I must go spread the gossip. Sounds like Mr Joe's carefree pootling days may be numbered.

Do I dare ask...... scared

even more scared as I scroll through.....

**PrincessBandit** · 8th January 2009, 08:41

Love the pix! That one on page 2 taken from the Paekak hill lookout looks very much like one of mine - you sneak into my camera or summat???
Our trip left Aucks on Dec 22, crossed ferry Dec 23, then returned to Wellywood Jan 2, rode back up to Auckland (9hours of riding in non-stop rain the whole way) on Jan 3.
Pity we didn't get to see each other along the way!
Look forward to following the rest of your adventures.

**Gremlin** · 8th January 2009, 10:45

Crikey, I had 7-8 hours sleep, and I still just about fell asleep reading that long post.

(I was again woken by GiJoe, it seems he was non too pleased by the video

)

As time passes inexorably, I am reminded that we are more than half way through the trip, and tomorrow begins our trip back north taking a mere 5 days (even after 3600km, I have a twinge of sadness that the trip through the SI will end).

To counter the sadness, GiJoe has not ridden his bike once today. Not once. Not even started it. We will head out shortly to replace his tyre, a trip to Bluff, but all in all, not even a tank full. As I type this, the bikes are again sitting in the garage with tanks on reserve, a sign of the good times.

Off to go observe GiJoe, and see if any signs of madness are creeping in

**Ixion** · 8th January 2009, 12:42

Originally Posted by gijoe1313

Dear sir,

It somes as some small surprise to me, that such inference that a more intimate and closeness of relationship could be noted from this.

Psshwobbly. You don't imagine that mere facts are going to get in the way of a nice juicy bit of gossip , do you? Never fear (well, actually, do fear), you will once again be topic de jour at the Mah Jong evenings. But this time on a more hopeful note. If Mamma-San can track down Angel's Mamma, then it's all over, rover - literally .

Jolly good thing too. Why should you young blades be footloose and fancy free, able to tour all over the country , enjoying yourselves, having a ball, whilst we married persons are inextricably tied, every one of us, to a Little List of Things That Need to be Done Around the House. Misery seeks ever a companion, and if we must suffer the deprivations of domesticity then you should all suffer too. So there.

**Mr Merde** · 8th January 2009, 14:07

Originally Posted by Ixion

...... Little List of Things That Need to be Done Around the House. .......

Spoken by one who has had years of domesticity and depravation hammered into his very essence by "those who must be obeyed"under threat of removal of conjugal rights.

Emasculation by depravation.

So be warned GIJoe.

The muse thus spake. Or will he for ever suffer the curse of Cassandra.

**Gremlin** · 8th January 2009, 18:46

Originally Posted by Ixion

Misery seeks ever a companion, and if we must suffer the deprivations of domesticity then you should all suffer too. So there.

I hope you get a doubly long list for that from your SWMBO.

My list is non-existent, because SWMBO doesn't exist either

**Gremlin** · 8th January 2009, 19:47

Well... you didn't expect that we wouldn't, did you?

A fantastically late start to the day, GiJoe pondering if he should read a book, and generally looking edgy. Since I was paying for his tyre, I held the power, and I wielded it with little mercy. The trick is to be totally relaxed about time ticking by, while he waits for me to get ready like a child waiting for Santa.

The pootler had already been out with Chickadee, and shown where to go when he rides there, to get his new tyre. Lo and behold, after a few wrong turns he pulls over. I accuse the obvious, and he announces he has to make a phone call. He has no idea of the name of the shop, or the street it is on (and he wants to tour alone?

) Phonecall made to Chickadee, I'm checking the GPS, and we eventually have a road name. I resume control again, and the shop is reached within 5 minutes.

While the tyre is being fitted, we head over to the Southland museum, where GiJoe attempts to add some culture to Gremlin's life. The Burt Munro exhibit is visited, along with Henry the Tuatara. Some other crap is visited, but Gremlin wasn't in the mood to become cultured

I did like a portal that showed the sea. Watching it, my body instantly started swaying to the rocking it portrayed. Rather interesting how the brain controls the body.

The tyre had been fitted, GiJoe had his pootling license, and it was time for some sushi for lunch. It had started to clear, so it was now or never to head for Bluff, and get the classic photo of the bike underneath the sign. I took Angel on the back, to give GiJoe some time to scrub his tyre in (not easy when the roads are wet either), so she enjoyed taking some shots as we were riding, of him.

As we were completing the photos, a family pulled up, with the husband and wife riding harleys, with a kid each, on the back. Had a great chat with them, time flew, and it was time to return to Invercargill. We stopped in at the look out first, and as we headed out of Bluff, who should we see, but ol' McJim, who had set out to find us again. Back to Bluff for more photos. (Hey, after all, we are Aucklanders, more time spent posing that we ride, than actually riding

)

Course was set for Invercargill, with Angel now taking shots of both McJim and GiJoe from my back seat, and had her first wheelie as well (only a small one) with the usual giggle afterwards.

A grand total of 70km was covered today, shattering aye? (perhaps for GiJoe

). Tomorrow we sadly say our goodbyes, and return to Wanaka, and start the return to Auckland and our lives.

**Nutter34** · 8th January 2009, 22:59

You guys are a crack-up....

Good to hear it's all still going well...

Have fun and take it easy on the return home...

**gijoe1313** · 9th January 2009, 00:47

Well this was a rest day and no mistake, I left Gremlin to his own sleeping demise and Angel was also in the land of the fluffy white bunny rabbit dreams.

I was up and about doing very little of consequence, but did manage to go with Chickadee to the local postshop to deliver back to Auckland half the useless stuff that went into the useless pack on the useless rack.

There was a disturbance in the Force as I passed over the courier box I had jammed with the stuff I was returning. It was the immense relief that my Big Ol'Hornet was feeling that freedom from the shackles of servitude of supposedly useful supplies.

I felt immensely happy as the stuff I had left over was still quite a bit more than I would like, but since the ventura pack was now half filled I could live with that. The trip to the Yamaha place was as the usual farce that I am well accustomed to, but I enjoy getting lost! The people in the dealership were incredibly helpful and friendly as most South Islanders are.

Leaving a stash of sopping wet gear in the dealership, we trotted over to the pyramidal treasure trove of antiquities in Invercargill. I was loving the fact we got to visit a museum! Exhibits were hummed and haaed over, evoking my eclectic interests in topics far and wide. Life long learning is something I have as a personal philosophy and I was rather chuffed that Gremlin spent a long lingering time in the Maori section.

Angel practised her English pronounciation of the astronomical lexicon associated with space photography and as I am wont to do, I read every scrap of signage pertaining to informative aspects of the displays. Gremlin even spoke eloquently and with clarity about aspects of Victorian life and the physical development of doorknobs!

Lunch was a delicious almagam of eastern delights, sushi in all its wonderful guises were tossed down esophaguses with slatherings of wasabi, pickled ginger and soya sauce. As it had now dried out, my sacrifice to the Biking Gods appeasing them. The ride to Bluff was quick and it allowed me to bring my limited riding ability to scrub in the black delivery device of freedom. A Battleax 021.

To be cont...

**karla** · 9th January 2009, 01:43

Having arrived home safely with all our useless baggage intact (I wish I had off-loaded it!), I just caught up with your trip report.

I realise now after enjoying the entries what a priviledge it was to cross paths with you both

You're not just riding the length of the South Island, you're entertaining all while you go.

I know I walked away shaking my head in disbelief after chatting briefly, but you now have a thimble more of my respect. You only seem to be completely loose units and a page short of a book. .

Glad you're enjoying and learning from your trip, and hope the journey back up the island is as much fun as the ride down, with a lighter load and a few more miles experience to your credit!

May we all cross paths again some sunny day! I know on my trip home, I kept thinking, I must come back ...