Get me the f**ck out of Franz Josef!

[Colapop]

It's snowing quite nicely in Arthurs pass apparently...

[dangerous]

It's snowing quite nicely in Arthurs pass apparently...

well the old dame is in Ashburton having riden through snow, spose she will be hardening the fark... up by now LOL

*Col... shit I hope BMW has a sence of humour cos if we ever meet Im a dead burger.

[Colapop]

I assume she's still going strong...?

[dangerous]

I assume she's still going strong...?

last heard she had traded the bike in for a canoe and paddles

[Conquiztador]

last heard she had traded the bike in for a canoe and paddles

Not quite. She is in Ashburton on the way to Chch where she is swapping the bike for a ride in a friends cage to Invers and Queenstown. I suppose the drying out of the gear is taking longer then expected...

[Bloody Mad Woman (BMW)]

I AM BACK IN CIVILISATION - almost - In Halswell, Christchurch - and my friends have broadband - oh bliss.

Yes well I hardened the fuck up alright - I was determined not to stay another day or nite in Arthurs Pass - I got up, went outside to have my morning smoke and holy shit it was snowing - 8am walked across the road looked up and mountains were covered in the stuff - snow that is.

I went over to my bike - parked across the road so the keas couldn't get at it, brought it closer and realised the back tyre was bloody flat - I could push the tyre in with my fingers - I'm blond but I'm not totally stupid - thank god I had packed my mini air compressor - I also knew it should have 42 psi in the tyre - took a bloody long time to pump up but it did the job. It had almost stopped snowing so I packed up the bike and left around 11am. 4 thermals on top, thermal gloves under winter leather gloves - 2 pairs of thermal socks, thermals under the thermal lined trousers. Have I ever mentioned how much I hate the bloody cold (and torrential rain) - oh and snow lol.

I had been told that it would be snowing "up the hill" - I just wanted to get out of the West Coast and thaw out. Anyway apart from some bloody major road works - it wasn't too bad. I had to stop once cos I was so cold - had my flask of coffee in this shelter along the way and took some pics - of snow ON THE GROUND. I will try and upload some.

Anyway I got to ChCh - had a pie and rest for an hour and then spent the next flamin half hour trying to find my way out of ChCh to get to Ashburton - stopped twice to ask for directions. One thing the South Island really lacks is proper road signs and information about where you are etc - you go for miles not knowing whether you are on the ride road or not - particularly hard when you are running out of petrol and you desperately need to know how many kms to the next township. My girlfriend, who is a sales rep and does the south island agrees with me - she said she was in Wellington last month - and loved the fact there were heaps of road signs - etc.

After the above trauma lol I dried and thawed out in Fairton near Ashburton until today.

I am now staying in ChCh and my above girlfriend is taking me to Dunedin, Invercargill and Queenstown in her cage - so that is a bonus.

Now last week I had inquired about new tyres - thinking when I get back to Wellington I will certainly need them.

Looked at my back tyre tonite - it is down to canvas - Fk. I need a 180/55 17 tyre - if anyone has a second hand one - I would like to buy it from you. My mate's partner is going to ring around on Tuesday. I had kept my eye on that tyre - seemed to happen very fast in the end lol.

I look forward to getting back to the North Island lol - warmer weather.

[98tls]

Ive a 190/50 in ok nick,not sure of the rim on your Bandit,the TL rim will take a 190 or 180 not sure about the Bandit,be handy if it did as you could pick it up on the way through.Its hardly 1/2 worn,yours for $40 if it fits.

[RentaTriumph]

I AM BACK IN CIVILISATION - almost - In Halswell, Christchurch - and my friends have broadband - oh bliss.


Looked at my back tyre tonite - it is down to canvas - Fk. I need a 180/55 17 tyre - if anyone has a second hand one - I would like to buy it from you. My mate's partner is going to ring around on Tuesday. I had kept my eye on that tyre - seemed to happen very fast in the end lol.

I look forward to getting back to the North Island lol - warmer weather.

Hi BMW

I have a spare 180/55 17 tyre off one of my rentals with a couple of thousand km of tread left on it. Give me a ring on 027-687-5600 and I will give it to you for being such a hardarse and keeping yer chin up over the last week or so.

[gijoe1313]

Cor lumme me ol'china! Good to hear ya doing the hard yards and keeping on with keeping on!

Tis' awesome to read all the generous offers coming your way ... and yep, know all about the part of running out of tread in the mainland!

Good on ya girl!

[Meanie]

Shit looks like youve stuck all the crap weather in one trip. Been down there twice now and done east and west coast both times, first time was over christmas when the wife and i went wandering and the second was just recently when i did the southern cross, although a little damp both times around Haast pass we had great weather and the roads and scenery were awesome. I would recomend you have another go when the sun is shining and go with some company, always seems to make the bad times easier when you have a friend to vent with
Enjoy the rest of your trip

[Elysium]

Anyway I got to ChCh - had a pie and rest for an hour and then spent the next flamin half hour trying to find my way out of ChCh to get to Ashburton - stopped twice to ask for directions. One thing the South Island really lacks is proper road signs and information about where you are etc - you go for miles not knowing whether you are on the ride road or not - particularly hard when you are running out of petrol and you desperately need to know how many kms to the next township. My girlfriend, who is a sales rep and does the south island agrees with me - she said she was in Wellington last month - and loved the fact there were heaps of road signs - etc.

Too bloody right. Must have gone around three times in a circle trying to find my way out of Christchurch when I was down there.

[Meanie]

Too bloody right. Must have gone around three times in a circle trying to find my way out of Christchurch when I was down there.

Never been there before christmas but had no problem navagating my way around thanks to dorris and Garmin Zumo

[elle-f]

Bloody hell, you've done well!

[shafty]

Where are those pics Shirl?

[Bloody Mad Woman (BMW)]

Where are those pics Shirl?

I have to wait until I get back to Nelson to load pics. I'm staying at a girlfriend's place and her fiance does not like me being on the internet much. I hope to get out of here tomorrow - bloody domestics here - a good reminder to remain single lol.

Anyway I picked up the tyre from Renta Triumph and dropped it off at Pit lane - where I will take my bike in on Monday and have it fitted. I am eternally grateful to Renta Triumph for gifting me the tyre -

I will write about my cage journey later.