Go south young man!

[Paul in NZ]

Well we seem to be all ready for the ride to Christchurch to the TOMCC 20th anniversary weekend (and to catch up with family). http://tomcc.co.nz/20th-anniversary-...ns-invitation/

The panniers are packed (not near enough room) and the oil/filters done, hot grips work, tyres inflated and tank topped off… Miss Vicki is snug in a new jacket and pants plus 2 piece rain suit while I have some bargain priced new boots and a startling 1 piece rain suit to cover my still warm but barely water resistant gear.

The weather report looks suitably dire but what’s the point of a life of comfort without adventure? Adventures will always require some adversity or else they would not be adventures.

Leaving home late (ish) tonight with ‘afternoon showers turning to rain' to be on the Bluebridge ferry where the bike will be tied down and we shall repair to undoubtably sumptuous quarters and awake early for breakfast and a 6am (or so) arrival in Picton. A leisurely ride to ChCh via Kaikoura (periods of rain – southerlies max 9c) and hopefully to ChCh for lunch…

No forecast mentions a temperature of more than 10c so we expect things to be chilly at open road speeds. Vicki is glad to be sitting behind a windbreak.

Hopefully we will take pictures along the way to bore you all with assuming of course our fingers still work and our spirits are sufficiently high to want to record the event… Probably NOT going to have much of a chance to catch up with any of our KB friends as there is a bunch of family stuff to do (folks with aging parents will understand) but check out the links above for the friday evening and saturday locations which is where we are planning to be.. I will be the soft northern git shivering beside a short pleasantly natured woman who is also shivering. Bike is a silver/black ST Sprint 1050 which hopefully will NOT be shivering.

[unstuck]

Ride safe fella, and enjoy.

[yod]

Well we seem to be all ready for the ride to Christchurch to the TOMCC 20th anniversary weekend (and to catch up with family). http://tomcc.co.nz/20th-anniversary-...ns-invitation/

The panniers are packed (not near enough room) and the oil/filters done, hot grips work, tyres inflated and tank topped off… Miss Vicki is snug in a new jacket and pants plus 2 piece rain suit while I have some bargain priced new boots and a startling 1 piece rain suit to cover my still warm but barely water resistant gear.

The weather report looks suitably dire but what’s the point of a life of comfort without adventure? Adventures will always require some adversity or else they would not be adventures.

Leaving home late (ish) tonight with ‘afternoon showers turning to rain' to be on the Bluebridge ferry where the bike will be tied down and we shall repair to undoubtably sumptuous quarters and awake early for breakfast and a 6am (or so) arrival in Picton. A leisurely ride to ChCh via Kaikoura (periods of rain – southerlies max 9c) and hopefully to ChCh for lunch…

No forecast mentions a temperature of more than 10c so we expect things to be chilly at open road speeds. Vicki is glad to be sitting behind a windbreak.

Hopefully we will take pictures along the way to bore you all with assuming of course our fingers still work and our spirits are sufficiently high to want to record the event… Probably NOT going to have much of a chance to catch up with any of our KB friends as there is a bunch of family stuff to do (folks with aging parents will understand) but check out the links above for the friday evening and saturday locations which is where we are planning to be.. I will be the soft northern git shivering beside a short pleasantly natured woman who is also shivering. Bike is a silver/black ST Sprint 1050 which hopefully will NOT be shivering.

lol, I know that one...

have a ripping time, the south is fantabulistilicious riding country

[Hitcher]

Jealous, I am. Enjoy the ride!

[Paul in NZ]

Just getting packed - went outside to feed the cats and check the weather. I didnt need to look skywards as the weather was coming down to meet me... Seriously - you are 'avin a laugh..... sigh...

[scumdog]

Have a good fun-filled and safe trip you two.

[Mom]

Have wonderful trip Paul. Gorgeous time to be travelling too. Stay warm!

[granstar]

Have a safe trip and enjoy the catch up.

My T140 is apart getting a re-wire, recently sold my T20 cub so not attending.
As a past member (15 year patch) would have liked a copy of the book Ken put out , but no, only went to rally attenders.

[Kickaha]

I'm racing Saturday but If you get a chance any other time give me a yell and we can meet up

If I had a bike that goes I'd ride up and meet you off the boat

[Paul in NZ]

I'm racing Saturday but If you get a chance any other time give me a yell and we can meet up

If I had a bike that goes I'd ride up and meet you off the boat

Will do - we get off the boat at 6am - should be a heck of a ride if your bike was going mate...

Strait shipping just rang but my cell pffted out (no coverage) so I hope we wont ride to the boat and get turned back ;-)

[Paul in NZ]

Feckin arse biscuit... What a bloody trip thus far....

Sitting in the Bluebridge terminal Picton hoping to get on our 2pm sailing that was cancelled yesterday... Yes - we actually managed to ride ChCh to Picton on sunday in that little squall and it was bloody awful. Rain, sleet, hail and a wee bit of snow were the easy stuff - the wind was horrific but possibly not actually as bad as the ride south on wed morning when it was also pitch black. Even after a night in a good motel we are still shattered by the last few days (late nights and too much fun not helping much it has to be said)

Definitely not looking forwards to another horrible crossing either....

Vicki and I had thought about either driving down or flying but decided an 'adventure' on the new bike would be just the ticket. Well we are over adventures (and bikes) for this week thanks... I have NEVER been so damn scared on a bike in my whole life (or at least for so long) and it was only the thought that it might be a bit better up the road that kept us going. Never again - we will bail early....

Anyway - full story later.... Dont expect pictures - our cameras not waterproof....

[Hitcher]

Feckin arse biscuit...

Indeed. I have been thinking of you two whilst sitting atop an electric heater listening to the punctuation of frozen precipitation ricocheting off the roof and windows.

If you haven't got heated handgrips, Best of British!

[scumdog]

Feckin arse biscuit... What a bloody trip thus far....


.. I have NEVER been so damn scared on a bike in my whole life (or at least for so long) ..

Makes one feel so alive when one has 'come out the other end' - so to speak.!

[98tls]

Feckin arse biscuit... What a bloody trip thus far....

Sitting in the Bluebridge terminal Picton hoping to get on our 2pm sailing that was cancelled yesterday... Yes - we actually managed to ride ChCh to Picton on sunday in that little squall and it was bloody awful. Rain, sleet, hail and a wee bit of snow were the easy stuff - the wind was horrific but possibly not actually as bad as the ride south on wed morning when it was also pitch black. Even after a night in a good motel we are still shattered by the last few days (late nights and too much fun not helping much it has to be said)

Definitely not looking forwards to another horrible crossing either....

Vicki and I had thought about either driving down or flying but decided an 'adventure' on the new bike would be just the ticket. Well we are over adventures (and bikes) for this week thanks... I have NEVER been so damn scared on a bike in my whole life (or at least for so long) and it was only the thought that it might be a bit better up the road that kept us going. Never again - we will bail early....

Anyway - full story later.... Dont expect pictures - our cameras not waterproof....

Enjoyed that,poor buggers though i bet once you get home and comfy the adventure wont seem so bad.You made it safe n sound is the main thing.Fwiw further south down we have had beautiful weather with no wind for days.

[Paul in NZ]

We are home and comfy now and frankly it still seems that bad....

The ride from the ferry was in a gentle wellington zephyr compared to what we have had but we are now so tired and gun shy after what seems like hours and hours of white knuckle terror we were flinching at every gust (yeah yeah worst thing to do) and Vicki was having to sing on the back to keep her spirits up - dunno how she does it...

Still not sure if the ride down or the ride back was the worst but either way around they were No1 and No2 of the worst rides we have EVER had and that includes any i fell off the bike on. No I'm not kidding....

Anyway - the kettles on and the washing machines gurgling away and this can wait because we are still in one piece and lifes good again...