Jatz's travels

[puddytat]

Its a better yarn if you read it with a voice over in your head from David Attenborough....

[Woodman]

Its a better yarn if you read it with a voice over in your head from David Attenborough....

I'd be happy if the voices in my head were only David Attenborough,


Good stuff James.

[NordieBoy]

Sounds like you didn't even need me to chum the water...

[Padmei]

Cool story bro. I keep thinking I see you on the bike - there must be a few around.
Went over to Totaranui with the rest of Nelson for a week & went paddle boarding around te headland. While we were chatting with a kayak fisherman a seal came nosing around us - they're just like long slippery dogs that can swim underwater.
You can see a lot more from the standing position however when you are floating over a stingery it makes you more aware of your stability

[JATZ]

GORE !!!

[NordieBoy]

GORE !!!

Voluntarily?

[RMOTO]

Voluntarily?

I bumped into Jatz heading into Lake Mahinerangi, I had my ear plugs in so I could be mistaken but I am sure I heard him say he was heading down to Gore for the Golden Guitar Awards and he was playing a rendition of MC Hammer's "Can't Touch This" on the banjo.

[JATZ]

I bumped into Jatz heading into Lake Mahinerangi, I had my ear plugs in so I could be mistaken but I am sure I heard him say he was heading down to Gore for the Golden Guitar Awards and he was playing a rendition of MC Hammer's "Can't Touch This" on the banjo.

I can tell you it went off the crowd went wild. George did a stunning job on backup vocals and percussion too
Sitting in Invers now, nibbling on some french toast, waiting for E. Hayes to open

[Night Falcon]

I can tell you it went off the crowd went wild. George did a stunning job on backup vocals and percussion too
Sitting in Invers now, nibbling on some french toast, waiting for E. Hayes to open

big banjo fan so bought one few months back. Learning the Ballard of Jed Clampett as my first numba - hard to get used to the high top string after playing guitar for 30yrs Banjos like the KLR of the instrument world - not fancy but still puts a smile on ya dial

[Box'a'bits]

big banjo fan so bought one few months back. Learning the Ballard of Jed Clampett as my first numba - hard to get used to the high top string after playing guitar for 30yrs Banjos like the KLR of the instrument world - not fancy but still puts a smile on ya dial

Better dial those pain meds back a notch...

[JATZ]

Crikey it really has been to long since I stuck some stuff in here. It's a crappy Sunday avo and the fires going so a good oportunity to get up to date I'll go back a couple of months to catch up
Easter this year was the first time on the bike since the trip North, other things (like fishin/yakking/biking) got in the way a bit
A quick trip through Molesworth before it shut for the season. I didn't leave home till mid day so it was a reasonably steady pace and I didn't take many pics.
I stopped briefly at this bridge,



I don't know what the fuss is about, it seemed to be working fine not that long ago Or maybe it's because of that day



I camped at the Acheron accom campsite that night. Next day I had to go into Hanmer and over the Lewis as the Rainbow was shut



The day after I got back I tried to take the G.W. for a ride up to Inwoods lookout, sadly, it didn't go according to plan The bike stopped in Wakefield A couple of calls and the cavalry arrived



Pic from Nordie

Turns out it was the stator again, so I loaded it onto the ute and dropped it off in Chch for repairs
A couple of weeks later I was here



Then onto one of these loser cruisers, Been years since I caught one



The ride home was good though
I've been meaning to have a look at this Kaiwara road for a long time.



The turn offs at the Hurunui river bridge. and it pops out at Culverden.
This little cottage is there



And this sign



George got all shy when I pulled the camera out



Nice view looking towards Culverdenish



Nice to get that one knocked off

[JATZ]

Fast forward to the other week...
I turned up for work on the Monday and the boss asked what I was doing there, he thought I was having some time off, be rude to disappoint I thought So I flicked Aslan/Oaters/Stephen a mssg to see if he wanted some extra company for the trip to the Brass, The reply was positive so I set about getting the bike ready with some bits that'd been sitting in the shed for a while.
All seemed in order, except for a test ride.... Up Takaka hill and out to Canaan. Always a good place to test things out.
Wouldn't want to get things messed up on the road to Canaan



Those rocks are pretty solid



I had a bit of a wander round when I got to the festival area



Playing with the settings on the camera



Was a nice day for a ride





Nothing broke, and everything held together as it should So off home to pack up and wait for the Thursday....

[JATZ]

Thursday morning rolled round eventually and I had a rendezvous in in Murch to make, kinda hard when the temp outside is low single digits and the G.W. has started the fire before heading out for the day
Nevermind, wrap up warm and head off All was good, temps were nudging zero but no ice, till I got over the Glenhope saddle and hit the fog
Got to Murch in good time and had a brew while waiting for my companions, who arrived right on time A quick chat and we set sail over the Maruia saddle.
Travelling along this trip were.... in order of appearance
Stephen



Jamie



and of course... George



Over the saddle, through the Westbank rd and down to Springs Junction, hang a right and head for Reefton The temp didn't seem to get any colder but we all felt chilled when we got to Reefton for some reason. A good excuse to stop and have some lunch



After warming up a bit we headed off for Lake Brunner and a along the Kumara Inchbonnie rd



Was a beautiful day



We detoured at Kumara and shot through the Goldsborough, I was looking for the little track from my last trip down there, but missed the turnoff Anyway... we got to Hokitika and had a beer at Stellas, and some interesting conversation before pushing on to the Birdsong backpackers for the night. Nice place a couple of bottles of red and some good company, Jamie was also introduced to the marvels of Kaweka food a good first day.

[Woodman]

More..............

[JATZ]

Next day was a fairly leisurely start as we sat in the sun with a couple from the previous night, soaking it up like lizards on a rock



If your in Hoki and need/want good coffee and food, give Stellas a try I wandered across the road and down to the beach



We eventually dragged ourselves away and headed south. The group got broken up at Franz when I stopped for gas which turned into another caffeine injection with Stephen while Jamie carried on. We got underway again, only stopping for a little walk to see the glacier at Fox. Always a good ride down the Coast We caught up with Jamie at Haast and decided to press on for Wanaka as the pass would be treacherous in the a.m.
I tried to get ahead to take some pics of the others coming through the Gates, but I obviously wasn't quick enough
This is about all I got



There was a bit of ice about



We made it to Makarora where it was starting to cool down a bit and decided to spend the night there, good decision IMHO Good food ( the Makarora burger was first class) warm digs and cold beer, what more could you need
Nice little chalets



Even have ones for the larger groups



And if anybody's passing through.... I think I left one of my socks there there is a reward as it was one of my favorites
One of these things is not like the others..... one of these things just isn't the same....



Heading out of Makarora



And down the side of Lake Hawea



Seriously... I couldn't stop grinning at this point what a way to start the day
To soon we arrived in Cromwell where Stephen led us to his favorite smoko stop when in town. Jamie and I wondered what the hell he was doing turning into a garden center, who knew it was theee place to go ? it was good
Pretty soon we were on our way to the rally site at Oturehua to set up camp and settle in. Parked a discrete distance away from the big fire



amongst some good people. Wandered around a bit and chatted to some other folks, wandered round some more and just hung out...
This thing was on display



The mascot on the screen may give a clue to the owner
Had tea and some informative conversation re the stars and waited for the fire to start, which it did



That is one impressive fire to warm yourself with



There was a damn good fireworks display



Then I sat around the little fire on the hill talking shit with other like minded souls, not a bad way to spend an evening, except for the fire having to be left to die for a bit as a helicopter was coming in to pick up someone who wasn't feeling to flash.