krusti... South Island jaunt

[Krusti]

My son has decided he is going to become a South Islander. He had 3 job interviews, one at Culverden and two at Geraldine. Dairy farm assistant managers positions.

He wanted me to go down with him as a second opinion and guide! We thought of fly driving then decided that we had bikes and should make a quick road trip out of it.

Day 1
Sunday morning we left Rotorua aiming to run straight down SH1 to Wellington. All well till we hit the rain south of Taupo. Got to Turangi and what do you know Desert Rd closed due to the Mountain spewing it's guts. No worries, head down through National Park . Arrived at Ohakune, road closed that way as well! No other option but to head down through Wanganui.

Luckily for us the rain cleared just as we got through Raetihi. We overtook what seemed like 100 cars on the way down through Highway 4. At least it was dry.

Arrived in Wellington late in the day to stay at my sisters for the night.

Day 2
Got up early ready for the ferry. Left at the time advised by my brother in law and what do you know, rush hour traffic! Arrive at the ferry half an hour after check in. Us country folk are not used to this much stress.

After an uneventful crossing there was enough time for a coffee and chat to a guy on his ST1300 who was heading back across the Straight before we headed to Culverden for Josh's first interview/ farm visit. You have to love that road down through Seddon and all the way to Kaikoura. We had a ball.

Not overly impressed with the job we headed to Christchurch and found a motel for the night.

Day 3
Up early and off down to Geraldine. BORING and straight. Spent most of the day looking at a couple of farms. Seeing as the farm owner wanted Josh to meet the manager the next day we rode back up to Ashburton for the night.

Day 4
Spent the morning back down at Geraldine and after what seemed like a very promising interview Josh and I decided to head back to Christchurch and get a couple of new tyres, a front for him and a rear for me.

Eventually found the bike shops on Manchester street. Walked into the Honda shop and were told by a not so personable man that they did not sell tyres and that we should go up the road th Cycletreads.

What a difference, friendly prompt service, a coffee and a few jokes to boot. I don't know how you guys find them but to us ...a big ups to Cycletreads, Christchurch. Thanks guys!

Had a chat with a young Salesman across the road at the Suzuki shop. Another friendly chap.

With our new tyres and feeling a little buggered we headed out of town and found a motel at SH 73/SH1 intersection. After unpacking we were feeling quite hungry so I asked the motelier how far it was to the nearest Burger King. Just a couple of blocks up the road. We decided to walk. To you folks down there you probably know that from the SH73 intersection Burger King is probably more like a couple of k's! Never mind. Walk we did.

To be cont....

pics...

This is what I call irrigation

The crossing

[far queue]

Day 3
Up early and off down to Geraldine. BORING and straight.

It is if you take SHWY 1, try SHWY 72 next time - much better.

Day 4
Eventually found the bike shops on Merchant street.

That would be Manchester St

Walked into the Honda shop and were told by a not so personable man that they did not sell tyres and that we should go up the road th Cycletreads.

That would be Casbolts - sounds about right for service there.

What a difference, friendly prompt service, a coffee and a few jokes to boot. I don't know how you guys find them but to us ...a big ups to Cycletreads, Christchurch. Thanks guys!

That sounds about right too.

This is what I call irrigation

Ahh, one of the small sprinklers

Can't wait for part 2 I hope you stayed for a bit and had a look around

[emaN]

Sweet bro, good to hear how you getting on!

[Krusti]

Day 5
We decided that due to the lousy forcast for the west coast on Wednesday we would head across Arthur's Pass on Thursday. The plan..Arthurs Pass, Greymouth, Lewis Pass, Kaikoura.

We headed out along SH73 at 8-30am and across Arthurs Pass. This was my second time across Arthur's although last time I had come across from the West coast, two up. We had a ball with a dry road and lightish traffic.

A stop at the lookout and a couple of pics of Kea ripping into cars was the only stop. Surprisingly the most fun was had between Jacksons and Kumara. Always wary of the fact that the last time through Jacksons I was pinged with 50 demerits and a $640 fine! This was the 2 year anniversary and now the demerits have gone.

A fuel/pie stop at Greymouth and we headed off to Blackball. This was another of those places I had said I had to go and we stopped for a burger, t-shirt and pics.

We carried on from Blackball not crossing the Grey till Ikamatua. Apart from the Buller Gorge this next piece of road would have to rank as the most fun I have had with my motorcycle pants on. Having said that I have yet to ride the bottom half of the South Island so this may change one day.

The road surface was still a little damp through the forest but once we left Springs Junction it all changed. The road surface with it's amazing grip and fast sweepers made for one hell of a ride. Although we had been advised by the nice man at Cycle Treads that I did not need an 014 in the South Islands I was glad I had it.

Stopped in at Hamner Springs for coffee and fuel then headed off and up through Mt Lyford for the second time this trip. This is the only piece of road on the whole trip where the Zed even looked like letting go. Those tight corregated corners don't help do they? I was quite proud of myself as Josh said he was sure he saw the belly pan scrap! Who's ya Daddy? Arrived Kaikoura 4-30pm.

Spent the night at Kaikoura with the required crayfish dinner and seal colony viewing. Two seals, what a colony!

We were booked on the 5-30pm ferry crossing the next day so a sleep in was in order.

Day 6
We headed off mid morning for Picton. I love the run up the coast but the surface is a little smooth in places for my liking. Up through Seddon and away we go again, I love this piece of road.

One thing I have noticed though is that the detecter can not be relied on here as much as in the North Island as the boys in blue and yellow down here use their radar units way more sparingly. Eyes need to be trusted more!

Just as well we don't speed!

Arrived in Picton to hear the phone ringing with the news that the Ferry had broken down and we needed to re book on either the 2-30pm or 10-30pm crossing.

A quick kiwi all day breakfast at the Dog & Frog Cafe and we were parked in line chatting to fellow riders waiting for the 2-30 crossing.

Josh was missing his girlfriend and I felt the need to get home to meon3 so we decided to make the run straight up the middle from Wellington to Rotorua/Tokoroa. We didn't bank on taking over an hour to get to Waikanae though. I feel for you Wellington guys and couldn't wait to get out of there.

Home at 11-30pm with a sore bum and well over 2500km on the clock. A good ride.

pics..

Any one in there?

Formerly The Blackball Hilton

Goodbye

[xknuts]

Father & Son, what a great combination. And still friends too! Well done, I'm jealous

[Krusti]

Father & Son, what a great combination. And still friends too! Well done, I'm jealous

Turns out he got the job he wanted so come June 1 he will be shifting down Geraldine way. Will miss my riding buddy but hey he's doing what he wants. Mother has had a few melt downs!

Farm is right at the Rangitata river mouth!

I always say ...Our kids have turned out OK despite thier parents.

[kneescraper]

Awesome mate, just awesome. I envy your son for having such a awesome bike at such a young age. All the best to the young fulla...great to see you two are so close. Bring on more pics.........if you have any more that is!

PS, I hope all the BS with the repo man works out for you both mate.

[Krusti]

A couple more...

[kneescraper]

Awesome photos mate, you son sure makes a TL1000r look small.. Thanks for sharing!

[xknuts]

Turns out he got the job he wanted so come June 1 he will be shifting down Geraldine way. Will miss my riding buddy but hey he's doing what he wants. Mother has had a few melt downs!

Farm is right at the Rangitata river mouth!

I always say ...Our kids have turned out OK despite thier parents.

Get him on line asap so he can communicate and ride with the friendliest bunch of bikers he'll ever find.

[yod]

cant wait to get back to the south....been stuck in the norht island for almost 15 years now and i still reckon the best ride ive done is chch to nelson via highway 7, then 65, then 6....awesome bit of road...and countryside

the inland route from culverden to kaikoura is a ripper aye!! the way you went that takes you passed the mt lyford gate (largest log building in the southern hemisphere, that lodge) has only been sealed throught the middle section for the last 5-6 years(ish) but if you had kept going at waiau onto the leader road, it comes back out on highway one around about parnassus (i think?), thats also a great ride....AND you get to go over the hundalees....always fun

[Krusti]

Yeah had a few scary moments on that road. Some very tight corners with ripples in them. Cranked over, judder, slip, woopsy!

I could happily shift to the South Island. .. Did I say that out loud?

Will have to do a few trips down in the winter then see if I feel the same.

[onearmedbandit]

Sounds like a great adventure.

Casbolts Honda - I`m suprised they even pointed you in the right direction. They must`ve sent their staff on a PR course.

Cycletreads - Some of the best service intown

Sportzone Suzuki - Again, class leading service.

[Krusti]

Sounds like a great adventure.

Casbolts Honda - I`m suprised they even pointed you in the right direction. They must`ve sent their staff on a PR course.

Cycletreads - Some of the best service intown

Sportzone Suzuki - Again, class leading service.

Really interesting when you are an out of towner going somewhere for the first time.

Cycletreads....Cheap, coffee, smile, joke, fast service. A real business.

Casbolts... We were both dumbstruck. How you can have a profitable business with that kind of grumpy service is beyond me.

[onearmedbandit]

Only Honda dealership in town, which Graeme Casbolt will be all too happy to tell you if you give him half a chance. I know, I worked there...

I know of people that either won`t buy Honda, or go to Rangiora or Ashburton Honda for their business.