Oh yes you do.....having announced your adventures on here it is poor form not to keep us entertained and informed with your write up. Besides, I need summit to read with my morning coffee in camp here in Alice ok.
So let's start at the beginning. Early in 2018 @Sfcootz was encouraged to come and visit NZ when I offered her the use of Red. The discussion went on for a bit then she committed. She came in March and rode it for ten days before dropping it off () back home. Towards the end of 2018, I dropped a post on the WARPED thread in the regional forums that I was thinking of attending WARPED as many of my imaginary advbiker friends were going to attend and this would be a great way to meet with. @Sfcootz not only offered me the use of one of her bikes, she also offered to put me up pre and post the event. So with that offered made I rapidly decided to taker her up on it. April came and we headed off. But before we did, just to complicate matters MrsKiwi decided we would attend the we are one concert in Christchurch the week leading up to me heading away. Damn I was going to be awy from work longer than I intended to be. MrsKiwi suggested we ride down. That woman knows my weak points so bookings were made and we headed down to Chch.
The South Island ride was partially reported on a couple of pages back, but here are some more pics. The route we chose was to Kiakoura the first night, then Christchurch, taking the coastal route from Picton to Christchurch. once at Christchurch we decided to extend our trip by one day so we could head through Arthur's Pass to Greymouth then head up the West Coast to look at the pancake rocks then head up the Buller Gorge to Murchison. We stayed the night in a lodge, all to our selves there. While a more expensive it was not overly and it was very nice. They gave us an excellent breakfast before we jumped on the bike to head to Picton and home. Giving me one day to wash my clothes and head to the airport on the Sunday to San Francisco. South Island pics Blenheim - cafe stop On the way down the coast before Kiakoura Some of the road works along the way rebuilding the road after the Nov 2016 massive earthquake. MrsKiwi catches a bird in flight as we ride along more road works We stayed at a model near a great pub that has fantastic seafood for the night. We woke to this view, promises of another day's great riding. Mrskiwi getting ready and familiarizing herself with the camera. She was going to try and take some photos on the fly as we were riding. Took a little practice then she seemed to get the hang of it. Consequently I have hundreds of photos whereas I normally would only have a few. We stopped off for a quick look at Fyffe House Some more coastal and riding pics I had to stop so MrsKiwi could get up close with a seal We stayed the night with friends in Christchurch, attended the 'We Are One' concert and had a great time. The next day dawned crisp and fine.
I will let the pics do the talking as we ride to Arthur's Pass for lunch. Cars about to be passed... and now passed them... This is a fabulous bit of road to ride At last lunch and a advrider.com check-in
The route down Aurther's Pass is just as twisty and a nice ride. We got caught behind some large trucks crawling down the step hill for a bit, then some crazy toursit drivers going fast then slow to take a pic (almost stopping in the middle of the road ) then speed up again. Got pas those twats eventually. Again letting the pics do the talking, and I have not corrected for angle on some fo these as it gives the sense of riding... The unstableness of this young main-divide that runs the length of the Southern Alps is plain to see At this point the speed was so slow we were almost falling off the bike! Lake Brunner Pancake Rocks Can you see the heads (faces)?
As mentioned this was my ride for the time I had there I arrived on Sunday 21 April, leaving Auckland around 8pm at night to arrive in San Francisco at about 2pm, some six hours before I left. This date line stuff screws with your head! Cootz had to work Monday and Tuesday (they don't get Easter Friday or Easter Monday off over there) so I spent the Monday working as if I was in my office back home. Good WiFi and a solid VPN and all is good. I finished a submission on the Government's proposed Rule to mandate ABS brakes on motorcycles and felt much better I now had that one completed. Tuesday Jeff came in the evening (@JStory) as the three of us would ride to WARPED the next day. I bought some beer and donuts and we settled in early for drinks and chatting until Cootz arrived back from work later that night. We said hello to each other. He's a brother from another mother We packed up, Cootz was a little behind our schedule. We left and two minutes down the road Cootz realised she had left from stuff behind so we waited while she darted back and got her stuff. First stop, Alice's restaurant. Not sure who that twat is photo bombing the pic! Then we headed away along a series of roads that I had no idea of where I was. I just tagged along for the ride. Eventually getting to Kernville in time to set up the tent in daylight. Somewhat of an unusual event for Cootz, who traditionally arrives in the dark! Before too long the fire is going and tall stories flow along with drinks. The next morning it was coffee to get the system going. @Gerg's tent, very nice @LadyDraco had sent a care package. It arrived. For me, I was not used the dryness. Very low humidity with no dew at all while I was there. Some nice hacks @Shunka's bike The day passed quietly away and then in the evening @Rapid_Roy invited me to join him and @Blue Mule plus others for dinner. Thanks Roy for buying the food, I really enjoyed it. A friend of the Mule's cooked dinner. It was fabulous. James in his element, like we like The end product, I might as well been at a restaurant it was so good I was not the only one enjoying it, @Gerg and @JStory tucking in and the Mule waving to us The festivities soon got into the swing of things with @Number8teen making herself comfortable The night roared into life and I attempted to empty a bottle of Gin while others passed beverages of various kinds around @bluestar enjoying the evening The next morning it was very slow But coffee soon got us into a semi tepid form of existence. Meet the person in charge But soon @Gerg, @CVAN (with the loudest and best laugh around) and @Shooby we went for a ride. I had no idea where we went but @Gerg led the way and I had fun. Looking towards Lake Isabella and our camping area up the valley. @Rapid_Roy invited me to dinner again, thanks Roy. James cooked again, yum. Another evening of tall stories and whiskey drinking. My large bottle of gin was still not empty We found a hiding place for @Team Vegas 's bright orange shoes It was a real pleasure to meat up with the Mule. He was one of several people I was looking forward to meeting. Yes the imaginary internet friends are real. Hello...
Later that day, @Blue Mule , @Number8teen, James (@tenner) and I went to visit the giants. Some pics fo the drive up and our walk around Just a small tree This tree got nicknamed the vagina tree, can't see why myself? An old log that fell down 200 years ago A fine looking specimen, the cone looks good too... A recent blow down A Mule being a Mule There's that twat again bombing an otherwise perfectly good picture.
I have no pictures of riding back, I was doing my best to keep up with @Sfcootz as we zipped along an array of back roads before hitting the slab back to San Francisco. My collection of WARPED sillipints Some local architecture that caught my eye That fella @Shunka is everywhere THE END
It was nice to meet you Mr Kiwi, an I believe Dan and/or Jim bought the steaks, Nicole bought the chicken breasts, and I just got breakfast Saturday, Scotch and snacks. I was , however, thinking of you for the invitations, as we are about the same age. I can't speak for you, but I sure as heck don't mind eating at the rally after a day of riding and I am tired. I figured you wouldn't also.
you haven't seen the half of it, I didn't post some of the more, ahhhh, funny pics for fear of incriminating those there . They are a good bunch just have a thick skin . But if want to check out the WARPED thread go here... https://advrider.com/f/threads/warped-xv-april-25th-28th-2019.1350368/ Start at about page 98 for posts on the event, the rest is lead up banter ...
