Featured Touring South Island Tour

Discussion in 'Rideouts, Trackdays, Touring & Spotted' started by Dartplayer, Sep 14, 2023.

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  1. Dartplayer

    Dartplayer Crème de la Crème

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    I needed to travel to Blenheim at the top of the South Island, for a National committee meeting, so decided to make a week of it to justify the ferry crossing expenses.
    After an offer to traverse the South Island with a fellow member did not fit my budget, I arranged to travel down Thursday and stay the first night, to reduce travel and timing the next day.:p
    Dinner and drinks followed the wet and foggy ride :eek:, making the first night a pleasure to start:party::cool:

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  2. Dartplayer

    Dartplayer Crème de la Crème

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    #2 Dartplayer, Sep 14, 2023
    Last edited: Sep 15, 2023
    After a a few whiskeys and good nights rest, we met up for fuel and the travel crew for the trip to Wellington and the Ferry crossing.
    Time was of the essence, so stops were limited to fuel and one quick refreshment closer to the destination.

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    Tauriko BP truck stop - Pyes Pa
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    Google image of desert road between
    Turangi and Waiouru
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    Waiouru BP (next to army camp) with
    National park in the background
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    Rat Hole bar - Rangatikae
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    Hot enough for outdoor seating
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    https://youtube.com/shorts/r2OxOfbKcIU?si=Q9UtDeTnVYzsIN9k
     
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  3. Dartplayer

    Dartplayer Crème de la Crème

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    #3 Dartplayer, Sep 14, 2023
    Last edited: Sep 15, 2023
    After a quick refreshment, we waiting for our rider partner, but he was running late, so we would meet at the ferry terminal :cool:
    5 patrol cars and a bad accident on the way to Bulls, had us tentatively progressing at speed. The ride was uneventful and we met the other riders awaiting the ferry.
    My travelling partner ride past on the wrong motorway and only just pulled in as we got boarding orderso_O. He ride ahead of us as we got ready to board :p. Talk about cutting it fine :laughing:.
    The crossing was flat and weather was beautiful :sun::party:

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    President regroup for ferry crossing
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    Crossing was dead flat
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    Rever ride statistics
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    https://youtube.com/shorts/c7nAZfWolyY?si=v8J_wis8Vcs66uDo
     
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  4. Dartplayer

    Dartplayer Crème de la Crème

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    #4 Dartplayer, Sep 14, 2023
    Last edited: Sep 15, 2023
    Ferry crossing done, it was time to find some food, so we looked around for a decent fish and chip shop. The usual Blue Cod favourite had new owners and was deserted, so we opted for Terakihi, chips and mussels. :heart_eyes: Portions were huge, so some tucked away for later and we headed to Blenheim for our accommodation in the dark o_O

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    Good bye North Island
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  5. Dartplayer

    Dartplayer Crème de la Crème

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    #5 Dartplayer, Sep 14, 2023
    Last edited: Sep 15, 2023
    Next morning was watch the All Black v France World Cup opener or ride to Kaikoura for breakfast. The warm bed won for the tired body :p and my riding partner set off.
    He broke down, much like the All Blacks, but managed to find a mechanic to weld the gear linkage rod. He text he was safe and on the way, so I prepared for our TRMCC meeting close by and got some supplies for the next leg of our trip.
    Great food before and after the meeting, but too much socialising :imp: meant a tough start for the next leg :dizzy:
    Top 10 holiday unit was cosy
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    RWC-France giving it to the All Black
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    JJ’s ill-fated ride had gorgeous views
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    Kaikoura (not Waiouru but similar temps)
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    Meeting preparation
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    Meeting room including lunch/dinner
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  6. Dartplayer

    Dartplayer Crème de la Crème

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    #6 Dartplayer, Sep 14, 2023
    Last edited: Sep 15, 2023
    We just managed to meet the pack riding south as they were leaving town, o_O after being late to the meeting point, thankfully we had gassed up :cool:. Great roads and ride leader made haste of the trip to meet up with the Canterbury chapter ride out.:party: We called from first meeting point to find they were lunching on the west coast, so headed to a nice tavern for lunch (and only tomatoe juice :worried:), before saying our goodbyes to the guys heading further south:cold_sweat:.
    I needed to pickup a back rest purchased from Road Boss in Christchurch before we headed back up to soak the bodies in the thermal pools and stop for the night.

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    Kaikoura BP with
    South Alpine ranges in the background
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    Amberley BP
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    Oxford West Tavern
    Lunch stop for Canterbury chapter ride
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    Great steak, eggs, and chips with
    Spiced Tomato juice
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    https://youtube.com/shorts/TQ1qRlFKWKU?si=gxhFTByzWiZBcWb4
     
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  7. Dartplayer

    Dartplayer Crème de la Crème

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    #7 Dartplayer, Sep 15, 2023
    Last edited: Sep 15, 2023
    After a good soak, meal and nights sleep, we woke to heavy rain and a difficult leg of our trip across Lewis Pass.:poop:
    Signs ranged from ice/grit, slow when wet, uneven surface.:scream:
    I had to stop to change wet gloves for some Gortex which helped. The other rider explained he had heated grips :eek: but I made it to the next stops cafe with a fire to dry my boots.

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    Murchison cafe
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    Fire inside allowed boots to dry and hands to warm. Great coffee too
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    Big Breakfast had smoky farm bacon
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    Nice to park in the dry and warmth of friends
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    https://youtube.com/shorts/MCLrV4KZsnw?si=TQ0jpYFcIIkXEVAR
     
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  8. Dartplayer

    Dartplayer Crème de la Crème

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    #8 Dartplayer, Sep 15, 2023
    Last edited: Sep 16, 2023
    Luckily the stop at Tasman was staying with friends, so we managed to hang leathers in the hot water cabinet and thermals inside on clothes hoists :cold_sweat: Using their garage I installed the backrest and changed the bags to east/west to fit (I found you can adjust up once home, making it much more comfortable :p).
    A great BBQ dinner and baked crumble desert made for a pleasant end to a trying day.:skull: An English breakfast, cooked by the host, set us off to the ferry to return to the North Island :party: Thankfully weather was clearer :sun:

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    New backrest
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    Waiting for the ferry
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    Tied up safe, now for refreshments
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    Good bye South Island
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    https://youtube.com/shorts/hOyo7Onp6eU?si=-sqJUemgnJK6_8b-
     
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  9. Markus

    Markus Crème de la Crème
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    Wow! What great impressions. I hope, you and your belongings are fully dry now. You had enough bad weather on your tour!;)
     
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  10. Dartplayer

    Dartplayer Crème de la Crème

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    #10 Dartplayer, Sep 15, 2023
    Last edited: Sep 16, 2023
    Thanks Marcus, yes my bag of washing done. It was only two wet days out of 7, but the day in the hills was heavy and cold :cold_sweat:. I had so much fun that they are just part of the trip now. Ride back story to come :sun::party:
     
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  11. Markus

    Markus Crème de la Crème
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    Have a safe and great trip back home!!!
     
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  12. Dartplayer

    Dartplayer Crème de la Crème

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    #12 Dartplayer, Sep 16, 2023
    Last edited: Sep 16, 2023
    Decision was made to stay in Palmerston North to break up the ride home. :pJJ nearly ran out of gas, but managed to get to Paraparaumu station on zero :scream:. Arrived in high winds and cold front, so found a hotel before heading for dinner.

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    Urgent Gas stop then off to Palmy
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    Garlic mussels and Steak Pot Pie :heart_eyes:
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  13. Dartplayer

    Dartplayer Crème de la Crème

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    #13 Dartplayer, Sep 16, 2023
    Last edited: Sep 16, 2023
    Early start to get home before dark. Gas up and off to Waiouru for gas before desert road crossing:skull:. Gas again at Turangi, before brunch stop at Taihape. Quick refreshment at Taupo, before parting ways in Tokoroa for trip home :heart:. Arrived with 0 miles left :scream:

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    Stormy Point lookout - Feilding
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    Brown Sugar cafe Taihape
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    Pub N Gub Taupo
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    httpsa://youtube.com/shorts/sI3Wqornwuw?si=Vde9kg6uO6ibTEPO
     
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  14. Dartplayer

    Dartplayer Crème de la Crème

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    Great trip with many lifelong memories and friendship forged by love of motorcycles and riding:cool:. Good to be home for pie :heart_eyes:

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  15. Eldon

    Eldon Elite Member

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  16. Dartplayer

    Dartplayer Crème de la Crème

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  17. andypandy

    andypandy Crème de la Crème

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    EPIC. The pie too. :yum
     
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  18. Sandi T

    Sandi T It's ride o'clock somewhere!
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    Any excuse to ride, eh, @Dartplayer! That's my kinda biker. ;):) And when you say fog, you aren't kidding! Just saw this thread and looking forward to spending the next while reading it this afternoon. :heart:

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  19. Dartplayer

    Dartplayer Crème de la Crème

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    I hope you enjoy as much as I did. Open to queries and critique :p
     
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  20. Sandi T

    Sandi T It's ride o'clock somewhere!
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    #20 Sandi T, Sep 18, 2023
    Last edited: Sep 19, 2023
    Thanks Eldon, great trip. Log not quite @Sandi T quality, but I tried to record some rides to give the countryside context :p[/QUOTE]

    I loved the quality of YOUR trip report, @Dartplayer! Thanks for sharing your adventure. The videos, photos, descriptions, and stories were great. For my desert blood, the weather looked a little grim, though. ;):joy: It's one thing to ride in the rain--and another altogether to ride in cold rain! Or so I hear. ;) The snow on the mountains was spectacular. And it must be wonderful to ride along or near water so much of the time. All the way around, I truly enjoyed reading your ride report! Thanks. :kissing_heart:
     
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