Member Contributer Dutchy Posted January 19, 2017 Member Contributer Share Posted January 19, 2017 Magic! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer Skids Posted January 29, 2017 Author Member Contributer Share Posted January 29, 2017 So, less than a week until we depart for Singapore and then Christchurch. I’ve completed all the sat nav routes and transferred them onto the netbook and the TomTom. The bike doesn’t come with a sat nav or mount so I’m taking my own plus a power socket and they’ll be fitted when we go to collect the bike. You might think that we’re being very rigid with our planning, and perhaps we are (we’ve booked a place to stay every night) but we have flexibility to stop where we want and we can cancel many/most of the motels/b&b at short notice should we decide to. The long range weather forecast, unreliable though it is beyond 3 days, looks pretty decent with lots of >20 deg C days and I’m confident we have the kit to cope. 2 huge bags are awaiting our kit to be packed; Wendy has had a practice pack for the first, 12-day part of our trip and is happy she can get enough kit into my Honda panniers. Luckily, the bike we’re renting has larger Givi panniers so shouldn’t be an issue. Itinerary hasn’t changed significantly, unless we have to do the inland route to Kaikoura because they’ve still not managed to open the northern coast road into Kaikoura, but it’s only an extra few hours on the bike so it’s not an issue. Have NZ $ and Sing $, and we are steadfastly ignoring the exchange rate (thanks Brexit!!!). Afternoon Tea is booked at Raffles in Singapore, followed by one or two Singapore Gin Slings in the bar afterwards too! Getting really excited now! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer Woodie Posted January 30, 2017 Member Contributer Share Posted January 30, 2017 14 hours ago, Skids said: So, less than a week until we depart for Singapore and then Christchurch. I’ve completed all the sat nav routes and transferred them onto the netbook and the TomTom. The bike doesn’t come with a sat nav or mount so I’m taking my own plus a power socket and they’ll be fitted when we go to collect the bike. Good grief Gareth, what have you done to the font. my eyes hurt trying to read it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auspanglish Posted January 30, 2017 Share Posted January 30, 2017 You could always print stuff out on arrival. Niu Zihland does have the odd Commodore 64 with (black and white) printers. Watch out for the Nazgul if you're eating outdoors. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer Skids Posted January 30, 2017 Author Member Contributer Share Posted January 30, 2017 3 hours ago, Woodie said: Good grief Gareth, what have you done to the font. my eyes hurt trying to read it. It worked then! Actually, I dunno but probably copying it from Word didn't help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matty231 Posted January 31, 2017 Share Posted January 31, 2017 16 hours ago, Skids said: It worked then! Actually, I dunno but probably copying it from Word didn't help. Hope you have a good trip... I'm from Auckland and the weather has been great over the past few days, usually it stays nice towards late Summer :) Just took a look at the VFR New Zealand website - awesome! I'd be booking them if i wasn't already in NZ :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer Terry Posted January 31, 2017 Member Contributer Share Posted January 31, 2017 Oh yes! Great weather here (finally!) so hopefully your timing will be good. From last weekend:Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer Skids Posted January 31, 2017 Author Member Contributer Share Posted January 31, 2017 Sweeeet guys, thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer St. Stephen Posted February 1, 2017 Member Contributer Share Posted February 1, 2017 Hey, hope you and Ms. Skids have a great time! Ride well and eat well. And watch out for... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer Skids Posted February 4, 2017 Author Member Contributer Share Posted February 4, 2017 Taxi to the airport arrives in a little while (after the 6-Nations England vs France rugby match) then it's 24 hours to Tulsa Christchurch. I'll try to post the odd pic & update but will probably do majority when we're back in March. Cheers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auspanglish Posted February 6, 2017 Share Posted February 6, 2017 Bon voyage ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer Skids Posted February 8, 2017 Author Member Contributer Share Posted February 8, 2017 Collected the VFR today....they gave us a 2001 800Fi with just over 40k km on the clock. Runs really well, light clutch, new rear tyre and voluminous luggage. Took her out around the Banks Peninsula east of Christchurch for a shakedown plus a trip out on a boat from Akaroa to see dolphins/seals/penguins too. The area reminds me a lot of Scotland (on a rare sunny day), with seemingly never-ending bends! Fantastic day, can't wait for the run up to Mt Cook tomorrow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer Terry Posted February 8, 2017 Member Contributer Share Posted February 8, 2017 Collected the VFR today....they gave us a 2001 800Fi with just over 40k km on the clock. Runs really well, light clutch, new rear tyre and voluminous luggage. Took her out around the Banks Peninsula east of Christchurch for a shakedown plus a trip out on a boat from Akaroa to see dolphins/seals/penguins too. The area reminds me a lot of Scotland (on a rare sunny day), with seemingly never-ending bends! Fantastic day, can't wait for the run up to Mt Cook tomorrow. Welcome to my time zone Skids! Enjoy!Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keny Posted February 8, 2017 Share Posted February 8, 2017 Have a blast! I wish I will be back to NZ one more time, better on 2 wheels as well! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer Woodie Posted February 8, 2017 Member Contributer Share Posted February 8, 2017 Ha Ha.. you beat me to it.. I was going to say that looks like Scotland. reminds me of the road from Tyndrum to the Black Lakes. Have Fun.. looks like you've got the right bike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer Terry Posted February 8, 2017 Member Contributer Share Posted February 8, 2017 Ha Ha.. you beat me to it.. I was going to say that looks like Scotland. reminds me of the road from Tyndrum to the Black Lakes Yes it is just the same, but without the roaming herds of wild haggis!Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer Skids Posted February 9, 2017 Author Member Contributer Share Posted February 9, 2017 Nah, it is reminiscent of Scotland (and Wales....and the US/Canada) but not really any of them. Anyhoo.... We ran out of superlatives today. Lost count of the number of times one of us said "wow". Truly, this is a land of wondrous landscapes, on a scale I'm not used to, comparable with parts of the US/Canada in scale and crammed full of wondrous sights. West out of Christchurch, to Windwhistle, coffee stop at Staveley, Geraldine, Fairlie, onto the Mount John Observatory then along the shores of Lake Pukaki to the base of Mount Cook and back to our digs in Twizel. 273 miles took us from 9am to 5.30pm; 60mph limit was pleasant on those roads and we had a few stops. Bike ran really well and we're both knackered! South to Dunedin tomorrow! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer Skids Posted February 12, 2017 Author Member Contributer Share Posted February 12, 2017 Not quite the southern-most point of the South Island mainland (that's up a dirt track I don't want to take the VFR up), but the furthest south I've ever been or will likely be again! Nice breakfast at Kaka Point. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer Skids Posted February 14, 2017 Author Member Contributer Share Posted February 14, 2017 A day off the bike today so we took a cruise up Doubtful Sound. Stunning scenery. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer Skids Posted February 19, 2017 Author Member Contributer Share Posted February 19, 2017 Having a weekend off at some friends of Mrs Skids' in Rangiora, west of Christchurch. They used to live a couple of doors down from us but emigrated here about 11 years ago. So far we've been very lucky with the weather which has improved as we moved north and west. Not that it has been bad, just an occasional shower, cool first thing in the mornings but warming up nicely into the 20s by afternoon. The sun is really hot when it's out though. The roads are quite a mix, mostly all very good and when it does get twisty, they are superb. Combine that with ever-changing spectacular scenery and you get a quite magical riding experience. Minimal traffic (1 car every 20 minutes or so), polite drivers who are at pains to move out of your way, grippy tarmac except for the inevitable roadworks....it's a biking paradise. Gave ourselves a coupe of treats whilst in Queenstown: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer Woodie Posted February 20, 2017 Member Contributer Share Posted February 20, 2017 On 19/02/2017 at 4:36 AM, Skids said: Gave ourselves a coupe of treats whilst in Queenstown Did you kick the driver out and ask if you could have a go ! ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer Dutchy Posted February 20, 2017 Member Contributer Share Posted February 20, 2017 Good to read yous are having such a great time!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer Skids Posted February 23, 2017 Author Member Contributer Share Posted February 23, 2017 You just gotta love New Zealand! The helmet hides a big smile. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer Terry Posted February 23, 2017 Member Contributer Share Posted February 23, 2017 Have I mentioned that I've never worn out the centre of a tyre? Glad you're having fun Skids. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer Skids Posted February 23, 2017 Author Member Contributer Share Posted February 23, 2017 10 hours ago, Terry said: Have I mentioned that I've never worn out the centre of a tyre? Glad you're having fun Skids. You are a very, very lucky man. This country is fantastic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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