Trip Report and Statistics

I was away three weeks in total.  I rode 4184 kms and had five "rest" no riding days. My average fuel consumption was 23.51 kms per litre. The whole tour cost $394.63 for petrol.

I stayed with friends or at the campout six nights and camped only four nights (talk about slacker!) and stayed in accommodation five nights.

So all in all I have to say thank you so much to my friends for taking such great care of me...

Average per day total spend was just under $89 (incl petrol) per day.

AND a jolly good time was had indeed!

Across the road from Colombo

“Get home-itis”

I think I have to acknowledge this has been my problem for the last 2-3 days.

Now that the journey has a destination (home) I don't take pics etc

Plus my new dance shoes which arrived in Auckland Monday will hopefully be delivered soon pls pls!

Dunedin to Cheviot

A 9am to 5pm kinda day.

I'm so knackered and no photos either.

Cheviot is about 450kms from Dunedin. But I'll get on a 2.15pm sailing tomorrow and then hopefully beat the "strong in places" winds on Wednesday

Omaui

I've never seen such a thing. A monstrous diesel stove with my tiny expresso machine on top

Bluff

The weather is stunning and a bit of snoozing in the sun at Queen's Park and on-on to Bluff where much has changed in the five years since I was at this secret squirrel event.

Gore-Invercargill-Bluff

I head north back towards Gore and off heading back south down country roads. A real slice of "old" farming NZ. Paddocks with sheep and soft rolling hills of pasture. Waimumu-Ti Tipua-Dacre before taking the highway to Longville and onto Invercargill and Bluff.

Sun is shining again

The front has passed and although a little cold the sun is shining again.

So the road somewhat less travelled towards Invercargill calls for me to follow.

Mataura River

what a little gem

Mataura

This very bright and intelligent dog who is affectionate and friendly and gets very excited by motorcycles is called Luka. 

I could even get to be a dog person with pooches like this around.

Old and abandoned

Alexandra to Mataura

I risk taking a less travelled route just south of Roxburgh from Ettrick through Moa Flat, Heriot, Waikaka, Knapsdale and out to Gore... a beautiful scenic ride with nowhere much to stop and take pictures so it's just a lovely lovely ride and I guess you had to be there.

Alexandra and Mataura (past Gore) .

The weather is predicted to have a pookie cold front come through.

I am again fortunate to get a new tyre in Alexandra and after about an hour I'm on my way.

This clever creativity was outside the Mitre 10in Alexandra. I thought it very clever.

St Bathan’s (4)

I return to The Domain and find my rear tyre is almost tread-less and will need attention pronto.

Shortly two blokes on bikes arrive to camp and they had some helpful tips on what tyre I might get... thankyou HP for sending me some help.

The night sky here is filled with starlight and this night was superb because there was no moonlight. Well worth crawling out of the tent a couple of times to watch it all.

St Bathan’s (3)

I made a toast to M and a toast to myself to acknowledge that I'm severing the ties that bind me to these memories.

St Bathan’s (2)

It's not the same dog as previous visits but still a friendly dog at the Vulcan a Hotel

St Bathan’s (1)

I made camp with mixed feelings. M and I had camped here many times so after setting up I took the walking track to the pub and found it the most crowded I have ever seen about 15 people.

Leaving Dunedin

Florence Hill

Catlins and Coastal Route

It's some years since visiting this area. So this was one of the places I planned to visit this trip if weather was right.

Weather was right but it was blustery wind so I didn't stop much but enjoyed the ride. It's all sealed and of course more traffic.

Clearly HP thought my plans were hilarious and I got sent unpleasant breezes to keep me alert

The other wee problem is the pull-over areas are chunky gravel which is a bit treacherous for wusses like me travelling alone.
New

Invercargill

Having had a techno failure I spent sometime in Invercargill. Sounds idiotic but they have Harvey Norman and what's more they have a Jaycar... who'd've thought.. and between them I'm back on boogie street able to charge my devices whilst riding

Burning up fossil fuel

OMG I've done 2139 kms in 11 days and I didn't travel at all for two whole days whilst in Arthur's Pass

Price gouging at Makaroa Tourist Centre a whopping $2.38 per litre for 91. That's the highest price I've seen.

Lumsden

What a lovely campground. Lots of green grassy space and very friendly hosts.

Lordy I've ridden over 400kms today ... no wonder I'm tired ... cheese, salami and crackers and about a litre of Raro and a cup of tea and I'm off to bed

Queenstown is a zoo and best missed

But this little picnic spot as you head out towards Lumsden is a beauty

Back thru Haast Pass and the lakes to Wanaka.

The grass by the hotel was a nice sunny spot to sit and have the usual stuff for lunch before heading out through Cardrona the Crown Range to Queenstown.

It's still a very steep and tight descent in places and I'm probably not much improved with the bike handling

No photos as we've taken so many and the road was pretty busy with campers etc

Cromwell through the Gates of Haast up to Pleasant Flat

Couldn't resist heading north up towards Wanaka and on passed the beautiful lakes and then out to the West Coast just for fun. It's a gorgeous ride but there was quite a lot of traffic.

Pleasant Flat in 2016 was one picnic table that was it... today it's three picnic tables, water and three toilets and overnight camping... even a bus turned up to use the DoC facilities.