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We do not have far to go today to Christchurch, but the weather is supposed to turn to another Cyclone this afternoon.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4674/...6be0c079_b.jpgScreen Shot 2018-02-23 at 23.45.40 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr Despite this forecast that it would be nice until 3 pm it started to rain as we were packing up this morning. We only went about 15 minutes and we were ahead of the storm and the sun was shining. We then opted for the “Inland Scenic Route”. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4656/...6d60b582_b.jpgFILE2626 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4751/...564d4b43_b.jpgFILE2636 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr About half way today Dan’s 800 passed 250,000 km!!! This route happily also took us back a few km from Sheffield where they have the best pie shop on the south island! https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4784/...65e8702b_b.jpgNZ South Isand-224 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4782/...71cc67d8_b.jpgNZ South Isand-223 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4779/...cfd39899_b.jpgNZ South Isand-225 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
In Christchurch we were happy to find an relatively inexpensive airbnb in a house just 4 km from the motorcycle repair shop. A dodgy hotel here is easily 2-3 times the price.
We dropped the bikes at the shop and then walked the 4 km back stopping for supplies on the way to last out the storm. We will have a few things sorted. Some screws that have gone missing, the oil changed, the oil filter off the 650 (been on since Tblisi), the brake oil on the 650 filled as it was not done by the guys in Malaysia (at least 8 items down incorrectly or not at all so far), valves checked, and the timing chains replaced on both bikes. Phil Parrish is a mechanic well know here on the South Island and he has done the split link repair on an 800 before. On Dan’s 800 the chain was slipping when we had the valves supposedly checked and shimmed in Malaysia and the power is definitely lacking recently. We are afraid to have a major melt down when we are island hopping in Indonesia. In the end Dan’s chain had stretched a full link and was removed without needing to cut it. Sara’s was not skipping and was stretched maybe 1/2 a link. The valves were of course not done properly in Malaysia either! Though they are not off by that much and will last until we hit the USA in June. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4631/...0940c4e4_z.jpgIMG_0761 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4783/...d9620296_b.jpgNZ South Isand-228 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4772/...886f60e8_b.jpgNZ South Isand-227 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4779/...54f1969f_b.jpgNZ South Isand-226 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4784/...f8a36202_b.jpgNZ South Isand-229 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr We timed the service well to coincide with the predicted cyclone and though there was not much wind it did pour for the 2 days we were hold up here. Great time to get some work done and I finally got back at the blog posting. Dan also found a vinyl wrap shop to properly cover the Frankenscreen. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4721/...a7de2d23_b.jpgIMG_2212 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
The forecast is for some showers today and then 4-5 days of sunshine. We picked up the bikes and then headed out in some light showers to Hanmer Springs.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4610/...060bb792_b.jpgFILE2650 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr We noted on the road signs that the route to Picton on the highway 1 or Kaikoura road that just opened a month ago after 3 years is closed again after massive land slides. This means all the traffic must go on the 2 other paved roads or the Molesworth road. The sun was out soon enough and we had an easy 135 km. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4630/...282d9e01_z.jpgScreen Shot 2018-02-23 at 23.47.46 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr We stopped here for lunch and the couple next to us were riding as well, but are here from Greece. He leaned over to me and said “ This is a small world I saw you on an HU post yesterday from Mt Cook!” He and Dan are actually FB friends already! Very nice couple and we wish we had met them sooner. They are headed to St. Arnaud as well today, but on the paved road and they have to catch the ferry at Picton in the morning. |
After about 50 km we came across a narrow, but very deep steep edged ford and then 55 km in a very wide river to cross. BTW we have not seen another vehicle.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4777/...564c18ed_b.jpgNZ South Isand-232 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4772/...fbd4b1c6_b.jpgNZ South Isand-233 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4784/...8212a012_b.jpgNZ South Isand-234 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4794/...88d40f35_b.jpgNZ South Isand-235 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4784/...588ef6ce_b.jpg |
There is a large bridge crossing the main river. When we finally made it to the Rainbow Station road 2 km later and 30 km from St Arnaud the gate sign said road closed. So with nothing to loose we decided to go on a bit and see. What we found were a few medium fords and poorer road, and then a huge land slide blocking the road after another 3 km. Now you think somewhere in the last 75 km there would have been a sign to say the road was closed or the local I stopped to talk to on the way would have said something!!
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4658/...04e3a2ea_b.jpgFILE2734 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4669/...f2e713a8_b.jpgFILE2749 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4761/...05f30b48_b.jpgFILE2757 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4780/...877808a8_b.jpgNZ South Isand-239 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4781/...668a3aaa_b.jpgNZ South Isand-238 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
It is now 5 pm and we will turn back, but 5 km back there was an emergency shelter hut for hikers and we decided to stay here the night. So now to get turned around on the landslide and then back over the raging river (Dan had to ride Lulu of course). The small cabin has 6 bunks and the water from the stream nearby can be drunk after boiling. There is also a very clean long drop. It is a beautiful sunny day and there are few clouds. The last people to sign into the Intentions book were from Squamish BC!
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4670/...23150680_b.jpgFILE2759 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4780/...8c2e99a3_b.jpg https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4774/...9a167419_b.jpgNZ South Isand-240 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4777/...89dede20_b.jpgNZ South Isand-241 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4786/...48105cfa_b.jpgNZ South Isand-243 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4752/...bf13bfcd_b.jpgIMG_2223 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4768/...3281a156_b.jpgIMG_2220 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4771/...7323ca93_b.jpgNZ South Isand-252 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
We hope to get some good star shots tonight! About 930 we had a knock on the door and 2 fisherman and their land rover also decided to park for the night. They “kindly” woke us at 715 to see if we wanted hot water for coffee and ask us “do you have food?” We have food of course, but were glad of the hot water for coffee as it saved us heating it ourselves. Nice gentlemen!
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4795/...9441248b_b.jpg https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4795/...4b53aa1b_b.jpgNZ South Isand-249 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4775/...b1be30d8_b.jpgSedgemere Astro by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4780/...3e631ffa_b.jpgNZ South Isand-253 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
We set off back the 65 km to Hanmer with only the one deep and narrow ford. Luckily just as we arrived we could prevent a “kid” from getting his small car stuck here and blocking our exit as he was just about to go for it. We told him to turn back and he did. We made good time and at speed back to town for some fuel. So now we have to go all the way around.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4753/...1e8acbbe_b.jpgScreen Shot 2018-02-23 at 23.48.24 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4622/...2a96c41b_b.jpg https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4677/...679fa5d2_b.jpgFILE2789 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4756/...29c96673_b.jpgFILE2807 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4616/...d192381f_b.jpgFILE2818 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4712/...80245147_b.jpgFILE2837 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4708/...a14f563b_b.jpgFILE2848 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4794/...13d03955_b.jpgNZ South Isand-254 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr Jack’s Pass into Hanmer https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4767/...d9949e18_b.jpgFILE2890 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
We decided to take the Lewis pass to Reefton and then stop for lunch. Here instead of going directly to Westport we rode south to Greymouth and then north on the “Great Coast Road” to Westport.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4697/...3dd6d3d8_b.jpgScreen Shot 2018-02-23 at 23.48.56 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4749/...40236bb4_b.jpgFILE2906 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr On the way north you can see nice views of the rugged coastline and stop to visit the iconic Pancake rocks. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4743/...ce17b51e_b.jpg https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4698/...2d812998_b.jpgFILE2959 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4788/...68556d24_b.jpgNZ South Isand-255 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4665/...493db8e8_b.jpgFILE2935 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4659/...e5b5d443_b.jpgFILE2979 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4795/...07f16084_b.jpgNZ South Isand-256 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4795/...bf717845_b.jpgNZ South Isand-257 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4778/...25283d33_b.jpgNZ South Isand-259 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4784/...e4342c3b_b.jpgNZ South Isand-261 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4773/...3fea743b_b.jpgNZ South Isand-262 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4794/...2fba70ec_b.jpgNZ South Isand by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr We decided to stop in Westport as we had been chasing behind the last of the storm and it was raining the the last 30 min, and we were too tired to go on up the coast to Karamea. We arrived very cold and tired and stopped at the only hotel without a No Vacancy sign. They have a really good system in this town and others as it is often fully booked. One place each day takes the role of central bookings. She knows which bars and hotels in town have beds. She set us up 700m down the road in the Cosmopolitan Bar/hotel. Good hot shower and lots of plugs to charge everything we have. |
We will have to abandon the ride over the next few days we had planned up to Golden bay and Abel Tasman as there has been 15 landslides and the highway 60 is closed. It is raining lightly, but is supposed to be sunny today. The original plan was to ride up the coast to Karamea and then onto St Arnaud. We did a 50 km ride up the coast, but it was just “mianh”,but the sun was out now.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4653/...2b161f6d_b.jpg The rest of the plan today was to head thru the Bhueller gorge and then along the 6 to St Arnaud, but the town of Muchison 60 km closer is nicer we have heard and there is a great camp site on the river . We have a riverside site since we arrived at 2 pm. They have a swimming hole, lots of kitchens and lounge spaces, and bikes to borrow. We did borrow 2 and rode into town for a beer and dinner at the local bar. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4652/...fda9b69e_b.jpgFILE3006 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/810/2...c8c8045e_b.jpgIMG_2228 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4795/...a5344b93_b.jpg |
Today we are headed to the ferry town of Picton.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4750/...bcc8947c_z.jpgScreen Shot 2018-02-27 at 22.38.51 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr It was overcast in Murchison, but by the time we made it to St Arnaud it was sunny. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4801/...0af50c79_b.jpgFILE3023 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr We stopped in Blenheim for some lunch at Coupland’s bakery where the chocolate covered cream filled donuts were insane. Filled with a cup of real whip cream. We back tracked a bit on the road towards Nelson to get to the scenic Queen Charlotte Drive ( the road from there to Nelson is also closed). This may have been the best 40 km of tarmac we have had in NZ. It was curvy and smooth. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4723/...f5ddb256_z.jpgScreen Shot 2018-02-27 at 22.39.07 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4649/...7cc33f96_b.jpgFILE3031 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4772/...0ec4e581_b.jpgFILE3041 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4773/...ba3ded95_b.jpgFILE3056 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4778/...eedece11_b.jpgFILE3051 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4698/...95a29575_b.jpgFILE3061 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/821/4...3217d842_b.jpgNZ South Isand by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
Despite the beautiful day the forecast is for very heavy rain tomorrow and so we found a B&B not far from the ferry. They even had a garage downstairs for the bikes. We checked in and were getting cleaned up when there was a knock at the door. It was Roger Arnold from Papamoa! He had just arrived to Picton last night after a 4 day walk over the mountains with a group of 10 friends. He had checked our spot and saw we were headed to Picton and well, and luckily it fired at the B&B and he tracked us there! Such a small world and so great to have friends to hang out with today and on the ferry tomorrow.
Well as advertised it was build an arc pouring at 8 when we got up, but it had let up by at least 1/2 by 1015 when we rode to the ferry dock 800 m away. We did not have to wait long to board luckily. We loaded with Hugo a biker from Argentina, but there were about 12 Kiwi bikes already tied down. They at least have well chocks on the Inter-islander boats unlike the Bleubridge we took on the way over. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4776/...27510170_b.jpgFILE3071 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4750/...1ab062e8_b.jpgFILE3074 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr Ruth and Roger had saved us some prime seats, which was nice. It was all good until we left the protection of the fjord and then the boat really started rocking and there was a lot of sick people for the next 2 hours. Sara was pretty bad and had to sit in the hall near the centre of the boat until we got into Wellington harbour. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4668/...8b260a33_b.jpgScreen Shot 2018-02-27 at 22.39.36 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
It was barely raining now and we headed the 25 km to our buddy Mike’s house. He had the garage open and waiting for us. Dan’s 800 has shown a low charge a few times today WTF! We started with what was the issue one of the times the stator was killed by an overfilled oil system. You can not trust anyone clearly as the guys in Christchurch overfilled both bikes by almost 300 cc!!! Well we had to siphon that off and seems to have fixed the stress on the bike! We shall see…..
For our day here with Mike he has planned a ride out on the Moonshine Hill road and then over the Akatarawa pass to Waikanae. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4752/...83d53ca2_b.jpgScreen Shot 2018-02-27 at 22.43.42 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr We started out from his place and quickly onto the narrow lane that is the Moonshine Hill road. You have to be careful of the locals who drive at speed and often on your side of the road. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4793/...3640b0d0_b.jpg https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4759/...c2bc4fe8_b.jpgFILE3125 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4696/...9f8d2206_b.jpgFILE3124 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr We then made for the Akatarawa road , but found that it was closed yesterday just 1 km from the summit, so we did an up and back. We then made it around to the lookout by the back way. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4713/...f8ac840f_b.jpgFILE3199 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4774/...3dbecbc5_b.jpgNZ North Isand-2 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4779/...62a41ff9_b.jpgNZ North Isand by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
We woke to drizzle and fog, but the forecast north is better.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4796/...d7aedee4_z.jpgScreen Shot 2018-02-28 at 20.06.17 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4608/...50045784_b.jpgFILE3205 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr We have to endure the ride on the #1 as far as Turakina. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4787/...0352b9f9_b.jpgFILE3210 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
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