11th February 2017
I sleep well (aided, I'm sure, by the six pack of Amstel
) and initially wake up at about 0600. Peering outside, it's a bright morning, so I close the curtains and have another hour and a half.
Dragging myself out of bed, I shower and shave and then start packing the bike. It has rained overnight, but the sky is now high broken cloud and the temperature is in the high 60s F.
I set off at about 0930, heading into town initially to find some fuel, as I didn't pass anywhere yesterday afternoon. I fill up and then turn around and set off on the scenic coastal route to Dunedin, where I have booked a room this evening. This will not be a long day, so I am happy to divert as necessary en route...
Liquor stores, like the one I visited yesterday evening, seem to be wholly aimed at selling alcohol, rather than the more general store where you can buy food and other stuff that has become the typical model for the UK.
They say that New Zealand is like the UK 30-odd years ago. I don't actually subscribe to this idea, although, when did you last see a video rental shop?
I'm soon out on good, well surfaced roads, with little traffic...
Perfect conditions to get nicked for speeding again
- so I keep a close eye on my speed...
There are sheep everywhere...
I reach the south coast - it reminds me of the north Norfolk coast, where we have similar wetlands and marshes...
I stop at a one-stop shop: café; information centre; filling station...
The "Big Breakfast" on the menu was not misleading...
After time to let my skin stretch a little, I kit back up and set off along the tourist loop which follows the coast more closely than the one Bettie has chosen. This new route will involve a few miles on gravel...
...but the road's well maintained, so doesn't slow me up much.
I turn right towards Wipapā Lighthouse...
...where a sign gives good advice on what to do if the ground wobbles, or the sea appears to be doing something unusual. Since the advice is to go to high ground - and there's none in sight - I guess we'll all drown if the worst happens...
It's a lovely spot, though...
Onward!
I'm soon back on gravel - wondering why this is a crash zone - there's nothing to suggest it might be...
The tide is low and there are mostly mudflats to my right...
The road follows the bay...
Eventually I rejoin the main Dunedin road and enter an area surrounded by tropical plants...
...which soon changes to a normal sweeping road through farming country - I could almost be in the Cotswolds...
The road meets the coast again and I stop to take the air at Tautuku Beach...
It is now a beautiful ride, through long sweeping bends, with the ocean to my right...
A bridge on the main road is out, so I follow the detour down some gravel roads...
The detour adds about 10 miles to the route...
...and deposits me back on the Dunedin road about four miles from the bridge...
It's clouding over a bit, but the temperature is still comfortable...
I decide to stop for a coffee and a sandwich in The Lumberjack Cafe...
It takes them over 15 minutes to produce a very ordinary sandwich and equally impressive coffee...
Hey-ho.
When's the last time you saw one of these?
It's in shite order, but I can't remember when I last saw a MkIII Cortina on the road on the UK...
Judging by the cobwebs all over the grill, it doesn't seem like it's in daily use...
Teapotland. Nuff said...
I'm soon back on the open road - keeping my speed to a modest 104kph...
As I arrive in the pleasant little town of Balclutha...
...I spot this perfectly preserved old gent in the Ford showroom...
...I should think it's the manager's pride and joy...
I liked Balclutha - it was busy and had a great looking high street...
...and a fantastic bridge on the way out...
On the way in to Waihola, they are quite blunt...
...OK...
Well, that's jolly cheerful...
His and her Impalas...
Back out on the main road, I pass this old estate - unfortunately I was unable to get a shot of the front - any guesses?
In no time, it seems, I am entering Dunedin...
...where I check in to my beautiful apartment...
...with complimentary milk and beer in the fridge...
A good day...
I sleep well (aided, I'm sure, by the six pack of Amstel
Dragging myself out of bed, I shower and shave and then start packing the bike. It has rained overnight, but the sky is now high broken cloud and the temperature is in the high 60s F.
I set off at about 0930, heading into town initially to find some fuel, as I didn't pass anywhere yesterday afternoon. I fill up and then turn around and set off on the scenic coastal route to Dunedin, where I have booked a room this evening. This will not be a long day, so I am happy to divert as necessary en route...
Liquor stores, like the one I visited yesterday evening, seem to be wholly aimed at selling alcohol, rather than the more general store where you can buy food and other stuff that has become the typical model for the UK.
They say that New Zealand is like the UK 30-odd years ago. I don't actually subscribe to this idea, although, when did you last see a video rental shop?
I'm soon out on good, well surfaced roads, with little traffic...
Perfect conditions to get nicked for speeding again
There are sheep everywhere...
I reach the south coast - it reminds me of the north Norfolk coast, where we have similar wetlands and marshes...
I stop at a one-stop shop: café; information centre; filling station...
The "Big Breakfast" on the menu was not misleading...
After time to let my skin stretch a little, I kit back up and set off along the tourist loop which follows the coast more closely than the one Bettie has chosen. This new route will involve a few miles on gravel...
...but the road's well maintained, so doesn't slow me up much.
I turn right towards Wipapā Lighthouse...
...where a sign gives good advice on what to do if the ground wobbles, or the sea appears to be doing something unusual. Since the advice is to go to high ground - and there's none in sight - I guess we'll all drown if the worst happens...
It's a lovely spot, though...
Onward!
I'm soon back on gravel - wondering why this is a crash zone - there's nothing to suggest it might be...
The tide is low and there are mostly mudflats to my right...
The road follows the bay...
Eventually I rejoin the main Dunedin road and enter an area surrounded by tropical plants...
...which soon changes to a normal sweeping road through farming country - I could almost be in the Cotswolds...
The road meets the coast again and I stop to take the air at Tautuku Beach...
It is now a beautiful ride, through long sweeping bends, with the ocean to my right...
A bridge on the main road is out, so I follow the detour down some gravel roads...
The detour adds about 10 miles to the route...
...and deposits me back on the Dunedin road about four miles from the bridge...
It's clouding over a bit, but the temperature is still comfortable...
I decide to stop for a coffee and a sandwich in The Lumberjack Cafe...
It takes them over 15 minutes to produce a very ordinary sandwich and equally impressive coffee...
Hey-ho.
When's the last time you saw one of these?
It's in shite order, but I can't remember when I last saw a MkIII Cortina on the road on the UK...
Judging by the cobwebs all over the grill, it doesn't seem like it's in daily use...
Teapotland. Nuff said...
I'm soon back on the open road - keeping my speed to a modest 104kph...
As I arrive in the pleasant little town of Balclutha...
...I spot this perfectly preserved old gent in the Ford showroom...
...I should think it's the manager's pride and joy...
I liked Balclutha - it was busy and had a great looking high street...
...and a fantastic bridge on the way out...
On the way in to Waihola, they are quite blunt...
...OK...
Well, that's jolly cheerful...
His and her Impalas...
Back out on the main road, I pass this old estate - unfortunately I was unable to get a shot of the front - any guesses?
In no time, it seems, I am entering Dunedin...
...where I check in to my beautiful apartment...
...with complimentary milk and beer in the fridge...
A good day...