16th February 2017
I sleep well and wake early. I've got a reasonable distance to travel today, so I shower, get suited and booted and then load the bike...
The smoke on the horizon mixes with the cloud - they evacuated a load of people from their homes during the night...
I press the starter button at about 0845 and Bettie soon directs me onto the urban motorway heading out of Christchurch and towards Dunedin - some 300 miles distant by a circuitous route I programmed into her last night.
Outside of the city, traffic is light and the weather good - it's about 63° F...
I stop to take a couple of pics of this Latin lovely...
...and her older British partner...
...who has a confusingly badged rear...
Just before turning off Route One, I decide to stop for a spot of breakfast at the Oasis Tearooms...
...where I am brought...
...the Big Brekkie...
After waddling back out to the Adv, I set off again, immediately turning right towards Geraldine...
...with a range of hills on the horizon ahead of me...
I spot this advertising a restoration shop in town...
Thankfully, it seems their actual work is a little more up-market...
The sky gradually clears as I approach the hills...
...and the temperature rises to 72°F...
...which is just about perfect...
Traffic is light, the road surface excellent - all's well with the world...
I crest the brow of one of the hills and a panorama greets me...
...it's beautiful...
Onward!
I'm watching my speed carefully - it would be easy to get caught out here. I found that tightening the throttle lock helps when on a long straight...
A few old timers at the roadside here...
...any guesses?
The Three Creeks Service Station is like a step back in time...
Got to keep on - it's quite a long day today...
Snow-capped mountains appear on the horizon...
...and I've a feeling we're headed in exactly their direction...
I arrive at the side of the unfortunately named Lake Tekapo...
...which has a beautifully elegant footbridge...
The mountains are drawing near...
...and, quite suddenly, I arrive at Lake Pukaki...
...its water impossibly turquoise...
I ride on, slowly, taking in the view...
...what a beautiful part of the world...
...I am very lucky to be able to experience it...
At the splendidly named Twizel, I refuel and take a snap of this biplane...
...which is advertised as giving Glacier view flights...
If I thought they might be able to jam my fat arse in it, I'd almost be tempted...
I'm heading south east now, and aiming to rejoin Highway 1 around Reidston, just north of Hampden, where I snapped the little blue Riley the other day...
It's a pretty ride, although - perversely - the temperature seems to have dropped as I lose altitude...
I'm feeling quite tired - and won't be sorry to see the hotel this afternoon...
These lakes are the Benmore and Aviemore dam hydro-electric schemes...
I spot this brightly coloured old gent at the side of the road - any guesses?
This sheep farmer obviously wanted his farm advertised to the world...
Muscle car selling himself at the roadside...
I rejoin Highway One, and feel the need for a cup of coffee to get me through the last hour and a bit...
...the café/bar has a great feel to it, with three regulars (all motorcyclists) hitting the draught beer already - I kind of wish I was staying there the night - a beer would go down well...
...but I have my coffee and say farewell - but not before taking a sneaky pic of what's hiding in the landlord's garage...
Just across the road is this ugly duckling - any ideas?
I make good time along Highway One, past the miles of empty golden beach and rolling surf...
...but being careful with my speed - it would be easy to become complacent at the end of the day...
Eventually Dunedin comes into view. I ride into the centre of town, past the elegant railway station...
...and a short time later...
...I'm being shown my beautiful room...
...at the Dunedin Palms Motel.
I drop some gear off, then ride out and buy a six-pack - it's journal time...
What a great day.
I sleep well and wake early. I've got a reasonable distance to travel today, so I shower, get suited and booted and then load the bike...
The smoke on the horizon mixes with the cloud - they evacuated a load of people from their homes during the night...
I press the starter button at about 0845 and Bettie soon directs me onto the urban motorway heading out of Christchurch and towards Dunedin - some 300 miles distant by a circuitous route I programmed into her last night.
Outside of the city, traffic is light and the weather good - it's about 63° F...
I stop to take a couple of pics of this Latin lovely...
...and her older British partner...
...who has a confusingly badged rear...
Just before turning off Route One, I decide to stop for a spot of breakfast at the Oasis Tearooms...
...where I am brought...
...the Big Brekkie...
After waddling back out to the Adv, I set off again, immediately turning right towards Geraldine...
...with a range of hills on the horizon ahead of me...
I spot this advertising a restoration shop in town...
Thankfully, it seems their actual work is a little more up-market...
The sky gradually clears as I approach the hills...
...and the temperature rises to 72°F...
...which is just about perfect...
Traffic is light, the road surface excellent - all's well with the world...
I crest the brow of one of the hills and a panorama greets me...
...it's beautiful...
Onward!
I'm watching my speed carefully - it would be easy to get caught out here. I found that tightening the throttle lock helps when on a long straight...
A few old timers at the roadside here...
...any guesses?
The Three Creeks Service Station is like a step back in time...
Got to keep on - it's quite a long day today...
Snow-capped mountains appear on the horizon...
...and I've a feeling we're headed in exactly their direction...
I arrive at the side of the unfortunately named Lake Tekapo...
...which has a beautifully elegant footbridge...
The mountains are drawing near...
...and, quite suddenly, I arrive at Lake Pukaki...
...its water impossibly turquoise...
I ride on, slowly, taking in the view...
...what a beautiful part of the world...
...I am very lucky to be able to experience it...
At the splendidly named Twizel, I refuel and take a snap of this biplane...
...which is advertised as giving Glacier view flights...
If I thought they might be able to jam my fat arse in it, I'd almost be tempted...
I'm heading south east now, and aiming to rejoin Highway 1 around Reidston, just north of Hampden, where I snapped the little blue Riley the other day...
It's a pretty ride, although - perversely - the temperature seems to have dropped as I lose altitude...
I'm feeling quite tired - and won't be sorry to see the hotel this afternoon...
These lakes are the Benmore and Aviemore dam hydro-electric schemes...
I spot this brightly coloured old gent at the side of the road - any guesses?
This sheep farmer obviously wanted his farm advertised to the world...
Muscle car selling himself at the roadside...
I rejoin Highway One, and feel the need for a cup of coffee to get me through the last hour and a bit...
...the café/bar has a great feel to it, with three regulars (all motorcyclists) hitting the draught beer already - I kind of wish I was staying there the night - a beer would go down well...
...but I have my coffee and say farewell - but not before taking a sneaky pic of what's hiding in the landlord's garage...
Just across the road is this ugly duckling - any ideas?
I make good time along Highway One, past the miles of empty golden beach and rolling surf...
...but being careful with my speed - it would be easy to become complacent at the end of the day...
Eventually Dunedin comes into view. I ride into the centre of town, past the elegant railway station...
...and a short time later...
...I'm being shown my beautiful room...
...at the Dunedin Palms Motel.
I drop some gear off, then ride out and buy a six-pack - it's journal time...
What a great day.