Lock up your grandmothers

[McCardigan]

Have arrived back in Hanmer Springs, they had some serious wind and rain last night. I'll still give the Rainbow a crack tomorrow, provided its not raining, if its blocked no worries, I'll just return to HP, thank god for a 33 lt tank with over 550kms range.

Now yesterday was a very sad day for me. No it was not the forced donation to the policemans Teddy Bear picnic


But the severe shock of the loss of one of my all time favourite pubs.
Had rang the pub in CC to make a booking for last night, number is not connected???

Anyway I rode over to the Banks Peninsula to come down the hill to find this



SOB, the beautiful historic Duvachelle, one of the oldest in NZ was no more. The bloody eathquake had destoyed it. I was mortified ended staying in Akaroa, and had a magnificent Thai dinner at La Thai on the waterfront.

As for my donation to NZ finest, I'm not worried. It goes with the job as an occupational hazard, and I figure that as I'm averaging over 60,000kms per year, and have done so, for many years, and my last donation was about 4or 5 years ago, I'm way in front

He was travelling towards me on SH7 near Culverdon, came around a sweeping corner, and had me pinged before I relaised it was a Hwy patol , estimated distance was about 500mts, even a radar detector would not have saved me. I was the only vehicle on the road, so I pulled into a side road and awaited him. His opening statement was I have just detected you travelling at 113kph, what do you say about that? I replied that I watch the road ahead of me not the speedo, its much safer! and if you say so, no worries, I accept, I think it took him back somewhat, he asked if I wanted to check the radar reading, I said no thanks, I take it you know your job. Back he goes to his car with my Aussie licence, after a few minutes returns with a ticket for $80NZ, wonder why he didn't cut me some slack and knock it back to under 110, poor form I say!

Hey, its just a game, some you win some you lose, I spend almost $80NZ filling my 33lt tank almost every day. Wont change my riding ways, I will still travell at about 110kph, no way will I sit in a line of vehicles unless there are double lines, from experince way to dangerous, if I can't see whats in front of me.

anyway I'm back up and running hopefully with my PC.
I'm buying a Apple when I get back to Oz.

[McCardigan]

The mighty magical marveless Molesworth. Still one of my finest gravel roads anywhere in the world, although there may be better roads in South America, looking at some photos.
One of the starts on the road coming out of Blenhem along Taylors Pass rd

The start of the road follows the Awatere valley, lots of vine yards



And the good lord said, I have unlocked the gate, and you may proceed




But proceed with caution

[Steve in NZ]

re the ticket you could always right in and say you were to pissed from the night before to read the speedo and thats why you were trying to focus on the road.

[aslan]

Chris I love your style - the prose, self deprecating humour and the pics

Was good to see you again at the Outer Limits Tussock Adventure

Cheers S

[McCardigan]

Originally Posted by Steve in NZ

re the ticket you could always right in and say you were to pissed from the night before to read the speedo and thats why you were trying to focus on the road.

G/day Steve

Acutually I did have a very good excuse, the speedo needle has been broken since the Motu ride, but I thought I might just let that slip through to the wicket keeper. A mean mother may have just slapped a canary on the bike to get some satisfaction.

Surprisingly, he did not breath test me. In Oz its the 1st thing they do if you get pulled over for whatever reason, then a licence check. Would not have worried me anyway and it was only 10.00am!

[Steve in NZ]

Originally Posted by McCardigan

G/day Steve

Acutually I did have a very good excuse, the speedo needle has been broken since the Motu ride, but I thought I might just let that slip through to the wicket keeper. A mean mother may have just slapped a canary on the bike to get some satisfaction.

Surprisingly, he did not breath test me. In Oz its the 1st thing they do if you get pulled over for whatever reason, then a licence check. Would not have worried me anyway and it was only 10.00am!

Alex must of left the "my other bike is a mountain bike and i wear a suit and will knock on your door " sticker on the back.

[McCardigan]

Originally Posted by Steve in NZ

Alex must of left the "my other bike is a mountain bike and i wear a suit and will knock on your door " sticker on the back.

Nah, I reckon its the rainbow coloured sticker just below the rear number plate "Proud and Paid up memberof the Gay and Lesbian Ausitralian Police Forces" with their motto "A Hard Man is good to find"

Gets them everytime

[McCardigan]

OK folks, less talk, more photo's and let them do the explanations.
Enjoy

















Thats about half way through the Molesworth, still to come are "Loo's with a view".The Molesworth from Blenhem to Hanmer Springs is about 220k's, with about 30k's on sealed roads.

2 things to remeber. It is only opened from Boxing Bay till mid/late January.

There are 2 locked gates,one at Molesworth campsite, and one at the Acheron camp site, which are locked between 7.00pm till 7.00am. No camping allowed between those 2 spots.I encountered 2 park rangers in seperate vehicles, after 5.00pm heading north to check these rules out.
If you are travelling especially in the afteroon, and encounter a breakdown, flat tyre etc, be prepared to camp at either campsite, because you wont get through.

When you get a day like I had last Tuesday,consider yourself privledged.
It is a magic momment, one you won't forget.

More photo's to follow

[Dave Ward]

Good to hear you're still having a terrible time over there Chris.


Did you have to include this pic mate, we generally keep it quiet that we might have rels in NZ...

[Voltaire]

Wow, I must get over the Bombays some time.... $80 for 115.....thats sounds like he gave you a discounted rate.
No wonder my Welly mate raves on about the Molesworth....Oh well off for my daily 40km BMW commute...

[Kokopelli]

Originally Posted by Voltaire

Wow, I must get over the Bombays some time.... $80 for 115.....thats sounds like he gave you a discounted rate.
No wonder my Welly mate raves on about the Molesworth....Oh well off for my daily 40km BMW commute...

He said 113km/h that's $80 bucks, and it's a deal. I paid that 10 years ago, for the same thing. You could argue that there should be a tourist tax.

You racer guys miss out on a lot of things. Going around a sweeping gravel corner at silly speeds is not to be sneezed at. I am still trying to work out how to do that. Any minute now....

[GSDane]

Originally Posted by McCardigan

Keep that up and I'll take all the Handorf Dark Chilli Chocolate out of the tankbag on the F800GS

PS The F800GS has just had new steering head bearings fitted, Hilly reckons its all right to ride now, he has been test riding it while his 950 awaits a new motor

No... you just leave that choc where it is (but I reckon it will be long gone down the corners of the tankbag by February... something about a warm summer )

Re the bike... sounds good (if he is gonna lend it to me )

Cheers, Dorthe.

[nevgriff64]

Love your lifestyle, Chris.

[Voltaire]

Originally Posted by Kokopelli

He said 113km/h that's $80 bucks, and it's a deal. I paid that 10 years ago, for the same thing. You could argue that there should be a tourist tax.

You racer guys miss out on a lot of things. Going around a sweeping gravel corner at silly speeds is not to be sneezed at. I am still trying to work out how to do that. Any minute now....

We could swap for a weekend....you take the R90 to a track day at HD ( trailer included) and I can take Basic Basil on a trip up 90 mile beach and back.

[McCardigan]

Originally Posted by nevgriff64

Love your lifestyle, Chris.

G/day Nev

You helped fund it