Radioman Rides the World.......

[Radioman]

Headed out in the morning to explore a few "metal" roads in the area.



Of course we have to watch out for the KIWI birds!



NZ uses the large fern leaf in many promotions, signs etc. Being sub tropical, the ferns are big! Make sense now.





Ken was a great tour guide, as we stopped to look at some Maori sights.





Love the humor in the signs here.



Ken showed me the Gorge. Great views, then back to some rural roads all the way back to Wellington!



A quick stop at a roadside memorial. The US had lots of troops in NZ during WWI and WWII. The had a common saying about the american troops "over paid, over sexed, over here"



Arrived at Ken and Shirleys home in Wellington. Again the KIWI hospitality has been wonderful! Including Ken sharing his favorite ice cream called "Hokey Pokey"



Ken then gave me a great tour of Wellington. The overview



Then a great visit to the Te Papa Museum. It was amazing museum. Of course it had to start with some Lord of the Rings stuff.



Then the large Maori History section, which was great to understand the treaty a little better, and how the country started! Also some wonderful information about Maori culture



Learning about the Greenstone.





Then some other history of NZ, including the unique Britten. Sort of sums up the life of New Zealanders, and tinkering at it's finest.



The next day we rode out to see the southward car Museum





Lots of cool cars, and motorbikes!!









Then back to Wellington. It was Census day in NZ. So I did my civic duty and filled out the census as a visitor!

http://radioman.smugmug.com/Other/Ri...IMG_1663-L.jpg



Joining Ken and Shirley in there Morning breakfast, reading of the paper and the daily 5 minute quiz from the newspaper.

[Radioman]

Leaving Wellington early in the morning!



Taking a ferry for 3 hours to get there!



Boarding the ferry.



As I walked upstairs for the journey to south Island, I started talking to a KIWI couple on a 12ooGSA . Tony and Kyra were very friendly!! They were headed to Queenstown for a marathon (one walking, one running the race!) We had a great chat during the trip!! hope your weekend went well!



All the bikes getting ready to ride!



I decided to ride south down through The molesworth Station which is the largest farm in NZ. It was a gravel road (mostly) 120 miles or so. Beautiful and remote as a saw very few other vehicles.



Been very dry in NZ and everything is brown, with high fire danger.





Great ride....



Some gates crossing the station



Some great clouds forming along the way





wonderful ride!

Just a few small water crossings but they were very low... These could be deep with more rain!





Then the last 14KM to Hanmer Hotsprings

[rjmorel]

Radio, you going to get to see any of Burt Monroe's history while there? His home, motorcycles, where he pee'd on the fruit trees? rj in Walla Walla ,WA

[Teager]

Originally Posted by rjmorel

radio, you going to get to see any of burt monroe's history while there? His home, motorcycles, where he pee'd on the fruit trees? rj in walla walla ,wa

+1

[Revs47]

Make sure you visit E Hayes and Sons hardware shop on Dee Street in Invercargill. Norman Hayes was a friend of Burt Munro and some of Burt's bikes are on display at the back of the family run hardware shop.

http://www.ehayes.co.nz/burt-munro/

The Britten V1000 that you show in one of the photos taken at Te Papa in Wellington is another example of Kiwi ingenuity. Cycle World magazine featured it on their cover over 20 years ago noting that the world's most advanced motorcycle wasn't from Japan, Europe or the US, but was made in a shed in Christchurch, New Zealand, designed and mostly built by one man.

The bike won the world twin cylinder championship and at Daytona, where I can still remember Andrew Stroud passing the works Ducatis down ther straight on the back wheel such was its spoeed advantage.

The links below are very worthwhile checking out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QM_aNwaodd4

http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/Ne...s-the-britten/

Unfortunately, John died very shortly after the Daytona victory.

Originally Posted by Teager

+1

[Radioman]

Originally Posted by rjmorel

Radio, you going to get to see any of Burt Monroe's history while there?

yes

[_cy_]

Radioman .. been following your trip since the beginning ... can't wait until it's my turn to take off ...

[woodly1069]

Don't know how I missed this for so long but now I'm IN! Seems that this site is SO full of good people and once again, I'm just glad to be a part of it! Can't wait to catch up to this New Zealand part of the trip! I was there in '06 with my brother and I sure don't know how you are riding on the "wrong" side of the road on a bike! Scared the hell out of us in a car! Safe travels my friend!

[woodly1069]

Oh yeah, sorry but forgot to ask how the F800 is doing on this trip?

[bk brkr baker]

Metal roads.

Thanks for clearing that one up for me. I've read some reports from N.Z. where the metal roads were mentioned and I thought they were talking about paved {hardened, toughened, metaled } and it turns out I was 180 degrees wrong.
Keep up the good work and haveing fun. I'm learning as you go !

[Radioman]

Breakfast choices for my toast. Just cannot get used to Vegemite



Started my day with some damp muddy roads headed north to the Rainbow road.



But the weather cleared shortly after I started to ride



Riding up along the Molesworth farm to the Rainbow Station



Including Lake Tennison



Then worked my way northward through the mountain range



Until I reached the gate into the Rainbow Station area. It is actually a "toll" road and it is only open for 3-4 months per year. It is a private road.





Spectacular scenery







About 80 miles of gravel roads.





With a dozen or so water crossings. They are fairly light on water this year due to the drought like conditions. But some were longer and deeper.



Coming out on route 63 after a great ride through this area!!



Then riding up to the very top of the south Island in the Golden Bay. Beautifully rural roads winding through the countryside. mid 70's and sunny. Perfect riding conditions!

I road past Abel Tasman National park and ended up staying in Collingwood on Golden Bay. Took a ride up to see sunset at Wharariki Beach





Took a 20 minute hike from the road down to the beach.





Great day exploring New Zealand!

[InTheMuck]

Originally Posted by Radioman

Great day exploring New Zealand!

Sure looks like it!!

[chekamus]

Radioman, im living in Invercargill, if u need anything while down that way get in touch, even if its just a meet for coffee and talking bikes!

[Radioman]

Originally Posted by chekamus

Radioman, im living in Invercargill, if u need anything while down that way get in touch, even if its just a meet for coffee and talking bikes!

Will PM, once I know when I will be south! Thanks. Love to get together for a coffee.

Mark

[Ben Carufel]

Beautiful stuff Mark. I have a friend in Nelson so I get to visit that area quite often. If you have a chance, try and find a place called Te Hapu -- it's just a few KM's from Collingwood. Really gorgeous. Took this there a few months ago: