The Long-White-Cloud Spectacular__NZ South Island 2012

[glitch]

Jo on the GS leading Nev on the Happy Valley Rd. back to the Hwy.
A first taste of the thick blanket of gravel which seems to be around everywhere!




Goodie




That “Dover Hills" bit sounds tempting…




And no, that isn’t a concrete bridge but tightly joined timber, which nearly had me arse-up, bowling into everyone standing at the intersection just to the right.

What a slippery little bastard…check the tyre-tracks, that was the front-end going walkabouts.






We turn north again on Hwy 1, before tacking inland just after the Hurunui River bridge, one of those loooong single-lane bridges so common around here.


This is it….the first of the “special sections”….the Old Culverden Stock Route.

It cuts west from the coast, across the Lowry Hills Range and into the wide, flat Waiau Valley, using farm-roads into Culverden…. or further north, into Waiau.

That’s the way we’ll take…and it’s straight into the backroads.

[glitch]

Nev on “gate-duty”…with Jo going through.











It sure ain’t no asphalt…Robbie caught it at cruising speed.






Somebody else at cruising speed…the 4-legged yoghurt-maker.
Jeez…I’d run if I had Rob up me clacker!!





Phew…made it!!




Oh yeah…ALWAYS keep those eyes on the exit !!





…while Nev tries to keep his boots dry.





Yes, mate….up the right shoulder of that hill over there.


Tassie-Dave and Nev checking what’s ahead…

[glitch]

Latte-Dave on the cut-across for the corner.




Bernard near the top.





Jackpot!! Man, what a view!! And you’re right, there’s some sunshine in those cliffs across the Waiau Flats!! Could we be that lucky??








That looks like fun…





The mood under the low, grey clouds backlit by the cliffs opposite is somehow threatening and uplifting all at the same time.









There’s the odd little creek around here, too…like the 100m wide Waiau River.





Looking back….we came over those hills.

[glitch]

Being a Sunday, both bowsers in the little town of Waiau are closed….hmmmm….Bernard is giving warning that he might run dry on the way up the Inland Rd. past Lyford to Kaikoura back on the coast.
And lemme tell ya….it’s a gem of a road.


Nev lapping it up.





75k’s of never-ending twisties, medium sweepers to 30km/h tight stuff, elbows, hairpins, some odd-angled approaches to single-lane bridges, the odd pothole and mid-corner bathtub that spits you out near the wrong side of the bend, some lose gravel to spice it all to the brim…then add the scenery and the fact that the roads is just about yours alone!! Magic!!





The DR glowing like a Xmas tree after the last 40k’s of pegging the grip.




For a while, it’s everyone for him/herself….then….where’s Bernard??
Dave checking the mirrors…





The lil’ XT…bone-dry. Luckily just opposite a farm house, where $10 and some sweet-talking results in a couple of liters of the go-juice, enough to get to Kaikoura. Oh....I mentioned that those Kiwis are fantastic folks, didn't I?
Well, you gonna hear that one over and over....




Kaikoura Bay….and we better keep nailing it northwards, that’s where the sun seems to poke through….up the coast to Blenheim.






The wind is strong… wants to pick up the bike out of the corners and throw it down the embankments.
One secong you're on the left verge, then battling both ends to not cross into the oncoming lane.
Things are getting tiring…and cold. Time for a ding-dong battle with Tassie-Dave...just to get warm, officer, honest





Check the vineyards…we’re not far off Blenheim now….but look at those blackbellies over there!!




The road cuts through some coastal hills and there’s a perfect V-shaped gully with views to the beach and water below….
Bernard promised later that it looks exactly like that:






I reckon, he’s telling fibs!!



Somehow we skirt around that thunderstorm.





…and make quarters at the Top10 Caravan Park along Blenheim’s Main drag.
Needless to mention, that the bullshit flies even before the helmets are off…









Blenheim Central on a Sunday night…










….and the plans are set for tomorrow.
Holy mackerel, what a first day it's been!!


AWESOME!!

[Dusty]

Hey, wait just a damm minute.
Dark beer, good tucker, wooden beavers (Oh the irony!!) and BULLSHIT?!??!!!

You never once mentioned there'd be bullshit!!! Dammit Pete, why didn't you tell me? I'd have had the hip-waders dry-cleaned and pressed!!

I feel so cheated.

And wooden beavers? Are you kidding me????? Please please tell me that there were actually 3 of them and one is on the way!?!

Dang, looks like this is gonna be a tough one to read through (only cuz of total envy & wooden beaver lust.)

My only hope is that this trip set a hook and you'll have to go back to flog more of the backroads. Sign me up, come hell or high water. I'll be the bombadier. Just in case.

Can't believe you didn't tell me there'd be bullshit....mumble....grumble....bumble......stumb le...

OK, keep it coming! Got a few days of rain ahead it seems, I can live vicariously through this RR. Looks outstanding!!! Jimbo