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New Zealand...4 wheels good, 2 wheels better?
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OnHellas
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Re: New Zealand...4 wheels good, 2 wheels better?
Monday dawned with bright sunshine. The overnight temperature had been higher than the previous couple of nights, only going down to around 10 degrees. Much more comfortable.
As we hadn’t planned to ride very far our usual leisurely breakfast saw us packing up the tent just as the rain started, Bugger!
Luckily the Yurt, or Glamping tent, that we’d booked for the next couple of nights would have enough space to hang out tent up to dry.
The ride was nice, open roads with sweeping bends. The distance to Kingston was just over 100 miles. We filled up with fuel before we left Te Anau so the only thing to stop for on the way was a bacon sandwich. A BACON sandwich! I hadn’t had a bacon sandwich for ages. I do like a bacon sandwich. The more that I type bacon sandwich the more I can imagine the flavour. Bacon.......
The campsite with the yurts was easily found, check in was swift and the proper bed was a welcome sight.
Two happy people, two happy bikes.
As we hadn’t planned to ride very far our usual leisurely breakfast saw us packing up the tent just as the rain started, Bugger!
Luckily the Yurt, or Glamping tent, that we’d booked for the next couple of nights would have enough space to hang out tent up to dry.
The ride was nice, open roads with sweeping bends. The distance to Kingston was just over 100 miles. We filled up with fuel before we left Te Anau so the only thing to stop for on the way was a bacon sandwich. A BACON sandwich! I hadn’t had a bacon sandwich for ages. I do like a bacon sandwich. The more that I type bacon sandwich the more I can imagine the flavour. Bacon.......
The campsite with the yurts was easily found, check in was swift and the proper bed was a welcome sight.
Two happy people, two happy bikes.
-
OnHellas
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Re: New Zealand...4 wheels good, 2 wheels better?
Kingston is set on a lake and there is an old railway station and jetty. We took a walk down to see if the line was still in use. No, it isn’t. There is a plan to restore the steam engine and reinstate the boat service from Queenstown but for now it was a look at some old photos and the beginning of new irritations and itchings from the local sandflies. They’re a friendly bunch and always keen to come and say hello.
Still, a pleasant stroll by the lake had an ice cream at the end of it so all was not lost.
After two nights ‘Glamping’ on what was mainly a building site, we headed off towards Queenstown, tourist central, maggotsville, tourist bus terminus, you get the idea.
Our reason for going to Queenstown wasn’t to join the hoards looking in shops to find thing that they didn’t know existed but now can’t live without, or to join a queue of burger hungry diners. There was a queue, about 100 feet long, to get a Fergburger. Whatever that is, that was the sign above the door, Fergburger! Maybe they’re the best burgers in the world, I’ll never know.
No, our reason for being in Queenstown was twofold. To get to Glenorchy along one of the most stunning roads with amazing scenery. Snow capped mountains, the lake, sweeping curves. It’s a ‘why you ride a motorcycle type road’ and it didn’t disappoint.
The second reason was that to get to what is considered to be New Zealand’s most dangerous road Queenstown had to be risen through first.
Skippers Canyon Road. Carved out of the rocks by gold miners back in the days of the gold rush. 16 miles of mainly single track dirt road without guardrails and long drops to the valley below.
As we survived I guess we’d say it wasn’t dangerous at all. Although I would say there was ample opportunity for those that get it wrong to make serious modifications to both man and machine.
We met just a couple of vehicles coming the other ways. Minibuses that had taken white water rafters to their launching point.
We only went as far as the suspension bridge. Beyond that the track petered out and as it was hot and lunchtime we headed back.
It’s strange how going back always seems shorter and easier.
Back through Queenstown then, along the main road, a quick stop to watch some Bungy jumpers, no thanks, and it was on to our next stop. Cromwell. Another campsite and this time a cabin. A tiny cabin with the worlds worst bed, shared facilities, a digger and a huge dump truck working from 7am until 5pm and a group of about 30 young kids going flat out in the trampoline ballroom thing.......nice.
Being a positive kind of a chap that I am though, no sandflies and the steak we bought cooked a treat on the BBQ.
Two happy people, two happy bikes.
Still, a pleasant stroll by the lake had an ice cream at the end of it so all was not lost.
After two nights ‘Glamping’ on what was mainly a building site, we headed off towards Queenstown, tourist central, maggotsville, tourist bus terminus, you get the idea.
Our reason for going to Queenstown wasn’t to join the hoards looking in shops to find thing that they didn’t know existed but now can’t live without, or to join a queue of burger hungry diners. There was a queue, about 100 feet long, to get a Fergburger. Whatever that is, that was the sign above the door, Fergburger! Maybe they’re the best burgers in the world, I’ll never know.
No, our reason for being in Queenstown was twofold. To get to Glenorchy along one of the most stunning roads with amazing scenery. Snow capped mountains, the lake, sweeping curves. It’s a ‘why you ride a motorcycle type road’ and it didn’t disappoint.
The second reason was that to get to what is considered to be New Zealand’s most dangerous road Queenstown had to be risen through first.
Skippers Canyon Road. Carved out of the rocks by gold miners back in the days of the gold rush. 16 miles of mainly single track dirt road without guardrails and long drops to the valley below.
As we survived I guess we’d say it wasn’t dangerous at all. Although I would say there was ample opportunity for those that get it wrong to make serious modifications to both man and machine.
We met just a couple of vehicles coming the other ways. Minibuses that had taken white water rafters to their launching point.
We only went as far as the suspension bridge. Beyond that the track petered out and as it was hot and lunchtime we headed back.
It’s strange how going back always seems shorter and easier.
Back through Queenstown then, along the main road, a quick stop to watch some Bungy jumpers, no thanks, and it was on to our next stop. Cromwell. Another campsite and this time a cabin. A tiny cabin with the worlds worst bed, shared facilities, a digger and a huge dump truck working from 7am until 5pm and a group of about 30 young kids going flat out in the trampoline ballroom thing.......nice.
Being a positive kind of a chap that I am though, no sandflies and the steak we bought cooked a treat on the BBQ.
Two happy people, two happy bikes.
-
OnHellas
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Re: New Zealand...4 wheels good, 2 wheels better?
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OnHellas
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Re: New Zealand...4 wheels good, 2 wheels better?
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OnHellas
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Re: New Zealand...4 wheels good, 2 wheels better?
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OnHellas
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Re: New Zealand...4 wheels good, 2 wheels better?
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OnHellas
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Re: New Zealand...4 wheels good, 2 wheels better?
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OnHellas
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Re: New Zealand...4 wheels good, 2 wheels better?
Obviously the fear and excitement whilst on the most dangerous road got to me. Otherwise the photos would have all been up the right way.....haha.
I’ve nit quite got the hang of which way to hold the phone when taking a selfie.
I have, however, learned enough to keep my helmet on....
I’ve nit quite got the hang of which way to hold the phone when taking a selfie.
I have, however, learned enough to keep my helmet on....
