As always, the Colraine provided great accommodation - I can't blame them for the road painters making a racket outside my window between 2 and 4 am. An early breakfast, then back on the road just dawn broke, quite a long ride ahead to catch the 2.45pm ferry.
we knuckled down and clocked up some quick kms, only stopping long enough to gas, coffee, and to avoid wet pants... More terrific riding as we thundered diagonally from Greymouth to Picton, enjoying the mix of mountain passes and long straights, although from Murchison onwards, the road works are certainly an issue. Since the September earthquakes ruined the Kaikoura route this stretch of road has been called into service and taken a hammering from big trucks and is subject to multiple sites where repairs are underway. The ferry crossing was relatively uneventful, although only the hardiest of smokers ventured out into the howling wind. there were dozens of bikes on the vessel, and none toppled over so top marks for excellent lashing . Accommodation in Wellington was at a premium (and a lot more expensive than the previous night - we'd mistakenly booked rooms on the wrong date, so two nights rather than one). First job, the daily ritual of binning sweaty gear, socks, jocks and T shirt, with one clean set remaining for tomorrows final leg. While Mike C caught up with student son and part time Wellington resident Hamish, Jeff and I enjoyed dinner at Cin Cin Italian restaurant - after 2-3 fairly decent drinks in the Hotel bar, where the young barmaid had been instructed on how to make the perfect Moscow Mule - very refreshing.. Whilst I'd been hankering for a pizza and cheap chianti, we had a referral and decided to check it out - a busy establishment owned by an eager young professional restaurateur and fellow biker - top marks and well worth the visit. Comments are closed.
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Don MalcolmA perfect day involves being on my Harley with a long ride ahead.
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