A lot of ground covered in mixed weather conditions ... just for fun

Friday 12th & Saturday 13th January 2007

Friday was very much an ‘Inactivity Day’ for me, but we did get to meet John’s older brother, Bob, who paid a visit to the Jones’ Otematata Household with his new girlfriend, Elizabeth [Liz]. Lots of chat and laughter followed by this group pic before Bob and Liz needed to depart back home in the not-too-distant township of Geraldine.

Later in the afternoon John took Ellen out for a spin on his TransAlp around one of the local lakes. Beforehand I did mention to John that Ellen enjoys the ‘rush’ of speed, especially on two wheels.

A little while later, say around 45 minutes, they returned with big grins on their boats. You see, John is partial to a bidda speed too – actually, as I’ve discovered since, he’s barking bleedin’ mad when it comes to rolling-on the throttle – and Ellen reliably informs me that at one point she recalls both wheels actually being airborne during the short pleasure ride.

Just a pair of god'damn FREAKS if you ask me!

Meanwhile, as it was such a hot day, I half-relieved the fridge of its contents of Export Gold Label, which seemed a much more sensible idea to me at the time!

The following day, Saturday the 13th, we unanimously agreed that it was time for our first joint ride-out together. The weather was very unsettled, but from the local forecast, our best bet was to head out in a southwesterly direction. This would also give John & Pip the opportunity of introducing us to their second son, Michael, and D-in-L ‘Pip’ [yes, another Philippa] plus grandchildren, who all live on a ‘Station’ (a huge farm) where Michael manages the 60,000+ acreage and associated 12,500 stock of sheep.

Mean looking headware, huh?!

After around 30 km (19 miles) we stop to take-in view of the ‘Clay Cliffs’ located just on the other side of Omarama Township

Soon we come across this farmer’s idea of a good way to use-up some scrap metal … made me wanna say, “Yo, Dude – what sorta steed ya’ll ridin’ these days?”

Then I noticed that it was a pretend look-alike of a Harley [spit] chopper, which, if I hadn’t been in such a good mood at the time, could have ruined my whole day!

Time for another group shot - clever technique, what? - don't ya think? ... ;o)

After a while and a brief refreshment break in Alexandra Township – in the searing midday heat – we then go on to visit the 100 year old Kawarau suspension bridge where the first full-time bungy jump in the world is sited; it is the place where ‘adventure tourism’ began in New Zealand.

The Kawarau Bridge Bungy is situated on the main road between Queenstown and Cromwell, near the Nevis Bluff and the Gibbston Valley.

Apparently, if you’re that type, there’s something very special about doing a bungy jump at ‘The 1988 Original’.

Methinks the ‘eff’ word, followed by ‘… that for a lark’ seemed to spring to mind at the time, so I recall!

Shortly after watching the ‘Mad Bungy Buggers from Kawarau Bridge’ we head out to Michael’s place at Motatapu Station [huge farm], which is located on the southern end of the lakeside township of Wanaka, a place where we stopped-over last year with Mark on Fri-06-Jan 2006.

After a further refreshment break at the former gold mining township of Arrowtown – where it started to rain – we pass over the Crown Range Road, which climbs steeply to the summit of 1120 metres (3,675 ft) above sea level and as such is the highest ‘tar-sealed’ road in New Zealand.

This brought back memories of a time; back in August of last year, when during the BritSToc6 tour I somehow managed to forget about Ellen’s presence and accidentally left her at the top of the highest British tarmac road in Scotland.

Reflecting on this memory, I immediately and fondly thought of Uncle Phil [Derryberry] from Tennessee – figuratively sat on my shoulder – and whispering wisely into my ear, “Ya’ll sure as heyell ain’t gonna fergit ‘bout Miss-Ellen this one more second time - an' leave her up here on this dang mount'n top .. are ya now buddy? ... I'll be thankin' ya'll kindly not to .. y'hear”

A funny recollection – appropriately and timely recalled, right here on the other side of the world.

We stop and take a look at the historic former Inn called the Cardrona Hotel; a lonely place, which many years ago used to be the only ‘civilised’ dwelling hereabouts capable of providing travellers a safe haven and refreshment for the night

Ordinarily, at this time of year, this would have been the parched scenery we should have expected during the off-road passage to Michael’s 'Station', but in view of the recent heavy unseasonable rainfall …

… down this gravel track [pictures courtesy of John] …


… we end up with this wet, and thus green view at 7:15pm, as we make our return to the main road, which will lead us into Wanaka Township again, and eventually onwards to John and Pip’s home in Otematata.

Michael, by the way, is one of the biggest – and nicest – blokes you could wish to meet, with the ‘perfect’ family. A hard working, ‘gentle giant’ of a man, who offers more than ‘a firm’ handshake to the unprepared guest (I ‘yelped’ with the pain after receiving his initial greeting – BUT he didn’t get me on the way out .. oh no! .. ;o)

We finally arrive back in Otematata in semi-darkness at 9:15pm, totally soaked right through to the skin. So much for expensive 'all weather' riding gear!

We travelled 485 km (301 miles) in total during this little 'jaunt' of a ride-out, which is easily the most ground covered yet in one day on my little 55 hp Trannie