"Reloaded"



Some spectacular vistas of New Zealand

Some spectacular vistas of New Zealand
These are just a tiny sample of the views I experienced during my last visit to New Zealand in late December '05 and January '06. So it is easy to see why I am drawn back to this beautiful country ...

Thursday, January 11, 2007

My Left Boot Leaks!

Wednesday, Jan 10th 2007

We want to get away from Arthur’s Pass early today as we’ve arranged to meet our good friend(s) – and welcome mentor – John Jones et famille at Timaru, the urban hub of the Central South Island; a town situated about halfway down the Pacific coastline of (SI) South Island. Our rendezvous had been loosely planned to occur at sometime between 1:30pm – 2:00pm[‘ish].

John kindly agreed to escort us inland to his home in Otematata where we shall be staying for a few days before making the long return trek back up to the northern end of North Island so that Ellen can catch her departure flight back to Heathrow, London (via Los Angeles) on January the 27th

So we set-off from Arthur’s Pass in the pouring rain and get under way by around 09:30am

With a couple of drying-out stops for some comforting warm food and fuel along the way, we at long last get meet John and his wife, Phillipa (‘Pip’) and their son, Danny, at the pre-arranged best and most easily located landmark in Timaru John+Pip could think of – a Shell filling station c/w Burger King restaurant perched on a hill and sited right outside the town centre. We finally arrive at the venue at 2:10pm. It was indeed a good choice of meeting place, as the location was unmistakeable no matter from which direction it is approached.

After a handsome lunch at ‘The Ale House’ in Timaru – but unfortunately coming with some questionable service [dozy waiting staff :o(]– we set off for the 150 km (93 miles) last leg of the day’s journey back to Otematata. John wants to ride with me as my pillion, which in turn gives Ellen a chance to warm-up and get to know Pip a little better in the family car. With the prospect of riding in the company of such an experience biker (of 52 years), I will confess that beforehand I was just a tad nervous [eek!] But with some relief, I remember only missing a gear on one solitary occasion … phew! ... But it did feel like I wuz taking my DVLA riding test again!

After the very fast 1½-hour ride we all safely arrive at John & Pip’s home, Otematata (pop: circa 150); which can be found in the heart of the Waitaki Valley, that at first view at least, is seemingly in middle of nowhere.

‘Just why-oh-why would anyone actually chose to live in a godforsaken place like this?’ – I silently ask myself

The TransAlp is then cosily parked-up alongside John’s own Trannie – together, looking like a couple of black-coloured bookends.

Time to go online again before bedtime, but on this occasion, and for while now, without a costed time limit – what luxury.

Finally we can relax, having been on the constant move for the last eight days. Time too to dry out my left boot, which I sadly discover, leaks like a sieve!

The ‘first’ BIG tour’s progress – so far