Saturday, March 17th

I’m away from Manapouri by 10:00am, there’s no rush today. The plan is to simply get myself eastwards across to Queenstown, which nestles in a northeast corner of Lake Wakatipu. It’s a young-at-heart vibrant town - the “Adventure Capital” – and is one of the world’s leading mountain resort holiday destinations. I have arranged to stayover for just one night with a new acquaintance, Stephen, who I met by pure chance whilst riding down the northeast coastal section of SH1 from Blenheim to Kaikaura during the late afternoon of Wednesday, 28th February.

But as I have plenty of time on my hands I start the day’s ride by a short 20 km (13½ mile) diversion northwards to Te Anau Township in order fill up the tank with some cheaper premium gas, update my blog, Skype the reles back home, and grab some brunch.

Stephen + Lisa (missus) won’t be back in their Queenstown home until around 5:00pm in any case, so as I say, there is plenty of time to make the 180 km (112 mile) journey, which should take no longer than 2½ hours .. max.

Chores done-and-dusted, and I’m away from Te Anau by around 1:00pm.

After travelling around 30 km (18½ miles) eastwards along State Highway 94 I pass a road sign indicating a gravel track to ‘Mavora Lakes - 38 km’ just to the north. Should I go? Or should I continue along SH94? ‘Buggerit, les go’ I think to myself ‘wos a bidda harmless gravel? - I’ve done enough of it not to be worried’ and ‘I got plenny a time on my hands’

So I turn the Trannie around and embark upon this benign [?] riding surface towards South Mavora Lake

Around 45 minutes later I arrive there ...

.. and make my way across to the southern lakeside shore ...

.. observing and taking-in protocol and the local by-rules in the process

The lake and surrounding mountains remind me sooooo much of the rugged and beautifully breathtaking Scottish Highlands

So I decide to go deeper into the wooded lakeside, where I leave the gravel, and take whatever comes my way

Try negotiating this stuff on a fully laden 700 lb (318 kg) ST1300 Pan-European ... ?!

I don't think so .. Mr Jones!

But after a while I'm back to the shoreline. Fantastic wilderness - Surreal .. dreamlike

Now just how am I gonna turn the bike around? .. :-(

But after a scramble, I do turn around and start heading south towards 'civilisation' [?]. There's hardly a soul around; just me, the V-twin, and some pesky sand flies

30 km (18½ miles) later I'm skipping over the corrugated gravel at speeds of 50, 60 & 70 km/h (31, 37 & 43½ mph). Boyoboy .. have I got this gravel-stuff licked .. or wot John?

-------------------------------------

Soon I see the tar-sealed surface come into view 'that's early ..? I think to myself. Just a 100m away from the smooth surface I'm still picking my line and starting to accelerate towards the black stuff. Then, suddenly .. I'm staring a small potential disaster straight in the face!

I hit a washed-out, recently re-graded, stretch of new gravel that catches and retains my line in a deep [and growing deeper .. yikes!] tyre track which is gullying me into the RH roadside ditch that's full of large stones and small boulders. I can't seem to steer out of this deepening tyre-created gully. So I have four choices:

1. Get over the LH edge 'hump' of gravel. No, that's not for me, I'm no scrambler
2. Brake real hard. No again, I decide. On this loose surface the non-ABS assisted braking system will instantly lock-up the wheels. No straight line stoppage with this option, I'll be all over the place - and down within a second
3. Attempt a 'controlled drop'? .. I don't think so, that's just another name for a 'crash' in my book!
4. Shut down the throttle? or do I retain my speed and traction? Take my chances with wherever this gully takes me. A split-second decision is required

I choose a wishy-washy half-hearted number 4.

I'm just 40-50m away from safety - we then hit a large stone - basketball size. As a result ...

.. the Trannie and I go down.

Bugger! So near and yet still so far.