A Quick tour of motorcycling Nirvana

[Ton up]

In the spirit of the 'show the roads you ride' type thread, here's a handful of pics from a recent 3 day ride I did. Note I will edit this post a couple of times till I get a good number of pics in. <br>The ride started in Christchurch, went over the Arthurs Pass, down to Frans Joseph Glacier. Sorry, no photo's before Frans Joseph- forgot the camera, so I bought a disposable. Sadly, this camera had a habit of making anything in the distance look tiny, so none of these photo's do the scenery justice.<br><!--EZCODE IMAGE START--><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v327/ ... lacier.jpg" style="border:0;"/><!--EZCODE IMAGE END--><br><!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong>Frans Joseph Glacier</strong><!--EZCODE BOLD END--> Yes John, it <!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong>is</strong><!--EZCODE BOLD END--> a glacier! Fox and Frans Joseph Glaciers are apparently unusual as they terminate at near sea level, despite the fact that the climate is quite warm. In this photo we're more than half an hours solid walk from the glacier. There are actually people wandering around all over the show in this pic, they're too small to make out. We didn't walk to the galcier because it was too hot, and we were in our gear with no way of securing it.<br><!--EZCODE IMAGE START--><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v327/ ... lacier.jpg" style="border:0;"/><!--EZCODE IMAGE END--><br><!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong>Fox Glacier</strong><!--EZCODE BOLD END--> Just down the road there's another glacier. This view is taken from the access road. I was cooking by this stage, and didn't want to get even hotter by walking more. Now I guess you can see why these two glaciers are unusual- ice, but it's hot? What gives?<br>The next day we continued on past Fox Glacier, over the Haast Pass and on to Wanaka. At this point I will say that on the West Coast of the South Island 90% + of the roads are genuine motorcycling nirvana. Very well maintained (by NZ standards), with hundreds and hundreds of curves winding through bush clad hills and dramatic sea cliffs. The reason why I say 90%, is that there are a few straight bits, but if you're into that too make it 100%- unless it's raining. 'The Coast' as all Kiwi's call it, is one of the wetter places on earth, with rainfall measured in metres. But on a good day it is simply awesome.<br><!--EZCODE IMAGE START--><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v327/ ... hHaast.jpg" style="border:0;"/><!--EZCODE IMAGE END--><br><!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong>Just South of Haast</strong><!--EZCODE BOLD END--> Righto, this is taken just south of the township of Haast, and we're about to head into the mountains to wards the Haast Pass. More simply incredible roads- about 200km worth actually- before you reach Wanaka. Hardly a straight bit in it, with every type of corner concievable, and everywhere you look there's fantastic scenery. The whole way down the Coast you're struck with a delema- do you stop and take pics of the scenery, or do you keep a rythym going and enjoy the ride? I went mostly for the latter. I really should come up with a way of qickly taking pics without removing any gear... After the top of the Haast Pass the road winds though alpine medows surrounded by bush (forest) with peaks on either side- very scenic (sorry, no pics, I was enjoying the road too much!) Then all of a sudden it opens out, and you find yourself next to Lake Wanaka.<br><!--EZCODE IMAGE START--><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v327/ ... rdsHaa.jpg" style="border:0;"/><!--EZCODE IMAGE END--><br><!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong>Along Side Lake Wanaka, looking back towards Haast Pass.</strong><!--EZCODE BOLD END--> This road continues alongside the lake for ages. Fantastic Riding! Then you ride over a very narrow bit of land (isthmus??) and find yourself along side another lake- Lake Hawea.<br><!--EZCODE IMAGE START--><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v327/ ... asmall.jpg" style="border:0;"/><!--EZCODE IMAGE END--><br><!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong>Lake Hawea</strong><!--EZCODE BOLD END--><br>And the final day we headed from Wanaka back home to Christhurch. After the joys of the coast, the ride back home is a tad boring. Don't get me wrong, there are some fantastic roads, like the Lindis Pass and Fairlie to Geraldine, but after the Coast it seems a bit ho hum. <br><!--EZCODE IMAGE START--><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v327/ ... sSmall.jpg" style="border:0;"/><!--EZCODE IMAGE END--><br><!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong>The Lindis Pass looking North from the top</strong><!--EZCODE BOLD END--> <br>The Mackenzie Basin would be awesome at high speed, but a lot of people get caught speeding there, so we kept it legal- sob! The views keep you going though- this is the home of NZ's highest Mountain- Mount Cook or Aoraki (Cloud Piercer). The photo below does not do it justice, due to the affore mentioned camera problem. Trust me- it was impressive. You can take a detour down to The Hermatige, a village in the shadow of NZ's tallest peaks. I didn't go this time, but looking up at the high ice falls etc just leaves me gob smacked.<br><!--EZCODE IMAGE START--><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v327/ ... Pukaki.jpg" style="border:0;"/><!--EZCODE IMAGE END--><br><!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong>Mount Cook looking over Lake Pukaki</strong><!--EZCODE BOLD END--><br>After riding through to Geraldine, you are faced with the boring drudgery of State Highway 1 (or Straight Highway 1 as I like to call it) . I was just thankful that I didn't have to ride from Oamaru. It's about 300km of straight roads... So before getting home I took a quick detour around the Port Hills to get some more corners in<!--EZCODE EMOTICON START ;) --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/wink.gif ALT=";)"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <br><br>So that was the trip. As I said, none of these photo's do it justice- come and see for yourself! <p></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://p072.ezboard.com/bexupbrotherhoo ... =tonup>Ton up</A>  <IMG HEIGHT=10 WIDTH=10 SRC="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v327/ ... nsmall.jpg" BORDER=0> at: 1/27/05 12:34 pm<br></i>

[stevo707]

Mate i am envious, great pics and i bet it was a great ride as well. stevo707 <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :rock --><img src=http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v209/ ... ock_On.gif ALT=":rock"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <p></p><i></i>

[jjs777]

super nice pics...well done - geez and thats from a disposable camera ?<br><br>So How'd you fare on your trusty FZR-1000 ? Riding imppressions ? Butt sore ? <br><br>Okay I'm stateside so I'm ignorant anything over your neck of the woods. Is that really a glacier ? holy hand grenades batman ? Seen em on Discovery Channel...Thats a good pic (top two pics with glacier in backround) <p>-John<br>95 FZR1000<br>90 FZR1000</p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://p072.ezboard.com/bexupbrotherhoo ... >jjs777</A>  <IMG HEIGHT=10 WIDTH=10 SRC="http://home.comcast.net/~john.stempien/ ... larger.gif" BORDER=0> at: 1/26/05 3:32 am<br></i>

[Ton up]

Yep- all from a little disposable camera. Just a shame that it flattens anything in the distance.<br><br>The FZR went great- except for sounding like a lawnmower after only 200k's into the 1175k trip. An allen bolt had dropped out of the EXUP valve- sounded bloody awful. I had to keep winding up the rebound on the rear shock- ended up adding maybe 4 clicks. By midway through the second day I was really happy with the handling. Never got sore anywhere expcept for my knees, and I put that down to the close peg/seat distance, my leathers bunching in my knee joint, and the fact I usually ride on the balls of my feet. I would usually get sore arms butt etc, but this time I didn't despite not riding for the previous 2 months. I put that down to wearing a Camelbak. It would appear that drinking on the move greatly improves the riding experience. After putting in 400km days on very curvaceous roads I just wanted to keep riding. My riding buddy on a much more comfy XV750 was stuffed every day- but then he was having to hammer his poor bike to try to catch up. Actually, early on in the second day we realised that trying to stick together was ruining the ride for both of us- I was riding too sedately for my liking and he was having to hit 160kmh on the straights to try to catch me up again. So we decided that he would plod along at his pace, and I would hoon about stopping to take pics occasionally. Worked well, but I suspect that whenever he rode by me taking a pic he would put the hamer down to see how long it would take for me to catch him again.<br><br>As for the glaciers, I will edit the original post. So people please note, Johns post was written <!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong>before</strong><!--EZCODE BOLD END--> I changed it, so he <!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong>does not</strong><!--EZCODE BOLD END--> have a problem with reading and comprehension! <p></p><i></i>

[jjs777]

thanks for the edits ! Just great scenery...probably some of the best I've seen! <p>-John<br>95 FZR1000<br>90 FZR1000</p><i></i>

[exupupstart]

the sun in the photos looks real nice.long time since weve seen it in yorkshire.i cant wait for the first blast of this season<!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :riding --><img src=http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v209/ ... iker_3.gif ALT=":riding"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <p></p><i></i>

[FZRDude]

<!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :riding --><img src=http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v209/ ... iker_3.gif ALT=":riding"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <br><br>Good times I'm sure. <p><!--EZCODE IMAGE START--><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v209/ ... <!--EZCODE IMAGE END--><br><!--EZCODE FONT START--><span style="color:red;font-family:times new roman;font-size:small;">There are some who call me........Tim?</span><!--EZCODE FONT END--><br><!--EZCODE FONT START--><span style="color:white;font-family:times new roman;font-size:small;">Director of Entertainment <!--EZCODE LINK START--><a href="http://eddieandthecruisersmc.com" target="top">Eddie & the Cruisers</a><!--EZCODE LINK END--></span><!--EZCODE FONT END--> <br><!--EZCODE FONT START--><span style="color:blue;font-family:times new roman;font-size:small;">1994 FZR 1000</span><!--EZCODE FONT END--></p><i></i>

[jjs777]

geez these pics are like watching the discovery channel<br><br><!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :goodpost --><img src=http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v209/ ... odpost.gif ALT=":goodpost"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <p>-John<br>95 FZR1000<br>90 FZR1000</p><i></i>