Roadtrip New Zealand

Merry Christmas all!

Yesterday we traveled from Te Puia Springs to Napier, which was another long day in the saddle, but the ride made up for it. I would have to give the journey a perfect 10, it is simply the most beautiful countryside I have ever seen in New Zealand. The roads are simply stunning, the traffic sparse, the scenery breathtaking, and with the clear skies and sparse traffic you couldn’t ask for anything else in a motorcycle journey.

Traveling through Tokomaru Bay, Tolaga Bay, Whataupoko, Whakaki, Raupunga and Tutira has just been such a sublime experience. The Sprint seemed so in its environment, and really shined yesterday.

Shearing cliffs rising straight out of the ocean to several hundred meters in the sky, expansive bays and small public DOC campgrounds sidled up to lakes full of brown and rainbow trout were just some of the things we stopped to admire yesterday. If New Zealand really can beat what we glided through yesterday, I’m going to be blown away.

The scenery didn’t however make up for Myra’s posterior, which is now beginning to give her some serious grief. That along with some bad hay fever she is getting from all the natural pollens we are traveling through is really testing her fortitude. I’ve got no idea how she can do it but she is a trooper and is determined it will only get better. It’s difficult for me because all I can do is try and ride as smoothly as possible, the rest she has to deal with by herself. Today we are taking a relatively short trip down to Palmerston North to see an Aunty and two cousins who I have not shared face time with in so many years. This is only about 2.5 hours away, and tomorrow it’s to the ferry in Picton and then staying in Witherlea, total riding time of only a couple of hours, so I am hoping it will give her a chance to recover. I am still getting an aching backside and wrist but I think it is getting better, and is quite manageable with stops every 90 minutes or so.

We’re staying in Top 10 Kennedy Holiday Park, which is the most established campground I think I’ve ever seen. If you’ve got kids, then this would be the place to come. It just about has everything you could conceive covered, with a restaurant, bar, all types of units you could think of, and one of the best playgrounds I think I’ve ever seen, including an awesome inflated massive pillowcase. This bouncy castle without the castle, only the floor, and you’ve got what I mean. It’s pretty impressive. Napier itself is a beautiful city and I am slightly disappointed we are not staying here another day, I would have loved to check it out in more depth.

Wherever you are, I wish you all the best. Have a great Christmas and thanks for reading. The next report will be from the business end of the trip, the revered south island, a nirvana for motorcyclists. The ferry has got me a bit nervous, after reading so many horror stories, but it will all be part of the journey. Have a great day.