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26 Apr 2018
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Contributing Member
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Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: RTW, From Vancouver BC 2012
Posts: 3,579
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We do not have far to go today to Christchurch, but the weather is supposed to turn to another Cyclone this afternoon.
 Screen Shot 2018-02-23 at 23.45.40 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
Despite this forecast that it would be nice until 3 pm it started to rain as we were packing up this morning. We only went about 15 minutes and we were ahead of the storm and the sun was shining. We then opted for the “Inland Scenic Route”.
 FILE2626 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 FILE2636 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
About half way today Dan’s 800 passed 250,000 km!!! This route happily also took us back a few km from Sheffield where they have the best pie shop on the south island!
 NZ South Isand-224 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 NZ South Isand-223 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 NZ South Isand-225 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
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27 Apr 2018
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Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
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Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: RTW, From Vancouver BC 2012
Posts: 3,579
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In Christchurch we were happy to find an relatively inexpensive airbnb in a house just 4 km from the motorcycle repair shop. A dodgy hotel here is easily 2-3 times the price.
We dropped the bikes at the shop and then walked the 4 km back stopping for supplies on the way to last out the storm. We will have a few things sorted. Some screws that have gone missing, the oil changed, the oil filter off the 650 (been on since Tblisi), the brake oil on the 650 filled as it was not done by the guys in Malaysia (at least 8 items down incorrectly or not at all so far), valves checked, and the timing chains replaced on both bikes.
Phil Parrish is a mechanic well know here on the South Island and he has done the split link repair on an 800 before. On Dan’s 800 the chain was slipping when we had the valves supposedly checked and shimmed in Malaysia and the power is definitely lacking recently. We are afraid to have a major melt down when we are island hopping in Indonesia. In the end Dan’s chain had stretched a full link and was removed without needing to cut it. Sara’s was not skipping and was stretched maybe 1/2 a link. The valves were of course not done properly in Malaysia either! Though they are not off by that much and will last until we hit the USA in June.
 IMG_0761 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 NZ South Isand-228 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 NZ South Isand-227 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 NZ South Isand-226 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 NZ South Isand-229 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
We timed the service well to coincide with the predicted cyclone and though there was not much wind it did pour for the 2 days we were hold up here. Great time to get some work done and I finally got back at the blog posting. Dan also found a vinyl wrap shop to properly cover the Frankenscreen.
 IMG_2212 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
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30 Apr 2018
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Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
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Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: RTW, From Vancouver BC 2012
Posts: 3,579
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The forecast is for some showers today and then 4-5 days of sunshine. We picked up the bikes and then headed out in some light showers to Hanmer Springs.
 FILE2650 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
We noted on the road signs that the route to Picton on the highway 1 or Kaikoura road that just opened a month ago after 3 years is closed again after massive land slides. This means all the traffic must go on the 2 other paved roads or the Molesworth road. The sun was out soon enough and we had an easy 135 km.
 Screen Shot 2018-02-23 at 23.47.46 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
We stopped here for lunch and the couple next to us were riding as well, but are here from Greece. He leaned over to me and said “ This is a small world I saw you on an HU post yesterday from Mt Cook!” He and Dan are actually FB friends already! Very nice couple and we wish we had met them sooner. They are headed to St. Arnaud as well today, but on the paved road and they have to catch the ferry at Picton in the morning.
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30 Apr 2018
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Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
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It is now 5 pm and we will turn back, but 5 km back there was an emergency shelter hut for hikers and we decided to stay here the night. So now to get turned around on the landslide and then back over the raging river (Dan had to ride Lulu of course). The small cabin has 6 bunks and the water from the stream nearby can be drunk after boiling. There is also a very clean long drop. It is a beautiful sunny day and there are few clouds. The last people to sign into the Intentions book were from Squamish BC!
 FILE2759 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 NZ South Isand-240 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 NZ South Isand-241 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 NZ South Isand-243 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 IMG_2223 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 IMG_2220 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 NZ South Isand-252 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
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30 Apr 2018
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Contributing Member
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We hope to get some good star shots tonight! About 930 we had a knock on the door and 2 fisherman and their land rover also decided to park for the night. They “kindly” woke us at 715 to see if we wanted hot water for coffee and ask us “do you have food?” We have food of course, but were glad of the hot water for coffee as it saved us heating it ourselves. Nice gentlemen!
 NZ South Isand-249 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 Sedgemere Astro by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 NZ South Isand-253 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
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1 May 2018
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We set off back the 65 km to Hanmer with only the one deep and narrow ford. Luckily just as we arrived we could prevent a “kid” from getting his small car stuck here and blocking our exit as he was just about to go for it. We told him to turn back and he did. We made good time and at speed back to town for some fuel. So now we have to go all the way around.
 Screen Shot 2018-02-23 at 23.48.24 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 FILE2789 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 FILE2807 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 FILE2818 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 FILE2837 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 FILE2848 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 NZ South Isand-254 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
Jack’s Pass into Hanmer
 FILE2890 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
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1 May 2018
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Contributing Member
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We decided to take the Lewis pass to Reefton and then stop for lunch. Here instead of going directly to Westport we rode south to Greymouth and then north on the “Great Coast Road” to Westport.
 Screen Shot 2018-02-23 at 23.48.56 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 FILE2906 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
On the way north you can see nice views of the rugged coastline and stop to visit the iconic Pancake rocks.
 FILE2959 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 NZ South Isand-255 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 FILE2935 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 FILE2979 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 NZ South Isand-256 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 NZ South Isand-257 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 NZ South Isand-259 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 NZ South Isand-261 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 NZ South Isand-262 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 NZ South Isand by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
We decided to stop in Westport as we had been chasing behind the last of the storm and it was raining the the last 30 min, and we were too tired to go on up the coast to Karamea. We arrived very cold and tired and stopped at the only hotel without a No Vacancy sign. They have a really good system in this town and others as it is often fully booked. One place each day takes the role of central bookings. She knows which bars and hotels in town have beds. She set us up 700m down the road in the Cosmopolitan Bar/hotel. Good hot shower and lots of plugs to charge everything we have.
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1 May 2018
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Contributing Member
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We will have to abandon the ride over the next few days we had planned up to Golden bay and Abel Tasman as there has been 15 landslides and the highway 60 is closed. It is raining lightly, but is supposed to be sunny today. The original plan was to ride up the coast to Karamea and then onto St Arnaud. We did a 50 km ride up the coast, but it was just “mianh”,but the sun was out now.
The rest of the plan today was to head thru the Bhueller gorge and then along the 6 to St Arnaud, but the town of Muchison 60 km closer is nicer we have heard and there is a great camp site on the river . We have a riverside site since we arrived at 2 pm. They have a swimming hole, lots of kitchens and lounge spaces, and bikes to borrow. We did borrow 2 and rode into town for a  and dinner at the local bar.
 FILE3006 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 IMG_2228 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
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1 May 2018
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Contributing Member
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Today we are headed to the ferry town of Picton.
 Screen Shot 2018-02-27 at 22.38.51 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
It was overcast in Murchison, but by the time we made it to St Arnaud it was sunny.
 FILE3023 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
We stopped in Blenheim for some lunch at Coupland’s bakery where the chocolate covered cream filled donuts were insane. Filled with a cup of real whip cream. We back tracked a bit on the road towards Nelson to get to the scenic Queen Charlotte Drive ( the road from there to Nelson is also closed). This may have been the best 40 km of tarmac we have had in NZ. It was curvy and smooth.
 Screen Shot 2018-02-27 at 22.39.07 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 FILE3031 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 FILE3041 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 FILE3056 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 FILE3051 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 FILE3061 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 NZ South Isand by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
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1 May 2018
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Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
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Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: RTW, From Vancouver BC 2012
Posts: 3,579
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Despite the beautiful day the forecast is for very heavy rain tomorrow and so we found a B&B not far from the ferry. They even had a garage downstairs for the bikes. We checked in and were getting cleaned up when there was a knock at the door. It was Roger Arnold from Papamoa! He had just arrived to Picton last night after a 4 day walk over the mountains with a group of 10 friends. He had checked our spot and saw we were headed to Picton and well, and luckily it fired at the B&B and he tracked us there! Such a small world and so great to have friends to hang out with today and on the ferry tomorrow.
Well as advertised it was build an arc pouring at 8 when we got up, but it had let up by at least 1/2 by 1015 when we rode to the ferry dock 800 m away. We did not have to wait long to board luckily. We loaded with Hugo a biker from Argentina, but there were about 12 Kiwi bikes already tied down. They at least have well chocks on the Inter-islander boats unlike the Bleubridge we took on the way over.
 FILE3071 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 FILE3074 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
Ruth and Roger had saved us some prime seats, which was nice. It was all good until we left the protection of the fjord and then the boat really started rocking and there was a lot of sick people for the next 2 hours. Sara was pretty bad and had to sit in the hall near the centre of the boat until we got into Wellington harbour.
 Screen Shot 2018-02-27 at 22.39.36 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
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1 May 2018
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Contributing Member
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It was barely raining now and we headed the 25 km to our buddy Mike’s house. He had the garage open and waiting for us. Dan’s 800 has shown a low charge a few times today WTF! We started with what was the issue one of the times the stator was killed by an overfilled oil system. You can not trust anyone clearly as the guys in Christchurch overfilled both bikes by almost 300 cc!!! Well we had to siphon that off and seems to have fixed the stress on the bike! We shall see…..
For our day here with Mike he has planned a ride out on the Moonshine Hill road and then over the Akatarawa pass to Waikanae.
 Screen Shot 2018-02-27 at 22.43.42 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
We started out from his place and quickly onto the narrow lane that is the Moonshine Hill road. You have to be careful of the locals who drive at speed and often on your side of the road.
 FILE3125 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 FILE3124 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
We then made for the Akatarawa road , but found that it was closed yesterday just 1 km from the summit, so we did an up and back. We then made it around to the lookout by the back way.
 FILE3199 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 NZ North Isand-2 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 NZ North Isand by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
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Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...
2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.
"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)
Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers.
Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.
Ripcord travel protection is now available for ALL nationalities, and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes!
What others say about HU...
"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia
"Thank you! The web site, The travels, The insight, The inspiration, Everything, just thanks." Colin, UK
"My friend and I are planning a trip from Singapore to England... We found (the HU) site invaluable as an aid to planning and have based a lot of our purchases (bikes, riding gear, etc.) on what we have learned from this site." Phil, Australia
"I for one always had an adventurous spirit, but you and Susan lit the fire for my trip and I'll be forever grateful for what you two do to inspire others to just do it." Brent, USA
"Your website is a mecca of valuable information and the (video) series is informative, entertaining, and inspiring!" Jennifer, Canada
"Your worldwide organisation and events are the Go To places to for all serious touring and aspiring touring bikers." Trevor, South Africa
"This is the answer to all my questions." Haydn, Australia
"Keep going the excellent work you are doing for Horizons Unlimited - I love it!" Thomas, Germany
Lots more comments here!
Diaries of a compulsive traveller
by Graham Field
Book, eBook, Audiobook
"A compelling, honest, inspiring and entertaining writing style with a built-in feel-good factor" Get them NOW from the authors' website and Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk.
Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!
New to Horizons Unlimited?
New to motorcycle travelling? New to the HU site? Confused? Too many options? It's really very simple - just 4 easy steps!
Horizons Unlimited was founded in 1997 by Grant and Susan Johnson following their journey around the world on a BMW R80G/S.
Read more about Grant & Susan's story
Membership - help keep us going!
Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.
You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.
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helps answer the question - Why Go? Inspirational stories by veteran travellers Greg Frazier (5 times RTW), Peter and Kay Forwood (193 countries), Tiffany Coates (Mongolia Mayhem) and Rene Cormier (University of Gravel Roads).
Get Ready! covers planning, paperwork, medical and many other topics! "Inspirational and Awesome!" See the trailer here!
What stuff do I need - riding gear, clothing, camping gear, first aid kit, tires, maps and GPS? What don't I need? How do I pack it all in? Lots of opinions from over 150 travellers!
break down language barriers, overcome culture shock, ship the bike and deal with breakdowns and emergencies."Just makes me want to pack up and go!" See the trailer here!
Grant demystifies the black art of Tire Changing and Repair to help you STAY on the road! "Very informative and practical." See the trailer here!
Ladies on the Loose! For the first time ever, a motorcycle travel DVD made for women, by women! These intrepid women share their tips to help you plan your own motorcycle adventure. They also answer the women-only questions, and entertain you with amazing tales from the road! Presented by Lois Pryce, veteran solo traveller through South America and Africa and author of 'Lois on the Loose', and 'Red Tape and White Knuckles.'
Cotton or synth sweat-wicking t-shirts with the cool Horizons Unlimited graphic on the front and a snappy slogan (changing every year) on the back.
Show your route on your panniers. Great conversation starter when you meet people on the road!
Motorcycle and travel books to inspire and inform you!
The definitive guide to planning your motorcycle adventure! This insanely ambitious 2-year project has produced an informative and entertaining 5-part, 18 hour video series. "The ultimate round the world rider's how-to!" MCN UK.
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