Hi from Taupo on the central plateau of New Zealand’s North Island.

This is my 1st ever post and what I wanted to do is help give a nod of respect to a real traveler I bumped into yesterday.

I bumped into Ron Rutherford totally randomly when waiting outside a supermarket in his tiny NZ town of Ohakune. He came up to chat with me about my bike and it emerged he was this bold, early motorcycle overlander from 1971. He just felt like doing it and then did it. There wasn’t a book, a blog, a vlog, no YouTube, Insta. In fact no other motivation involving anyone else other than his ageing grandparents he wanted to visit in Scotland.

He invited me back to his place and I learned more about his journey.

Here’s a website somebody’s put up for him https://www.rutherford71.com/

Ron kept all his maps, a few photos and maintained a detailed diary, but he hasn’t yet commercially published anything. The website above shares his diary verbatim, save a few misinterpretations by the writer (rather than the author).

I asked Ron about HU and other well known motorcycle overlanders. He pulled out a few of Shirley & Brian’s books and was aware of Ewan & Charlie’s journeys. However, he seems pleased to have his experiences shared and is curious to hear comparisons between what he encountered in 1971 on his Triumph and what travellers see today. He’s elderly and it would be a shame if his story wasn’t told more widely.

I’ve passed these details to Jim @ ARR too.

I have his mobile phone number if anyone is interested in contacting Ron just let me know.

Follow your front wheels - Steve