Good day to you all. Well its been an epic couple of weeks. I've been racing backwards and forwards to Wellington doing all sorts, starting with drug trials for my condition, dropping off my dog, heading to the South Island for a weeks riding, heading back to Wellington to do stage two of the drug trials, buy some bikes pick up my dog, phew it's been busy. My trip down south was excellent, tempered with being not well, but with some great mates, and the introduction to a few more. Went to some stunning places I have never been to before. In the last two months I've ridden to the top of the North island and to the bottom on the South. It's been really good to be able to do these things. It's that old saying you meet the nicest people on motorcycles, and it's true, no matter where we go we always seem to meet great people, other motorcyclists and have a great time. And all through the middle of this is our love of motorcycles and riding. Even when it all seems too cold, too icy, too wet and too miserable there is this underlying connection with your friends and strangers on the road doing the same thing. I love it. I wish I was more verbose and had a better understanding in how best to explain this properly, but I am sure you get the gist of that. I would not have met the great friends and people I now know if it weren't for motorcycling. And every time I get on one and go for a ride I meet more. You meet them in bars at night, wave to them on the road, in cafe's trying to get warm and fed, at the petrol station just filling up, and on rides. And we are so blessed in this tiny little country to have such a great variety of places to ride and scenery to take in. I'm not a religious person by any stretch of the imagination but thank god for this place and the people in it.

At 40000 pounds a gun, they dont come cheap

F1 is sure out there

A Lizard getting ready for a six hour on a Bevel

All the shiny things

My first TS250 was in this color scheme

The hours that go into this boggles the mind

All that [pretty carbon heading for the bin

Love these boats

VR having some fun on a Superbike

I was offered one of these once for $6000 and I said no. DOH!!!!

And to offset the moments of insanity in my life, I can do this.....

The aerodynamics are getting way out there

Testing anything and everything

Wonder if they have their knees down

He will always be the best in my books

Just plain old handsome. The nicest Ducati that they have ever made. Used to be common as muck, but now people want them, and as a result the prices are going through the roof

A good sense of humor going on here.

Aerodynamics are really starting to play a part on motorcycle racing now

So much goodness in one image

Had one exactly the same, it was epic

One little, two little, three little Ducatis

Love this new/old color scheme

Great to see 'The Hippy' back out and around again. The fastest rider I've ever seen

And to finish off this weeks blog are some images of a little project that I have been putting together for a very very patient customer of mine. It's so close.

So, this past week I've been away with our riding group affectionately know as the Lizards for a wee tiki tour around the South Island. managed just over 4000 k's and it was a great time. Some of it was pretty fast, some of it was slow and laid back. A great time was had by all. We had a guest rider , a Doug Toland who is a world champion and a scribe. He summed it by saying that he had never seen so many fast riders in one group and he was blown away by the company and the country. I dont think I was included in the fast riders comment, but I know that some of the guys in the group are absolutely talented and fearless. I'm still unsure  how they managed the speeds they did on worn out old adventure tyres. Just staggering. The 17 incher all did road rides while the 21 inchers went to some places I would have loved to go to, but you have to be realistic, not made for that. We met up again at the end of the day. I just to say my ride through the Caitlan's was amazing. I never knew scenery like this existed. Was truly amazing.

And not a single ticket was received.

This was amazing, so many lovely restored and original old bikes, plus a Ducati that i have never seen before.

Pete D's Harley stopped working, so he got a BMW and carried on anywways

 

 Burt Munroe used to come here quite a lot apparently

 

I wasn't feeling too good from the meds I am on, so had to take it pretty easy. They sure do fuck with your head.

Jacksons bay for some whitebait and deep fried Blue Cod. Food that can't be got any where else. Just amazing

One of our evening meals in Oamaru, it takes a lot to get this many people into a venue.

 Hero of the trip, Peter C. had a few minor medical issues which stopped him from riding, but it didn't stop him from jumping in his truck, following us all around the South Island and offering his load carrying facilities. You sir are a true legend.

And on that not as the sign says STOP. So this is the end of this post. have a great day, get in those last couple of late summer rides and enjoy.