LAND OF THE LONG DARK CLOUD
With bikes rented and accommodation sorted, we four mates arrived in Christchurch from separate directions for a week of riding the South Island. The plan was to see a bit of New Zealand, sample the odd wine or two, and get among it on the winding roads. Choice!
Monday morning we met early at Te Waiponomu Motorcycle Hire to collect our rented bikes. Graham had decided to rent the same bike he has at home, an R1200GS. Phil had rented the model he plans to buy — an RT1200, while Dave went for the V-Strom for the same reason I went with the Triumph Tiger 800 — to ride something different for the week. The BMWs were late model and low kilometres, while Dave and I each had bikes that were four years and 70,000ks old.
The bikes were all in great condition. We had three new tyres between us (Pirelli Scorpions) and it was
