Update 6/12/20c
8 December 2020
I forgot to include some travel info for anyone interested....
2200 Km
100L petrol
2 L oil
Unlimited amount of riding fun.
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An old fella's motorbike ride for mental health.
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Update 6/12/20b
7 December 2020Hi everyone,
Thanks sooo much to everyone for your support and your donations to the Mental Health Foundation.
After crossing to Wellington yesterday morning I started riding North and before I knew it I was looking at Ruapehu, heading through Taupo and then arriving home!
I'm very happy to be home and see Christine again (and the children of course too 🙄) I think the dog was the most excited of all to see me 😄.
I realised some things. I want to be able to share the sights with Christine and I look forward to arranging another motorbike ride, with company next time. I will look forward to experiencing Abel Tasman National Park, the walks and the surrounding area with Christine.
I'm still blown away by the generosity of people towards the Mental Health Foundation. I didn't imagine so much money could be raised for them. Thank you sooo much for your help.
Lots of love to all from me.
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So pleased and grateful you arrived home safe. Nothing like experiencing new adventures and appreciating the sights, sounds and smells of our own backyard. The quietness allows time for self reflection and is such soothing medicine for the soul.
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Update 6/12/20
6 December 2020Hi everyone,
It was difficult to try and meet/talk to people around the top of the South Island. The DoC campground was empty, the backpacker hostels had very few people and travellers were isolated in their vans and not allowed to park anywhere overnight as no freedom camping was allowed. The big campgrounds seemed busy with NZ families, but were very expensive so I didn't stay.
So after that and with the weather forecasts still not looking great, I decided to say bye to the South Island a little earlier. But I'll be back again.
Thank you so much to everyone for your good wishes and your donations to the Mental Health Foundation.
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Update 5/12/20
6 December 2020 -
Update 4/12/20
4 December 2020Hi everyone,
A strange day today.
Riding my little motorbike on Queen Charlotte Drive from Picton was an absolute joy with non-stop twists and turns.
But now I feel quite down. Not sure I want to keep riding and seeing things without being able to share it my family. Also started feeling like I'm disconnected from what I'm trying to raise money for.
Not sure where from here. Might change my Cook strait ferry booking and go home a little earlier....
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I reckon it's harder being away from your family than people generally realize. Couple of days is OK, but doesn't take long till you feel a bit down, like you said. A lot of us are wired up that way. Still, you're doing what you set out to do, and looks like it's nice weather at least. Good that the bike has been running smoothly too.
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Update 3/12/20
4 December 2020Yay! Camping finally happened!
A lovely long ride from Hanmer to Blenheim. From sights and smells of high country fresh air and pine to the sea air and lupin flowers. The ocean horizon where sky meets sea in every direction. Seals and sea birds bothered only by people with cameras.
I stopped in Kaikoura for blue cod lunch. Soooo nice! Had to buy a new a cap (sorry kids I've lost the one you gave me).
The little motorbike is just magic to ride. I'm loving it.
I rode around the coast from Blenheim thinking I would camp at Robin Hood Bay, but carried on to Whatamonga Bay. A beautiful little DoC campsite for $8 a night.
I had a great sleep in my hammock, woken up by noisey pukeko in the morning :)
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Magic! That campsite is a real discovery, eh. Bike looks good - you look pretty stoked too. Keep safe. I suppose you must be on the ferry soon.
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Update 2/12/20b
3 December 2020So camping still hasn't happened. I was very grateful for my dorm room bed at hanmer springs backpackers as it sounded like the wind might take the roof off!
Continue North today and hopefully I can find a nice sheltered little spot to camp.
This wonderful old little Yamaha XJ550 is going very well. Despite having six gears the gearing is still very low and it revs at about 5000rpm at 100km/hr. So I mainly ride at about 90-100 and enjoy the view and the smells. The smell of thyme in Central Otago is still the best :)
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Update 2/12/20a
2 December 2020 -
Update 1/12/20b
2 December 2020 -
Update 1/12/20a
1 December 2020Hi,
Thank you again to Jaye and Joe of Cromwell for their hospitality and Burn Cottage Nursery for their support.
A great ride today over Lindis Pass and past the Lakes with spectacular views of Mt Cook.
A severe weather warning tomorrow for Canterbury Plains and rain for Coast, so just do the best I can.
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Update 30/11/20 b
1 December 2020 -
Update 30/11/20
1 December 2020Hi, everyone. Well the motorbike rode really well today and I made my way from Invercargill to Alexandra and on to Cromwell for the night. I followed the tail end of a southwest low up the road and managed to only get a little wet. Temperature was supposed to drop to 4 degrees tonight so thankfully good friends Jaye and Joe and have let me stay with them in their lovely warm house in Cromwell.
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Update 28/11/20
28 November 2020Exciting! Off to Queenstown and then on to invercargill.
I feel like a little hobbit leaving his safe little hobbit hole for an adventure.
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Have fun Nige. Hope the weather is kind to you and you get to Invers in time for your mums 70th. xx
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Thanks Dan! I've booked a bus so I definitely get to Invercargill today to see Mum.
Felt super tired last night, so it's good to take it a bit easy this morning.
A bit of snow on the hill tops last night.
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Don't get your hobbit cloak caught in your wheel.... Hope you have a safe trip and a good birthday with your mum!
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Update 27/11/20
27 November 2020Hi, I've made a final preparation update video clip (link attached).
Hopefully I've got what I need for the road trip.
It will be a bit of a challenge sleeping road side in hammock throughout the South Island, but all for a good cause.
Nigel
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Update 25/11/20
25 November 2020.....three days till I head down south; four days to Mum's 70th birthday; 15 days till Jordans 16th birthday; 30 days till Christmas; 37 days till 2020 has been given the boot!
i've posted a new little video clip if you're interested
thanks everyone!
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Hammock! What a great idea. Hope it's reasonably weatherproof, eh.
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Update 24/11/20
24 November 2020Hi everyone,
Thank you so much for your donations already. I'm blown away by everyone's generosity and I haven't even started the motorbike ride yet!!!
I've tried to post a little update video clip to the give-a-little page today (attached to the main picture on the home page) and I'll try and do more of them regularly through this update feature. Hopefully, the quality and content will improve over time... :)
Love to everyone
Nigel Sadlier
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