Daniel Kalal
Cruisin' Guzzisti
My first trip to New Zealand was in November, 2005. On that trip I rode a Moto Guzzi California EV rented from Dave Gale's Guzzi Gander LTD. In fact, I was Dave's first customer. That was a terrific trip, but I did leave quite a few roads not ridden and large areas of New Zealand unseen. It was time to fill some of the gaps.
The idea was to reach Ohinewai and turn east to avoid the congestion of Hamilton.
I stopped for the day in Opotiki. It was still early, but I was not in any hurry, and in any event, I wasn't sure how easy it would be to find a hotel.
And, the Masonic Hotel was nice enough. A clean room, with bath and shower down the hall.
It was pretty cold and wet the next morning. I don't like starting a morning ride in the rain, but that's what I did.
Not my favorite kind of road... I think I had five kilometers of this sort of thing. It looks worse than it is, but it's still not good.
I followed the coastline all the way around
Not too far from Gisborne. Virtually all the beaches I saw were empty.
Napier
This is Porangahau Beach.
Wellington
Blenheim
Invercargill
The road to Milford Sound
Milford Sound
Lake Wakatipu.
The Crown Range Road is the highest paved road in New Zealand.
Haast Pass
Arthur's Pass
Waikari is a very small place, but it has a good hotel.
Maruia River. The Maruia Falls were created by an earthquake of 1929.
You know you're in Marlborough by the vineyards.
The Rangitikei River.
Chateau Tongariro was from the outside easily the most impressive place I stayed. Those windows at the top? One of those is my room.
My map indicated that the road north to Raglan was sealed. That didn't turn out to be true. Twenty miles were dirt (not so bad) and gravel (horrid).
Dave Gale and two of his Moto Guzzi Sports. Dave keeps his machines very clean. The black one is the one I rode--that white pillion cover was removed, which is where I strapped my duffle bag.
The idea was to reach Ohinewai and turn east to avoid the congestion of Hamilton.
I stopped for the day in Opotiki. It was still early, but I was not in any hurry, and in any event, I wasn't sure how easy it would be to find a hotel.
And, the Masonic Hotel was nice enough. A clean room, with bath and shower down the hall.
It was pretty cold and wet the next morning. I don't like starting a morning ride in the rain, but that's what I did.
Not my favorite kind of road... I think I had five kilometers of this sort of thing. It looks worse than it is, but it's still not good.
I followed the coastline all the way around
Not too far from Gisborne. Virtually all the beaches I saw were empty.
Napier
This is Porangahau Beach.
Wellington
Blenheim
Invercargill
The road to Milford Sound
Milford Sound
Lake Wakatipu.
The Crown Range Road is the highest paved road in New Zealand.
Haast Pass
Arthur's Pass
Waikari is a very small place, but it has a good hotel.
Maruia River. The Maruia Falls were created by an earthquake of 1929.
You know you're in Marlborough by the vineyards.
The Rangitikei River.
Chateau Tongariro was from the outside easily the most impressive place I stayed. Those windows at the top? One of those is my room.
My map indicated that the road north to Raglan was sealed. That didn't turn out to be true. Twenty miles were dirt (not so bad) and gravel (horrid).
Dave Gale and two of his Moto Guzzi Sports. Dave keeps his machines very clean. The black one is the one I rode--that white pillion cover was removed, which is where I strapped my duffle bag.