Final Words

It was a great trip for many reasons:

It was a dream realized.When Barbara and I went to New Zealand in 2000, we agreed that it was beautiful beyond anything we had envisioned. We also both appreciated the kindness of the people and the hospitality we experienced. I said then that if it weren't for family I would love to live in New Zealand.

Since I started riding a motorcycle again in 2002 I've had the desire to ride around NZ on 2 wheels, even more so since my tour of the US and Canada in 2007. When David agreed last year to go with me I rejoiced and started making plans. David loves to ride and I knew how much fun he would have riding through the hills, mountains, and along the coasts of NZ.

Neither one of us was disappointed.

It is the most beautiful of places.

Yes, there are other places in the world as beautiful, in fact, there are places all over the US and Canada. But the amount of natural beauty in such a compact area is beyond anything I've experienced. You've seen photos so you have an idea but there is nothing like seeing it, feeling it and embracing it in open air. As pretty as the pictures may be the most awesome views are those that you only glimpse for a split second as you wind your way down the mountain. No place to pull over, no shoulder, no rail.

If you like mountains, rolling hills, rocky seashore, or beautiful beaches you'll love NZ. If you like any kind of outdoor sport be it on the water, on the mountain, or in the air you'll love NZ. If you understand Cricket you'll like it even more. If you desire cultural diversity you'll find it here. If you like unspoiled, natural, colorful, you'll experience it.

Beautiful, breathtaking, awesome, unbelievable, fantastic, inspiring, humbling, and gratifying, just some of the words that describe the scenic beauty we rode through.





We felt accepted, even loved wherever we went.

When you travel you expect a certain amount of customer service. You often appreciate the hospitality you experience when someone does a little extra. In NZ the overall hospitality we experienced was phenomenal. Many people went out of their way to help us, direct us, and listen to us. Everyone made us feel welcome and sincere in their desire to make our vacation great. All of the hosts at all the fantastic places we stayed, all the servers in the restaurants we ate at, all the petrol station attendants who answered our questions made our trip even more wonderful. It is interesting that in a country where tipping is not customary, service people are more, not less hospitable.

Of particular note are the B&B's we stayed at. With one exception the people were interested in spending time with us, getting to know us and demonstrating their pride of country. I am encouraged to be more hospitable as the result of our encounters with the folks in NZ.

For the first time ever David and I heard the expression "Bob's Your Uncle". It cracked us both up. We hope to be able to use it often.

The riding was great.

The roads were very good in general, even though there were almost no shoulders except on major highways in the higher traffic areas. The scenery from the saddle of our bikes was awesome, even though there are far too few scenic overlooks and turnoffs. The riding was great in spite of riding on the left and over innumerable one lane bridges. The signage was excellent and helped us greatly.



The twisties, the bendees, the hairpins, the switchbacks, and the sweeping curves coupled with the scenic surroundings make this motorcyclist heaven and trump all other considerations. The other thing about days of riding, sometimes in challenging situations, is that you become a better rider. Overcoming the bitter cold, the driving rain, the loose gravel, and cows in the road all made the trip more satisfying.

Our friendship grew.

David and I have taken trips before and had a good time. But spending nearly 3 weeks together mostly on the other side of the world is a little different than a few days in the smokies. We didn't always agree and occasionally feelings got hurt but it only served to strengthen our relationship. When there are two and you are on motorcycles you have to be able to trust each other. The leader has to make good decisions that will make sure he doesn't put his riding partner in danger, and the trailer must feel confident following the leader into an unmarked curve. We had some tense rides but we never were in fear.

My faith grew.

Being in a place that demonstrates the beauty of creation in such a dramatic way raised my awareness of what God has given us. Experiencing the good will of the people of New Zealand increased my faith in mankind, God's most complex creature. Trusting God for our safety throughout our ride increased my reliance on him.

I had a fine set of wheels.

We rented our bikes through Reuthers, but they were supplied by dealers in Auckland. I picked up my 2009 Harley Road King Classic from Auckland Motorcycles & Power Sports. It only had the break-in kilometers and was brand spanking new. Ray Pratt Managing Director and Greg, the rental manager handled everything in typical friendly Kiwi fashion. I enjoyed the 6 speed transmission and even more the anti-lock brakes. The one occasion when I had to put on the brakes hard the rear wheel did not lock up and the bike stayed perfectly straight.

I'll treasure this trip for the rest of my life and feel blessed to have taken it with David. "Bob's Your Uncle"