Pearls On Wheels

We saved the best for last. The longest distance we have ever ridden two up in one day. From Marlborough's Wairau Valley vineyards... To lake Rotoiti And the forest-clad hills  That accompany us south and to the west coast. Coffee stop at the Beeches in Murchison Awesome pies for lunch in Hokitika Whitebait fritters at the Paringa Salmon Farm. So good to be on familiar roads, So close to home We decide to make a run for Queenstown while the sun is still shining. Through the Gates of Haast Over the Haast Pass To the warmth of Central Otago at Makarora Along the shorelines of Lake Wanaka and Lake Hawea Through the early evening golden light  Etching patterns on slopes of the Crown Range. Home to Te Komata  Our house on the hill Which welcomes us with open arms. We are truly blessed to live in this part  of the world. Vineyards spread across the Wairau Valley. Home of Marlborough wines.   Lake Rotoiti - high water this summer. Beyond lake Rotoiti ...

We began our ride at the Meridian in Greenwich on Sunday 29 May 2016 Our first farewell from Hamish and Melba. Across the Tower Bridge To the Ace Cafe in North London To meet our friend and fellow round the world motorcyclist Fern Hume Our second farewell... To Folkestone our first riding day, And to Calais on the Eurochunnel train. First stop Belgium. North to Hirtshals in Denmark Ferry to Iceland And return  North through the fjords of Norway To our first milestone  NordKapp, as far north as you can ride in Europe South through Finland Ferry to Estonia, then Latvia, Lithuania Poland, Czech, Austria, Switzerland, Italy... Slovenia and Croatia. Aaah... a rest with family A trip home to NZ. Back on the road eastward through the Balkans Then Romania, Serbia and Turkey East to Georgia, Armenia and Iran Sharjah, Dubai... A trip to NZ and back. Egypt A long wait for Orlanda to arrive A long wait for customs clearance A long wait for Sudanese visas... ... but wonderful  places ...

Up with the sunrise, Early breakfast, On the road... Jörg takes us through the back roads Wineries, hay bales It has been the harvest season in every country we have visited. North to south Becomes a ride east west  Around the coast. First stop Hermanus A very smart seaside town Sculptures along the water front One is aptly called traveller, Our last coffee  On the road To Rooi Els A village where bikers gather Before the ride along the spectacular coast to CapeTown.   5.30am sunrise at Bredasdorp.         Kayakers setting off.   Traveller ...    Taking a dive.   Proteas. Apparently they need fire every four or five years to allow them to thrive. Eucalypts do, too.         Khayelitsha  the largest and fastest growing township in South Africa.   Table  Mountain.   Mission accomplished.