Pearls On Wheels

Dick has returned from his camel riding expedition in the Sahara in Chad. The iron camel is ready to ride. It is a stunning day. There is fresh snow on the mountain tops. We set off to Glenorchy for lunch and then onward over the Rees and dart rivers to Kinloch and through three river crossings to Greenstone Valley at the end of the road. Some days are perfect for a ride. This is one of them.

One of the delights of being member of the RTW motorcycling community is the pleasure of meeting people who are fellow adventurers. No explanations are required. An unspoken understanding prevails. Adventurous stories are shared. Click on the links and you can enjoy some amazing stories, too. My first bike spotting was Phil and Dawn's bike in Arrowtown. Prudhoe bay and Arctic Circle stickers on the panniers shouted out to me.  I left a note in one of the helmets.  By the time I got home the phone was ringing.  Phil and Dawn came round and we enjoyed an evening of stories  including their rides in Alaska and the Trans America Trail. Great to share another woman's experiences. Folk reading my Come, walk with me blog  will have met Fern  who has been staying with me in Queenstown. Fern rode solo from london to Nepal through Europe, Turkey, Iran, the Stans, China Pakistan last year. This morning Marko from Finland came to visit. He h...

Fueled up with splendid bacon and eggs at Seagars and Trish's smile we ride south. Through the Springfield area where  Hubbard and Jebson relatives farmed in the 1800's Over the Rakaia Gorge bridge To the McKenzie Basin where what was once barren land has been transformed by irrigation  into green, lush dairy-farming country. Haymakers are busy today. To Tarras for a cuppa. Merino wool used to make  Icebreaker   clothes is produced from sheep raised here on Bendigo Station. Our Icebreaker tee shirts and long sleeve tops and leggings have kept us warm in the cold places and the tee shirts kept us cool in the tropics. After 8 months of daily wear on our motorcycle journeys the icebreaker clothing is in excellent condition. Lupins mark our path through the Cardrona Valley and fill the air with a delicate perfume. We are home in Queenstown again. Over 75,000km later Mella has returned to where we started in April 2012. Where to next...