Sunday, July 15, 2007

Some trip Stats...

Total distance travelled: 21,137 miles or 34,016 kms or Wellington to Auckland 56 times, $2400 in gas!
No. of tires used: 7
No. of punctures: None!
No. of Chains: 4
No. of Oil changes: 4
No. of Tolls Paid: 1 until we got to Chicago but then we lost count within half an hour
No. of times stopped by police: None!
No. of bribes paid: Well... this is the USA!
No. of nights camping: 150
No. of tents sent back to MSR: 2 (they were very good about it though)
No. of photos taken: 3042

Don't even ask how many bugs we killed...

Right now we are in the 'Gunks another world famous climbing area. Many thanks to Ben who we met in Nordegg (remember the bikini ice climbing photos?) we are now in a great little house only meters from the rock with climbing books and magazines for Africa, and Family Guy and Simpsons DVD's to entertain all of Asia....

Friday, July 13, 2007

M - The end of the Road

It has happened sooner than anyone expected, we are officially finished the motorbike tour.

Much has been happening, since the last proper post we visited Montreal staying with Josh's uni friend Phil. We had a great time there, caught a little of the Jazz festival, had dinner at Shwartz's, breakfast at Beauty's and tried to speak french when we really have no idea. All the proper Montreal activities.

Then we tried to travel around Quebec a bit and Atlantic Canada but were plagued with rain everywhere we went. My speedo going over to 44,444.4 was a major highlight in this bleak rainy time, so I took a photo:


And you can all see Splat, a little alien who joined us in Ottawa. He rode along on my radio, bobbing his head agreeing with what ever I have to say. He holds on to those little strips of duct tape you see there, and at night he crawls down and eats all the squashed bugs off the front of my bike, hence the name.

This is the confederation bridge, 13 kms long it links PEI to the mainland. It was only built a year ago and has led to a tourist explosion which the island seems to be rather enjoying.


Big tides at the Bay of Fundy.

Our last morning in the tent, we are a little bit sad, but excited to be returning to NZ.


Washing the bikes for sale outside Uncle Peter's house. We mostly just transferred the dirt from the bikes onto ourselves!

And we thought it might be a little difficult to sell my bike, but the second person to come and see it took it for a ride, and dropped it, cracking the fairing (more) and busting the windscreen. Guess what buddy - you just bought yourself a motorcycle!

Josh's bike is also sold, but is still here as we are waiting for the California DMV to send us a copy of the title before we can transfer ownership to the guy who wants it. Red tape banana.

So the plan from here is a few days rock climbing in the Gunks near NYC, and then visit my brother & family in Sante Fe before we fly home.

See you all soon!!!!

Sunday, July 08, 2007

M - Quick Update

After driving over a totally mad bridge, we are in P.E.I. having got about in Montreal, other parts of Quebec and New Brunswick. Proper update later, hopefully with photos when you also hear about our new traveling companion... and about how my odometer clocked over to 44444.4 miles!

Oh, and the tent floor has failed again. Soggy.

Monday, July 02, 2007

M - HAPPY CANADA DAY!!!!!

We are in Ottawa which is really great for a number of reasons. Great timing for one, yesterday was Canada Day, and where better to celebrate than in the Capital City. Also, my friend Dave Burtt who I met working at Biv in Welly lives here. Josh and I were thinking of doing this trip way back then, so Dave and I have been talking about meeting up in Ottawa for over 2 years now.


Finally a proper Mountie!


I waved that little flag the whole day long, and now I am trying to think of a way to fix it to my motorbike.


Damn good fireworks - thanks Steven Harper!!! (Conservative governments are good for something)


Me and Dave on the very crowded bendy bus going home. Another really fun day, and today we are going over the river to Gatineau to see the Museum of Civilisation and "The Alps" film at the Imax dome theatre.

Next stop... Montreal.