Two Bob Tourist

 My travel days are over.  Sadly.  Bikes all unused.  Keith still holds the R1200 GSA The Dakar is at Pelorus  In Aussie I have a KLR 650 and a Yamaha TW200 just for fun and a Dead Honda postie two speed.  Sad ! 

This will get not just a few people nor just tourists exercised. Trucks the peril and destroyer of our roads will now become a moving obstruction at 80kph. Tourists seeking a quiet sleep in their Van's and tents will know all about engine braking, so maybe just maybe some people on some roads will get a decent sleep. I return to NZ after many travels to be amazed every time. Why do we not have proper roads. The roads like ours anywhere else are limited to 80 km but just over there is another proper road of multiple lanes with higher speed limits. No where else in the world except maybe Iceland or parts of Scandinavia do they have our roads and call them the "main road" We have spent our petrol tax on social welfare projects. But who is surprised. Our roads are below standard. Our politicians are below standard. Our corporate management the same. Our productivity well below standard. In fact we are just a third rate outfit and a bronze in anything is pretty go...

Forget the tourists what about the locals...... I tried to get a sailing from South to North, nothing till tomorrow. Only two sailings on Monday.. So take note people travel when we at Interislander say ....and we do not have to explain any lack of service. We are a typical NZ operation that does not give a toss about anything other than our wages. Good luck if you have the mistaken view that NZ has well run operations and competent management.. as the simple answer is we dont. Just kids learning on the job then we screw up and leave with a go away and dont sue us bonus and we recruit another lot of clods. Interesting way to run a business. And to show we know how smart we are we run full of cars and trucks and not many people..so why do we have huge ferries that carry lots of people? But I guess it's like selling the ice cream business and then supplying the new owner with commodity priced milk/cream.  We are a smart nation for sure.

I had hoped to be half way round Australia by now but.... I am down on the farm tending my pals. I have a couple of Arapawa ewes both of them have delivered twin girls. What luck. One the oldest i have that I call Dolly she is terrific. The other Dollys niece two pretty little twins. Amazing how they differ one is hard and strong the other soft and weak. I hope they survive. This sheep has wonderful green eyes. Her mum was much friendlier. Fingers crossed.

Beware of these people ! They have instructed the staff at the redundant screening into Sydney airport to steal Swiss Cards from travellers. Nothing better to do since there is no actual threat to anyone they are making their own CRISIS ! And should you unhappily have had a joint replacement then you are automatically under suspicion. That means removing a great deal more clothing including watches , REDICULOUS !!!!

Left Main Beach late Saturday after loosing a darned credit card which I discovered stuck to the bottom of my iPad , So Beaudesert for a cup of tea and as dusk set in and dead Roos lined the road I slowed. I finally made Stanthorpe a small town on the Qld border. No rain s For 18 months the man said, it was minus 5 and no frost because there was no moisture. Well would you believe it the next morning light 4ain that followed me half the day. Very unpleasant riding but a delightful countryside. So on I went stopping for a tank of gas and a coffee. My favourite Shell station provided both. And on and on and on as it got bloody cold and I crossed the Great Dividing Range again. Places like Armidale and Tamworth and past the Blue Heeler statue that I missed in the dark. Pleased to arrive in Constitution Hill. 850 kms and about 10 hours. Bike went well. Enjoyed the ride despite the adverse conditions..