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Re: Touring The South Island of New Zealand



Jonathen,

How depressing to hear of the road changes --- I'm in pain just imagining
the poor bloke with the broken apendages.

Lance LaCerte
- -----Original Message-----
From: Jonathan Schulster <Schulster@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: ST@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx <ST@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Monday, April 19, 1999 2:25 AM
Subject: Re: Touring The South Island of New Zealand


>All the rest is true, but as of 1999 the roads are in truely appalling
condition.  Some bright spark at the NZ roads ministry decided to stretch
the bitumen by adding kerosene to it; this melts at about 20C, so you have
nice liquid tar all over the roads, especially on the corners. Just to
improve on this the 'fix' is to cover this liquid slurry in loose gravel!
>Our no. 3 rider on tour #9901 ended up in Christchurch via air ambulance
with one broken leg and one broken ankle; he was lucky to get out without
with both still attached.  I'm not saying don't go, but if you do take some
off-road lessons first or BE VERY CAREFUL.  Another 'road hazard' (also true
in Oz) is that the really great off-road sections are covered in used engine
oil by the farmers to keep the dust down; when you return to tarmac you have
next to zero grip, especially if its raining (which it often does).
>...and if you miss all of those the 3 converging flocks of 10,000 sheep
near Queenstown are certain to surprise you :)
>
>NZ was still the best tour I ever did; the best roads (for bends), least
traffic and most incredible scenary imaginable; it was so good I want to go
again next year.  I just hope they change/improve their road maintenance
policy before they get so bad as to require a trailie bike.  Btw, the Sprint
ST is of course the favoured form of transport;  John Fitzwater has a few
for hire :)
>
>cheers
>Jonathan
>
>
>>>> "Lance LaCerte, Psy.D." <LACPSYD@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> 17/04/99 08:09:03 >>>
>My 2 cents on the South Island,
>
>Took a 2 week Edelweiss bike tour of the South Island a couple of years
ago.
>Without a doubt, one of the best rides I have ever done (that includes all
>over the U.S., and several tours in Europe).  The South Island is not only
>lovely, but the roads are in good shape, there is nobody down there --- we
>rode for hours and passed cars every 20-30 minutes, and the people, without
>exception were the friendliest we have encountered ---- as an added bonus,
>Queenstown is a blast --- bunging jumping that'll either stop or jump start
>your heart, jet boat boating on the local rivers, etc., etc., etc.   If you
>ever get a chance to ride there, don't pass it up.
>
>Lance LaCerte,  Denver, CO   (With the extra fast red ST at the dealer
>waiting for me, but I won't give them one cent over my $200 deposit, until
>they replace the centerstand [some idiot in their parts department didn't
>know what the replacement centerstands were and apparently sent them
back!],
>and replace the engine bolts!!!!)
>-----Original Message-----
>
>
>
>
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