Moments after this photo of Darryl Kitto was taken with the Rakaia River in the background Darryl was dead.

The last few days have had their ups and downs in a number of different ways.

Their has been high speed document runs, ice skating on newly laid road surfaces interlaced with scenery that stll defies the written word and rides that challenge both man and machine so much so that a rerun was called for.

our journey saw us leaving Motueka and travelling into Nelso, then on to Blenheim and then turning South towards Christchurch again on SH1.

Our first overnight stop was Kaikoura on the East coast. Its a well known haunt for tourists with whale watching, jet boat rides, hiking, Kayaks infact most thrill sports are catered for.The next morning I took a short detour up to the local lookout which revealed we were on a small pennisula with photographic opportunties in every direction.

Our interest was in the good rides that SH1 offered as it bisected the coast and the Seaward Kaikoura Range often the two being only a hundred meters apart just enough for the road to cling to the shoreline closely followed by the main North South railway line that is often protected from rock falls by short concrete tunnels. The road not so protected warns continually of rock falls and is the scene of ongoing massive reconstruction by Fulton Hogan, the main road contractors in New Zealand.

Well maybe they were. The NZ Government just announced the next major contract had been let to a Chinese company who have permission to bring in the labour from Fiji? Fulton Hogan is incidentally the largest private employer of Maori workers. So it would seem like most One World Governments NZ has abandoned their First Nations people is real terms while still engaging in "talkfests."

We noticed that virtually every traffic controller appeared to be enjoying their work and would time permit freely engage in conversations with motorists while waiting their turn at one lane areas.

I had gone ahead to ensure my tyres were well rounded and then stopping at Cheviot for breakfast and to allow the others to catch up I was soon joinedby other motorcyclists also as this stretch of road provides a "thrill ride"according to Tom Tom.

After refueling we continued South and at one of these road construction stops I was annoined with a quick return some 42kms back to retrieve "left property", that run and the return enabled a better line around the curves and a much brisker assent rate so I didnt mind and soon caught up with the lost property then returning South to catch up before Christchurch.

I made for the general area where the bikes had to be dropped the next morning and after riding to the place Dave of Get Routed had said had car washes we soon realised yes they did but only automatic ones for cars cerainly not suitable for motorcycles. I attended some six more and they were all the same but returnng to the hotel they were only too willing to provide a hose to go with the wash and cloth I carry. jeffrey was not impressed when Mitre 10 charged him almost $24 for one can of degreaser when back in Australia it is often 10 cans for under $20! The bikes came up well and the hotel dining room provided a lovely meal.

Next morning we attended the freight depot and actually met Clint for the first time who showed us where to leave the bikes as Dave the shipper had already returned to Melbourne.

We gathered up another rider,Michael, who had the whole day to fill in before an evening flight and soon we were in our hire car and outside Mike Pero's Motorcycle Gallery (Mike was a New Zealand 250cc Champion for 4 years). Just as well we had a brochure and Tom Tom as it is located in a residential area beside Mike's home.

The museum caters for Japanese bikes from the 1970-80 & 90's so was a museum I could personally identify with. It has around 60 motorcycles all bar two are loaned by their owners to Mike's Gallery. A couple of hours was well spent and incidentially if you return within 12 months admission then is free.

We dropped Michael at the airport and were soon in farming lands with turnip, lucerne and grain crops interposed with dairy cattle on irrigated pastures.

Upon arrival at our self contained cottage the owner suggested a drive to view Mt Hutt and the Rakaia Gorge. Despite standing at the same spot of Darryl's death by falling 30m to the rocks below the Gorge still held beauty rarely seen.