Jeffrey was up early in order to shop for breakfast before we left on the final 254kms to WATOC, the site of the World Triumph Rally, the prime reason for our visit to New Zealand, he was charged with checking our helicopter flight to the Fox Glacier.

In due course he returned a little wet as the rain from the night before had not ceased. He did not look all that happy but we assumed it was the wet weather.

Laura said "Jeffrey what's for breakfast? His reply "forget breakfast we have big problems!"

First the helicopters are not flying due to the weather but that's only a small issue our real problem is dirt. "Dirt what is your bike dirty?",we asked.

No it's 750 metres long, he replied as we thought has he fallen off and not with it.

Then he told us the whole story.

Overnight the rain had been intensive and the high mountain passes that I had checked out the afternoon before had collapsed covering the SH6 (State Highway 6) with many metres of rocks,trees and soil one slip alone covering over 750metres. Then a gap and a second slip of also very large proportions after that.

We had breakfast,packed the bikes, donned wet weather gear and gathered at the local information centre looking for the latest hourly updates.

We waited no new news at 9am,10am,11am they day was slipping away then they announced next update would be 12.30pm MONDAY (it was Friday now), so we filled at 2.28litre like $50 just for a motorcycle tank.

We had no options Tom Tom was telling me it would be 885kms South then East then North just to get us near to where we were going the night before.

With such a major diversion we took no time to look for accommodation as really who knew how far we would get as the road was already very busy with Campervans,buses,cars and trucks all making the decision to head out of the area and either try for a East Coast crossing or return to bases in the South.

I took time to ring our Hanmer Springs accommodation to alert them to our non arrivial but onging need for that accommodation.

The one good thing being the rain ceased and we got to see the scenery we had missed on the previous wet days as we travelled North.

in short time we passed Fox Glacier the Haast both being stops overnight on the North trip, then we arrived in Wanaka also another days travel but now only a midday refueling stop. The we commenced the West Coast to East Coast crossing something that we had done taking a couple of days before, the irrigation schemes that use the hydro schemes water again offered delightful vast rivers of blue waters.

Lunch was taken but blurred as km's needed to be covered in record time. We know it was a lovely cafe with a landing strip next to the road and a great range of food and the sign in the title was located but where?

We again visited Twizel but no stop at The Muster's Hut this time then onto Tekapo for a refuel. Here we were met by other motorcyclists who were at our Motel but by now called it a day they offered a room for us but after consultations we decided to push on.

I was really thoughtful of the strain on Jeffrey for holding up on such a long day.

We again stopped to regroup, I have been known to "push on" when twisty sections are found and were joined by Sephen an English rider who wasnt sure which way he should tackle this diversion.

We entered a valley and suddenly temperatures dropped from around 20oC to the low single digits as we were shaded in the area and the cold was bone chilling so I diverted into Glendaline a town I had visited before and contains a number of motels, holiday stays and a hotel.

I asked and yes we all found the cold too much and as we had cobered over 600kms in the day we looked for and didnt find accommodation.

Thousands of tourists where all on the East coast without bookings while over 3000 beds were empty on the West Coast. I checked even the back street motels with no luck the pulled up to the backpackers hotel.

Being the only person at he counter I thought my luck was in but the lady at he counter had heard the same story all day even her backpacker dorm rooms were taken.

Then she said I have one last change there is a Farm Stay about 8kms out of town and asked if we would be interested. Well you know how some people get kissed without knowing the other half yes this was one of those times.

By then her lobby was full all asking Can we have it?

I was still head of the que as she left to phone them.

They replied yes two rooms only left at $30 per head!

I grabbed with both hands Cabin 1, then I found out you need your own linen. Only a minor issue I thought so boldly asked "Can I hire linen from the hote?"

Yes no problems so I turned to the next in line and again boldly asked "Can you take the linen out in your car?" They agreed so I said Hi to his wife and what was happening as we quickly remounted and speed out of town with Tom Tom having no need of the written directions.

We soon had Cabin 1 only to find we actually had 5 beds,I offered to go back into town and try to sublet the extra beds but was hounded down so instead just rode into town and picked up a Chinese takeaway.

Despite a few downsides like a communial kitchen and showers that were "just there" we settled down to dnner only to see Steven walk in so we invited him to join us as he munched away on his tin of cold baked beans so really we were in the lap of luxury with our Lemon Chicken and tea all steaming hot.