uesday 2nd Dec
Set off for the Nevis Valley Road, a very long and twisty gravel road through the Nevis Valley. The highest public road in New Zealand. I was recommended this trail by Phil who I met at the Yamaha stand at the Big Boy's Toy show back in Auckland. Phil you failed to tell me about the 27 river crossings some of them over 2 feet deep and there is no petrol station at Garston anymore, thankfully I had a fairly full tank as I had filled up yesterday evening just before I stopped for the day. What a laugh caught up with a couple of guys at one of the many gates, Paul on a 650 Husqvana and Tom on a 650 BMW. We ended up riding together for the rest of the trail. On one of the deeper crossings I decided I wasn't wet enough and through my bike and me in the river, drowning my camera, 2 phones and me. You will never have seen me move so fast I was up and lifted the bike up before I had time to say (well best not repeat that) Luckily it was on the way out and not in the deepest part and the engine did not suck in any water and once I had pushed it out of the river (with the help of Paul and Tom) it eventually started. By the time we had reached the end of the trail I had nearly dried out except for my boots. When we reached the Bannockburn Hotel I wrung my socks out and emptied the water out of my boots and put on a dry pair of socks before going in for a beer. I was feeling quite knackered now after 2 days of hard but fun riding and decided to head for Queenstown and find somewhere to stay, all the backpackers were full and motels were far to pricy so its up with the tent tonight. I laid out my phone's and camera in the sun while pitching my tent and will leave them wrapped in paper towel tonight, now playing the waiting game to see if they still work after they dry out. Feeling absolutely knackered but had another fantastic day and an early night for me.

Wednesday 3rd Dec
It rained all night and was still raining in the morning, hard to sleep with all that noise going on I have decided to stay put for now really don't want to pack up the tent in the pouring rain.