Flat out no go

Boy were we prepared for this trip. This morning we had bags packed and bikes ready then .... Trumpy wouldn't start, dead, click, click, no starter. With no possibility of a repair before Monday at the earliest we made the decision to can the bikes and take the car.

It will be a slower, warmer holiday.

The gear list

Heres what I'm taking - hope its suitable. First up what I am wearing:

• motorcycle protective jacket & trousers with armour
• leather gloves
• buff
• helmet
• italian leather motorcycle boots
• merino t-shirt
• merino jersey
• merino long-johns

In the paniers:

• draggin jeans
• Trumpy t-shirt
• 2 merino t-shirts
• 2 merino long sleeved tops
• merino cardigan
• soft brown dress trousers
• flats
• jandals
• organza scarf
• long-sleeved shirt
• makeup in small bottles
• shampoo etc in small bottles
• first aid, panadol etc
• small gifts for our hosts
• hairbrush & comb
• underwear
• pyjamas

And for the bikes

• lock
• tie downs

2 sleeps

O my God, I'm so excited about our upcoming trip. Bag is packed and I will repack it again tomorrow to make sure I have everything and not too much. Theres a wee gift for baby Angus, lightweight and squashable, oh, and its organic too.

$15 bought us a red plastic covered wire with padlock attachment which will be handy for locking our helmets to a bike on the ferry.

Weather forcast is being watched closely - what do I do about the bad weather? Pray, cringe, pack more warm things? Thats motorcycling for you - open to the elements, the smell of the countryside filling your nostrils, the sun on your back (or the rain down your neck).

Invercargill Prep

3 sleeps to go. The bikes are ready, the ferry is booked and we leave on Sunday.

Months of talking and planning, well not much planning, will come to fruition next week when we ride down to Invercargill to participate in the weekend celebration of Burt Munro. I'm not convinced a weekend of motorcycling racing will be the joy of joys - I know the ride down will be heavenly.

The interislander offer a group discount, publicised on the Burt Munro Challenge website - take your own tie-downs thay remind me every time I telephone and we have, this week purchased lovely new Oxford Wonderbar (careful how you say it!) tie downs that will keep our sportsbike handlebars snug and tight without damaging or rubbing the fairing.

My baby blade has been into the garage today for a check-over and all ok though I was warned I will need a new back tire when I get back from this trip. So she is safe and ready to go. Trumpy is getting his check-over in-house on Saturday.

Departure time? 2:15 ferry on Sunday 23rd November 2008. The boys are looking after the pets.