Hello!
After much proding and assistance coupled with an extreme amount of patience from Gary, I have been encouraged to join the forum in order to post a few of the trips that I have been lucky to be invited on and write about. I have been riding for 18 years. Ever since I flung a leg over a bike, I had always wanted a BMW and said that I wanted to ride in New Zealand and Alaska. They say that all you have to do is put it out there and somehow the universe makes it happen. Well, both riding experiences did happen as well as being fortunate enough to drive cross country including some parts of Canada as well. Now who does that their first year of riding...? Someone who has to make up for lost time, hey! Kurt was kind enough to do the conversion of an article that I wrote about touring in New Zealand. The article appeared in the BMWMOA magazine a few years back. Since then, I have returned to New Zealand for an on road/off road tour and was invited to tour in Alaska! So, dreams and wishes do come true. I hope you enjoy reading the article and it promts you to go for it. BMWMichele
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by Michele Bissonnette #84750
On January 19, 2010, I boarded an early flight in Boston bound for New Zealand and a tour with Adventure New Zealand Motorcycle Tours & Rentals Ltd. I was going to that magical, mystical playground that I had heard so many stories about ever since I started in the world of motorcycling 16 years ago. In just 12 hours and 2 days, I was on the other side of the world and what a wonderful part of the world it is. I left my New England winter behind and flew right into New Zealand summer. New Zealand is a feast for the eyes and a smorgasbord for the senses.
I found that in order to tell you everything about touring in New Zealand, I would have to write a book. Instead I'll serve it up as a delicious five-course meal, the way that it was presented to me each day of the tour.
Since New Zealand was colonized by the British, you can see its influences all around, especially in the bed and breakfasts. Each one is comfortable and inviting especially after our full days of riding. The hosts at each one we stayed at exuded a vitality and charm. They enjoyed our company and talked with us about what we experienced each day. These inns are full of amenities; there's tea in every room, Sherry and Port wine, and even a chocolate on your pillow! It's a great place to go if you're traveling two-up. Some feature a built in swimming pool, Jacuzzi tubs, computers accessibility and pool tables. You won't get any complaints from your riding partner. After a long day of riding, the friendliness and hospitality at each B&B is very welcoming.
Below: Riding off the beaten path on my BMW R1200R through Mt. Lyford Village over rivers, into valleys and over mountain ranges.
After much proding and assistance coupled with an extreme amount of patience from Gary, I have been encouraged to join the forum in order to post a few of the trips that I have been lucky to be invited on and write about. I have been riding for 18 years. Ever since I flung a leg over a bike, I had always wanted a BMW and said that I wanted to ride in New Zealand and Alaska. They say that all you have to do is put it out there and somehow the universe makes it happen. Well, both riding experiences did happen as well as being fortunate enough to drive cross country including some parts of Canada as well. Now who does that their first year of riding...? Someone who has to make up for lost time, hey! Kurt was kind enough to do the conversion of an article that I wrote about touring in New Zealand. The article appeared in the BMWMOA magazine a few years back. Since then, I have returned to New Zealand for an on road/off road tour and was invited to tour in Alaska! So, dreams and wishes do come true. I hope you enjoy reading the article and it promts you to go for it. BMWMichele
============================================================
by Michele Bissonnette #84750
On January 19, 2010, I boarded an early flight in Boston bound for New Zealand and a tour with Adventure New Zealand Motorcycle Tours & Rentals Ltd. I was going to that magical, mystical playground that I had heard so many stories about ever since I started in the world of motorcycling 16 years ago. In just 12 hours and 2 days, I was on the other side of the world and what a wonderful part of the world it is. I left my New England winter behind and flew right into New Zealand summer. New Zealand is a feast for the eyes and a smorgasbord for the senses.
I found that in order to tell you everything about touring in New Zealand, I would have to write a book. Instead I'll serve it up as a delicious five-course meal, the way that it was presented to me each day of the tour.
Since New Zealand was colonized by the British, you can see its influences all around, especially in the bed and breakfasts. Each one is comfortable and inviting especially after our full days of riding. The hosts at each one we stayed at exuded a vitality and charm. They enjoyed our company and talked with us about what we experienced each day. These inns are full of amenities; there's tea in every room, Sherry and Port wine, and even a chocolate on your pillow! It's a great place to go if you're traveling two-up. Some feature a built in swimming pool, Jacuzzi tubs, computers accessibility and pool tables. You won't get any complaints from your riding partner. After a long day of riding, the friendliness and hospitality at each B&B is very welcoming.
Below: Riding off the beaten path on my BMW R1200R through Mt. Lyford Village over rivers, into valleys and over mountain ranges.