Page 39 - NZ Ulyssian December

fuel up at the new NPD station and go the Grey River Bridge. Once fuelled, we which always greets me with sunny
to the Springs Junction cafe and have head over the bridge, through the small days. We rest at the car park beside the
a surprisingly good coffee while sitting village of Runanga and onto the glorious Buller River near the town end of the
in the sun. A milk tanker heads north coastal ride to Punakaiki. It is a straight impressive Buller River bridge. The route
towards Murchison. We take the left turn blast alongside the ocean with a few to Murchison is a sometimes narrow road
towards Reefton and Greymouth. I like gnarly corners thrown in. I stop for thirty perched on cliff faces following the Buller
this stretch of road from Springs Junction seconds and take a couple of photos. On River. It passes through the small town of
to Reefton. to Punakaiki, sadly now overdeveloped, Inangahua - just roll your tongue over that
It is 123ksm from Springs Junction and through Charleston and past Virgin’s Flat name. In - nang - ga -hua delightful. We
190km to Murchison, and although both - I kid you not - my mind-boggling as to fuel up at the Mobil Murchison and head
bikes are probably good for 300 plus how the name came about. Flat virgins, to the Beechwoods Cafe.
km, we elect to refuel at the Greymouth anyone? A couple pull up on what looks like a
Z station. I chuckle to myself as James Westport once had a ‘hick’ town brand new yellow and white with orange
forgets the quickest away to the Z station image but is now re-inventing itself as a trim Moto Guzzi V85TT (I know because
is to turn left at the little hill that leads to west coast tourist stop. I like Westport I googled it). They are heading eventually
to Queenstown. Now what happens next
has happened to James and I before.
A middle-aged to elderly couple walk
past, he looks longingly at our bikes plus
the Moto Guzzi, she gives us a lemony
lipped look. “She won’t let him have one
(motorbike),” James drily comments.
It is 60km from Murchison to St
Arnaud, nestled on the shores of Lake
Rotoiti the source of the Buller River. I
have sailed and kayaked on the lake and
camped on its shores, and it remains a

Ulyssian DECEMBER 2021 | 39