I have to say that Bluff is not all that it’s cracked up to be – it’s much, much better. Situated at the south of the South Island, you can’t find a port-side town that reflects the weather as much as Bluff. I’ve had the pleasure of sailing to and from Stewart Island from Bluff a number of times (mostly on the good ship Huia, a Noelex 25) and regardless of the weather, Nature is always right there in your face. Saturday’s weather was sublime with a very light northerly. Regrettably, I didn’t get on or in the water and my quest for a taste of kai moana was thwarted by the empty pie warmer. The taste of the famous Bluff oyster will have to wait for another visit; perhaps May 26, 2018 when the Bluff Oyster festival is back on.

Another highlight of the trip was visiting Motorcycle Mecca in Invercargill.

I have often wondered what a flying merkel would look like. These guys have the definitive version. Here is The Flying Merkel.

Check out all the chrome on the post-war Indian as well. 1200cc’s and a single seater so a whole lot of power without having to share.

The other gem pictured is a 1974 Ducati 750SS – my claim to fame is that for a brief moment in time, I owned a GT version of this bike. The Super Sport is a much rarer collectible piece of machinery.

The trip down memory lane is well worth the entry to Motorcycle Mecca in Invercargill and Bluff is always worth the visit – don’t let a sunny day put you off!