Better late than never.
4 day trip around Central Otago.
We started off from Duntroon on Thursday the 5th.
8 bikes. 4 KTMs (1 x 530, 1 x 525, 2 x 450) 2 Kawasakis (1 '84 KLR600, 1 KLX300) 2 Suzukis (1 DRZ250, 1 DRZ 400) and me on my XR400.
Quick spin over Danseys (stopping for the obligatory pint) then into Ranfurly for a fuel up. From here we went up to a place called Garibaldi Diggings on the North Rough Ridge. From here we travesed the Rough Ridge south and followed 'Sheenans Track' down into the Ida Valley. Rough Ridge is right! One of the farmers warned us that the track isn't very well defined in places and he was right. We were riding virgin terrain and bloody rough in places but the GPS kept us on the straight and narrow. Over night camp by the river not far from Omakau.
Day 2. The petrol station owner in Omakau obviously isn't a morning person! So we had to have a small route change to Alexandra for petrol and over the Hawksburn rd to Cromwell, there is an alternative rougher track that runs to the side and crosses the main road a few times just out of Earnsleuth which I had a pretty decent stack on. I came over a hump going slightly too fast and landed in some blind ruts (Blind ruts are ruts that are hidden by foot high grass!!) Front wheel in one rut, rear in its neighbour ouch!!. Ditched our gear at a mates place in Cromwell and set off on 'special stage 1' (Special because we didn't have all our gear!)
I broke my gear lever about 5 mins into the Carricktown track. A quick trip back to get my spare and we were off again. Turned off up the Nevis and took the road to the right immediately after Nevis Crossing that heads towards Doolans Saddle. We got to a farm house where the farmer informed us that a gate about 1/2 an hour up the track is locked and he'd fly up there and unlock it and he wasn't joking. We were waiting by the locked gate and next thing a chopper flies around the hill lands just beside us gets out unlocks the gate lets the boys through, locks the gate again and flies off!! You're a bloody legend Willie!!! The track then comes out at Coal Pits saddle and down Coal Pit rd to the Kawarau gorge and back to Cromwell.
The road is very bloody rough and makes the Carricktown look like SH1.
Day 3. From Cromwell straight up to Leaning Rock and the summit of the Dunstan range. Across the summit and down onto Thompson Gorge road. The road along the summit was a bit rutted but fast. Down to Thompson Gorge Rd was all rutts, we were just about cross eyed from concentrating on them by the end.
Out Thompson Gorge road at good pace and along to St Bathans.
The 530 exc collapsed it's rear wheel bearing just before St Bathans so there was a bit of a wait there so we could get new ones from Alexandra.
From there we took the road over the Omarama Saddle following the East branch (there are 2 different routes over). A couple of boys had a swim much to everyones amusement. Then from Omarama to Otematata, the boys in blue stopped my for a wee chat, after blowing negative for booze we continued to Benmore Dam for the night.
Day 4.
We followed the Otematata River right up to where it starts in the middle of nowhere. This was one wicked road, rough as guts some great hill climbs. We did a 500 vertical meter climb in the space 1.5 k's on a goat track which was a highlight for most. We came out on the Mt Buster road a quick detour to Ranfurly for fuel and back over Danseys for a some well earnt beer.
All 'n all a bloody good trip! A bit rougher than your normal Adventure ride but an adventure it was!!
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