Adventure Cruise to Cheviot/Culverden

**cooneyr** · 25th October 2006, 12:34

Finally got the F licence on Tuesday (yesterday) and I've been relieved of Camper delivery duty to Nelson so what to do with this weekend, I know

I know most of the chch crowd have just been on a long straight gravel road ride so this may not what is needed for them but I think it is for me. I feel the need to do some kms and find out what works long distance i.e. clothing, ear plugs, etc and how uncomfortable the DR650 seat is.

Basic plan SH1 to Greta Valley, down to Motunau Beach, along the back roads to Gore Bay (involves some gravel I think), into Cheviot, cut across Random Spur Road and gravel roads to Culverden, sealed back roads from Huruni to Amberly via Blue Mountains and home. I'll put up a route map and check distances tonight from home. I've no idea if this is going to be a long ride (8hrs) or a short one (4hrs) as never ventured this far but then thats the point.

At this point the weather is looking better for Saturday. So first suggestion for the starting point for this ride is Shell Belfast at 9.00am on Sat the 28th .

Any useful info or comments on potential route welcome. Anybody who has the Ken Sibly 4x4 book with Random Spur road in it could they please scan and forward the pages (or I can collect). Our copy is well buryed in the house stuff somewhere.

Any starters????? I dont plan on doing this by myself given the lack of long travel distance experience so please somebody sign up!!!!

Cheers
R

**SDU** · 25th October 2006, 14:35

Sounds like a good plan. Enjoy your taking your toy out. I hope you have a blast!
I'll be working as usual.

**cooneyr** · 25th October 2006, 14:50

Originally Posted by SDU

Sounds like a good plan. Enjoy your taking your toy out. I hope you have a blast!
I'll be working as usual.

Bloody work aye! One of lifes necessary evils (till you win Lotto or similar).

R

**far queue** · 25th October 2006, 14:53

Congrats on the full, have a good ride. I can't be there sorry - family commitments. I'll be curious to know what fuel enconomy you get.

**cooneyr** · 25th October 2006, 15:13

Originally Posted by far queue

Congrats on the full, have a good ride. I can't be there sorry - family commitments. I'll be curious to know what fuel enconomy you get.

Another reason for the longer run - see how far I can go on a tank for future planning. I think I'll have to go digging for fuel containers so will probably look for Ken Sibly book at the same time so scrap the request for pages above all.

Cheers
R

**Transalper** · 25th October 2006, 16:09

Originally Posted by cooneyr

Any starters????? I dont plan on doing this by myself given the lack of long travel distance experience so please somebody sign up!!!!

Cheers
R

Yep, I'm a starter and Saturday works for me. I'll tell J about it and toss a coin as to which bike i jump on that morning.

**laRIKin** · 25th October 2006, 18:50

I want to give my bike a service before I do another big ride, I also need tires and chain and sprockets soon.
And was planning to do it this weekend.
If I get real keen and do it Friday night and I may (and that's a real maybe) able to join you.
But at this stage I will have to say no, sorry.

And Congrats on the full licence, well done.
And will ride again with you soon.

**PLUG** · 25th October 2006, 18:50

... sounds a plan CR ... have said book & there are a few other tracks along the route you've proposed, that IMO wolud be rude to ride past ... am a computer dork as you know, so will have to meet up some where/time ... pm me ...

congrats on the full liceance ... your shout ... the Hurunui has a nice garden bar ... is'nt it on our route Saturday ... bugger ...

**cooneyr** · 25th October 2006, 21:10

Awsome thats two victims. Just been playing with topomap. Very roughly along the route as per the attached image is is about 120kms belfast to Cheviot and about 140km Cheviot-Culverden-Belfast. I've filled the 650 for the first time tonight and got 150km out of 10l with about 50 of those kms riding upstream on the selwyn trip. Hopefull that with a little careful throttle use can get 180-200 from a tank (13l) so that would mean a fuel stop in Culverden.

Plug - I've noticed a couple of other potentials along the route using topomap. Be rude not to check them out.

TA - Take it that J may be keen as well. The more the merrier!

Image of route attached and same image without wiggly red line.

Cheers
R

P.S. Thanks for comments re the licence. You'll have to organise another ride soon Lemans so I can test out the "offroad" ability of the beast more.

**laRIKin** · 26th October 2006, 06:10

Originally Posted by cooneyr

You'll have to organise another ride soon Lemans so I can test out the "offroad" ability of the beast more.

I will do that hopefully after a wet day or two, to help keep that dust down.

**Transalper** · 27th October 2006, 07:56

Originally Posted by cooneyr

...Just been playing with topomap. Very roughly along the route as per the attached image is is about 120kms belfast to Cheviot and about 140km Cheviot-Culverden-Belfast. .....
Image of route attached and same image without wiggly red line.....

I joind the two maps together a couple of days ago... here's the result. (the thumb nail below dosen't do it justice, the second frame with all the white in it also shows the map on the full view)

**cooneyr** · 27th October 2006, 14:36

Originally Posted by Transalper

I joind the two maps together a couple of days ago... here's the result. (the thumb nail below dosen't do it justice, the second frame with all the white in it also shows the map on the full view)

I'm having a go slow day at work so I though I'd find some freebe animated gif software and put together the revised route (included Plugs suggestion and another potential I found). Again thumb nail looks worse than full size.

Cheers
R

**Kickaha** · 27th October 2006, 18:08

Originally Posted by cooneyr

Basic plan SH1 to Greta Valley, down to Motunau Beach, along the back roads to Gore Bay (involves some gravel I think), into Cheviot, cut across Random Spur Road and gravel roads to Culverden, sealed back roads from Huruni to Amberly via Blue Mountains and home. I'll put up a route map and check distances tonight from home. I've no idea if this is going to be a long ride (8hrs) or a short one (4hrs) as never ventured this far but then thats the point.

At this point the weather is looking better for Saturday. So first suggestion for the starting point for this ride is Shell Belfast at 9.00am on Sat the 28th .

Any useful info or comments on potential route welcome.

The road from Motunau beach through Happy Valley andThe Blythe to the Hurunui is shingle (or was a year or two back), from the Hurunui onwards to Gore Bay is now sealed all the way

The Kaiwara road has been done by Diesel Pig in a van and I think he said there's a few gates to open and close