22July ChCh to Lake Taylor, Loch Katrine

**Transalper** · 21st July 2006, 13:46

Been talking to a F650 rider i know and we intend riding to Lake Taylor/Loch Katrine on Saturday.
Conversation stands as something like this...

Lake Taylor/Loch Katrine, sounds ok, it's not tooo far. I was two up last time i went to the locked gate at the Loch and had done Hanmers Jacks and Jollies Passes earlier that day.
I'd like to be home by about 4pm so maybe 10:30am depart (after poping in and grabbing a Subway to take for lunch).

Anyone interested is welcome.
It's a fairly easy ride (tyres not an issue), formed dirt roads from a bit after Hawarden to the Lake then just some potholes proberbly full of water on a flat road/track to the Loch.

**merv** · 21st July 2006, 16:07

Did you see this thread of mine a while back http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...ad.php?t=13566 we always dreamed that we could go all the way over Harper Pass to Otira but got past No. 3 hut at least which is way beyond Katrine? No locked gates in those days of course because there weren't so many 4x4 dudes spoiling it for us.

**Transalper** · 21st July 2006, 17:17

Originally Posted by merv

Did you see this thread of mine a while back http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...ad.php?t=13566 we always dreamed that we could go all the way over Harper Pass to Otira but got past No. 3 hut at least which is way beyond Katrine? No locked gates in those days of course because there weren't so many 4x4 dudes spoiling it for us.

Some good photos there merv.
I'm not sure how far in you can go if you get permisson for DOC or whom ever, but nowdays there's a locked gate not far past where you first get to Loch katrine.

Going to get Subway at 10:20am from the one on the corner of Hills Rd and Shirley Rd.
Should be getting on the road 10:30am to head north. I'm never early!

just in case anyone wants to join us.

**far queue** · 21st July 2006, 17:59

The locked gate on the track to Lake Sumner has a combination lock on it. To get access you just need to ring DOC in Chch during normal office hours to get the combination. There's a restriction on the number of vehicals allowed through per day, and the combination is changed regularly, so you've left it a bit late to get through tomorrow.

I'm told that the dirt road to Lake Taylor is in good condition at the moment and most of the fords now have a concrete base. I'm also told that the 4WD track from Lake Taylor to Katrine is in crap condition at the moment although the bikes will cope with it OK, however there's is one ford there that may give you problems. In good weather it's 3-4" deep in bad weather it's 2-3ft deep and swift and there's no option but to cross it or turn back. I would expect it to be on the deep side at the moment. It's around 2-3km from the Taylor gate.

I used to go into this area lots in the past, but haven't been there for about 4 years now. I have mates who still go there regularly in a 4WD, their last time was 2 weeks ago.

I'm keen to do the trip to Sumner again after daylight saving has resumed.

But have fun tomorrow.

**Transalper** · 22nd July 2006, 08:41

Wow, look at that weather, clear blue and calm

**merv** · 22nd July 2006, 10:55

Have fun.

You got snow there today like we had in 1975? http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...ad.php?t=13647

I always enjoyed doing donuts on snow more than on sand, though sand of course is great too.

**laRIKin** · 22nd July 2006, 12:14

I drove by at about 10:30 just to see you guys off. (took the dog for a run at the river)
I didn't see any bikes so drove by.

Glade to see that you got a great day to do the ride, I didn't think you would of, because of the crap weather the day before and thought that you were a tad keen to try.

**merv** · 22nd July 2006, 13:13

Looking though my records I have one more photo. This was taken in November 1977 and was the last time we went to Lake Katrine - don't know why I didn't take more photos on that trip just took the one of Mrs merv and a mate of mine on the shore of Lake Katrine. That mate was the one that had the Bighorn that never went on a ride with me, but with his XL250 once he bought that, no worries. We moved to Welly a few months after I took that photo and we've been stuck here ever since.

**far queue** · 23rd July 2006, 10:01

So, how did the ride go yesterday? The weather was great here all day, what was it like up there? Got any pics for us?

**merv** · 23rd July 2006, 10:57

Yeah I wouldn't mind seeing what it looks like 30 years on.

**Ruralman** · 24th July 2006, 16:21

A trip report would be great.
Do any of you guys ride mid week? I have a mate who is looking after a house over Akaroa way and was hoping to ride up there in the second week in Aug (probably Tues/Weds). Thought there would be time for a good blat round the hills - used to ride there some weekends when I was at Lincoln many moons ago - I presume the roads haven't had all the corners taken out?

**far queue** · 24th July 2006, 19:40

Originally Posted by Ruralman

A trip report would be great.
Do any of you guys ride mid week? I have a mate who is looking after a house over Akaroa way and was hoping to ride up there in the second week in Aug (probably Tues/Weds). Thought there would be time for a good blat round the hills - used to ride there some weekends when I was at Lincoln many moons ago - I presume the roads haven't had all the corners taken out?

I work mid week, so I can play in the weekends - well I turn up to collect my pay mid week anyway

The roads over there are still fun.

**laRIKin** · 24th July 2006, 20:57

Originally Posted by far queue

I work mid week, so I can play in the weekends - well I turn up to collect my pay mid week anyway

The roads over there are still fun.

What he said for me as well.
I'm a weekend biker.
In summer I may do a quick trip around the bays for a pie and a pint after work.

And you could go there by the back road and ride on some gravel roads.
You would think that you were over in the west coast, with out the rain (dunking for cover).

**Transalper** · 25th July 2006, 01:10

I am only free Fridays after 1pm on and all weekend.

Re the Loch Katrine trip... i've been busy...but here goes..
We were late (I said i'm never early didn't I) getting to the Subway but then we weren't expecting anyone else anyway so figured another half an hour wouldn't matter.
At Amberly we turned inland and my friend showed me some nice dirt back roads that wound thru some hills and took us to Lake Sumner Rd. The weather was great. As we climbed the hills near Lake Taylor we passed through some ice on the road and lots more on the hills around (or was that snow?). Then it all cleared up.
Once we got to the 4x4 kind of road along side Lake Taylor we found the potholes to be full of brown water so we couldn't see how deep they were.
Most are shallow, but then a couple tryed to swollow our bikes.
You can see the F650 sliding about in there on the video I will attached to my next post.
The Transalp with the Mitas tyres was quite happy although got a bit out of shape on some of the reall slippery stuff, the sort of stuff you can't easily walk on.
We went as far as the locked gate at Loch Katrine and had lunch (attached photo), then turned around and headed home. It was hard to remember which puddles were the deep ones and the F650 was caught on tape going down at the end of a biggie.
We had a great ride and will be happy to do it again. I love riding this time of year, a little mud and water can be much more fun and interesting than lots of dust on a hot summers day.

**Transalper** · 25th July 2006, 01:55

Another Divx encoded video for you, 1minute 42seconds long, quality not good at only 4mb.
Still, if you zoom your playback window a bit it's not the worst picture i've seen.

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