A is for Adventure - Thompsons Track attempt, Jan 4

**Eddieb** · 12th January 2009, 13:06

We tried a little excursion up Thompsons Track on Jan 4, Myself on the G/S and a friend on my sisters XT600. Unfortunately the XT's battery failed not far in, it was a bit low when we left home and wasn't up to the hard wired light running at low revs and multiple restarts due to being stalled.

I'd done Thompsons several times in October/November and apart from a few slightly muddy patches it wasn't too bad, however after some recent heavy rain and the 4x4's going through things were a bit different this time.

1) This is the 2nd muddy section we came to, about 200 meters after the first, which was only slightly smaller.

2) The last bit of water in this shot was over the top of the cylinders on the G/S when at a stand still. The G/S actually idled through the whole section no problems and it continues to amaze me at what it is capable of.

3) The XT halfway through the 2nd mud section, it's 90% worn 80/20 tyres just weren't up to this. This is where the battery gave out so we had to manually turn it around and push it out again. There's no kick starter so no way of getting it going in this.

4) The G/S coming back down

5 & 6) More of me coming back down

It was hot as f**k as well so man handling the XT through the mud was hard going and I was exhausted by the time we got back home.

**Eddieb** · 12th January 2009, 13:10

1) There's an ADV sticker under there somewhere

2) The G/S looking happy as a pig in a mud bath, Hang on, it is a pig in a mud bath

3) A better muddy action shot

4) Mud everywhere

**buggsubique** · 12th January 2009, 13:14

fuck that, it was hard enough on mountainbikes! go hard though!

**Eddieb** · 12th January 2009, 13:17

Originally Posted by buggsubique

fuck that, it was hard enough on mountainbikes! go hard though!

This is the easy side from Matamata too! I'd hate to have seen what the other side was like.

**Transalper** · 12th January 2009, 13:37

Yeah, good fun, love that sort of thing on the CRF but hard work on Adventure bikes.

**Aslan** · 12th January 2009, 14:46

impressive Eddie - seems like you had a great holiday

**marks** · 12th January 2009, 16:44

enough of this gallivanting around the countryside exploring cool places

its not right for you to have so much fun when I'm supposed to be working

I think its about time you went back to work

really cool pictures tho....

**Paladin** · 12th January 2009, 17:20

Nice pics Eddie! That mud looks like something hippos should be wallowing in! Fair play to you for cranking thru that stuff on the GS - bet you had a blast!

**Padmei** · 12th January 2009, 19:42

great shots. Wher did you get the ADV sticker from? I want one

What year is your BM & mileage? Had many probs with it? I like it I like it a lod

**Eddieb** · 12th January 2009, 22:02

Originally Posted by marks

its not right for you to have so much fun when I'm supposed to be working

I think its about time you went back to work

really cool pictures tho....

I'm back at work, and now you guys area are all planning exotic rides round the coast, through private land in the 'rapa and Odlins road, all of which I'm going to miss out on cause I'm on call for work the next 3 weeks.

Barstewards, you coulda waited 3 weeks.

Originally Posted by padmei

What year is your BM & mileage? Had many probs with it? I like it I like it a lod

Registered as 1986 but the frame number traces to 1982. carfax.co.nz says about 250,000km. I'm told it's not the original motor but I don't know why, when it was changed or how many this ones done.
My previous one is still floating around Welly and would be over 400k now and is still going. I see it around occasionally.
It had the wrong main jets when I got it which was a easy fix. apart from things like the suspension being crap cause it's 1970's tech no, no actual faults or problems. I did break my Ventura rack while away but I think the pics show why.

**Eddieb** · 12th January 2009, 22:15

Originally Posted by Paladin

Nice pics Eddie! That mud looks like something hippos should be wallowing in! Fair play to you for cranking thru that stuff on the GS - bet you had a blast!

Did you miss the pic of the hippo wallowing? That was the 2nd to last one.

**Eddieb** · 12th January 2009, 22:36

I have one more ride to post up also, Raglan (Te Uku) to Port Waikato. 140 or so km all on gravel roads. Hopefully will get that up tomorrow.

**Paladin** · 12th January 2009, 22:46

Originally Posted by Eddieb

Did you miss the pic of the hippo wallowing? That was the 2nd to last one.

Thought it might have been!

**Paladin** · 12th January 2009, 22:48

Originally Posted by Eddieb

I'm back at work, and now you guys area are all planning exotic rides round the coast, through private land in the 'rapa and Odlins road, all of which I'm going to miss out on cause I'm on call for work the next 3 weeks.

Barstewards, you coulda waited 3 weeks.

You had better not be on call on Feb 14th/15th mate! Would be good to see what the hippo makes of the huge rock slide on Orongorongo!!!!!

**marks** · 13th January 2009, 07:04

Originally Posted by Paladin

You had better not be on call on Feb 14th/15th mate! Would be good to see what the hippo makes of the huge rock slide on Orongorongo!!!!!

it would be boring

I've seen Eddie ride - Orongorongo won't present any problems for him - although his bash plate would need rebuilding afterwards (again)