Dusty Butt route planners trip

[Ruralman]

Hopefully Ryan won't be pissed that I started another thread on this - I don't want to clog up the main event thread.
On Sat Shrek and I met up at Millers Flat and rode to Ranfurly via Lake Onslow to meet up with CooneyR and his bro John, pillion Michelle, plus Karl and Colin as they did their route planning ride for the Dusty Butt 1000.

Seems like a while since I've done a good backroads ride like that and I was enjoying every bit of it

The first set of photos here are from the high point overlooking Onslow and down to the new Pioneer wind farm (small windmills and only 4 of them) and a couple of shots closer to Onslow when we stopped to use the thermos and have a natter.

The road was dry, pretty rutted in places and an absolute blast on the 990. I wouldn't like to do it if it was wet though unless I had serious knobblies because that hard packed clay/soil looked like it would get super slippery.

Once we got past Onslow it was more of the same rutted track until we got back down to the Styx valley and then it was a seriously fast blast on some great wide gravel roads. We were meant to meet up with the others at Ranfurly at 2pm and when we stopped at the turn off for the Dunstan trail it was 2:10 - figuring they would wait that long for us we carried on and met up with them at the fuel station in Ranfurly just as they had arrived and were filling up. It took us exactly 2 hours from Millers Flat which included at stop of about 15-20 minutes

Now if anyone happens to know a rider of either V Strom with panniers or possibly a GS1150 with panniers who was riding down towards Ranfurly the same day ......... well lets just say,,,, its a very wide road..........and he was only doing maybe 70km/hr.......... when two bikes went past at somewhere near double that speed!!!! The second rider noticed him do a decidedly nervous twitch after the first rider went past - the second rider following shortly behind in the dust storm must have helped him give birth.......!!!
We're not sure whether to apologize or offer gravel road riding lessons!!!!

[Ruralman]

After a catch up and coffee/food at Ranfurly we loaded up and headed out - I couldn't figure out why we were going the wrong way ???? - then Ryan explained - doh - this wasn't about getting back to the Dunstan Trail the quickest way - it was about getting there the graveliest way !!!!

So some more blasting up the well maintained Maniototo backroads until we got to the start of the section of the Dunstan trail that goes form the Styx back to Clarkes Junction. From here we were back onto narrower rutted tracks that where largely just hard packed clay and again would be bloody slippery if wet - but it wasn't wet so was pretty good fun.

Photos are of my bike and Shrek overlooking the Loganburn Lake and the second was a group shot down the track a bit further where there was a decent rock to rest the camera on. There should have been another good shot taken here, but I didn't get my camera back out again fast enough, when one of the ChCh crew gave his bike a wee lie down whilst doing a little off road escapade to get it turned around...

After a group up at Clarkes Junction it was on via Lake Mahingerangi and the direct route home via the Waitahuna backroads for me, Shrek and John/Michelle, with the others going via Lawrence to complete the route sheets

Somehow we managed to find a place for 6 extras to sleep - my apologies for the slowly deflating airbeds - thats only the second time they've been used so I'm disappointed to say the least about that.

That night there was a lot of banter and debate about the merits, or otherwise, of doing the DB on a sub 125cc bike. Certainly not for me - give me horsepower, modern suspension and speed any day

Hopefully the guys got home today without any mishaps and without being too badly effected by the predicted snow etc on the Lindis.
Great to meet you - don't know yet whether I will do the DB or set up a roadside stall in the middle of nowhere with free coffee and sausages for the riders

[Transalper]

We're back all home and safe from further 'interesting moments' for now, there were several over the weekend with people falling over and off or getting stuck here n there.
The pre run route sheets are about to receive a fairly intensive overhaul as the route is re-written to fix stuff.
Ryan will post up something in the near future when we've had a moment to collate pics and track logs etc.
Thanks for the dinner, bed and breakfast Ruralman.
Nice to catch up with you and Shrek on Saturday.

One of my favorites pics from the weekend because I managed to stay out of it and they didn't.
Has been deemed toooo deep and slippery. Seems like it's more of a swimming hole than a ford now.
Great effort by John in making it all the way un-aided.

[_Shrek_]

Now if anyone happens to know a rider of either V Strom with panniers or possibly a GS1150 with panniers who was riding down towards Ranfurly the same day ......... well lets just say,,,, its a very wide road..........and he was only doing maybe 70km/hr.......... when two bikes went past at somewhere near double that speed!!!! The second rider noticed him do a decidedly nervous twitch after the first rider went past - the second rider following shortly behind in the dust storm must have helped him give birth.......!!!
We're not sure whether to apologize or offer gravel road riding lessons!!!!

still recon it was a silver 1000 v-strom :laugh: but what a blast that was & those roads :drool: Eo 9's next so we can have some more fun :shifty:

:Punk: :wari: was good catchin up with you all again has been to long cya in the new year if not b4
Ps: Michelle i for got to tell you I have been retrained, I have the last two words in my house every time no matter what, (yes dear) :whistle:

cheers :apint: for the bed etc... farmer boy catch up soon

[helenoftroy]

..............
Great to meet you - don't know yet whether I will do the DB or set up a roadside stall in the middle of nowhere with free coffee and sausages for the riders
Come ride !!! go on you know you want too!!:msn-wink:

We're back all home and safe from further 'interesting moments' for now, there were several over the weekend with people falling over and off or getting stuck here n there.
The pre run route sheets are about to receive a fairly intensive overhaul as the route is re-written to fix stuff.
Ryan will post up something in the near future when we've had a moment to collate pics and track logs etc.
Thanks for the dinner, bed and breakfast Ruralman.
Nice to catch up with you and Shrek on Saturday.

One of my favorites pics from the weekend because I managed to stay out of it and they didn't.
Has been deemed toooo deep and slippery. Seems like it's more of a swimming hole than a ford now.
Great effort by John in making it all the way un-aided.

Great work guys

Phew!pleased that ford isnt included !!geez me & the lowered DR would disappear never to be seen again!!:no:

My old girl has done 54k now,& after watching Gazbur racing his DR at Greymouth at the WE,my bike might have a motard conversion done after the DB(2 race bikes :wari:!! double the buzz)

[cooneyr]

....Great effort by John in making it all the way un-aided.

Damn loose chain jumping off - should have listened to ya Shrek!

Thanks again for the company, food and leaky airbed(?) Bruce.

As TA said, ride report to come when we have been through all the photos - and taken out the incriminating ones though I suspect I'm a bit late! I'm pleased the route is shifting south. There is some awesome roads and scenery down there. The views are huge - NZ's version of big sky country maybe?

Oh - and it is was only 380kms (Ranfurly north) of riding in the rain yesterday so it could have been worse :crazy:

Cheers R

[Skinny_Birdman]

Nice job guys, and some great write-ups. So we don't have to take flotation devices for the little bikes to get through that big hole?

[Transalper]

Not for that one.
We didn't get to the Omarama Saddle this time but I reckon we should be going back for another quick look at it and it's fords before the big day.

[cynna]

thanks Ruralman for the bed and food and thanks to Claire(?) for the cake. was good to meet you and catch up with Shrek again

thanks to the rest of the guys as well for a great weekend and taking me to places i never new existed

ended up with a few bruises and a bit off skin of my knee and was glad to get home after all that rain - it did wash all the bourbon and V of my bike tho

a new tyre and a a few issues with the bike to sort out and im all set again

[Ruralman]

still recon it was a silver 1000 v-strom :laugh: but what a blast that was & those roads :drool: Eo 9's next so we can have some more fun :shifty:
Well my view of him was very brief and also inside a cloud of dust so I'll go with your view of what bike it was - he did twitch like a very nervous gravel rider tho:Oops:

Come ride !!! go on you know you want too!!:msn-wink:


Great work guys

Phew!pleased that ford isnt included !!geez me & the lowered DR would disappear never to be seen again!!:no:

My old girl has done 54k now,& after watching Gazbur racing his DR at Greymouth at the WE,my bike might have a motard conversion done after the DB(2 race bikes :wari:!! double the buzz)

I would quite like to do it - getting set up with a GPS or one of those bloody clacker things probably puts me off. If I was going to go with one of them it would probably be the GPS so I can just ride and look at the thing when I'm coming up to an intersection.
It was good fun belting over the Onslow road and the Dunstan trail - in the dry - not sure about that if it was wet. I've been through in a 4wd car when it was wet and I know just how slippery it gets. I don't intend putting knobblies on the KTM just in case.


Not for that one.
We didn't get to the Omarama Saddle this time but I reckon we should be going back for another quick look at it and it's fords before the big day.

Mmmmm - maybe you could contract that inspection out to someone living a bit closer ?????:whistle:
Hey - where exactly was that deep ford??


thanks Ruralman for the bed and food and thanks to Claire(?) for the cake. was good to meet you and catch up with Shrek again

thanks to the rest of the guys as well for a great weekend and taking me to places i never new existed

ended up with a few bruises and a bit off skin of my knee and was glad to get home after all that rain - it did wash all the bourbon and V of my bike tho

a new tyre and a a few issues with the bike to sort out and im all set again

Good to meet you Colin - I will pass that message on to Claire. She's got quite good in the kitchen that wee girl of mine (not so wee now either - where's me shotgun?)
Did you experiment with tyre pressures in that front wheel? I should have said to you when we were talking about riding techniques before you left - for those longitudinal wheel ruts that there were lots of on the Onslow road, you want to have the front wheel a little bit soft and ride with your weight well back as this helps get your front wheel over and out of one rut and onto a better line when you have to

I've been checking out rear tyre options today for mine - they're not cheap
Have a look at this one though
http://www.twistedthrottle.com/trade/productview/4809/776/
beware these are $US and there's still about $98 (I think) freight - I've emailed them to see if we can get a better deal on freight if we got more than 1

[Ruralman]

I forgot to mention one other moment that put a smile on my face.

We'd just come off the Dunstan trail and blasted down about 10km of new seal to the Clarkes Junction pub. As I was taking off my helmet there were two guys coming out of the pub and walking back to their shiney new Suzi Boulevards (one of them said his was about 400kg !!!)
Anyway one of them says "where have you come from to be coming out that way"??? - I say "well I started in lawrence, went up to Millers flat, popped over the hill past Onslow and down to Ranfurly, then back over the Dunstan trail to here"
His next question was priceless - "oh you've been everywhere - is that road all sealed now??"

My response - unfortunately - was the dumb one ie "well at this point I've done about 250km today and maybe 30 of them were sealed"

What it should have been was what Shrek suggested later ie yeah mate, its a beautiful sealed road - you might strike a wee bit of gravel up there a bit but just keep going 'cos it doesn't last for long..........:whistle:

[Transalper]

....Hey - where exactly was that deep ford??.....Why, you want to go swimming?
S45 14.013 E169 25.997
Chuck that in google and it will show you, not far from Alex.

The big KTM still ran in there but lost it's chain so needed a push.

[Transalper]

..What it should have been was what Shrek suggested later ie yeah mate, its a beautiful sealed road - you might strike a wee bit of gravel up there a bit but just keep going 'cos it doesn't last for long..........:whistle:Seeing them head off there would have certainly been worth a laugh.

[Ruralman]

Why, you want to go swimming?
S45 14.013 E169 25.997
Chuck that in google and it will show you, not far from Alex.

The big KTM still ran in there but lost it's chain so needed a push.

OK that forced me to use the google maps thingy - very handy .I would think that creek will be barely a trickle in summer unless theres been a thunderstorm or sudden downpour.
Do I take it that there were ways of getting through which weren't so deep ?

[Transalper]

Not through, just skipped it via the main rd.
It was only 5 minutes to Alex by seal.
It wasn't worth the hassel.
Why was it so high this weekend then?
Hadn't rained for several days.
Snow melt? Wasn't much snow around left melting.
I really have no idea what feeds it but it was big slippery boulders in the bottom.

[cooneyr]

.....Mmmmm - maybe you could contract that inspection out to someone living a bit closer ?????:whistle:
Hey - where exactly was that deep ford??

Nope sorry - not leaving all the fun bits for you locals ;)


...
I really have no idea what feeds it but it was big slippery boulders in the bottom.

How would you bloody know - ya didnt even get your feet wet!!! I agree about skipping it though. Not worth the risk of drowing bikes when it is only about another 3kms of gravel to the total and there is a sealed route option of the same length. This stream drains the Lower Manorburn Dam.

I have all the photos now so will get onto the ride report tomorrow lunchtime.

Cheers R

[Transalper]

....How would you bloody know - ya didnt even get your feet wet!!!....Easy... I saw both you and el_scooto bumping up and down and slipping sideways... and could also see them boulders through the water from my nice n dry vantage point :motu:

[cynna]

Did you experiment with tyre pressures in that front wheel?

yes i dropped the pressure down that morning. maybe should have gone down a bit more as i lost the front coming down a winding road - not sure exactly how but i got to test out my jacket and helmet. they passed the test. had a wee sit down until Transalper come to the rescue. will definatley experiment a bit more before january.

could have dropped the rear as well as it handled the km's ok

[cynna]

heres a few pics

[cynna]

and a few more

[Digitdion]

Looks like a great ride guys. I am a bit guttered as I was planning to join ya's but had to bloody work. Work suck's but gotta feed the beast!

[cooneyr]

Day one of the ride report is now up over on Adv Rider here (http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=519881).

Cheers R

[Transalper]

Good stuff.

[JATZ]

Nice one CooneyR you b'stard I was sorta half kicking m'self for not coming and that just topped it off.
Roll on Jan 16

[El scooto]

Ps: Michelle i for got to tell you I have been retrained, I have the last two words in my house every time no matter what, (yes dear) :whistle:



Hey Shrek, good to know that you have got the right answer.:laugh:
By the way I don't need training I all good just the way I am!!!!!!!!!!!
P.S: maybe the last words should be yes my dear you are right as always!
Michelle:2thumbsup

[cooneyr]

Second day's now up on Adv Rider.

Cheers R

[Ruralman]

Day one of the ride report is now up over on Adv Rider here (http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=519881).

Cheers R

Great photos and write up Ryan
Looks like your plans changed - I thought you were going to do the full length of the Nevis rd and back again on Sunday ? Where did you lose the most time?
Looks like to get through the DB one dayer its going to have to be a fine day and without taking on any diversions like the Serpentine Church (been there anyway)
Without wanting to be an awkward bastard or pessimist - have you thought about a contingency plan if its really wet and cold?? Because even in Jan it can snow up on the top of the Dunstan and Onslow roads and as you say the track gets very slippery. The reason I ask is that I reckon we could do an alternative lower altitude route on mostly gravel that would get you from Ranfurly to Lawrence - not so sure about Lawrence to Cromwell.
Quite likely if the weather is a bit iffy its probably OK in some places but I am a bit concerned about sending riders up into that high stuff when conditions aren't suitable and you really won't know from the starting point in Fairlie

[Transalper]

I remember some of them roads in the wet and snow a couple of Brass Monkeys ago.

[cooneyr]

Great photos and write up Ryan
Looks like your plans changed - I thought you were going to do the full length of the Nevis rd and back again on Sunday ? Where did you lose the most time?

We lost a heap of time on the Serpentine Rd between checking the oil in the XR650R and the slow going cause of the difficulty riding with a pillion. We were at the Lake Onslow huts at about 11.30, start of the Serpentine Road at a bit after 12 then at the gate on the old Dunstan Trail at about 4.00. Nothing that a prepared rider one up would not have blasted through in heaps better time.

I've not confirmed it yet but it's become pretty clear that the draft roll chart is a little on the short side - especially where there roads are pretty wiggly i.e. south side of Danseys. Given the original measurement for the original route is about 1180km and we have added in maybe 30kms due to under measureing I'm thinking of taking the Nevis out of the route completely. Down and back up the Nevis ads about 110kms of gravel that we dont need and it the only bit of the route that is two way i.e. potential safety issue. I'll confirm this once I get working on the roll chart again.


Looks like to get through the DB one dayer its going to have to be a fine day and without taking on any diversions like the Serpentine Church (been there anyway)

Once John, Michelle and I turned back the other two guys went up the Serpentine and managed to make it to the Old Dunstan probably 10/15 mins before us while stopping to take in the church. We didn't muck arround on the alternative of going back to the start of the Old Dunstan and over it till we met them. I recon that the Serpentine is probably just about quicker if you can handle the rutted and bog holed (mostly solid bottom) terrain. I would happily ride it on the KTM 950 with gear so anybody on a single cylinder with reasonable skills will be fine. Knobblies are pertty much a necessity up there though. End result Serpentine Road will be the Challange Loop and the Old Dunstan Trail will be the main route so take your pick. All of the one day riders that I know will have no trobles with the Serpentine Road.


Without wanting to be an awkward bastard or pessimist - have you thought about a contingency plan if its really wet and cold?? ...

This is very much up to the riders and what they think they can handle. There will be nobody else there to make the call other than themselves, so each group will need to decided what they want to do for themselves. As good adventure riders all should be carrying decient wet weather gear anyway. I'll do a sun dance :wari: the week before but of course there is no way we can ensure good weather.

There are sealed road options to get around high points pretty much the whole way along the route. The only two bits where things get a little awkward are getting from the Waitaki Valley (Kurow) down to Ranfurly and getting from St Bathurns back to the Waitaki. But even these sections can be got around via the seal if necessary it is just a bit longer than the DB1k route. For all other portions of the route the sealed roads would be quicker and easier than the gravel/dirt roads section. For example via seal Ranfurly to Lawrence, Lawrence to Alex, Ranfurly to Alex, Alex to Cromwell etc. are all quicker than the DB1k route.

Regards
Ryan

[_Shrek_]

while at the mates rally I ran into this old fella talking about his ride through the Onslow & how a hurricane went passed him 100+ ks faster than he was traveling, he said :shit: wobbled & then just as he thought phew, another one shot passed me, after that i kept a better eye on the mirrer

it was a v-strom 1000 Bruce, & he takes it all over the place has down most of the back roads down here,

[Ruralman]

while at the mates rally I ran into this old fella talking about his ride through the Onslow & how a hurricane went passed him 100+ ks faster than he was traveling, he said :shit: wobbled & then just as he thought phew, another one shot passed me, after that i kept a better eye on the mirrer

it was a v-strom 1000 Bruce, & he takes it all over the place has down most of the back roads down here,

Like I said - my view of him was through your dust cloud so I did believe you - you got a much better look. So did you admit to being the first hurricane ???
Where was he from ?

[_Shrek_]

Like I said - my view of him was through your dust cloud so I did believe you - you got a much better look. So did you admit to being the first hurricane ???
Where was he from ?

after we finished :rofl: coz he told a good story & I admitted to the fact I new the guy on the road marker he figured out the rest :laugh: his name is Sid in his late 60's early 70's & he lives down sth thats all we got but he knows all the roads that we want to do gave some good advice

[XF650]

So it wasn't Jantar?

[Ruralman]

after we finished :rofl: coz he told a good story & I admitted to the fact I new the guy on the road marker he figured out the rest :laugh: his name is Sid in his late 60's early 70's & he lives down sth thats all we got but he knows all the roads that we want to do gave some good advice

Just wondering whether we should organize our own weekend ride over the Onslow rd and then Dunstan to Poolburn - Alex, plus the Nevis, before the Dusty Butt weekend. Take pillions, tent village or cabins in Alex or somewhere ? Relaxed pace with lots of photo stops. Would have to be after the KB rally for us so the Princess is finished with exams.
Cold comfort and Jantar might be keen and theres some new KB'rs I haven't met from Central who might also be keen - would have to be before the end of Jan probably.
Who would be interested? - is there any preference between weekends or week days?

[Ruralman]

So it wasn't Jantar?

:spanking::spanking::spanking:
No - wrong colour:yes::innocent:

[_Shrek_]

So it wasn't Jantar?


:spanking::spanking::spanking:
No - wrong colour:yes::innocent:

but they did look the same :dodge:

[_Shrek_]

Just wondering whether we should organize our own weekend ride over the Onslow rd and then Dunstan to Poolburn - Alex, plus the Nevis, before the Dusty Butt weekend. Take pillions, tent village or cabins in Alex or somewhere ? Relaxed pace with lots of photo stops. Would have to be after the KB rally for us so the Princess is finished with exams.
Cold comfort and Jantar might be keen and theres some new KB'rs I haven't met from Central who might also be keen - would have to be before the end of Jan probably.
Who would be interested? - is there any preference between weekends or week days?

sounds like a plan after the Nevis we can come back up from Wedonside or near there & it comes out at Shingle creek just up the road from home, i will be having a look in the next few weeks

[Ruralman]

sounds like a plan after the Nevis we can come back up from Wedonside or near there & it comes out at Shingle creek just up the road from home, i will be having a look in the next few weeks

I was thinking that by the time we got through the Nevis (with pillions) then a nice sealed road ride back up the side of lake Wakatipu and then down through the Kawerau Gorge, with the odd civilized coffee stop, might be the way to go??

I think that track you are talking about is the Waikaia Bush road?? - I'm keen to do it sometime with you. I think it needs to be a dry track - I'm sure I've heard of many 4wd's having to get winched out of there when they get bogged in the wet. Even if it is OK for taking a pillion its probably good to leave it for a separate adventure ride rather than cramming it all into one weekend?

[Transalper]

Tell ya what I think...
I think it sounds like you need to start another new thread about this new trip so as I don't see new posts in this thread and think cool, new posts on the DB Pre Run results, and other people who aren't interested in the DB run and aren't reading this thread might see the new ride developing.

[Ruralman]

Tell ya what I think...
I think it sounds like you need to start another new thread about this new trip so as I don't see new posts in this thread and think cool, new posts on the DB Pre Run results, and other people who aren't interested in the DB run and aren't reading this thread might see the new ride developing.

All in good time T/A - first fly the kite, then start the thread if the 1st reaction is positive. (and I will be sending out the odd PM to test interest as well)

Hey isn't it time you followed Mr Sensible's example and got yourself a new handle?? The T/A doesn't seem appropriate anymore. Would you like us to start a poll with suggestions ???? - hmm sorry, should I start a new thread to suggest that ???? Hmmm I'm confused

[Transalper]

ok, sure, but why are you flying kites here, it's totally unrelated to the DB run?
I'd have thought kite flying would yield better results elsewhere.



About the name.... I still like it and believe it to be well recognised now. Besides I have no idea who I would become if it was changed and then I'd probably end up with another Teansalp and wish I'd stayed Transalper.:pinch:

[Skinny_Birdman]

About the name.... I still like it and believe it to be well recognised now. Besides I have no idea who I would become if it was changed and then I'd probably end up with another Teansalp and wish I'd stayed Transalper.:pinch:

Well, you old Transalp is 13 years old, so I suppose it's now a Teensalp :innocent:. It will probably be up for grabs sometime next year.....

[Transalper]

Ha, I see the r and e switched places on my keyboard for a moment.

[Digitdion]

Just wondering whether we should organize our own weekend ride over the Onslow rd and then Dunstan to Poolburn - Alex, plus the Nevis, before the Dusty Butt weekend. Take pillions, tent village or cabins in Alex or somewhere ? Relaxed pace with lots of photo stops. Would have to be after the KB rally for us so the Princess is finished with exams.
Cold comfort and Jantar might be keen and theres some new KB'rs I haven't met from Central who might also be keen - would have to be before the end of Jan probably.
Who would be interested? - is there any preference between weekends or week days?
I would be keen as, thats if i do not have to work! Would love to join ya's!

[Ruralman]

I would be keen as, thats if i do not have to work! Would love to join ya's!

SEE TRANSALPER - it is WORKING !!!!
good to hear from you Dd - but T/A does have a point (mutter mutter) - I have sent out a few PM's and there is definitely some interest so I will start a thread on it. I just want to wait till my partners exam dates are confirmed.
Quite likely we will need a couple of potential dates and then go when the weather says its right - we're not doing it if its wet (too much slippery clay on that track, especially 2 up) or if its blowing its nuts off - the whole purpose of this ride is a relaxed ride with pillions to really enjoy some Otago back country - so we need to choose decent weather.

Are you thinking of doing the DB itself ?? - If I am going to do it (haven't committed yet) then I want to ride with someone who goes about the same pace. The guys I know are either not doing it or for some unknown reason are trying to do it on sub125cc bikes - fark that.
I would consider riding it on my own as well - that makes things easier in some respects but also maybe adds some risk as well as diminishing the fun (??- not so sure)
Beginning to think I might have to shout myself a GPS unit and have enough time to learn to use it .
Look forward to meeting up some time