Bruce Bay Run - Part 1.

[Jantar]

Saturday dawned overcast and with a light drizzle although the forecast was for improving weather and a fine day on the West Coast. I had checked the VStrom the day before and everything was ready. Stromfrau took our overnight gear in to the drop off point at Ian Day's Suzuki while I loaded the day pack onto the bike. By the time we left home the drizzle had stopped and there was just the occassional spit of rain. Not even enough to do any more than spot my visor.

19 bikes gathered at Chatto Creek ready for our 10:00 am departure which happened at 10:15 am, and we all travelled in a loose group through to Cromwell. My radar detector warned of a revenue gatherer part way through the gorge, but our speeds were semi-legal so no worries about making a donation to Auntie Helen. A short stop at Cromwell where we were meeting some additional riders gave me an opportunity to fuel up and, more importantly, visit the ATM. I had forgotten to bring any cash.

On the road again and it was very pleasant riding with only light traffic until just short of Queensbury where it started drizzling again. The rain got heavier through Luggate, but to the Northwest where we were heading it looked quite fine. A further regrouping stop at the Hawea turnoff, and the last chance for other riders to join the group. There was some discussion about whether to stop for lunch at Makarora or Haast, with Haast coming out the winner. Some riders decided that they would stop at Makarora for a short break anyway.

Only 12 km further on and Stromfrau and I stopped at Hawea township along with about 8 other bikes. Some (mainly HDs and cruisers) wanted to fuel up as they had a very short fuel range, and some just needed a comfort stop. From here on the weather just got better and better. As we passed Makarora we could see a handfull of bikes already stopped, but we just carried on towards Haast following Rod on his Honda Shadow. This section of road would have to be one of the best motorcycling roads in the entire country. 100 km of continous sweeping bends through native bush and alongside rivers with the mountains on both sides.

We were very suprised when we arived at Haast to find that we were the first two bikes there, but within a short space of time others started arriving. A good feed of fish and chips and a handle of Speights for lunch while sitting outside and taking in the scenery, what could be better? Once everyone had arrived I did a count up and found our numbers had swelled to 29 bikes. We heard of one minor incident which occured at Makarora. It appears that Alan misjudged his footing when parking his GS1200SS, and just as he went to put his foot down the front wheel slid out on the wet grass. The result was one broken brake lever. Fortuantely he was able to carry out makeshift repairs at Haast garage.

From Haast it is only 72 kms north to Bruce Bay, but once again it is fantastic scenery and a lovely twisty road. On one right hander, I misjudged my entry, and left it a little late for the turn in, next thing I was scraping my right footpeg, and drifting towards the left side of the road. I recovered just as my rear wheel touched the soild white line on the edge of the road, and i learnt that even when dry, those white lines can be slippery. However I powered out of trouble, but Stromfrau got a bit of a fright and certainly told me all about it later. (From memory this is the same corner I misjudged two years ago in the wet with similar results, and almost got wrong last year. Must be something I'm not seeing in time)

Once at Bruce Bay I found we were early enough that I was able to claim one of the very few under cover parking spots, so with the bike parked up, and our riding gear off it was time to open the Woodstock Bourbon.

[Ruralman]

Good to see you got there and back safely - that bloody scenery can be dangerous, distracting riders like that! - why don't we get some sawmills over there and cut it all down????????
Doesn't seem right having a West Coast run without at least some torrential rain.
Any photos coming??

[gijoe1313]

Very nice report, sounds like a lot of bikers had fun and you got your adrenaline going with the late entry turn!

[Jantar]

Any photos coming??
I'll upload the photos tonight, and part 2 will be tomorrow.

[Jantar]

1. At Chatto Creek.

2 - 4. At Bruce Bay

[Jantar]

On the West Coast Road near lake Paringa

[scumdog]

Ripper stuff Malcolm!!
Can relate to that ride as I do it each time I head to the Woodstock Rally, the part from Hawea to Haast is a ride everybody should do!!

(and I agree, the scenery IS a tad distracting eh?)

[Jantar]

So Stromfrau and I were nursing our drinks, and watching the bikes arrive when a group on three similar Honda CBR600s pulled in, including Janine on her red, white and blue one, and Anthony on his very feminine pink and black one. I still reckon that these two need to swap bikes. Janine misjudged her stop, and dropped the bike at walking speed. It was the same type of accident that Alan had earlier in the day with the front wheel washing out before the right foot was planted firmly on the ground. Fortunately damage was minor and only the mirror got broken.

A few riders decided to carry on up to Fox Glacier, but it wasn't long before someone returned with a request for the backup vehicle to collect a bike 17 kms up the road. Butch threw a chain on his Ducati. Another rider continued on to Fox Glacier where he managed to get a chain of the same size. I must admit to learning new methods of rivetting a chain using pliers and rocks. But Butch did get mobile again even if it is at a more subdued pace.

Once the West Coast contingent arrived from Greymouth and Hokitika there were 40 bikes and around 50 people gathered at the Bruce Bay Hall. Stromfrau and I found a suitable spot for our tent and it didn't take long to set it all up. There was room in the hall for us, but I had to take pity on my fellow club members and not subject them to my snoring.

We had plenty of time to admire the bikes, then take a leisurely stroll along the river and down to the ocean before returning to the hall where Stromfrau had volunteered for kitchen duties. A decent hot meal of steak, sausages, patties, chicken nibbles, salad, peas, corn and spud was much appreciated, then came the serious part of the evening with copious amounts of various liquids, and some good music. Well the music started off good, but as the evening wore on it got louder and louder. And with the speakers only a few feet away from the main gathering it soon became uncomfortably loud, then unbearably loud. Many of us soon headed off to bed as what should have been a social event just became impossible. We'll have to improve this aspect of things for next year.

In the morning I was suprised to find that there had been a decent frost overnight, and everything was white. However the sun soon came up and breakfast of bacon and eggs soon appeared. The way everyone mucks in at these events meant that we were finished and cleaned up in no time and ready for the ride home.

[Jantar]

Stromfrau and I were among the first of the riders to leave as I wanted to stop at Lake Paringa for some photos of the bikes coming through the sweeping bend there. Once again it was perfect riding conditions, and only light traffic. I couldn't get a spot off road as close to the sweeper as I wanted, but still there are one or two worthwhile shots of riders coming around the sweeper.

Just short of Haast a rider on a bright green HD pulled over to the side of the road..... Out of gas. The back up truck was carrying his spare fuel, but still I would have expected that he should have managed the 144 km round trip from Haast to Bruce Bay.

We stopped at Haast for fuel and discovered that Steve had a flat rear tyre on his Bandit. Fortunately Noel carried a dog turd punture repair kit on his BMW, and we all watched while it was tried. It worked fine and he was able to ride all the way back to Alex on it.

We left Haast following Anthony, Janine (and Ray?) on their CBR600s for the ride through to Makarora. It was interesting to be on an adventure type bike, following 3 sprot bikes, and realising that I had to back off in the corners to stay behind them. The VStrom just seems to take the bends so effortlessly compared to the Hondas. I was staying completely within my lane the whole way while they were spending a fair bit of time using the entire road. Perhaps a new name for the Suzuki VStrom should be Suzi Kornacarver?

We stopped at Makaoroa for coffee in brilliant sunshine, and looking across at the snow capped mountains and down towards Lake Wanaka.

[Jantar]

From Makarora we headed alonside Lake Wanaka to The Neck then crossed over and followed Lake Hawea to Hawea township, again in a group the the three Honda CBRs. Traffic was a bit heavier by now as we passed two campervans and at least 4 or 5 cars over this 60 km stretch. We regrouped at the the Hawea hotel for lunch. They always have a good sunday roast for $12.50, and this week it was roast pork.

Once again on the road and we travelled in a larger group through the back roads of Hawea flat, via Tarras and south to Cromwell. Two other riders who had elected to travel via the main road were crossing the Cromwell Bridge at the exact time that we were approaching from the eastern side. So an even bigger group continued through the Gorge to Alexandra and home.

It was a great weekend, as always, good riding, good food and great company.

[Blackbird]

Absolutely excellent write-up Malcolm, so well described I could have been there. :rockon: Looking forward to doing the same in March.

Cheers

Geoff