Akaroa Lighthouse Adv Ride

[cooneyr]

Since this weekend (11/12th) will be my only opportunity to go riding in November I'm racking my brains of a place to go. My suggestion for this stage is to the Akaroa Lighthouse via the southern bays then back via Takamatua Stock track and whatever from there. Attached Gif has route/s.

The southern bays track and the track to the lighthouse are fairly high and exposed - think army mog going rolly polly. Can skip the Southern Bays via highway and drink coffee in Akaroa if dont like those bits. Most of route will be gravel road but crossing Birdlings Flat is very soft pea gravel (about 200m) and Takamatua Track is dirt/grass so if wet could be slippery. All up will be around 200km so about 4-5 hrs.

Open to other route suggestions or could modify this to suit needs.

Weather looking best for Sat at this stage. Suggest Tai Tapu Caltex at 9am as meeting point.

Cheers
R

[merv]

Used to love those roads in the '70's, wish I was down there with you.

Akaroa has changed since this pic of me on the XL175 http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=5211&d=1101845075

[cooneyr]

Used to love those roads in the '70's, wish I was down there with you.

Akaroa has changed since this pic of me on the XL175 http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=5211&d=1101845075

I've read a most of your post re the "old days". Looks like you had heaps of fun on the old bikes. Kinda different with the bikes around now days I suspect. I've travelled many of the tracks around here in a 4x4 and am redoing them on two wheels. Got any good suggestions for day trip tracks other than the usual lees valley, lake sumner, the rivers and the peninsula?

Cheers
R

[merv]

We did "line of the summit road" once which my mad mate at the time always insisted we could do legally but it did require lifting bikes over locked gates and fences so I wondered about legality by us or the farmers - someone was wrong.

Just ride every road on the peninsula they are all fun, much as Lake Sumner was and still is, looking at the posts on that.

We rode up from Bealey Bridge one time in the river bed there and that was cool. Ended up going back the next day to retrieve a camera that one of the crew left there by mistake after drowning her bike. I always liked doing the ski field roads too usually in the winter on the snow but not sure how many are open off season these days but we did Porters regularly and Amuri out of Hanmer. Just because they were there and hill climbs are fun.

I guess you've done all these though.

[Ghost Lemur]

I'd love to go. But the wife just had the weekend off (and I didn't manage to sneak out for a ride :gob: ) so she'll be probably working through the weekend.

I'll try seeing if I can corner a babysitter.

[cooneyr]

We did "line of the summit road" once which my mad mate at the time always insisted we could do legally but it did require lifting bikes over locked gates and fences so I wondered about legality by us or the farmers - someone was wrong.

Guessing you mean from Gebbies round towards Mt Herbit. I'm not sure about legality of that one but definatly though about it. Done most of the others in 4x4 so know of them - have added them to two wheels list.


I'd love to go. But the wife just had the weekend off (and I didn't manage to sneak out for a ride :gob: ) so she'll be probably working through the weekend.

I'll try seeing if I can corner a babysitter.

More than welcome if you can come. You'll probablly fare much better than me across the gravel at birdlings on the CRM - you dont get the human crane treatment sorry. Thats reserved for big bikes burried to the axles lol.

Cheers
R

[merv]

Guessing you mean from Gebbies round towards Mt Herbit. I'm not sure about legality of that one but definatly though about it. Done most of the others in 4x4 so know of them - have added them to two wheels list.
R

Yeah that's the one, it was known by "the line .." name on the topo maps. We did it in the opposite direction coming out at Gebbies but without checking my maps again I thought we started the epic back near Hilltop and just followed the paper road from there. I was on the trusty XL175 and my mate had an XL250 - a bit lighter to lift than a DR650.

Ridden up to Mt Herbert a few times too.

[PLUG]

... count me in for saturday ...

[far queue]

Have fun guys, I was out playing all weekend just been, so stuff to do at home this weekend. Plus, I was through this area about a month ago. A bit of rain just before you go would be good to keep the dust down for you too.

[Transalper]

i will not commit yet, but there's a high probability i'll be in for Saturday. Sounds like a job for the Djebel.

[cooneyr]

Knew you were tied up FQ but I'm sure there will be another time. As for the rest of you lot, if your comming make sure you eat your weatbix.

Cheers
R

[sixsixty]

Sounds good but won't promise just yet. The misses may have plans I don't know about yet!

[PLUG]

As for the rest of you lot, if your comming make sure you eat your weatbix.

Cheers
R

... that's a very cheap shot ... i like it ...

[PLUG]

The misses may have plans I don't know about yet!

... get in first ... if that makes any differance ...

[cooneyr]

... that's a very cheap shot ... i like it ...

I knew you'd appreciate it! Gonna be interesting, might take a beer and chair :apint::lol:.

Cheers
R

[PLUG]

Gonna be interesting, might take a beer and chair :apint::lol:.


... you talking about the 200m crossing @ birdlings ??? ... more suckier than the selwyn is it ...

[cooneyr]

... you talking about the 200m crossing @ birdlings ??? ... more suckier than the selwyn is it ...

The water in the Selwyn settles the gravel, the sea at Birdlings flat lossens it. I had to paddle the gerbil across about 200m last time it was so soft (read - sweat my arse off). If you can keep the speed up and drop the tyre pressures to 10ish psi up you may manage to stay on top but I doubt it. Game for us - who can get the furtherest before paddling starts - my moneys on the CRM if it comes.

Can always go around to Little river and up the tops if to hard, but Bossu road is interesting enough to be worth it.

Beers in the fridge :lol:

Cheers
R

[PLUG]

Can always go around to Little river and up the tops if to hard, but Bossu road is interesting enough to be worth it.

Beers in the fridge :lol:



... rather not ... lets call it a challenge section ... you've got most of the day to lug me across

... refrigerated M/C transport ... now there's an idea ...

[far queue]

I had to paddle the gerbil across about 200m last time it was so soft (read - sweat my arse off). If you can keep the speed up and drop the tyre pressures to 10ish psi up you may manage to stay on top but I doubt it. Game for us - who can get the furtherest before paddling starts - my moneys on the CRM if it comes.That stuff sucks harder than the Manchester St girls. I ventured into it about 2 months ago, and ended up walking along slowly next to the bike while it paddled it's way out. Sunk deep into the into the stuff, with little stones going everywhere. The worst of it was the little stones that found their way between the chain and the sprockets - that didn't sound healthy. Have fun guys - almost be worth coming out with a chilly bin to watch :corn:

[miSTa]

Good looking trip you have planned there but alas not for me this weekend. Have a good one.

[laRIKin]

Sorry but I'm out as well, because of a sore back and been off work.
I do not feel like I'm up to riding on rough uneven back roads with my back.
And my KTM is in bits for it's service that I could not finish.

May just manage a slow road ride in the week end with SDU.
So could meet up with you in Akaroa.

Until next time
Rik

[cooneyr]

That stuff sucks harder than the Manchester St girls. Have fun guys - almost be worth coming out with a chilly bin to watch :corn:
Thats one way of putting it, but I wouldnt want to put anybody off comming along though :innocent:


Good looking trip you have planned there but alas not for me this weekend. Have a good one.

Cheers dude. Another time maybe.


Sorry but I'm out as well, because of a sore back and been off work.
I do not feel like I'm up to riding on rough uneven back roads with my back.
And my KTM is in bits for it's service that I could not finish.

May just manage a slow road ride in the week end with SDU.
So could meet up with you in Akaroa.


You are looking after yourself! Question is was the sore back cause of maintaining the KTM? Will keep and eye out for you and SDU in Akaroa. SDU could join us on the trip to the light house while you drink coffee :yes:.

Cheers
R

[laRIKin]

That stuff sucks harder than the Manchester St girls.

How do you know this?:nono: :sherlock:


You are looking after yourself! Question is was the sore back cause of maintaining the KTM? Will keep and eye out for you and SDU in Akaroa. SDU could join us on the trip to the light house while you drink coffee :yes:.

I will and are looking after my poor old back and an old crash injury does not help things.

And the KTM only hurt's the wallet (Kost To Much) and leg (Kick Ten Minutes) unless I crash of course.

Thanks for the offer but I think that SDU want to get her milage up on the Guzzi.

We will more than likely stop at Little River Bakery on the way there and then at the Wheat Sheath Pub on the way back and will ring (TXT) you when we stop.

PS: anyone else that want to do a wee ride to Akaroa and back is well come to join in.

[mattsdakar]

I should be ok for Saturday..I'm in!!

[miSTa]

Cheers dude. Another time maybe.
Most definately, xmas holidays are looking the most likely time.


How do you know this?:nono: :sherlock:
Mmmm, I missed that, come on speak up!

[far queue]

How do you know this?:nono: :sherlock:

Mmmm, I missed that, come on speak up!:innocent: :whistle: :shifty: :shutup:

[Transalper]

Most of route will be gravel road but crossing Birdlings Flat is very soft pea gravel (about 200m)
Is it just gravel or can we expect wet feet and salty water there?
Oh, i can confirm i'm a starter for Saturday.

[mattsdakar]

Time permitting who is keen to return via Port Levy or even Pigeon Bay/Port Levy??

[cooneyr]

Is it just gravel or can we expect wet feet and salty water there?
Oh, i can confirm i'm a starter for Saturday.

Should be dry gravel unless Ecan have opened the mouth with dozers. If it is open then I'm definatly not crossing - it will be soft as hell and salty water with risk of big holes. I'll be going via little river then back up to tops if like that.


Time permitting who is keen to return via Port Levy or even Pigeon Bay/Port Levy??

I've deliberatly left the return trip route open for discussion on the day. See how we go for time.

WX looking ok til eveing when rain is predicted.

Cheers
R

[sixsixty]

I'm in! See you all at Tai Tap 9a.m.

[scumdog]

I should be ok for Saturday..I'm in!!

So this is the thread you were talking about this morning eh?

[PLUG]

... aeee SD, throw some knobblies on the sporty & keep it ... busy nite ... or ... should i say, morning ... waz it boys ...

[Transalper]

Was a great ride, got some funny video and everyone did well. Just a pity I ran out of tape so wasn't rolling camera for the Flea Bay approach or ride up the Stock road at the end.
It's great to explore the secluded bays that i didn't even know existed, and to have the places to ourselves while there.

[Ghost Lemur]

Was a great ride, got some funny video and everyone did well. Just a pity I ran out of tape so wasn't rolling camera for the Flea Bay approach or ride up the Stock road at the end.
It's great to explore the secluded bays that i didn't even know existed, and to have the places to ourselves while there.

Glad to hear you guys had fun.

On the subject of video. Any ideas when we can expect the Canterbury Rides one?*hint*hint*nudge*nudge*

[SDU]

Glad you guys had a good ride.
It was a good day for a ride, we made it to Akaroa along with a few of the biker angels.

[miSTa]

On the subject of video. Any ideas when we can expect the Canterbury Rides one?*hint*hint*nudge*nudge*
Excellent point. Well? :sunny:

Oh yes, ditto to what everyone else has said about the ride.

[Transalper]

About the video(s)... well as you might have noticed I like to ride a lot and basically that don't leave much time to cut the tapes down to make em watchable or even fit on a DVD. So... no news on the Canty Rides Vid yet, too busy riding and the backlog grows again.

[miSTa]

All I'm hearing, umm I mean reading, is excuses....:yes:

[Transalper]

All I'm hearing, umm I mean reading, is excuses....:yes:Oh, what's that, you offering to pay double for your next one?:Punk:

Any one with the gear and software to edit and burn em is welcome to have a crack at it, i'll bring the camera (plugs into ya PC's firewire port if ya got one) and tapes round to upload the raw video. You'll need a bit of free HD space too.


suppose i could get back to it instead of hanging out here too.

[far queue]

No rush on the vid for me, as I wont be in it anyway. I understand what you’re saying too - shall I stay home parked up in front of the PC, or go out and play – not a hard choice really.

I’m more interested in seeing the report and pics from the lighthouse ride ... :wait: :corn:

[cooneyr]

Few of my crappy pics from the trip. For some reason I didnt get any after flea bay. Maybe something to do with being naffd. Missed Lemans and SDU by about 15 mins in akaroa unfortunatly.

The mighty DR's managed the run across birdlings without bogging down. Plug manged the first 1/3 then got the wobbles. 660 and mattsdakar took the 4x4 track and also got about 1/3 of the way then bogged down. Foolish me was first across then got the plessure of helping some of the others. I definatly didnt eat enough weatbix though. The shitty videos I got on the digi cam have me puffing like mad. Was buggered before we even go onto the first gravel road.

Roads in and out of the Akaroa lighthose and Flea bay were step and the wind added to the fun.Really enjoyed the run up the takamatu stock track. Couple of slippery rocky sections were interesting. Also enjoyed the run down the seal from the southern bays road to wainui. Would be great place for stick 17 inch tyres and a closed road as long as the ice grit is removed! Lots of vehicles to watch out for on the pidgon bay to Port Levey road including an american who decided to stop in the middle of the narrow gravel road.

Pics
1 - 660 crossing mouth of lake forsyth
2 - all on the bossu road just above birdlings flat
3 - all in peraki bay, where there is a memorial to the first white settler in canterbury and the whaling station he set up in 1833
4 - Akaroa lighthouse - not that spectacular now - just a concrete pillar
5 - Flea bay - first farm established in 1843. Bay and some of ocean is a marine reserve.

Cheers
R

[far queue]

Good pics, and good that you got across birdlings flat OK, even if you were knackered. The run down the seal from the southern bays road to Wainui is a fun road isn't it.

[SDU]

Few of my crappy pics from the trip. For some reason I didnt get any after flea bay. Maybe something to do with being naffd. Missed Lemans and SDU by about 15 mins in akaroa unfortunatly.
CheersR
Nothing wrong with the pics R. Pity we missed you all, we left with Speedygirl, Rashika, SuzieQ & Skirster Gal(nice to meet you), it would've been good to meet the newbies as well as the regular crew.

[merv]

Its like 30 years + since I rode at Birdlings but I always remember the annoying thing there was the size of the stones - too big to be smooth, too small to be OK, but just the right size to catch in your chain and sprocket and stuff like that.

No doubt you had fun.

[miSTa]

Oh, what's that, you offering to pay double for your next one?:Punk:

Any one with the gear and software to edit and burn em is welcome to have a crack at it, i'll bring the camera (plugs into ya PC's firewire port if ya got one) and tapes round to upload the raw video. You'll need a bit of free HD space too.


suppose i could get back to it instead of hanging out here too.

Ummm, no thanks TA, you're doing a great job.



Great pics R.

[scumdog]

So this is the thread you were talking about this morning eh?

So you going to post YOUR thoughts Matt?? - or did you miss the ride?

[mattsdakar]

Hey Tom.
I did the first half of the ride with the guys around southern bays etc but had to shoot off at Akaroa to get home in time for BBQ, but really enjoyed the ride, Birdlings Flat was a challenge, hot sweaty work walking the Dakar across
100m of pebbles but all good fun
Rgds

[laRIKin]

Hey Tom.
I did the first half of the ride with the guys around southern bays etc but had to shoot off at Akaroa to get home in time for BBQ, but really enjoyed the ride, Birdlings Flat was a challenge, hot sweaty work walking the Dakar across
100m of pebbles but all good fun
Rgds


I thought I seen you heading home as we rode in to Akaroa.
You were topping up your fuel tank after you passed us.
Black and white Guzzi with Givi panniers and a Red and black one in tow.

[Transalper]

Hello again, sorry to dredge up old threads but anyhow heres about 10 minutes of our day. I reckon the most fun bits were the shingly start and the stock track at the end.KRAoGJkL6pU

Remember you can get an almost full screen view if you click on the youtube logo to go to their webpage and then click on the full screen button on the playback controls.

Apologies to the dial up people.

14Mb DivX version here (http://www.fileden.com/files/2006/9/8/208927/14mb192xLighthouseRdSHORT_agk.avi) for the dial ups. Right click and save target i think.

[far queue]

Well done TA, another great video from you.

[Bren_chch]

That looks like awesome fun! :Punk:

[cooneyr]

Awsome vid TA. Thanks for the effort.

Cheers R

[PLUG]

sort of forgot about that ride ... seems so long ago ... birdlings got me sweeting though ... nice work TA ...

[Transalper]

i'm hiding from the heat today and been trying to clear off some harddrive space

[Ronnie]

:jerry:Boy your not wrong... its pea gravel all r!ght! Got up early on sunday morning even though daylight saving started:sleep::scooter:, and went for a ride from chch, dyers pass road, birdlings flat. Had a walk trough the gravel first:wari: and then decided to put my bike in gear and walk beside it and push it trough the gravel that way. Downhill went ok of course, but then I had to continue on to:apumpin: the other side wich was going up hill. Took me about an hour or so... It was like the bike was set in concrete. Found a sheet of corrugated iron and that helped me a bit. When I had the bike finally out I was puffing too.:done:The ride on Bossu road was a nice reward though, with wonderful views of the spit.:rockon: