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View Full Version : Long overdue ride report-LOTS OF PICS!!


topo
23rd January 2009, 20:43
I've posted a few of these pics from last November over the last few months, but thought i'd post the lot just for kicks.

I'll keep it breif, but the plan was to do an adv road-trip with the "old man". we also met up with two other friends on the red/white GSPD and blue Triumph.

I'm not sure how to mark the route on a map for all to view but the basic loop was from Nelson,Timaru,Central Otago,CHCH then home. aprox 2400km in 4 days.

Day 1.
The first day was a quick trip down to Timaru via Nelson Creek on the west coast (almost),Arthurs Pass, and a few minor back roads. No pics as the pace was rather rapid.

Day 2.
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn175/topo-t-south/otogo%2008/Picture409.jpg
Quick stop in Aulbry,just out of Timaru to put the bag covers on.

http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn175/topo-t-south/otogo%2008/Picture410.jpg


http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn175/topo-t-south/otogo%2008/Picture411.jpg
Hakataramea Pass.

http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn175/topo-t-south/otogo%2008/Picture413.jpg
Danseys Pass

http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn175/topo-t-south/otogo%2008/Picture414.jpg
Track from Ranfurly to Roxborough, via lake Onslow. This track rates as one of the best i have ever riden on 60-110km/hr dirt tarck with vis for miles:Punk:

http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn175/topo-t-south/otogo%2008/Picture415.jpg
More of above track.

http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn175/topo-t-south/otogo%2008/Picture416.jpg
And another just for good measure.

From Roxborough we popped through to Nevis Station for the night. Great ride in from Clyde but was getting late and it waas "Beer o-clock" hence no photos.

More to follow.
topo
23rd January 2009, 20:44
Day 3.

After a big night on the turps by some we made our way out to Gibston. This was all on private farm tracks and proved to be quite challenge for the bigger bikes.

http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn175/topo-t-south/otogo%2008/Picture423.jpg

http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn175/topo-t-south/otogo%2008/Picture433.jpg

http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn175/topo-t-south/otogo%2008/Picture434.jpg

http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn175/topo-t-south/otogo%2008/Picture440.jpg

http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn175/topo-t-south/otogo%2008/Picture442.jpg

http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn175/topo-t-south/otogo%2008/Picture447.jpg

http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn175/topo-t-south/otogo%2008/Picture449.jpg

http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn175/topo-t-south/otogo%2008/Picture450.jpg

That 30km took 4 hours, it also included pushing the big bikes up one rather loose climb.

That'll do for tonight will finish this up tomorrow.

Cheers,
Topo
sosman
23rd January 2009, 20:55
Wow! some awesome pics there & I know photo's don't do it justice...But that down hill looked fooken steep :Punk:
Motu
23rd January 2009, 21:29
Excellent! This is the way ride reports should be done.I need to see the perspective of that hill - I need to see myself on it...to see if I could do it....
JATZ
23rd January 2009, 21:38
NICE !!

I gotta get m'self down that way
Waihou Thumper
24th January 2009, 05:46
The road with the gate and the other passes etc, are all these allowable to the rider? I ask as I am heading down that way in the next couple of months on the KTM....
I am looking for some nice adventure routes and have the Dusty Butt route etc, so would be looking for something like this too. It looks great!
Waihou Thumper
24th January 2009, 05:49
It says restricted access on my Motorcycle Atlas so how does one get permission for this then? Any information would be helpful, thanks.
topo
24th January 2009, 06:54
The only two restricted roads that we went on in that trip were the track out from Nevis station to Gibston and up the side of lake Benmore. All others are open access for most of the year (track past lake Onslow closes in winter).

Get hold of some of the 4wd books, they have most of the ADV style tracks in them, and also have the contact phone numbers for those that need permission.

On the gate front, we always follow the rule of leaving gates as we find them. All of the gates pictured were on public tracks/roads mainly on station boundrys, we only had to lift one gate of it's hinges:doh: on the way out to gibston (on the private track).
topo
24th January 2009, 08:04
2nd half of day 3.

http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn175/topo-t-south/otogo%2008/Picture466.jpg
Lunch in Cromwell

http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn175/topo-t-south/otogo%2008/Picture468.jpg
View up the valley from n Falls dam near St Bathans.

http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn175/topo-t-south/otogo%2008/Picture469.jpg

http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn175/topo-t-south/otogo%2008/Picture470.jpg
How not to do a river crossing on a PD:doh:

http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn175/topo-t-south/otogo%2008/Picture476.jpg

http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn175/topo-t-south/otogo%2008/Picture478.jpg
View from the top looking north towards Omarama
topo
24th January 2009, 08:07
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn175/topo-t-south/otogo%2008/Picture480.jpg
Side of lake Benmore

http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn175/topo-t-south/otogo%2008/Picture481.jpg
Benmore

http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn175/topo-t-south/otogo%2008/Picture484.jpg
View from top of pass above lake Benmore looking north, perfectly maintained power line service rd, although you would'nt want to run wide on any corners for obvious reasons:whistle:

http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn175/topo-t-south/otogo%2008/Picture485.jpg
Waiting for the straglers at the After leaving Black Forest Stn. If you like FAST gravel this section of road should be on your to do list. About 30km of 100-160km/hr:nono: flowing dirt/gravel highway. Goes from benmore through to the highway between Tekapo and Fairlie.

Stopping to fill up in Fairlie, we then popped through to CHCH. 3 out of 4 tail lights and 2 plate lights blown made for a rather nerve-racking ride up the main rd to chch.

Day 4.

Home via the rainbow, uneventfull but rather quick hence no photos.

Cheers,
topo
cooneyr
24th January 2009, 08:28
The road with the gate and the other passes etc, are all these allowable to the rider? I ask as I am heading down that way in the next couple of months on the KTM....
I am looking for some nice adventure routes and have the Dusty Butt route etc, so would be looking for something like this too. It looks great!

Yep, Mackenzie, Haka and Dansey's passes are all public roads. All of these are on my web site. Black Forest is a private road but I've got the contact details for the landowners and a GPS track log. Not on my web site but when I next update I'll try and get permission from the landowners (one was being a little difficult last time I spoke to him). Lake Onslow and the two Dunstan routes are definitely worth a look (+1 for lane Onslow route). Also there is a public road between Clyde and Cromwell on the south side of Lake Dunstan - have a GPS track log to go up next update. Nevis is on the web site as well but the private section isn't (got any contact details topo?).

Cheers R
Paladin
24th January 2009, 08:39
Awesome report/pics Topo, thx for takin the time to post it all. You guys just have some great riding down there!
topo
24th January 2009, 08:44
Matrin on the red/white GSPD was our connection at Nevis station, past neighbours/drinking bud's.
The guys at Nevis are "hard-case southern men" so i'm sure a GOOD bottle of single malt would go a log way to oopening up a few great tracks, (worked for us:drinknsin).

Sorry no real contacts as such, but this technique combined with not riding like a durnk monkey on speed usually gets me access to most areas in the SI.
warewolf
24th January 2009, 08:47
Top stuff!! Looks like it was a great trip.

Ah, that's the pigeon pair to my old blue Tiger, 53SZZ. The two were originally rental bikes with the same company. Sometimes I wish I still had it...
spookytooth
24th January 2009, 13:52
WoW thats some awsum country
bart
24th January 2009, 21:09
Man, I've got to get down that way..............soon.
Balrog
24th January 2009, 23:44
Excellent topo :niceone:
clint640
27th January 2009, 08:39
Great Report! I'm looking forward to getting down there again next month.

Whats the deal with the St Bathans - Omarama track? is that public access?

Cheers
Clint
cooneyr
27th January 2009, 12:15
Great Report! I'm looking forward to getting down there again next month.

Whats the deal with the St Bathans - Omarama track? is that public access?

Cheers
Clint

Check out this thread (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=90949). It has gone a bit off topic but it seems DOC controlls access over omarama saddle now and access is not a problem between certain dates.

Cheers R