Sutherlands Hut & beyond Sat 28th Feb

[Paladin]

Junkmanjoe and I are planning to head out to Sutherlands Hut and then explore a track Joe knows/has seen there to try and head over the hill to join up with the Ngawi Road just to add a bit of spice into the trip.

Welly guys we could meet at Rimutaka Caltex in Upper Hutt and then join up with the 'Rapa gang in Martinborough outside Toppy's cafe.

Who's interested and what time do you fancy for the Caltex meet up? 9am?

[andy mac]

Apparently DOC closed the track between Sutherlands hut & Pirinoa after someone was killed on it. The track was very steep & you travelled downhill from Pirinoa, a trials bike was probably the best choice. I think I’ve seen a photo of the locked gate at the Pirinoa end in an earlier Cape Palliser thread.

[junkmanjoe]

ok i just been down to D.O.C office.
done a bit of brown tounging, singed my life away, and have a key arranged for the tekopi beach gate. :niceone:
have been in touch with local 4x4 clubs who look after the track. they say every thing will be fine,.

so this means we can go right through from cattle stop to hut and then over top to lookout and on to the beach.

there is a small charge of $5 per bike, to help with up keep of the track.
if we keep in good with these guys, we be able to use the track on a regular bases. :niceone:

so this ride will go ahead on sat 28th feb.
possiblly not suitable for smooth road tires,if its wet theres
a grassy section on coast side.

so now we get to see the whole road. :drool: .

all good.

let us know numbers.

i think dave and my self and if any one else would like to come along, i would like to go in from the hut side and just check the steep section, aprox 100m long up to the summit.

just to be safe for next weekend.

all good.

[andy mac]

Joe well done getting the key, that's good organisation.
You can be the test pilot for the steepness factor. I imagine the clay track down into Sutherlands is getting greasy in this rain. Is it raining in the Rapa?

[Paladin]

I've posted the Sat 21st reccie ride for this on the Welly rideouts thread:

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=85178&page=10

[junkmanjoe]

Joe well done getting the key, that's good organisation.
You can be the test pilot for the steepness factor. I imagine the clay track down into Sutherlands is getting greasy in this rain. Is it raining in the Rapa?

Hi andy.

the track on this side down to the hut its 90% gravel rotton rock,and very doable we or dry, may be a few more puddles down the flats, and creeks may be a little up.

but i dont think that will be a problum.
have been told buy two 4x4 clubs that track up to and over summit lookout is good and metal, may have a tree canopy in some aeras. la little further down coast side, possably a bit off grasy track.
we go as far as we can tomorrow, check track for rideablity.

all good.:woohoo:

[Aslan]

Hi - I'm keen for the Junkman Joe / Paladin ride next Sat 28/2 - relaxed as to start time from Caltex Rimutuka (Paladin we could leave from my place together if you like) - and yes Toppy's sounds good for refreshments.


Plan to use my DR for this ride - cheers Aslan :rockon:

[junkmanjoe]

Well chaps.

as we all got off to a late start.
in the rain. yummy,
arived at martinbrough, and to our joy, it stoped raining.
parked up at toppys, and there she was......:drool:
but we didnt just go there to see the cafe godess.....
we went to get our selfs in to trouble, and we did......

the track to the hut was a nice ride, just love that road, i never get sick of it.
creeks where up a little, nothing to worry about, a few more and BIGGER muddy puddles, paladin managed to get him self fully side ways in a boggy bit, nice job as he didnt fall off......
when we arived at the hut, a small suprise awaited us,
there was 7 mini moke farm bikes there, on tour..... range from 50cc up 70cc, cool bunch of chaps and happy to have a chat. they had come down the track we where heading up. and they did it in the dark...... WHAT....:gob:
they warned us of whats to come.
so we sadled up and headed in to the unknowen.........
Holly crap, first 50m or so was nice casual climb, we rounded a hairpin corner, and there was the start, stright up, lose rock, deep water ruts, and no where to stop.
so off we went, or we tried,,,,, vrooommmm.

the further up we went to worse and steeper it got,we had to switch from side to side of track to try find a good section to even ride on. keep the power on try find a good line and DONT stop. my dr had a bad habbit, and decide it might like to try lifing the front wheel up every now and then, :crazy: as if i didnt have enough to worry about, after a few hicups on that section we got to a flat area, we though well that must be the bad bit over and done.. sweet..
after that section, track was good, much like the top of the plylon track, i thought this is good...
carr ied along a bit further, along a ridge line, we are quite high up at this time.
up and over the ridge, we started to head down again, and i could see the track ahead of us, and :gob: it looked like it just went STRIGHT UP and disapared round the back of next ridge....so i said to andymac and paladin wait here and bart and i will go check it out and see if we can get up.
HAHAHAHHAHAHAHHA
bart guned it took off like a cut cat, he got about 3/4 way up and bailed.
i lined it up, kicked it in the guts, vrrrommmm and only got about half way... bugger..... turned around back down for another go, full tit hanging on for dear life, doge the big rocks weight forward keep front wheel on the ground, going like hell mary on heat, and i only got about 10m further than last try, bart not much further.....bugger....
i jumped on paladins bike,.vvvrrommmmm.... na no futher.
bugger....i was defeted. we couldnt get up.. rock was big and deep and lose, and so steep, was hard enough to walk up, i would say, its 1 and 1/2 times stepper than the plylon track with marbles on the track. form the long down hill skid marks on the track, the mini mokes just skided all the way to the bottom.
so we turned around and headed back out, few minor hickups comming down, not to bad, all agred to head for the pub for a well needed jug.
must take my helmet off to andymac, he had his trusty road tire on, and just powered up the track till the bad part.

so im sorry to say track is at this stage is not very safe for travel, even comming down some sections were a controled slide for my self, as for comming in from other end, i really need to look in to this, this track as beaten me and i wont rest till i have done it, end to end....

so this means the ride over the tekpoi / southerlands track.
is cancled for next saturday. sorry i forgot to take my camera, hopefully bart will post a few pics later on.

thanks to Bart, Andymac, Paladin for comming on this trip.

[bart]

Cheers for a great day Joe. Thanks Andymac and Paladin. Quite a challenge today.

I'm still in the dog box with the missus. I was only 4 hours late home. I think I've run out of browny points.

Anyway, I'll post some pics in the morning.

Cheers,
Bart

[bart]

OK, here's some pics.

Pic 3 shows some of the local wildlife. Bastard liked me that much, he wouldn't let go.

Number 6 shows some more local wildlife

[bart]

Few more........

Awesome river crossings

Paladin getting a bit crossed up. Great save.

[bart]

Monkey infestation at the hut

A few steep bits

[bart]

1. Paladin fanging it up a steep bit
2. Defeated. You can see the track winding up the hill at the top of the photo. Very steep with loose rocks. I'll be back one day with offroad gearing.:angry2:
3. Coming back down was a mission in itself. Andymac makes it look easy (with a road bike on slicks).
4. Joe hooning down the hill
5. Rest at the river
6. NO COMMENT!!!! (I felt bad taking this photo..........honest). :whistle:

[merv]

Monkey bikes, that brings back the memories they wouldn't be very young models would they?

[junkmanjoe]

great pics bart.
sorry i got you in the poo with mum.......coming home late.

its a shame the pics dont show reaily how steep it was...
and yes we will be back to atack the track.
one day......soon.

yes not sure what paladin was thinking, maybe, i think i just fall of my bike for something to do........
it was a fairly high speed crash, oh and a bee stung him on the nose,,,,, he had a bit of a off day.....

the mini bike crew was going to sneck up the old incline track on there way back to welly....naughty boys....

top day mate.
c u in couple weeks.

[Aslan]

you guys obviously had a top day - I salute you all for attempting that steep / rocky climb - especially AndyMac on the T/A - goes to show it's not about the bike but rider attitude and skill - on ya! cheers Aslan :rockon:

[andy mac]

Thanks for the compliments, yes I was absolutely stoked to get up that hill (& down again) without dropping the bike :woohoo: However I think it was a bit of beginners luck and a lot of Transalp torque. The motor pulls like a tractor which compensates for the odd wrong line and the engine braking is impressive too.

Quote:
Originally Posted by cooneyr
harlyesk engined adv tourer?

Harley/Buell are reknowned for low rpm grunt, sounds to me like a good recipe for an adv tourer. Buells are fairly innovative, and the 1125 is the new generation powerplant and pretty well respected.

Thanks Bart for the photos, we will get some shots of you on the RRRR.
I take my hat off to Paladin for getting up that hill, he's a noobie rider but veteran bloger.
:2guns: Joe thanks for the ride & no I don't want to do it again - either direction. My forearms are still pumped today from hanging on so tight.

[junkmanjoe]

sweet andymac, pleased you enjoyed your casual ride in the rapa..... maybe next time we could do a harder ride some tme.......

[dirty habit]

Any deer seen out there boys??:2guns:

[junkmanjoe]

yea mate andymac saw a fawn and i have come across hunters in my trips in there with captian cookers as well mate.
is a busy spot for hunting.
good luck.

[bart]

Any deer seen out there boys??:2guns:

Not a shit show with the noise my thing makes (unless Bamby's deaf).

[Box'a'bits]

The monkey bikes can't have done the incline. Saw them on the Rimutakas about midday today. Bloody windy up there & out in the Wairarapa this arvo. Steve

[junkmanjoe]

oh they told us they where goig over there.

mybe they got caught, in there.

funny little bikes,must be scarry rideing them on the main road..

[Paladin]

Bart thanks for taking the photos on the ride, nice of you to take the time when us three lazy buggers just rode along! Enjoyed being out there with the three of you - very challenging in parts - jeez those steep hills with all the loose rocks were tough- I'm SO glad I didn't even attempt the final one that defeated Joe & Bart!

Dunno exactly what happened with the crash thing - had just been stung on the nose by a bee about a minute before hand so guess my concentration was a bit off after that or something, all i know was before i realised it my line was all off on the right hander and the front wheel was out from under me in the gravel at the road edge.

My left thumb that was hurting so badly after the crash, was swollen up and very painful by sunday morning. Spent 4hrs in Hutt hospital getting it checked out/ x-ray etc. No fracture but apparently well sprained, they strapped it up to stop me bending it for a few days, said it probably be ok in a week or so! Got up this morning and it was swollen all to hell, wasn't sure if a problem or just strapping too tight; another trip to LH hospital for 2 more hours! Saw an injuries specialist who said the sprain to the ligaments was actually worse than I was initially led to believe and probably min 2-3 weeks before it starts to feel right and good enough to ride comfortably - bummer! He told me if I wipeout and pull that thumb back before it is strengthened up some then it could end up being ligament tears next time as its now so weak.

Just call me "Charley"!!! :laugh:

So anyway thats the sob story over, just gonna try and rest it as much as poss in hope of it being OK for the RRRR as we're not doing any mega offroad trails on that one - fingers crossed!

Thanks to Andy & Joe for the assistance on the steep hill sections, cheers guys; man what a day!

Joe next time could you make the "easy ride" a bit harder, don't think it was tough enough!:bleh:

[Aslan]

Dave - sorry to learn of the injury - bummer - best you take the medicos advice and up to avoid long term damage i guess - heal well - ciao Aslan

[junkmanjoe]

think i better get out them old training wheels of my boys bike and fit them on the mean green machine....

sounds like a plan...:scooter:

[marks]

Just call me "Charley"!!! :laugh:

you're a right Charley
or in this case a left Charley

looks like Oldins Rd will have to wait till you're all betterer

[bart]

Sorry to hear about the hand Paladin. Now I feel real bad about taking that photo. Hope it's alright for the RRRR.

Finally back in the good books with the missus :love:, so where too next weekend :innocent:. Most of the problem was her having to come pick me up from the SCAR. She wasn't too happy.

Anyway, all good.

[NordieBoy]

Just call me "Charley"!!! :laugh:

Most of the rides I'm on I ride one handed. The camera is in the left.

[Woodman]

Most of the rides I'm on I ride one handed. The camera is in the left.

Tried that today. Never again

[junkmanjoe]

i know..... we could hook up a side car to padalins bike........yea thats it......:done:
then he could carry the beers around for us.....

[marks]

Tried that today. Never again

that can go shitfaced so very very quickly......

[bart]

Yeah, I've got to stop taking photos on the move. I quite like the clutch in, right hand technique. Gotta be quick though. Works best down hill.

[NordieBoy]

Tried that today. Never again

Camera in the LEFT.

[bart]

The 4th and 6th pics on page 1 (post #10) of this thread were taken while on the move. Right hand shooting works for me, as I'm really unco with my left. Can still use throttle while holding camera. Front brake is a struggle though. I'll end up on my arse one day. :laugh::laugh::laugh:

[Paladin]

Dave - sorry to learn of the injury - bummer - best you take the medicos advice and up to avoid long term damage i guess - heal well - ciao Aslan

Cheers Stephen!


think i better get out them old training wheels of my boys bike and fit them on the mean green machine....

sounds like a plan...:scooter:

Nah I'd jut smash them off on a tree stump before a river crossing! :whistle:


you're a right Charley
or in this case a left Charley

looks like Oldins Rd will have to wait till you're all betterer

Yep am still looking forward to having a go at Odlins! Mustn't whinge too much about the thumb - Charley Boorman might be a right whiner but at least he had both hands buggered! <_<


Sorry to hear about the hand Paladin. Now I feel real bad about taking that photo. Hope it's alright for the RRRR.

Anyway, all good.

Hey the photos are all part of the fun Bart - can't believe you didn't snap one of me while I was still under the bike! Nice slide marks though! :doh:


i know..... we could hook up a side car to padalins bike........yea thats it......:done:
then he could carry the beers around for us.....

And i could finally carry my own spare fuel too!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :bleh:

[CHRIS60]

Rumour has it this hill has been conquered!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqfsxglZ2aM

[Paladin]

Rumour has it this hill has been conquered!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqfsxglZ2aM

Is that you on the KTM in the vid then?

THAT hill looks suspiciously like one of the ones we conquered not the later one that is steeper still and WAY more difficult! :shifty:

[marks]

Rumour has it this hill has been conquered!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqfsxglZ2aM

Gunna (Tim - who I think you know?) rode my WR450 up and down the hills just to prove to the blubbering girls (My son and I) that it was doable but after our painful experiences coming down wild horses wouldn't have dragged us back up.

Gunna also rode a clapped Chinese 200 down the hills with a front brake covered in fork oil - which proves he's insane

was that the ride that Oscars got photos on his smugmug accunt?

[bart]

I'd love to have another go at that hill with my bike in trail riding trim, or even just geared down a bit. I found it hard to keep the revs up with first so high. Front was either rearing up, or the bike was bogging down. Couldn't hold her in the sweet spot.

Next time............

[junkmanjoe]

na sorry vids not good enough, as you cant see what happens round the bend, buy the way the bike was snaking around,,,, might have to hand it over to the x files, to investagate.......


we will return to have another go soon, aye bart....yip yip yip.:blink:

[marks]

na sorry vids not good enough, as you cant see what happens round the bend, buy the way the bike was snaking around,,,, might have to hand it over to the x files, to investagate.......


we will return to have another go soon, aye bart....yip yip yip.:blink:

feels a bit like unfinished business

I'd throw some knobbies on the DT and join you :yes:

The road when you get to the top is simply awesome

[junkmanjoe]

yea so ive been told.
hay marks if you keen to atack it from the beach end some time, i arange the key, they will charge us $5 a bike, i think i could come down the steep part of, one way or another.........:confused:

[CHRIS60]

Is that you on the KTM in the vid then?

THAT hill looks suspiciously like one of the ones we conquered not the later one that is steeper still and WAY more difficult! :shifty:

Time to fess up........ This is the HILL alright, hence Fourskins nick name for it "c*%t hill".

This is my attempt at it....halfway after a number of goes. Fourskins actually made it after a few attempts.

Like the rest, I will have to return.....unfinished business indeed!!

[Paladin]

Time to fess up........ This is the HILL alright, hence Fourskins nick name for it "c*%t hill".

This is my attempt at it....halfway after a number of goes. Fourskins actually made it after a few attempts.

Like the rest, I will have to return.....unfinished business indeed!!

Sounds like a good name for it - well done for attempting the bugger tho! Joe & Bart were riding so competently I was surprised they didn't make it up so i didn't even bother - if they couldn't get up knew I wouldn't! I shall definitely have a go at it another time when I've got some more aggressive tyres on the bike tho. My well worn and rounded knobs on the stock D605's probably not the best for that one!

[marks]

yea so ive been told.
hay marks if you keen to atack it from the beach end some time, i arange the key, they will charge us $5 a bike, i think i could come down the steep part of, one way or another.........:confused:

Actually I'd rather go up it than down it - getting thrown over your handlebars and completely off the track (didn't even touch the track) burns itself into your memory. Also coming across your groaning son under his cartwheeled bike but being unable to get off your bike without dumping it wasn't much fun either.

would be good to have the gate key so if we get to the top then we don't have to come back down.... (I have 'bypassed' the gate before but it ain't easy or pretty)

you might need to drop a tooth on your front sprocket to make it easier getting up? (DT is down 2 teeth at front over stock)


Time to fess up........ This is the HILL alright, hence Fourskins nick name for it "c*%t hill".

This is my attempt at it....halfway after a number of goes. Fourskins actually made it after a few attempts.

Like the rest, I will have to return.....unfinished business indeed!!

In one of his other videos Johnny refers to it as cnut hill - I think that should go on all the maps

I can see the ride report now .... 'Return To Cnut Hill'

[junkmanjoe]

hi Marks.

i running a 14 on front, but have been told that the XR 13 tooth has the same shaft size, can any one comfurm this.

i still have the 41 on back.

yip we could gather a few chaps togeather to atack
CNUT HILL.
i think all thats needed is to move a few rocks around and sort of clear a track up one side, and i think we be home free.

yip just name your weekend and will sorce the key.....

Atack......AAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRR........CRASH....:do h:

[bart]

I've got a 13 tooth front that'll fit your DR.

I agree with Joe. With half an hour of throwing rocks out of the way, I'm sure we could get up.

I'm fully booked for March, but very keen to have another go. The name is very fitting also (cnut hill).

[pampa]

I'm keen on trying (quite sure my skills are not up to the task and tall bike make it scary sometimes but well I gotta try) ...

Cheers,
Pampa

[junkmanjoe]

if you dont try you will never know,

[junkmanjoe]

I've got a 13 tooth front that'll fit your DR.

I agree with Joe. With half an hour of throwing rocks out of the way, I'm sure we could get up.

I'm fully booked for March, but very keen to have another go. The name is very fitting also (cnut hill).

you think that gear will fit, have to borrow off you and try it out......

[bart]

you think that gear will fit, have to borrow off you and try it out......

Should fit, but if you're already running 41 tooth on the back, perhaps you should look at going bigger that end.

[junkmanjoe]

yes your right, but its easyr to swap around the front (3 bolts)
than the back and lose to much top end.
was just a thought.


you just dont want me to beet you up cnut hill..:Playnice: