Seven Summits Spring Safari

**cooneyr** · 30th August 2009, 07:53

Originally Posted by Underground

Comon frogman ,pick a day ...any day... just not labour weekend , or the following one

+1 on not being labour weekend. I've got the DB1k pre run to do but I'm keen to have a play up around that way as well.

Cheers R

**zeRax** · 30th August 2009, 08:09

+1 not labour weekend, ill be up north #_#

**Transalper** · 30th August 2009, 08:36

I'm interested too, but of those choices I can only go September or December.
You could always send me a track log after the event and I'll go another day.

**CrazyFrog** · 10th October 2009, 15:25

Okay, sorry fella's, I've gone to sleep on this one with not finalising a date for the ride, I've been a little busy with mini-me and my maintenance on my rental property

Good thing the ride wasn't this weekend, too much snow around after the last storm front passed through, snow on the Mangatapu, Mt Patriarch, and Mt Arthur ....who would have thought, heavy snow in October.

So, after some consideration of the present ride calendar, I've decided NOT to hold it on Labour Weekend, as most of us are prebooked doing other stuff with family, or going away etc.

Oct 17-18 is the 2000 km Grand Challenge for roadie affiliates - so not this one.
Oct 24-25-26 Labour weekend and Greymouth Street Races - not this weekend either. Also Ryan's recon ride south for the 2010 Dusty Butt.
Nov 7-8 is the HBAR for North Islanders, and also U-Sillies Longest Day 1000km'er in the South.
Nov 14-15-16 Canterbury Show Weekend
Nov 26-27-28 Burt Munro festival weekend

Soooooo, I've decided to go with Canterbury Show weekend, SAT 14 NOV

This will give any of the Canterbury lads time to ride up on the Friday, and have a brief get together Fri night before heading off on the ride Sat morn. I don't anticipate starting too early, prob around 7 to 8am depending on rider keen-ness and weather on the day.
If anyone has an idea for a meeting venue Fri night, speak up, and let's throw some ideas around, whether it's a pub or someones house, we'll decide a week or so before the ride.

The event is now on the KB calendar, so register yourself if you're keen.

**Waihou Thumper** · 10th October 2009, 16:54

I am almost tempted to drop down...
BUT, I will definitely be trying for the Dusty Butt, either one or the two dayer....depending on kennel fees and my budget and annual leave etc...You know how it is..

This ride sounds like fun for a weekend away for sure, and I know you will take the boys to some good out of the way places too....

**CrazyFrog** · 29th October 2009, 20:13

I went out for another 250km recon ride today, going over some of the roads again to help decide on the final route.

Most gravel roads are in primo condition and the forestry roads are pretty good as well, with the exception of a couple of greasy patches in the trees.
I'm still working on the Beeby's Knob track at St Arnaud, don't know if we can get access before the official summer period starts, but it's worth a crack asking anyway.

Last but not least, the Mangatapu may be in doubt due to recent events, but hopefully it will reopen before mid November. I'm sure we'll be able to suck up another 50km of tarseal to get home if we have to.

**Transalper** · 29th October 2009, 21:04

Look foward to the ride report/pics and maybe a track log?
Can't go then as riding mountain bikes down south with J.
Have fun, stay safe.

**CrazyFrog** · 3rd November 2009, 14:26

I've just got off the phone from DOC in St Arnaud, and they're being spoil sports about a few miserable motorsickles going up Beeby's track.
They initially said permission would be okay for a couple of hours out of the official season by special arrangement, but as soon as I mention that goddam motorsickle word, they baulked and got all uptight about the possiblity of bikes going off the formed track......like we've never seen 4wd'ers do that!!

Us ADV'ers are a responsible bunch aren't we?? Bloody bureacrats. Mutter, mutter, grumble, never mind, back to Plan A.
No chance of crossing the Wairau at the southern end of Northbank Rd at the moment, river flow is way too high....very wet and cold, not good.

Oh well, gives us a chance to rest up on the bike and clock up some boring road km's before Onamalutu and Mt Patriarch.

**NordieBoy** · 3rd November 2009, 15:28

Sounding good...

**zeRax** · 3rd November 2009, 15:50

gogogogogogogo

someone kick my arse into gear!

got dr650 sitting there sweet as with a fcr connected to it, all i gotta do is stick it in and do up the clamps, and put bunch of things back onto bike, and get a mid pipe made,

got im slack :\

been riding the 125 like crazy, such a lil weapon

**CrazyFrog** · 3rd November 2009, 18:39

Originally Posted by zeRax

Got dr650 sitting there sweet as with a fcr connected to it, all i gotta do is stick it in and do up the clamps, and put bunch of things back onto bike, and get a mid pipe made,
god im slack :\

Only 11 shed nights left to kick-off. You can do it.......

**Woodman** · 3rd November 2009, 19:53

bugger I cannot make this

**Underground** · 3rd November 2009, 19:57

Yeah zeRax get your shit together !
If you are heading over to NN on the day prior we could meet up for a training ride , give me a yell if youre looking for accomodation in NN

**zeRax** · 3rd November 2009, 20:27

sis in law lives in nelson so i can stay there, but ya, all keen dude, if not the 650 ( which im gonna gun hoe tomorrow and get as much done as possible ), then u get to meet the 125 beast!

**CrazyFrog** · 4th November 2009, 12:34

I've just been sorting a basic route sheet with distances and main intersection turns on it, so can distribute this to anyone who wants one, on the evening before the ride.
A couple of the forestry roads are mapped on GPS files, but are not on most paper maps, so think it's best to take a "follow the leader" approach to these short sections. They are both on the first leg in the morning before St Arnaud, so figure we can stick together for the morning to the first fuel stop anyway.
I've also got a full GPS route on Garmin Mapsource to download for anyone who's using a GPS on the day. PM me and I will forward the Mapsource file.

I estimate the day should take around 8-10 hours, depending on how much we piss around with fuel/food/photo stops and of course the weather, which may effect the summit of Mt Patriarch as most of us know.

I've planned 3 fuel stops:
1. St Arnaud at around 210 km (the longest leg without a fuel station)
2. Renwick after another 105 km for a splash n'dash before Mt Patriarch.
3. Lastly at Havelock at 175 km after the Renwick/Mt Patriarch loop.

Mechanical/flatties etc are issues to contend with on the day if they happen, so please be prepared with basic tools, tyre levers and a spare tube.
The big bikes will be fine with dual purpose tyres, there's nothing on the route particularly challenging for any of us, who are familiar with each others riding ability.
Personally, I'd like to leave Nelson around 7am, or perhaps meet at Caltex Wakefield at 0730, so to have plenty of daylight at start and finish, and the roads are nice and quiet through the Dovedale/Mt Arthur/forestry sections early in the day.
We can have a quick ride brief the night before if the lads are keen

otherwise a quick ring around should suffice.

Anyones else want to add anything???