Junkmanjoe's heading for the south - Jan 22-25th 2010

[Eddieb]

Ride report at 6:15am.

No rain, flat sea, just about to dock.

[Eddieb]

Ride report at 3:07pm.

We at Hanmer, wet but happy with the days ride.

[junkmanjoe]

Hi all have heard from Joe and Dave - they have arrived safely in Hanmer Springs and went through Molesworth and was pissing down with rain (Joes words).

Cheers Mrs Junkmanjoe.

[Aslan]

Hi all have heard from Joe and Dave - they have arrived safely in Hanmer Springs and went through Molesworth and was pissing down with rain (Joes words).

Cheers Mrs Junkmanjoe.

Good to hear all's well Mrs JMJ

[CrazyFrog]

I met with boys with Jatz in Blenhiem yesterday morn, had a leisurely brekky there, and headed off over Taylors Pass then down the Awatere Valley into the Molesworth. The weather was warm, almost muggy, with some good sunny patches so heading off promised to be a good trip.
The boys were blown away with the scenic splendour of the place and were in awe of the wide open mountain valleys.
Photo stops were frequent, so hopefully they got some good pictures themselves to do it justice.
I found myself out the front a bit too frequently, from knowing the roads somewhat better and really enjoying opening up the DRZ on the tighter stuff. I got a bit too far ahead and had a lucky break getting through a NZ traffic jam easily (large mob of cattle being moved) and after the obigatory nod to the hottie on horseback follwing the cattle, I was off again. The roads had been packed down nicely with the previous days rain, so were primo to ride, and with no dust to worry about I enjoyed leaving some good black snakeys exiting corners down the road.
I waited for a while at the Molesworth homestead camp, and with rain clouds looming on the horizon I geared up for the rain which had started to fall. Signed in with the DOC book for Molesworth vistors and left a note for Joe and the boys if they decided to sign the book... hope you boys got my note.
I made the decision to crack on with the pace from there, so to complete my 500km round trip to Nelson, which included the Rainbow road. Absolutely loved the fast pace through the Molesworth, and had many a flashback of the Dakar vids, which probably WASN'T a good thing, I was all gee'd up for hooning. Came round one tight right hander to find Carlos Sainz had rolled his 4wd down a bank and his ute was lying on it's roof. Someone else was giving assistance, he'd banged his head but was still walking around so can't have been too bad. I was surplus to requirements there so waved them a cheer goodbye and was off again.... besides I was the one getting a wet arse on the bike. It was really pissing down by this stage, and my kevlar pants were officially deemed non waterproof.
The Frogman was now fully baptised by this wet ride and had come to love this part of his love/hate relationship with wet riding. Sticky, clingy pants, soggy mx boots, soaked hand yes, but with warm torso and dry upper body I was happy enough, and the warm summer rain didn't make windchill an issue. I was well impressed with water beading off the mx googles and absolutely no fogging.
Got to Hanmer via Jollies Pass which had some serious water running down the road, fuelled up there, scoffed a quick Cookie Time bar (favourite snack for wannabe Dakar riders) and was off up the Rainbow via Jacks Pass. Had to show a few 4wd'ers how to ride the rain and road verges, because the blind buggers never seem to watch their mirrors on those roads. Made really good time through there to the SH63 intersection, well under 2 hours, actual time is a closely guarded secret for fear of retribution. The final road stretch from Tophouse road to Nelson was the only non-event, I chose to stay on the seal rather than detour through the forests as time was ticking on and the thunder and lightning was coming on strong. Since I was already a long time wet rat, I found myself laughing at a bunch of Harley riders heading out of town as I was on my last 10kms to home, maybe water had got into me and short circuited my wiring, I was delusional in the rain and lovin it.
Thanks Joe, Dave, and James for the company while it lasted, and hoped you enjoyed a hot shower and a few bevvies in Hanmer. Good luck today with the rest of your ride. Gotta love a road trip

[Eddieb]

The boys have headed into Rainbow this morning, but suspect they may have to turn back if the rivers are up. A text from Joe at 9:30 said 'It's really pouring down'.

[CrazyFrog]

They should get through the Rainbow okay, the rivers weren't too bad yesterday although a lot of gravel has moved around in the fords, they'll just have to watch where they put the front wheel.

[Taz]

Hey Junkwomanjoe and junkmanjoe........ I hope his trip down south isn't like mine and Cary's from a couple of years ago where it was wet and cold (even some snow) for alot of the trip with everyone saying "you should have been here last week - It was 30 degrees!". And that was in february. They went back to drought conditions the week after we got back. Here's some summer shots I took while down there.........

[Eddieb]

Just got a text from Joe, they are in St Arnaud now having just got through the rainbow. I gather the weather is wet, wet and wet, with extra wet thrown in for good measure.

[Padmei]

Jeez boys I feel for you cos I know how much you were looking forward to it. Hopefully you can find a bit of good weather to make the most of it.

[Ally67]

Just got txt from Jatz he recons that was the best ride he's ever had through the Rainbow and the streams/rivers were not really up.

[Underground]

Sweet , should be good for our little circuit tomorrow .

[MyGSXF:Me]

Awesome writeup CF!!!

Happy riding boys!!! hopefully our weather comes right for you.................

[Eddieb]

The boys were in Greymouth at 11:55 heading for Arthurs Pass.

Sounds like yesterday was a big day, they didn't make camp till midnight.

[nana_mac]

The boys were in Greymouth at 11:55 heading for Arthurs Pass.

Sounds like yesterday was a big day, they didn't make camp till midnight.

Hi Eddieb great to get the report on JMJ glad all is going pretty well, as long as they are both enjoying their tour as JMJ was looking so forward to it.
Cheers Bev