Clarence Reserve open weekends

[alane]

[QUOTE=XF650;1129971625]Wonderful weather, dry tracks & low river crossings.
The DOC lady at sign-in said two other "Dusty Bummers" (her words) had gone in the day before.

It was us "NAKI" boys,in there on Sat.---Bigchicken on the K.T.M.950 & me.
Actually Bigchicken went in on Fri,too,with his wife,& went as far as seymour.She counted 26 stream crossings on the way out.

SAT. started a bit later than we intended,as we had vehicle issues overnite,& the DOC. lady (Shelly) sent me chasing two 4wd,s that went the wrong way,& it turned out to be a 15km jaunt.I was,nt complaining,---saw country I would,nt have otherwise seen.
By 10.30 we were cruising over blind saddle with lots of 4 wd,s.
Had lunch @ Quail flat ,then went right to the end---over Fidget stream I think it is.
By this time the sky was mighty black,& we made a run for Goose flat hut,araiveing just as the rain got heavy.This held us up for 20 minutes,& it was becomming obvious we,d have to step up the pace ,if we wanted to get to Palmer hutt,& out to the road by 5 pm.Luckily the rain did,nt make the ground slippery,& we were at Palmer by 4 pm.
I can,t say I saw a LOT of scenery going back,the little SUPERSHERPA was hummin.We made it to the DOc lady(44km) by 5.18pm,& she was still there,much to our relief.There had been much more rain around Blind saddle,& the mist was thick.

What a fantastic ride,with mind blowing scenery.Must go back & do it a bit more leasurely next time.
CHEERS ALANE


P.S. ---Pretty shure it was you UNDERGROUND---I saw @ 6.30 pm Sun. Heading home.
Do you remember An old BONGO van carrying a Super Sherpa,Flashing lights @ you,somewhere near Havelock?

[Underground]

P.S. ---Pretty shure it was you UNDERGROUND---I saw @ 6.30 pm Sun. Heading home.
Do you remember An old BONGO van carrying a Super Sherpa,Flashing lights @ you,somewhere near Havelock?

Yep ,twas me alright ,hightailing it for home.
Took me a few seconds to figure it was you ,but I gave you a wave.
We caught that freak rainstorm as we rode into Kaikoura on Sat evening ,thought you guys might have been in there as we saw the big Dodge by the side of the road.

[marks]

whats the travel time from Hamner to the start of the Clarence area?

[JATZ]

whats the travel time from Hamner to the start of the Clarence area?

Depends how fast you go

Mapsource says about 88 k's ish

[ADVGD]

We were thinking of heading up there Sat and back out Sunday
Cheers Crim

Looks like I won't be able to join you mate, I dropped the motor in for new rod kit with the due date not looking like it will be done in time. The lack of having a backup bike could not be felt more in cases like this

[Crim]

Looks like I won't be able to join you mate, I dropped the motor in for new rod kit with the due date not looking like it will be done in time. The lack of having a backup bike could not be felt more in cases like this

yeah was thinking that may be the case - obviously keeping an eye on the "indestructible, not even close" thread (was going to post some smart arse "that's bloody good k's for a submarine" comment but thought better of it .......... ooops seem I may just have done just that) and thought you may be running out of time. Me mate on the DR Big has pulled the pin as well - but I may still head on up, only thing is there is a southerly due through so will keep my eye on the weather and make a call later in the week

[Waihou Thumper]

You guys will have company....Be on the lookout for a Tenere, 990A, and two 950A, the boys have been away for three weeks riding the trails the south has to offer....
Despite all the advice from locals and adv riders out there (Ryan etc) they still went over Old Man Range....
I think the last I heard, it took over three hours to do a small section....
N.I.'s.....never learn...

[cooneyr]

You guys will have company....Be on the lookout for a Tenere, 990A, and two 950A, the boys have been away for three weeks riding the trails the south has to offer....
Despite all the advice from locals and adv riders out there (Ryan etc) they still went over Old Man Range....
I think the last I heard, it took over three hours to do a small section....
N.I.'s.....never learn...

They better have pics of the Whitcombe Rd cause appart from the first 200m I'm running on hearsay so keen as to know what it's like. Dusty section next year maybe

[Waihou Thumper]

They better have pics of the Whitcombe Rd cause appart from the first 200m I'm running on hearsay so keen as to know what it's like. Dusty section next year maybe

I think that was the bit that took them 3 hours... I also think there is video, mind you, they took my POV, I am betting it may not be good footage..(newbies with vid)

[Box'a'bits]

So.......what about that tropical cyclone then....shit, shit, shit. I've been looking south not north. Hope it swerves away

[andy mac]

http://www.metservice.com/rural/marlborough

It looks like a good forecast with some dampness on Friday & Saturday.
Blind Saddle will probably be in the clouds when going into Clarence on Sat morning.
Motomart has an adv ride also going thru the Molesworth on Friday. Say hi to Peter P on a 950 Adv and have a good ride

[Pampera]

After the "breaking of the fellowship" when the Wellington team went three ways due to post earthquake difficulties en route to the last DOC reserve open weekend, Saturday weather prevented me from doing the route. However Steve and Howie had a marvellous Sunday up the Clarence.

Not to miss out I decided to take the Grumman for a look last Sunday. Flew up the Clarence from Grassmere, hopped over Blind Saddle and stopped for luch and fuel in Kaikoura. I then flew back over the saddles, up the Clarance to Acheron then down Molesworth to Seddon and home.

A pretty hairy looking road. I hope it is open next summer. First view is looking from the Saddle back down the Clarence, the second down on the 4WD road. Sorry about the quality, point and push operated one handed and with canopy reflections.

The Clarance Valley is even more of a moonscape than Molesworth, nowhere to put down and a bit daunting in a single engined aircraft - hence the considerable height in the photos!

Next summer on two wheels.

Michael

[Howie]

Not to miss out I decided to take the Grumman for a look last Sunday. Flew up the Clarence from Grassmere, hopped over Blind Saddle and stopped for luch and fuel in Kaikoura. I then flew back over the saddles, up the Clarance to Acheron then down Molesworth to Seddon and home.

A pretty hairy looking road. I hope it is open next summer. First view is looking from the Saddle back down the Clarence, the second down on the 4WD road. Sorry about the quality, point and push operated one handed and with canopy reflections.


Next summer on two wheels.

Michael

Great photos Michael, Certainly a bit of a different view of the track.

Thanks for putting them up.

[alane]

Thought I,d check them out ,incase I come down for the Dustybutt--(still procrastinating)----but could,nt find anything on the DOC website.
Was a magic ride last year,--but did it in one day,--would,nt mind doing it a little slower.
ANYWAY-----Emailed the Sth. Marlborough area office
Here,s what they said.

"Open weekends starting 6--8 Jan.-weather permitting.
AND--for the next 4 fine weekends."

For those that don,t know --its a terriffic ride---I REALLY enjoyed it.
Look up Doc website for info/map. Or look through this thread.

CHEERS AL.

[Woodman]

Good to know, cheers.