Who's doing the Brass Monkey 2005

**Hitcher** · 4th June 2005, 13:50

As I got up at 2:00am this morning for my requisite whizz, I was reminded why I'm not at the Brass Monkey. And it's only six crisp paces from my side of a lovely warm bed to our ensuite. Imagine having to extract oneself from the confines of a sleeping bag, in a tent, whilst wearing all one's clothes, finding one's footwear, and eyewear, stumpling around in the ice and snow on one's way to the whizzer, negotiating with Private Parts to make an appearance in the cold, and then retracing one's steps through the Arctic wastes, entering the tent, removing one's footwear, re-engaging with a now frozen sleeping bag, and lying down to discover that one's bladder has not been completely emptied... Paradise!

**Jantar** · 4th June 2005, 19:16

I cruised out to site today, with Mrs J as pillion. It wasn't too bad at all. Fine weather as we left Chatto Creek then a light rain started as we descended the hill to Poolburn Pub. By the time we reached the site it was a steady drizzle, and cold, but not frezzing.

We came home on the main road, with snow right down to the side of the road from Otrehua to Becks. Plenty of bikes heading there, and I did see a guy in a greatcoat on a Ducati, idb perhaps?

Shortly after arriving home we heard a police siren heading in the direction that the Brass riders were going. I hope the fine wasn't too big.

**scumdog** · 5th June 2005, 13:48

Originally Posted by Hitcher

As I got up at 2:00am this morning for my requisite whizz, I was reminded why I'm not at the Brass Monkey. And it's only six crisp paces from my side of a lovely warm bed to our ensuite. Imagine having to extract oneself from the confines of a sleeping bag, in a tent, whilst wearing all one's clothes, finding one's footwear, and eyewear, stumpling around in the ice and snow on one's way to the whizzer, negotiating with Private Parts to make an appearance in the cold, and then retracing one's steps through the Arctic wastes, entering the tent, removing one's footwear, re-engaging with a now frozen sleeping bag, and lying down to discover that one's bladder has not been completely emptied... Paradise!

See what you missed!! I bet there's a whole lot of people out there WILL be at next years BM after reading that!

BTW Myself and Chrissy-Bimbo got there and back no bother - even passed the breath test that was copulsory at the Omakau Police roadblock.

**FlyingDutchMan** · 5th June 2005, 17:22

I got there and back no dramas... bar one. I locked myself out of my flat, with the bike keys inside when I went to leave. Had to get flatmate out of shower to let me back in. The rain was friggen awful. I customised my jeans with a bit of duct tape to make them wind/water proof round the knees. Worked surprizing well, but it did attact some strange looks!

Only scary moment: the last turn off to Otrehua - there was a shit load of loose gravel on that corner, but I spotted it in time and slowed up just in time.

**dangerous** · 5th June 2005, 17:41

Originally Posted by FlyingDutchMan

I got there and back no dramas...

Top marks man

with the gear that you had ya done good....... keen to do a few rallies over summer?

**zooter** · 5th June 2005, 20:12

Had a leisurely all day breakfast at the Otarehua pub after a poor nights sleep in my leaky tent. The pub shuttle sure makes life easier. The drizzle everyone else talks about must have been coming down while I was at the pub 'cause I carried my umbrella around all day and night for naught.
My skisuit over leathers and thermals kept out the cold as I took off at 10pm to be starting work this morning.
City slickers take note, you haven't seen stars until you've got off your bike in deepest darkest Maniototo under a cloudless moonless winter sky.
I'll be back next year and hopefully by then we'll have a KB rendezvous point sorted out. No doubt Hitcher will be pouring cold water on it from afar again next year too. Would you take advice from a man who can't empty his bladder reliably?

**campbellluke** · 5th June 2005, 20:58

It was pretty good im just back from it.

Bit of frost in the morning, but that was it. Far too easy compared with last year. I didn't have to ride through the edge of the closed pig-route road to get home this time.

**Hitcher** · 6th June 2005, 14:41

Originally Posted by zooter

Had a leisurely all day breakfast at the Otarehua pub after a poor nights sleep in my leaky tent. The pub shuttle sure makes life easier. The drizzle everyone else talks about must have been coming down while I was at the pub 'cause I carried my umbrella around all day and night for naught.
My skisuit over leathers and thermals kept out the cold as I took off at 10pm to be starting work this morning.
City slickers take note, you haven't seen stars until you've got off your bike in deepest darkest Maniototo under a cloudless moonless winter sky.
I'll be back next year and hopefully by then we'll have a KB rendezvous point sorted out. No doubt Hitcher will be pouring cold water on it from afar again next year too. Would you take advice from a man who can't empty his bladder reliably?

You misunderstand. Hitcher will be pouring HOT water on it...

**scumdog** · 6th June 2005, 19:23

o.k., last post was a quick one as C.B. and self dropped the scoot off on return from the B.M and headed off to Riverton for Saturday night (more later).

Anyway, back to the B.M., left home in the pouring rain o.k., only drama was the two spots near Beaumont where the flood-water was across the road, got to Shingle Creek pub o.k. - bread-bags over the gloves paid off.

Then on to Chatto Creek for a double Ginger Wine, last stop was Poolburn pub then onto the rally site and set up camp.
New down-filled sleeping bags (zip-together ones) turned out to be just the bees-knees - to keep warm you understand.

Met Zooter (with flash brolly) and idb (with army coat), we 'decided' that Hawaiin bandanas and meeting around the bar would be a good way for KBers to meet!!

Left at 9:30 Sunday to head home as previously mentioned.

Anyway, coming back from Riverton, today we decided to take Catlins Coast road (we were in our 'newest' car C.B.s '84 Laser) to check it out, it's A1, sealed for the whole route, bad news is; at Papatowhai the bridge is under repair so you have a 16km detour to Tahakopa and back to Mclennan on gravel road, the surface is good at present but the traffic is causing pot-holes with this rain we've had.
Still worth the trip though.

**idb** · 6th June 2005, 20:47

No dramas here either.
Damp roads but clear weather until Cromwell then dry all the way.
Caught up with Zooter. The very image of a gentleman biker, brolly and blue & yellow ski suit. I don't know how the brolly would work on the bike but I suppose it would keep the rain off.
SD and CB were found in front of the bar and we all shared intelligent conversation for a half hour or more.

Jantar, I turned off at Omakau and stopped at Poolburn so it may have been me if you were on that road.

I didn't catch FDM anywhere, unless he recognised me when it was later in the night and chose to ignore me......although that doesn't make any sense cos I'm more witty and intelligent as the night goes on.

Anyway, wandered the site entertaining folks and hit the pit around 0430.
A bit of a frost but it was gone by the time I got up due to the fog.
Fog until Clyde, especially bad over the Poolburn hill, and then clear all the way home.

As for the whizzing issue. My tent has a fly that covers the internal entrance so I don't have to get out of bed. Just unzip the inside door, unzip my bag halfway down and heave the necessary bits out the entrance. No-ones the wiser nor offended and I don't even have to get out of bed.
Now you can't do that at home unless your ensuite is closer than six steps away!
Am I wrong!?

**dangerous** · 6th June 2005, 20:55

Originally Posted by idb

Now you can't do that at home unless your ensuite is closer than six steps away!
Am I wrong!?

no you are quite corect there man.
All the chch lads are back now they said it was drizling through the pig route too S/H1. And that the pig route was in bad shape and the melted tar from summer was shiny and it was hard too tell the differance between bad seal and black frost. But thats what its all about, I swear that the frosts used to be dryer a decade or two ago..... frosts seem so wet these days.

**FlyingDutchMan** · 7th June 2005, 14:57

Originally Posted by dangerous

Top marks man

with the gear that you had ya done good....... keen to do a few rallies over summer?

Definetly, I'll be keen for a bit warmer & dryer trips round the country... as long as i don't have ride the incredibly boring two corner per hour Chch-Timaru-Oamaru route.

Originally Posted by idb

I didn't catch FDM anywhere, unless he recognised me when it was later in the night and chose to ignore me......although that doesn't make any sense cos I'm more witty and intelligent as the night goes on.

I didn't see you round anywhere... but had you come over to the bike bouncing off the 18,000 rpm rev limiter some time during the night you would have found me!

**scumdog** · 7th June 2005, 16:04

A couple of mates of mine (yes, I DO have some) had a close call on the way home about 15km from the site just past Poolburn in the thick white-out they almost wore a white car that appeared on front of them with no lights on and doing about 15km.

The 'retired farmer' type hat gave the game away as to why the driver was behaving thus.

FDM, PM me or idb etc and give us a clue as to what you might look like before the next rally eh?

Next lot of rallies one for me - Pissed Penguin at Kaka Point (Sept) and then M.A.T.E.S. @ Waikaia (Oct?) and finally Magpie Madness@Winchester (Nov)

**dangerous** · 7th June 2005, 18:04

Originally Posted by FlyingDutchMan

Definetly, I'll be keen for a bit warmer & dryer trips round the country... as long as i don't have ride the incredibly boring two corner per hour Chch-Timaru-Oamaru route.

We never take the direct route, usually follow the inland (foot of the hills) road.

Originally Posted by FlyingDutchMan

I didn't see you round anywhere... but had you come over to the bike bouncing off the 18,000 rpm rev limiter some time during the night you would have found me!

Theres always one, and I bet ya did it at four in the morning

Originally Posted by scumdog

Next lot of rallies one for me - Pissed Penguin at Kaka Point (Sept) and then M.A.T.E.S. @ Waikaia (Oct?) and finally Magpie Madness@Winchester (Nov)

The Magpie will be the next..... SD what do ya say we plant a mower blade on the frount of the Sportster and enter it in the lawn mower race.... be fair comp for a B&S dont ya think

**FlyingDutchMan** · 7th June 2005, 19:43

Originally Posted by dangerous

Originally Posted by FlyingDutchMan

I didn't see you round anywhere... but had you come over to the bike bouncing off the 18,000 rpm rev limiter some time during the night you would have found me!

Theres always one, and I bet ya did it at four in the morning

Not quite that late... I think it was around midnight when someone tried telling me the tacho needle "couldn't possibly go that far round." He was well convinced afterwards.

Originally Posted by scumdog

FDM, PM me or idb etc and give us a clue as to what you might look like before the next rally eh?

Will do... But in the mean-time I'm 6' 6" and currently riding an unpainted 250cc sewing machine.