monchopper's high country trip report

[monchopper]

Good stuff

Next time for a challenge you could do it on a Bandit 1200, FXR150 and a KLR650.

The FXR and Bandit would be OK but the KLR would be pushing it

[ADVGD]

Nice write up mate

[thepom]

F**king awesome.....

[richyrich]

F**king awesome.....

+1
,the only problem is i can't see the pics. all i get is thumbnail attached.

[monchopper]

+1
,the only problem is i can't see the pics. all i get is thumbnail attached.

Stand on pedistal.
I've organised a few of these high country trips which take a helluva lot of organising. From researching routes to finding who owns the property to calling and asking for permission. I reckon this 4 dayer was around 200 hours of my time.
I found on this trip that the land owners are now far less open to the idea of a group of unknown guys riding motorcycle on there land (Land that they feed their family off). I've spent more hours convincing farmers that the basics of land access will be adhered to than ever before. (Leaving gates as found, sticking to the tracks, not worrying stock....etc)
I've had more than a coincidental number of farmers saying that they've been recently burnt by people leaving gates open and doing dumb ass shit.
In reality it's a small few that are ruining it for the vast majority of us, but it's those few who are causing a huge amount of grief for guys like me who are into orgainising such trips.
On this trip one particular farmer was telling me that a recent trip by an organised group had left a boundary gate open. Have a think about the wasted time that it caused the 2 farmers concerned.
What do you think his reaction is going to be to the next group who want to access his land (and it's worth accessing!!).
Just having a moan and just reminding everyone that access over private land is a big privledge not a right and long term damage can be done in the time it takes to ride past an open gate.
I'm sure you guys have your own processes etc. For what it's worth here's our wee groups method.
Section leader never gets off his bike (unless he's miles in front) and is first to the gate, second to the gate get off bike or opens on bike if possible. Third guy rides through and gets off bike, he is then responsible for counting bikes and closing gate and becomes the new back marker. The leader then goes on. This method is proven, the group keeps moving as the leader is alway moving AND GATES DON'T GET MISSED.
Get down off pedistal.