Christchurch to Dusty Butt, Friday 20 Jan

[Transalper]

Hi Matt, i am staying in Methven on the thursday night.

Where will be the easiest place for me to meet you all for this ride as i dont know which direction the ride is heading after ashburton

Ha ha, you a bit geographically challenged me thinks, or I could be? but I sincerely doubt this ride goes any where near Ashburton this year.
I'm not going on this one so don't have the full ride plan detail but suspect your best bet will be heading the opposite direction (from Methven away from Ashburton).

I'd expect the answer for you coming from Methven would be something like go to the Rakia Gorge Bridge where the others are meeting.
That's on State Highwauy 77 around S43 31.061 E171 39.429 on the GPS/Google Maps.
The Turn off from SHW77 in to the Glenfalloch adventure bit is at Blackford Rd = S43 31.440 E171 37.227

No worries, think there will be about 6-8 of you meeting us there, I'm guessing will will be at Rakaia Gorge btwn 09:15-09:30

I'm sure matt will confirm your options again for you shortly.

[Crisis management]

Follow me Mark, we will make sure you get there on time.... Rakaia bridge / Blackford road which is only 10 mins from Methven, I'm planning on being there at 9.00.
See you thursday morning!

[mattsdakar]

Follow me Mark, we will make sure you get there on time.... Rakaia bridge / Blackford road which is only 10 mins from Methven, I'm planning on being there at 9.00.
See you thursday morning!

Hey fellas,
Sounds like there will be approx 10 of you staying near Methven that are meeting us at SH 77/Blackford.
Might pay if you guys meet up somewhere local in Methven so no one gets lost and heads towards Ashburton
I'd suggest outside the Blue pub which is probably the most recognisable spot in town at 09:00
Realistically I can't see us being at Blackford before 09:30 (we are doing 40 odd km's of gravel before there) so who knows what carnage will ensue

Rgds

[alane]

Staying @ "Bartsimpson ville" (Springfield) Thursday night. (If we survive the trip down).
Will be @ Blackford Rd/hywy./ 77 corner by 9am.

[ADVGD]

think there will be about 6-8 of you meeting us there, I'm guessing will will be at Rakaia Gorge btwn 09:15-09:30

Two of us will also see you at Rakaia Gorge, cheers

[Underground]

Ha!....has everything got a colour in Methsven? can't they read or something?
We are staying in the 'Brown Pub'

[Transalper]

So everyone up with the current details?
All got 3 x $10 notes ?

As per the title.......
For those of you doing the Dusty Butt ride who are staying in Christchurch Thursday night and want to meet up with other DB entrants for a leisurely day ride down to Fairlie register here.
The plan is to meet at the Caltex service station, corner Yaldhurst and Russley roads (near airport) at 0800 for briefing then head away soon after.
Planned route will involve riding up a section of the Waimakariri river recreation area before heading up the Rakaia river thru Glenfalloch Station to Lake Heron Station then on to Mayfield or Mt Sommers for gas and a bite before heading thru the Orari Gorge to Fairlie.
....

....Just to clarify costs, all three stations ask a $10 tariff per bike so total tariffs for the day will be $30 per bike which I will collect on Friday morning at meeting point. The plan will still be to split into two groups.
I personally haven't done the Glenfalloch loop so are looking forward to it too, total distance between fuel stops shouldn't be anymore than 200km
Rgds

....Sounds like there will be approx 10 of you staying near Methven that are meeting us at SH 77/Blackford.....
Realistically I can't see us being at Blackford before 09:30 (we are doing 40 odd km's of gravel before there) so who knows what carnage will ensue

Rgds

Now that I don't have a pillion I may reconsider and join this but my wallet is straining already so probably just see you all at Fairlie.

[Howie]

I will Probably meet up at the SH 77/Blackford/ rakia intersection as well, as I am setting the tent up for the somewhere down that way the night before

Cheers

Paul

[Westy123]

Hi,

Can you put me down with mate for the Friday ride please? As a rough guide any idea what time you might be at Lunch at Mt. Sommers? I see Glenfelloch and Lake Heron is the third station we have to pay Blue Mountain?

Regards Westy

[mattsdakar]

Hi,

Can you put me down with mate for the Friday ride please? As a rough guide any idea what time you might be at Lunch at Mt. Sommers? I see Glenfelloch and Lake Heron is the third station we have to pay Blue Mountain?

Regards Westy

Hey Westy,
I plan on stopping for petrol and lunch at Mayfield now, pub is a bit nicer and there is a Caltex just down road should be there approx 12:30 and yes $10 per stations Glenfalloch / Lake Heron / Blue Mountain ie: 3x$10
Rgds

[Westy123]

Hi Matt,

Thanks for the reply, will be a 8am Caltex or at Mayfield as my Mate is coming from Nelson.

Regards Westy

[Aslan]

Hi Matt - like some others coming from the North - I to am staying at the Blue Pub on Thursday night will see you along with the others at the SH 77/Blackford rendevous between 9 - 9.30am along with the $30 access fees and an enthusiastic attitude

Cheers for organising this - Aslan aka Stephen O

[mattsdakar]

Righto fella's,
All looking good, was just tellying up numbers to try and sort out how I would split a group of 55 riders and guess what 23 of you have decided to meet us out at Rakaia gorge, problem solved!
If anyone has any last minute issues give me a yell on 021551969...i'll text Josh (ADVGD) who is also meeting us at Rakaia when we leave Christchurch and Waimak Gorge bridge so he'll know how we are going for time
Rgds

[chainsawbike]

does anyone have a largeish left hand glove i can borrow for the Dusty Butt?

i injured my finger and my gloves wont fit over the bandage (that ive been told to leave on till monday)

[mattsdakar]

Sorry to spring this on you guys but just rang each station as a courtesy to remind them that we are coming and bloody Orari gorge station has decided to slap us with a $5 per bike tariff, never mentioned anything to me the other two times I spoke to them

Also for thou's of you meeting us at Blackford rd, I think meeting at 0900 is a little early unless you are happy to wait around, realisically speaking I can't see us being there before 0930 and it may be later depending on the group. We are not taking the most direct route from Christchurch, will be doing approx 100km of which 20-30km is on gravel riverside roads