North Island invasion of the South?

[Shewolf]

at Edwards Pass a quick briefing and we rode into big stunning landscapes

[Shewolf]

I think this was called Scotty's Hutt? Big Col found time for a power nap

[Shewolf]

continuing on through the river we climbed, and climbed - at the plataeu we found this..

[Shewolf]

and then the ultimate downhill (which I'd already decided there was no way in hell I was going to be able to ride up, marbles the size of basketballs had me skating down precarisouly)

[Shewolf]

but grabbing a handful and trusting the mighty DR I made it (also following Eddie helped!)

[Shewolf]

back at the gate we moved on up the Rainbow to the next visual feast - Mallings Track. The helmeted Hans seen here drying out from an earlier refreshing dip in a ford and yes, by happy coincidence...there's video

[Shewolf]

its steep and rocky up these tracks and care needed to be taken, watching the view I nearly came a cropper at times. Returning to the Rainbow we met up with some adventure riders heading the other way.

[Shewolf]

at Lake Tennyson turn-off is one of my favourite spots for a photo

[Shewolf]

I finished the ride at St Arnauds, so I really only did half an invasion - but I'll be back, there's so much great country to see here yet.

Thanks so much guys, Eddie, Anthony, John, Big Col, Hans - good to meet you Craig, and of course the incorrigible pete-blen. I had a blast, lots of video to sort out yet. Look forward to all your piccies

[Crim]

Gotta say that today was possibly the best days riding I have ever done, friggen fantabulous. Awesome lanscape and awesome track. After the mackley (which is awesome btw) we rode up Mt Rochfort (slightly less awesome than the mackley) and stood in awe of the views over the Coast,

Stop it, stop it, just bloody stop it would ya! Been wanting to do the Mackley up to Denniston for ages (got some employees up there) and was really looking forward to this ride - but bugger it all relatives intervened again (70th birthdays aren't that important are they and it doesn't take long to get here from Canada to celebrate them, does it)

[ADVGD]

Great commentary and pics guys and girls, I was stoked to see the weather put on some warm blue skies for you all. I heard you all roaring down the Rainbow as I was fishing nearby, a little jealous not to be riding also but will catch up with you all in the near future for sure.

[cooneyr]

Got to get house finished, got to get house finished, arrrrgh!!!!! Bike still buried under kitchen parts but 'only' bathroom install (shower and vanity) and paint to go now. Then need to fix prado, then fix scooter for scooter safari, then service bike then maybe, just maybe, I can get out for a ride.

I'm going insane and definitely need a trip out - especially after seeing pics like these. When are we going to terrorise the north island? Please say the other side of winter. I don't expect to see daylight till the other side.

[Underground]

I took some pics on sunday and monday and put them in an album here http://s627.photobucket.com/albums/t...ikepics/NII12/
Some are a little blurry and the monday ones were not actually part of the invasion but we did have one north islander with us (Rogson)
Oh, Jatz, you may want to go visiting to download these.

[Steelie]

Just made it back home in "north Waikato". Bit of a long day today on the tarmac. Nice through the Paraparas' and a tail south east wind most of the way. That was an awesome 6 day weekend. Not a drop of rain the whole 2300km. Thanks Eddie for the organisation etc, bloody fantastic.
Anthony

[Shewolf]

a bit of vid from Friday