I wanted to try out a new camera lens, and what better way to do it than combining it with a ride. So I left home around 10:30 am on the GSX1250FA and headed to Alex for fuel. Being Labour weekend, the loonies were all headed towards Central, so I went the opposite direction. At Roxburgh I crossed the dam then headed down Roxburgh east. First stop was Pinder's pond, and a short gravel ride to the car park.
From here I continued to Millars flat then back across the river to the main road and onto Lawrence.
I saw a sign pointing to the Daffodils and old brewery and thought that would make a good photo, and only 2 km of gravel so that is the same as a return trip down my driveway. But when I got there and saw a sign saying $5 entry fee, I didn't even get off the bike. Another back road with about 6 km of good fast gravel found me back on the main road.
Heading further south, just past Waitahuna I saw the Mt Stuart wind farm. Now that may be an interesting spot to visit.
Only about 3 km of good gravel to get there, but I didn't want to return the same way, so I continued forward. I soon came to an intersection with Burma Road heading off to the left. Now, that made me pause. Burma road is steep downhill, muddy surface, and used extensively by logging trucks, and last time I was on this road was on the Vstrom with a large group of adventure riders. But it was lunch time, and that was the shortest route. So Burma Road it was. There were a couple of places where I was seriously hoping that nothing was coming the other way as I had no grip to stop and even steering was rather delicate.
Once back on the seal it was into Milton for lunch and a short stop at Taylor Park (where else?)
After lunch I headed back up the manuka Gorge and decided to have a look at the old railway tunnel track. More gravel, this time loose, and deep enough to allow the front wheel to bury itself up to the rim. Mmm. No steering at all here, so a bit of power needed to push through. But the tunnel track was pleasant.
It was getting later so I decided to just make it a simple ride home. Well the best of plans go astray at times, and at Beaumont, the bridge lights were red, and there were a number of vehicles coming from the other direction, so I took the Millenium Track on the east side of the river.
This is another track I have only ever done on an adventure bike or 4WD before, but I felt I knew it well enough to get the GSX through safely. OK, it was slower than if I had waited for a green light at Beaumont, but much more interesting.
From Millars Flat I simply retraced my ride back to Alex and more fuel, before arriving home at the end of the day.
Next time I'll take the DR650 and probably find I don't leave the seal.
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Originally Posted by R650R
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