Jatz's travels

**JATZ** · 12th January 2015, 17:17

Right... Time to go for a ride

I'd been looking at a map and seen a loop over in the Sounds that looked like it needed investigating. It'd been mentioned somewhere else but I couldn't remember where, so decided to go have a look myself, and George was getting restless
I was at a loose end on Sunday so loaded up the bike and we headed off for the day.
Over the Whangamoas, always a good ride

I was in cruise mode untill We got stuck behind a huge line of cars who were all stuck behind a stinking house bus type thing. Bastard wouldn't pull over and let traffic past so I made my way through the traffic to give the bus driver a polite wave as I went past

Quick question.... If I'm stuck doing 80 for say...10k's, does that mean I'm in credit and I can do 120 for 10k's when I get past the moving road hazard ?? Or maybe 140 for 5k's

I also found the rev limiter on the Beemer, who knew it had one

Anyhoo... Onto Queen Charlotte dr.

Chatted to a nice Belgian couple there who were gob smacked by the scenery,
Then hang a left at Linkwater and prepare for the twisties of Kenepuru sound

This pic doesn't do it justice, but if you like corners this is full of em, just be careful of the cars towing boats

We popped down to TeMahia, just for a look see, and George hadn't been there before

Then carried on 'round the head and towards Waitata

The day was certainly warming up

We saddled up and went over the saddle towards Crail bay, ignoring the NO EXIT sign, I knew better

Looking back down into Kenepuru sound

Crail bay was a nice spot for a late lunch.
Teddy bears picnic ?

I'd gone hurtling out of the house in such a hurry in the a.m. I'd left the percolator behind

so had to "improvise" .

Tasted alright, just a little gritty

and those handles get faaaarkin hot DAMHIK
Suitably nourished we carried on towards Ellie bay

Just past Ellie bay there was a sign saying something about logging operations, and private property.... Hmmmmm

We carried on up what I assume was a driveway, it's the roughest driveway I've seen

I guess it keeps the Joho's and trick or treaters away though

and I guess it's quicker to take the boat to town than drive.
I stopped at the house, just to see what the story was, and it's polite to ask

The friendly cockie admired my bike then said...."Yuuurp, the track goes right through (to Manaroa) I own this bit, but not the forestry. You'll get through just fine

BUT you won't get round the locked gate at the other end

Ah well..... That sorts that out then. Back the way we'd come

We got back to Waitata and I spotted this nice little camp site just off the road.

I must go back and take a fishing rod, some good snapper come out of Kenepuru, and I've had better luck in the past fishing off the shore than in a boat.
With the temp nudging 30 deg. a swim was in order. George pussied out, but kept an eye on my gear

After that it was just a quiet ride back the way we'd come earlier. I didn't go into Manaroa to eyeball the locked gate as it was a 30+ k round trip and I was wondering why I hadn't filled up in Havelock on the way in

Anyway... we made our way back to Havelock and fuel for the bike and an iceblock for me in the shade

After that it was home time, with a loooong wait for greasys in town, I couldn't be arsed cooking and George is pretty hopeless with the potsnpans.
Bike still going good

Rainbow/Molesworth/Sedgmere next

**Gremlin** · 12th January 2015, 19:53

I stopped at the private property sign when I went exploring the sounds for a weekend...

**XF650** · 12th January 2015, 20:40

...and so the rumors about some foul smelling biker hanging around the kids playground are true...

**awa355** · 13th January 2015, 01:52

I have one of those stainless steel drinking mugs but find it too bloody hot to hold and drink from. Have looked at getting a small meyths cooker as I like the idea of brewing up a cuppa. I do have a single burner gas stove but the stupid mug wont quite fit across the four supports. I have a wide whistling kettle but that is more bulk to carry. So I have stuck with a thermos that is good for one hot cup before the water cools.

Lovely rides down your way.

**JATZ** · 13th January 2015, 16:40

Originally Posted by Gremlin

I stopped at the private property sign when I went exploring the sounds for a weekend...

There is a track....Goggle earth/Mapsource and my Wises paper map all say it's there. However getting permission to go through could be problematic especially at this time of year.
I'll go check out the gate and maybe get onto the Marlborough guys, one of them has contacts who may be able to help, worth a try

Originally Posted by XF650

...and so the rumors about some foul smelling biker hanging around the kids playground are true...

Guilty as charged your honor

It's a nice park with some out standing trees in it. I had no idea there was aviaries there too, including a talking cockatoo. The playground's not to shabby either

I dare ya to go for a burn on the mouse wheel

Originally Posted by awa355

I have one of those stainless steel drinking mugs but find it too bloody hot to hold and drink from. Have looked at getting a small meyths cooker as I like the idea of brewing up a cuppa. I do have a single burner gas stove but the stupid mug wont quite fit across the four supports. I have a wide whistling kettle but that is more bulk to carry. So I have stuck with a thermos that is good for one hot cup before the water cools.

Lovely rides down your way.

The mug is just a cheapy from the red shed, double skinned so it doesn't heat up....unless you balance it precariously on a cooker. If I'd sneezed or made any sudden movements it would've toppled off

Maybe I should've taken a bigger one

I had a couple of metal ones that heated up something fierce, buy the time you could get your lips around them the contents was just about stone cold

I donated them to the council to use as hard fill somewhere

It's good to just stop and take a moment, have a brew, chill out. One of the reasons I like to ride by myself, no pressure, stop when and where I choose. George is usually agreeable too

**JATZ** · 13th January 2015, 16:43

And just because......

**unstuck** · 13th January 2015, 16:50

DUUUUDE. How about a warning for us stoners before putting up vids like that.

**JATZ** · 21st January 2015, 20:47

I'm baaack.....

I been thinking about this Sedgemere track in the Molesworth/Rainbow for a wee while now, so decided I'd best go and check it out last weekend

I had a rough plan of popping into either Malings or Edwards for the night too, before heading home through the Rainbow.
I got talked into picking up a passenger in Hanmer

But that's o.k. so had to re-jig my plans somewhat...
I got away sat morning after giving the bike a once over. Tyre gauges eh. WTF is with that ?

Same tyre... same time

Nevermind, it's not the end of the world.
George hopped into his spot in the tankbag and we set off. Through Nelson and heading for the Wangamoas, my spidy senses told me to zip up the vents on jacket and pants, glad I listened to it as it started hosing down in Hira

By Havelock it was all but over

We grabbed some gas in Blenheim and intended to get some breakfast too

but didn't see anything that screamed ...Come inside, take a load off and chow down... so carried on over Taylors pass and stopped for some scroggin

The mountain biker I'd passed on top of the pass, showed up after about half a ciggy, he must've been fair flying

He did admit it got pretty loose at times.
Pretty soon we got under way again, the day was turning out pretty good. George was enjoying the scenery too

It was a nice leisurely ride, we didn't have to be in Hanmer till mid afternoon

Just enjoying the scenery and chilling out, it was getting hot though so we had to find some shade

It was getting a little breezy too by this stage. We got to Hanmer at just the right time, got some gas and chatted to someone I hadn't seen for aaaaages. We picked up the gate wench (who'd obeyed instructions to pack light

(and I'm not some weirdo who hangs out with a bear aaall the time )) and pootled off towards the Rainbow. I'd got the combinations for both Edwards and Malings passes and figured I'd make up my mind on the day where we went.
Edwards pass it was

A nice ride that one. I'd been a weee way in a couple of years ago so it was nice to go a little bit furtherer this time. We got to a hut.

Scottys hut it's called, it's pretty basic, but has everything you need

I had to wonder how the 4wd got on with the trip in towing a llama float, it would've been a rough ride. I'm sure there was llama vomit on the floor too

The wind was getting kind of mental by this stage, the hut was shuddering in some of the strong gusts, so we decide not to pitch the tent.
Chicken wraps for tea washed down with a nice merlot and I kicked the G.W.'s ass at cards

**JATZ** · 21st January 2015, 21:42

Sunday...
After being disturbed reasonably early by some mountain bikers who don't knock

, just wrench the door open despite the fact it was held shut with bungies, it blew open in the middle of the night.
We packed up, saddled up, and headed back out towards Rainbow

And on towards the Sedgemere track. After a quick much on more scroggin the G.W. got to earn her keep

It's always nice to go somewhere new, and extra nice when theres someone else to take care of the numerous....

My passenger was pretty good, except for wriggling around to wave at the livestock, it got a little bit wobbly on a couple of occasions.
It really is a nice diversion and I know I'll go through again.

The river crossing turned out to be pretty benign

I liked this little rock thingy.

All to soon we got back onto the Molesworth and it was time for a late lunch in the shade.

George was getting a handle on his pot use

Then it was just a smooth ride back to Hanmer for a milkshake and to off load the G.W.
After goodbyes it was just me 'n' George, and he's crap at opening gates. It was good to off load a bit of weight from the 2 up all roads tourer and transform it back into the lightweight trail bike

I made good time back through Rainbow, not quite a "riding god" but certainly a lesser deity

All was going well until coming down Island pass

I thought the chain was being a little clattery. Turns out the axle nut had come loose, better that than the nut holding the bars getting loose

I guess from all the corrugations

A quick re-adjust/tighten and we carried on. The wind was also back with a vengeance. I almost struggled getting the bike back up off the side stand at the boundary gate. Re-check the nut and chain at Coldwater creek, really missing the G.W.

Then I got to the toll gate and saw this

I thought I was going to have to open the wallet reeeeal wide, but it was all good, I was only 20 mins past lockup time

No dramas for the rest of the ride out to the main rd.

Stick the headphones in for the trip back through Golden downs and down the Mot valley

Thats about it...
I'd best pull my head in for a bit, and work towards another trip up Norf, so it's just day trips for the next wee while.
Wonder how far i could get in a day ??

**Gremlin** · 21st January 2015, 22:21

I don't bother with those pencil type tyre gauges, never once had an accurate reading. If I just need to monitor it, the bike can do it for me. Otherwise, I have a proper gauge.

**Padmei** · 22nd January 2015, 07:13

Nice RR Jatz. I don't recall any rain?
Apart from the 30 sec shower we had yesterday I've forgotten what rain feels like.

**Night Falcon** · 22nd January 2015, 08:20

Awesome work - a cool ride report with photos, on KB? that is a bit of a treat

**pomgolian** · 22nd January 2015, 14:06

Nice pic of Scotties hut we got stuck there for 2 days on the way to the DB a couple of years ago, it pissed with rain and the rivers became impassable, the hut must have been done up as the mice kept us awake all night and it was pretty run down. The bridge wasnt there either which could have come in handy, couple of mountain bikers came over the ridge soaked and couldnt cross the river so we turned them back in the pouring rain.

We had a beer in picton Jatz on my way home, nice to see your pics must get down there again sometime.

**JATZ** · 22nd January 2015, 16:48

Originally Posted by Gremlin

I don't bother with those pencil type tyre gauges, never once had an accurate reading. If I just need to monitor it, the bike can do it for me. Otherwise, I have a proper gauge.

They're a handy size to stick in a pocket or something

I guess I could look for a decent one, but so long as the one I'm using reads consistently then thats all I need. So long as I know how far out it is.

Originally Posted by Padmei

Nice RR Jatz. I don't recall any rain?
Apart from the 30 sec shower we had yesterday I've forgotten what rain feels like.

Thanks Padders

The rain was only from Hira, heavier from the top of the Whangamoas through to top of Rai, then light. I actually really enjoyed getting wet, it's been a while and it was quite warm

Yip.... we need rain !!! irrigating 4 days a week now and the dams are getting low

Originally Posted by pomgolian

Nice pic of Scotties hut we got stuck there for 2 days on the way to the DB a couple of years ago, it pissed with rain and the rivers became impassable, the hut must have been done up as the mice kept us awake all night and it was pretty run down. The bridge wasnt there either which could have come in handy, couple of mountain bikers came over the ridge soaked and couldnt cross the river so we turned them back in the pouring rain.

We had a beer in picton Jatz on my way home, nice to see your pics must get down there again sometime.

I remember having a beer in Picton

You were coming back from the Dusty, I think .chris showed up too

You sold me on the idea of heated vests, I just haven't got round to organizing one yet

There's still a few mice there apparently, I didn't hear them though, to busy sleeping

The bridge is a pretty serious jobbie, DOC must've spent tens of thousands on it. All very new and shiney too.