Is it time for a Hot Monkey Rally???

[Ruralman]

There's some great tour reports from this year's Brass Monkey on this site. I have been wondering whether the Brass Monkey site would be pretty good to also experience the other side of central Otago's extreme climate??
What about a rally in the searing heat of January or February - maybe swimming in the dam rather than skating, genuine Speights drinking weather, huge hours of daylight....
Maybe the calendar's already full - I've only been back on a road bike a short time and still trying to figure out when all these things are on and which ones to arrange desertion priveleges for!

[sels1]

Your idea has merit, but you may find there is a lot of other rallies and events on at that time of year

[Transalper]

Of the top of me head to start with there's usually one at Glenorchy in January and one in Galloway/Alexandra in February, and both down that way.
I might be interested hooking up with some KBers and camping there for a night but not if it's big enough to call a Rally and going to cost me yet another entry fee.

[Jantar]

What about a rally in the searing heat of January or February - maybe swimming in the dam rather than skating, genuine Speights drinking weather, huge hours of daylight....!

There is already a HOT rally. Its the Vincent Rally at Galloway, held on Waitangi weekend each year.
Thinking about it, this would be a good way to finish off the Ultimate South Island Adventure ride. Lets time it to finish at the Vincent rally.

[Ruralman]

I had a feeling there might have been a couple up there in mid summer, but like I said I haven't been looking for these things for a while.
Finishing the passes adventure ride at Waitangi weekend Jantar? (is it a weekend next year 'cos its on a Tuesday?? - I guess a lot of people will take the Monday off).
The only thing is that this year school doesn't go back until after Waitangi day (they break up a bit later this Dec) and I really didn't want to go until the kids were back to school.
I suppose the passes trip could start at the end of the Waitangi rally??

[Ruralman]

Of the top of me head to start with there's usually one at Glenorchy in January and one in Galloway/Alexandra in February, and both down that way.
I might be interested hooking up with some KBers and camping there for a night but not if it's big enough to call a Rally and going to cost me yet another entry fee.

I agree Transalper - you do get a bit sick of paying entry fees all the time - I do quite a few off road trail rides which are mostly school fundraisers. I don't begrudge the organisers the fee 'cos they generally do a great job and earn it, its just nice every now and then to do something less organised and without the cost

[Ruralman]

There is already a HOT rally. Its the Vincent Rally at Galloway, held on Waitangi weekend each year.
Thinking about it, this would be a good way to finish off the Ultimate South Island Adventure ride. Lets time it to finish at the Vincent rally.

How do they do the Vincent one if Waitangi day is midweek? - is it an overnighter?

[Jantar]

I suppose the passes trip could start at the end of the Waitangi rally??

I've left it too late in confirming time off at work, and the roster has now filled in almost completely. The time I can get off now is 10th - 19th February, so I've pencilled at least those days in before some other bugger grabs them.

[Ruralman]

I've left it too late in confirming time off at work, and the roster has now filled in almost completely. The time I can get off now is 10th - 19th February, so I've pencilled at least those days in before some other bugger grabs them.

Well it looks like we start then - looking at the calendar I would probably prefer to leave on the Sunday. I'm still not sure how many days we need - 5-6 seems like it would be enough. With your Southern Cross and Chatto Creek experience you should be able to knock off a fair few miles a day - I'll probably be the one struggling to keep going!

[scumdog]

O.K. Ruralman, howzabout organising a Kb (or ANY biker) get-together in Law-rence in March at a time that does not conflict with the March hare?

Have a look at the Tuepeka Mouth domain and hall as a venue - or another similar place if you know of any.

Wadyathink?

[Ruralman]

O.K. Ruralman, howzabout organising a Kb (or ANY biker) get-together in Law-rence in March at a time that does not conflict with the March hare?

Have a look at the Tuepeka Mouth domain and hall as a venue - or another similar place if you know of any.

Wadyathink?

MMMmmmm the scorching heat of a Lawrence summer ?! At the moment I'm organising a multi day adventure ride trying to cover all the road passes in the South Island and it looks like early Feb will be the time for that.
I need to get to one of these other events to get a feel for what you need to make them work and I guess that will influence the choice of venue a bit. It'd probably be good to be near a river, needs some shelter/shade, area for antics(?), not too close to disapproving neighbours - there's probably better spots near the Waitahuna river than at Tuapeka Mouth and there are a couple of others on the Tuapeka river near Lawrence or the Toko towards Milton.
I suppose a hall/shed is needed ? Sth Otago's climate is a bit unreliable.
Where is the Riviera of the South Anyway???