Lake Sumner Ride Sat 7/10/06

[far queue]

I’m going for a ride to Lake Sumner on Sat 07/10/06. Me and a mate on a KLR650 will be meeting at Amberley at 0830 and riding through to Lakes Taylor, Katrine & Sumner via Amberley, Waipara, Hawarden. Why an 0830 start – because that’ll give us plenty of time and I’ve got a party to get back for. Why Saturday – because I’ll be watching Bathurst on Sunday.

For those who haven’t been up that way before, here’s some distances for you …
Total round trip from BP Marshlands to Lake Sumner and back – 342km
Made up as follows …
Sealed road from BP Marshlands to 15km past Hawarden – 126km
Gravel Rd from here to Lake Taylor – 31km
Easy 4wd track from here to Lake Katrine – 8km
Harder 4wd track from here to Lake Sumner – 6km
The biggest hop between fuel stops is Waikari to Sumner and back – 136km
It’s possible you could get fuel at Hawarden, which would reduce that distance to 120km, but no guarantees on the fuel

Wanna come?

Edit 29/09/06
No access to Lake Sumner - see post #7 for details

[Transalper]

Definatly interested.
Will let you know for sure a day or two before.

[miSTa]

The leg from Lake Katrine to Lake Sumner, how hard is hard?

[far queue]

OK, 1st up my last experience of it was around 15 years ago, but travelled it many times then. My last experience of the rest of the ride was about 5 years ago, and I know others who still travel it regularly.

It's not hard, just harder than Taylor to Katrine. The main issue is it's a very uneven surface in places - rocks and holes. It's a good hard surface with nothing loose on it, no problems with traction. The only problems you may encounter is with the weight of the bike if you get off balance and cant get a good footing. I used to ride it on a TS185 and rode over the rough bits fairly quickly with no trouble. At the end of the track round Sumner there's a river bed to cross, but that'll be dry and firm and shouldn't pose a problem, then there's grass paddocks - easy. The whole track is pretty much at lake level, so there's no hills to negotiate. I reckon you should be fine, just take it easy. The rough bits are only in a couple of places, not the whole track.

The rest of the ride to Katrine will be no trouble at all for you - easier than the ride you had at the Waimak.

I've got some old photo's tucked away of the area, I'll see if I can find some of this piece of track, and then see if I can scan them at work for you.

[cooneyr]

I'd be keen as for this but again - damn licence. One day (paitently waiting and paying the price for rushing things with the bike purchase).

R

[Transalper]

You could trailer it in to Lake Taylor and ride the 4x4 stuff.

[far queue]

This ride just ran into a problem - I just rang DOC to get access through the gate on the Katrine/Sumner Rd, and was told that there is no access until after 1 November. Apparently they close it for the winter season. I’m told by someone else that the gate is bombproof and there is no way through or around it without the combination. This pisses me off because it's actually a public road that DOC have locked off. I'll still go through with the ride, but I really wanted to make the most of it by going through to Sumner.

Mr Sensible
The ride just became really easy for you.

cooneyr
You could trailer the bike to the beginning of the gravel road. There'a a picnic area there where you could leave your vehical if you wanted to.

[cooneyr]

You could trailer it in to Lake Taylor and ride the 4x4 stuff.

This ride just ran into a problem - I just rang DOC to get access through the gate on the Katrine/Sumner Rd, and was told that there is no access until after 1 November. Apparently they close it for the winter season. I’m told by someone else that the gate is bombproof and there is no way through or around it without the combination. This pisses me off because it's actually a public road that DOC have locked off.

You could trailer the bike to the beginning of the gravel road.

I could trailer to the picnic area but like you say still on public road. If I take one of you out or another vehicle I'm still left with no insurance. Didnt mention it before but I have inlaw commitments for the first three weekend of october anyway - kinda good in a way (?) as it means I cant get to depressed about not being able to ride the bike.

Also I would agree with the comment re the DOC gate being indestructable. Impassable I'm not so sure. Last time I was there (while ago now) it was a simple top rail with brace to lower hinge job i.e. could "manouver" bike under it. I know nothing, nottttttthhhhhhing!

I got the impression the gate was there as the 4x4's chewed up the grass flats above lake sumner too much. This is the one thing about bikes that impresses me - the minimal damage they do even when "playing around".

R

[Transalper]

Sitck to your timetable FQ, last time i was in there the gate was open and the fence was cut. Impassable my ass. We never had time to go thru as only expected or planned to go as far as the gate anyway.

I too know nothing

[far queue]

Also I would agree with the comment re the DOC gate being indestructable. Impassable I'm not so sure. Last time I was there (while ago now) it was a simple top rail with brace to lower hinge job i.e. could "manouver" bike under it. I know nothing, nottttttthhhhhhing!

I've attached a pic that Transalper took on his trip back in July. It shows the gate post on the left and the open gate on the right, it looks like the gate has been changed since you were last there. In the photo it looks possible to get around the post, but I'm assured that this is an illusion and it's not possible.

I got the impression the gate was there as the 4x4's chewed up the grass flats above lake sumner too much. This is the one thing about bikes that impresses me - the minimal damage they do even when "playing around".

Yep, that's right, too many dicks in 4wd's chewing up the paddocks, not just driving along the established track, but having a play and ripping everything up. That's the problem with cheap import 4wd's, any clown can go and rip up the countryside and leave all their rubbish behind while they're at it now. In the past it only used to be the real enthusiasts that could get into the back blocks, and they generally respected the place.

[Transalper]

Took J for her first Adventure as a rider today, you know, like just me and her. Thought i'd check out the locked gate. It was a good test of her endurance and shingle road skills. She did well. The pace was easy and safe on the blind corners, yet fast enough on the open stuff and around corners with clear views to keep me sane.
The gravel is very fine, often more dirt than shingle, so Mr S's Tourances should love the road.
The fords are almost non-exsistant and the puddles only 3/4 full so can shoot around the edges of most the big ones now. Even so we both got wet feet.
The gate was open again today but we didn't go thru. Didn't want to meet DOC staff down the road or get locked in. As for the fence, well it looks like someones delt to it recently.

Our timetable was something like this....
10:40am depart home
11:35am Amberly petrol then back roads to Lake Sumner Rd
12:45pm rest and snack
1:40pm to 1:50pm rest at Lake Taylor gate
2:40pm to 3pm The locked gate stop.
3:40pm to 3:50pm Lake Taylor gate rest stop again.
4:38pm photo back at the road sign saying 40km of bends on the Lake Sumner Rd shingle.
Went back via Hawden/Waikari/Waipara
5:15pm Amberly
5:55pm Home at my place again.

So if you were in a rush you could do it all faster but i reckon our pace made for a nice day, and now J's got a day of this kind of riding under her belt i think she'll be keen to join us on Saturday (weather permitting) to do it all again.

photos:
1- road sign near start of shingle part of Lake Sumner Rd (40km of twisty ahead)
2- Fence to left of locked gate at Lock Katrine
3- Locked Gate at Lock Katrine (J and the Djebel and Transalp infront of the gate).

[oldrider]

Is that a Mitas EO9 on the back there Carl? Which one have you got on the front?

Still waiting for my set of EO7's and my current back Tourance is shot.

I got a ticket in the car yesterday so all my savings on tyres is gone already. Cheers John.

[Ruralman]

A tickey John - you speeding????? - how very out of character --- not!!!
What happened to that inbuilt radar detection of yours or are you now a mere mortal like the rest of us whose luck occasionaly runs out???
Bugger eh - how fast?
My Mitas tyres haven't showed yet either, getting well down on my rear tyre but still a couple of trips in it if the weathers OK.

[laRIKin]

Could be up for the ride as well now.
Let you know closer to the date.

[Transalper]

Is that a Mitas EO9 on the back there Carl? Which one have you got on the front?

Still waiting for my set of EO7's and my current back Tourance is shot.

Yep E09 rear, and E07 on the front of Transalp now, and the DR has the E09 both ends.
Pays to order these things early. DAS is a little short on stock in some sizes now too. They still on the water so to speak.