Maitai Rally Adventure Ride 3-5/11/06

[miSTa]

OK, change of start time. Meeting at BP Marshlands at 1230 now. I’ll start work early and get away early to give us extra time to do the diversions suggested by Warewolf (depending on the Porika track condition) and still arrive with a reasonable amount of daylight left.

I'm not going to be able to make that time now, it'll be more like 1:15 - 1:30. I need to wait for the wife to come home before I can go - we have someone coming over to install cable internet

[warewolf]

Came home yesterday via Maungatapu. It's developed some good potholes and has some bits that are almost whooped-out. No problem to ride, just a bit slower.

[far queue]

Came home yesterday via Maungatapu. It's developed some good potholes and has some bits that are almost whooped-out. No problem to ride, just a bit slower.

Cheers for that. Any news on whether there's any tracks open in the Hira Forest?

[warewolf]

Any news on whether there's any tracks open in the Hira Forest?

The through-route is still definitely closed, there is a big sign at the start of the Maungatapu Tk. I'll go for squiz this weekend.

[far queue]

The through-route is still definitely closed, there is a big sign at the start of the Maungatapu Tk. I'll go for squiz this weekend.

OK, will suss out another route back from Pelorus then in case Hira is a no go. Any other dirt recommendations back to Maitai? What about Tinline Rd? On the map, it's off Maungatapu, turns into a track of some kind over Mt Duppa and comes out at Whangamoa - a goer? or a bit dodgy?

[warewolf]

Any other dirt recommendations back to Maitai? What about Tinline Rd? On the map, it's off Maungatapu, turns into a track of some kind over Mt Duppa and comes out at Whangamoa - a goer? or a bit dodgy?

I think you're pushing shit uphill with a rubber fork...

Tinline's good for a ride, mostly well groomed hardpack road. Good for big skids! Having a nosy off the main road at the NW end I managed to wrap a bit of fencing wire around my rear axle, nearly pulled the bike out from underneath me when it went tight (the other end was wrapped around a tree stump). AFAIK it's a dead end. There is a bridge that has hellish gates on it which is the old link to SH6.

The best dirt ride would be to do Maungatapu back again. There's no shame in that. It has quite a different feel each direction, as the terrain/surface is markedly different either side of the summit - so you do each bit uphill and downhill.

The Whangamoas makes a great road ride if you do want to close the loop.

[cooneyr]

OK, will suss out another route back from Pelorus then in case Hira is a no go. Any other dirt recommendations back to Maitai? What about Tinline Rd? On the map, it's off Maungatapu, turns into a track of some kind over Mt Duppa and comes out at Whangamoa - a goer? or a bit dodgy?

Dont know what maps you are using FQ but first pic is what the 260 series topo circa 2000 shows. Dont think any route through there.

I'm not sure which bit of the Hira is closed maybe Warewolf can help but I suspect it is somewhere along the "blue line" sections. I'm pretty sure you can get access from the Teal Valley and then ride the "red line" track. Rode out to the gates at the Teal Valley road end (bypassable from memory) on the RMX 18 months ago. Just a suggestion to try if your interested.

I've also attached a un-modified image of the Hira. (third pic)

Cheers
R

[cooneyr]

I've been playing

Obviously not briliant but first try. Thanks for the idea TA.

R

[warewolf]

I'm not sure which bit of the Hira is closed maybe Warewolf can help but I suspect it is somewhere along the "blue line" sections. I'm pretty sure you can get access from the Teal Valley and then ride the "red line" track. Rode out to the gates at the Teal Valley road end (bypassable from memory) on the RMX 18 months ago.

You're pretty much on the money.

On Tinline, the gate (locked) that is at a bridge over the Tinline River is the one I was talking about.

Yes, it is the blue line that is closed, Slaters Creek Rd to the Whangamoa Saddle. From the W end it is closed to the N where it joins the red line and to the S where it hits Maungatapu.

Teal Valley and/or Lud Valley Rds are options I need to check. I've been a long way down one of those valleys, from inside the forest. Ran out of time before I hit anything impassable.

Note that the W end of the red line was closed at the Rifle Range a couple of months ago, but the route around Isolated Hill was open.

[warewolf]

So me & the Mrs went for a ride today while Katie is still dirty from the last trip.

The bad news: no through trip that I've found, but there are two leads left to check: Lud Valley and Teal Valley. Will try to check them tomorrow for you. Pillion had had enough by the time we got back to them.

The good news: you should be able to do a fair ride within the forest itself. We did nigh on 100km today, with the forest entrance only 5km or so from my house. You do the math... The gate on Central Rd, just S of the junction with Sharland Creek Rd, was open with a sign saying, "No public access Mon-Fri" so I thought we were sweet, but I guessed wrong.

The only perimeter gate that is open is Sharland Creek Rd at Maitai Valley Rd. The gates at Teal Saddle Rd / Maungatapu Tk, Duckpond Rd / SH6, and Slater Rd / SH6 are all closed, with fresh piles of rock/tree stumps/earth either side of the gates to stop bikes getting around them. These are all three ends of your blue line.

There are two gates on Sharland Creek Rd, both can be negotiated when closed as they demarcate the 'permit holders only' section. (Join Nelson Motor Cycle Club and you can get an annual permit for $5.) Central Rd - Slaters Rd being the public easement...currently closed, obviously. There is a new logging operation on Sharland Creek Rd, aroundabout Boars Back Spur. Lots of major earthworks have been done. So Sharland Creek Rd is closed at the N end of that, just E of the E end of Isolated Hill Rd, with a new (third) gate that is negotiable. It's not gated from the S.

So if it is all closed, it might still be worth going up to Isolated Hill for the views!

[Transalper]

Well, i've been following this thread since its beginning and was dead keen to travel those roads sometime (including the bits already travelled) but unfortunatley i just have to cool it a while in view of the big christmas holiday and associated expenses looming (visiting my daughter in Hastings etc) so you'll have to count me out this time.
Have a good one and I look foward to your reports and photos.

[far queue]

... there are two leads left to check: Lud Valley and Teal Valley. Will try to check them tomorrow for you ...

Thanks for your efforts to find a way through warewolf, much appreciated. Did you manage to check out Lud Valley and Teal Valley today? I've only got an AA map at home, the good maps are at work, so I'll check out the routes you're suggesting tomorrow.

Well, i've been following this thread since its beginning and was dead keen to travel those roads sometime (including the bits already travelled) but unfortunatley i just have to cool it a while in view of the big christmas holiday and associated expenses looming (visiting my daughter in Hastings etc) so you'll have to count me out this time.

That's OK, it's all a matter of priorities, which is why I can't make it to everything I'd like to either.

Have a good one and I look foward to your reports and photos.

I plan to, and will post up a report on this thread when I get back.

[warewolf]

Thanks for your efforts to find a way through warewolf, much appreciated. Did you manage to check out Lud Valley and Teal Valley today?

No, sorry, pouring with rain all day, so I stayed indoors and worked. Maybe Wednesday.

[far queue]

No, sorry, pouring with rain all day, so I stayed indoors and worked. Maybe Wednesday.

No worries, as I say I appreciate your efforts anyway ... and your input too cooneyr ... even if don't know where you 2 are talking about half the time. I read your posts, then get the map out, but it's all good. Cheers guys.

So, are you planning on attending the actual rally warewolf, I think you said earlier that you weren't sure.

[warewolf]

So, are you planning on attending the actual rally

Not at this stage. There is a Triumph RAT ride on Sunday, the first since I've had the Triumph back and been in town. But keen to come out and meet you at Murchison on Friday, and probably ride the Maungatapu on Sat.