Newbie adventure ride - Wellywood

[Bartman10]

Sounds good
Do you have a GPS?

Cheers Scott

No GPS yet. It's on the 'to buy' list!

I'll get some better maps though. Be great if you could come along.

Fraggle and I went up to Sutherlands Hut this morning. Few mildly challanging places, but great fun!

See here.
http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&z=18...04978&t=k&om=1

See ya's on the 9th then...

[merv]

Tell me more about Sutherlands hut, which end did you go in and did you ride right through?

[Zukin]

No GPS yet. It's on the 'to buy' list!

I'll get some better maps though. Be great if you could come along.

I thought on the off chance that you might of had one, then I could of sent you some waypoints

Cheers Scott

[Bartman10]

Tell me more about Sutherlands hut, which end did you go in and did you ride right through?

Hey Merv.

The we went in to Sutherlands from the north-eastern end. Headed up on friday night after work and camped at the place called friday camp (surpise!) There are some nice camping areas up there.

I've attached the Google Earth location files. Use the order at the start of the file name for route approx. Download google earth from www.earth.google.com Requires broadband internet.

We just went for a look really. It's possible to ride right through, but we only went as far as Sutherlands and turned back, as we still had some stuff to do at home and the track was getting a little more difficult... The full track is about 26 km.

I'd like to do go right through soon, so if you are keen let me know and we'll head up. It'll be a long ride to do in a day from wellington though. Camping or staying at the hut would be the best option. Especially if you wanted to go off the beaten path a bit to have a look around.

Sutherlands hut is only about 6 km from the camp and it took us a about an hour. It'd probably be a lot quicker if it was only you and I though Merv, as Fraggle was struggling a bit in places although she got much faster towards the end.

You won't get a 4x4 vehicle down here unless you have a key to the gate. According to the sign, motorcycles are tolerated though and there is a gap around the edge of the gate for us! How nice.

In theory you're ment to tell the ranger if you're going down there, but we didn't see anyone else.

If it's been raining I would stay away from here. There are at least 6 river crossings on the way to Sutherlands. Some of them quite deep even in fine weather.

As far as I'm concerend it is a fantastic adventure type ride. Not too technical, and well suited to the bigger bore bikes like the DR650, but still challanging in places. I needed to use my head a bit to get around some areas.

Looking forward to going up there again. If you're keen let me know and we'll go up there and do the entire crossing.

[Garry.W]

There was another topic on here about doing the Makairo Track, but that went quiet, so maybe this is a good opportunity?

Cheers Scott

It's real wet and some dodgy slips and washouts in places on Makiro. Those of us thinking of going back early December have become somewhat rational (eek) and decided to do it in Feb, let things dry up a bit.

On 9/10 December, Warewolf is coming over from Nelson for the weekend. We'll see what we can do to join you guys.

[Zukin]

Is this still on?

Cheers Scott

[Bartman10]

Yep, we're still on. If you want to meet up somewhere along the way let me know where and we'll try to specify a time.

I'm going to take it easy and play it a bit safe this weekend after last weekends tragic accidents.

If anyone else is keen we're leaving Rimutex (caltex rimutaka) at 10 am on this Saturday the 9th of December

Bring a tent, cooker whatever else you need for the weekend....

See you there!

[Zukin]

Well actually!!

I might be able to organise accommodation on the coast, if you guys are keen to take a different route??

Cheers Scott

[Bartman10]

Sounds great! What's the plan?

[Zukin]

Ok

I thought we could follow a similar route that you proposed, but we take a few different routes

See map below

There are some gems in there

Day 1 Saturday
Total Distance - Approx 220km
Gravel - Approx 100km (but it has been a long time since I was last on these roads, so there maybe more tarseal now)
The idea is to meet in Masterton on Saturday about lunchtime if you get away on time
Then continue North through Bideford, covering some great gravel roads, but shoot into Eketahuna (for those that want to top up or dry off )
Then its a back road to Pahiatua (fuel here too), then Mangatinoka and a visit to the Brewery (maybe a tour for those that are keen? see here
Then we get back onto the gravel and head South.
We take Pori Road which is magic!! (or at least I think so)
The down to Tinui and onto Mataikoina, where we will have shearers quarters to use (hot showers, beds etc)

Day 2 Sunday
I have 2 options here, and will post soon

[Zukin]

Oops
I do need to check on the accommodation but it should be ok
If it is ok, I would need to know numbers by Thursday night

Also what are your thoughts on the following?
I would like to request that each person pays $10 to go towards Inline4, this is in lieu of paying for accommodation?
I will deposit the money into the bank account that is on KB next week?

Cheers Scott

[Bartman10]

Sounds great. We'll see you in Masterton at about 12 noon on Saturday.

Where do ya wanna meet? What about outside the big Honda shop on the main drag (Langland's Honda is it's official name)?


Cheers.

[Shiner]

Hi , I am also fairly new to gravel road riding. Have recently bought my BMW 650F. I have been out on some rides on my own, out to Palliser Bay, White Rock, Ocean Beach ( down west side of Lake Wairarapa) and Tora. I would like to have some one to ride with at times however. If you know some more fun, but not too challenging places to explore, and are maybe interested in hooking up on a ride, I would be very interested.
Have a South island trip planned from Jan2 to 25 where I plan to ride over some gravel roads such as Danseys Pass, Hakatariamia, maybe Dunstan Trial. Any ideas and maybe possible riding buddies for some of the way ?
Happy adventuring

[Zukin]

Hi there

Nice bike and welcome to KB
What dont you join in for this weekends ride?
It will be easier, and not too fast as I am only on a 250!!
They are just normal gravel roads, but the views on some of them are nothing short of spectacular

Cheers Scott

[Bartman10]

Hi there shiner

We're all newbies at this adventure game so why not come and join the fun.

Fraggle will be there on her 650 too so it won't be all blokes.

Caltex rimutaka is here.

http://www.wises.co.nz/?point=86721|2

See you at 10am Saturday then. Look for a yellow DR650 and yellow leathers.

Cheers,