The Black and Blue ride
Take a look at the photos and you’ll see the reason for the title.
Oldrider called in to stay here on Friday night with a plan to ride the back roads from my home, over through the Waitahuna East high country to Lake Mahingerangi, then via Lee Flat Rd to the road to Middlemarch, turn off onto the McRae’s road about 20km North from Middlemarch, on though McRaes to Dunback. Soon after this we would split up with him returning home to Otematata via Trotters Gorge, and me heading south via the Old Coast road.
For anyone reading this who doesn’t have clue where that is look on an Atlas – Waitahuna is on SH8 (south of Dunedin by about 70km and then about 25km inland)
After a great night getting to know each other and generally solving most of the world’s problems (bugger elections, John and I could run it eh??) we ducked down to Milton in the car to pick up my KDX220 that had been getting a wee problem sorted. We then spent the rest of the morning round the farm shifting stock and having a look about – John was put back on to trainer wheels ie he got to ride my KVF650 ATV, while I made sure the KDX was working properly – it was. Don’t you reckon the picture of John on the ATV would have him pass for the genuine McCoy cockie??
After an early lunch we packed up and got ready to go. While the two Transalps are the same year etc its always interesting to see what others have done to mould the bike to suit their requirements. Check out the custom made seat on John’s which lowers the seat height and gives a better perch for his good lady – ideal for him but for my size and weight no good at all with the family jewels pressed hard up against the tank.
The first 50kms of the trip were all on gravel roads. The road base was pretty hard and in many places there was a lot of fine loose gravel, pea size stuff that seemed to shift around a lot. It did make things a bit twitchy and dirt bike riding techniques worked best – ie lean the bike but keep yourself upright, and look ahead and use the torquey power to pull you up and on to the next bit.
We only took one photo on this stretch – that of the old gold stamping battery just before going over the last hill before the decent to the Lake. For those that have done some of this trip before the road from Waitahuna joins the road from Lawrence right at the entrance to the Waipori Station base. Didn’t stop for a photo of the Lake – its pretty low right now which is normal for late winter as this lake is storage for Dunedin’s winter electricity needs. The hills in this area are being targeted, by both Trust Power and meridian Energy, for major wind farm developments in two different sites.
We rode over the causeway ,past the fishing cribs/batches, and on up the hill heading for the Lee Flat turn off. Another 10 km of gravel on this road and we were back onto seal – suddenly the speed picked up and the distant headlight I had been constantly checking was still there on the gravel became a full sized Transalp in the mirrors. The last 4km has one of those warning signs we all love – 4Km Winding road, a few 55km/hr corners included. Both of us were keen to scrub off the sides of our tyres, which hadn’t seen anything like enough wear, as we’re both getting Mitas tyres put on very soon.
We then joined the main route to Middlemarch and began to have to take a lot more care due to a pretty high wind that was gusting in places and could be a bit unnerving if it caught you have way though a corner when leaning in to it.
After a brief comfort stop in Middlemarch, photo outside the hall, we headed on to the McRaes turnoff which is about 20km past Middlemarch. After around 12 km we can upon a horrendous accident – 2 cars head on, on a pretty easy corner. Some ignorant bastard has been on the wrong side of the road. Rescue helicopter there (turned off), ambulance and fire crews. If there is not at least one fatality out of this crash I’ll be amazed. Fortunately there was an easy track around the outside of the crash so we weren’t held up.
The road to McRaes and on to Dunback is a favourite of southern bikers – lots of corners, spectacular rocky desert scenery that is found nowhere else in NZ, and a brief stop to look at the big Taylor’s pit at the mine site. Take care with some of the small bridges - you have to ride down the wheel tracks, not the middle. It can make for "moments" if you come onto the bridge too fast expecting to blast down the middle.
We had a much needed coffee and nibbles break at Dunback – both the pub and the store are really bike friendly here as they get heaps of bikes through and many of them stop to boost the local economy.
About halfway between Dunback and Palmerston we turned left at Camp Armstrong onto Craig Rd which then becomes Chalmers Rd and takes you through a quiet, narrow, country lane right through to the Horse Range Road. Chalmers road has sections that aren’t fenced so you have to let sheep/cattle get out of the way as you ride through.
John and I parted company here.
He can tell you about the rest of his trip home but I took one of my favourite diversions, which is to turn off at Cherry Farm to go out to the coast at Karitane, and then follow the old coast road through to rejoining SH1 at Waitati/Evansdale. The view, see photo, from the lookout looking back over Karitane beach is one of my favourite views in Otago. It is a great beach and there are a couple more really good beaches, especially Warrington, as you ride this road. It is very windy and bumpy, and crosses the railway line about 6 times, but it is great fun.
I fueled up in Mosgiel on my way home as it looked like I might not make it. It worked out to be the worst fuel consumption I’ve had for a long time – 15.4km/litre. The battle against the wind, full power a lot going up some of the big hills, and maybe realizing after 25km that I still had the bloody choke half out wouldn’t have helped either. But the $25 it cost to fill the tank was a cheap entry ticket to a great ride. Total km round trip 324km.
Oldrider is the first KB’r I’ve met and he’s set a pretty high standard for the rest of you!! Look forward to meeting more of you over the next few years and if you’re coming down this way drop me a line.
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Originally Posted by maha man
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