Akaroa Lighthouse Adv Ride

**cooneyr** · 6th November 2006, 12:16

Since this weekend (11/12th) will be my only opportunity to go riding in November I'm racking my brains of a place to go. My suggestion for this stage is to the Akaroa Lighthouse via the southern bays then back via Takamatua Stock track and whatever from there. Attached Gif has route/s.

The southern bays track and the track to the lighthouse are fairly high and exposed - think army mog going rolly polly. Can skip the Southern Bays via highway and drink coffee in Akaroa if dont like those bits. Most of route will be gravel road but crossing Birdlings Flat is very soft pea gravel (about 200m) and Takamatua Track is dirt/grass so if wet could be slippery. All up will be around 200km so about 4-5 hrs.

Open to other route suggestions or could modify this to suit needs.

Weather looking best for Sat at this stage. Suggest Tai Tapu Caltex at 9am as meeting point.

Cheers
R

**merv** · 6th November 2006, 12:29

Used to love those roads in the '70's, wish I was down there with you.

Akaroa has changed since this pic of me on the XL175 http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/at...1&d=1101845075

**cooneyr** · 6th November 2006, 13:13

Originally Posted by merv

Used to love those roads in the '70's, wish I was down there with you.

Akaroa has changed since this pic of me on the XL175 http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/at...1&d=1101845075

I've read a most of your post re the "old days". Looks like you had heaps of fun on the old bikes. Kinda different with the bikes around now days I suspect. I've travelled many of the tracks around here in a 4x4 and am redoing them on two wheels. Got any good suggestions for day trip tracks other than the usual lees valley, lake sumner, the rivers and the peninsula?

Cheers
R

**merv** · 6th November 2006, 13:55

We did "line of the summit road" once which my mad mate at the time always insisted we could do legally but it did require lifting bikes over locked gates and fences so I wondered about legality by us or the farmers - someone was wrong.

Just ride every road on the peninsula they are all fun, much as Lake Sumner was and still is, looking at the posts on that.

We rode up from Bealey Bridge one time in the river bed there and that was cool. Ended up going back the next day to retrieve a camera that one of the crew left there by mistake after drowning her bike. I always liked doing the ski field roads too usually in the winter on the snow but not sure how many are open off season these days but we did Porters regularly and Amuri out of Hanmer. Just because they were there and hill climbs are fun.

I guess you've done all these though.

**Ghost Lemur** · 6th November 2006, 13:57

I'd love to go. But the wife just had the weekend off (and I didn't manage to sneak out for a ride

) so she'll be probably working through the weekend.

I'll try seeing if I can corner a babysitter.

**cooneyr** · 6th November 2006, 16:01

Originally Posted by merv

We did "line of the summit road" once which my mad mate at the time always insisted we could do legally but it did require lifting bikes over locked gates and fences so I wondered about legality by us or the farmers - someone was wrong.

Guessing you mean from Gebbies round towards Mt Herbit. I'm not sure about legality of that one but definatly though about it. Done most of the others in 4x4 so know of them - have added them to two wheels list.

Originally Posted by Ghost Lemur

I'd love to go. But the wife just had the weekend off (and I didn't manage to sneak out for a ride

) so she'll be probably working through the weekend.

I'll try seeing if I can corner a babysitter.

More than welcome if you can come. You'll probablly fare much better than me across the gravel at birdlings on the CRM - you dont get the human crane treatment sorry. Thats reserved for big bikes burried to the axles lol.

Cheers
R

**merv** · 6th November 2006, 17:08

Originally Posted by cooneyr

Guessing you mean from Gebbies round towards Mt Herbit. I'm not sure about legality of that one but definatly though about it. Done most of the others in 4x4 so know of them - have added them to two wheels list.
R

Yeah that's the one, it was known by "the line .." name on the topo maps. We did it in the opposite direction coming out at Gebbies but without checking my maps again I thought we started the epic back near Hilltop and just followed the paper road from there. I was on the trusty XL175 and my mate had an XL250 - a bit lighter to lift than a DR650.

Ridden up to Mt Herbert a few times too.

**PLUG** · 6th November 2006, 20:53

... count me in for saturday ...

**far queue** · 6th November 2006, 22:06

Have fun guys, I was out playing all weekend just been, so stuff to do at home this weekend. Plus, I was through this area about a month ago. A bit of rain just before you go would be good to keep the dust down for you too.

**Transalper** · 6th November 2006, 22:28

i will not commit yet, but there's a high probability i'll be in for Saturday. Sounds like a job for the Djebel.

**cooneyr** · 7th November 2006, 07:04

Knew you were tied up FQ but I'm sure there will be another time. As for the rest of you lot, if your comming make sure you eat your weatbix.

Cheers
R