Sundown Rally (28-29 April 2007)

[MyGSXF:Me]

You better do a good job too

I always doooooo....

Wont involve getting your hands greasy though will it

maybe.. maybe not...

[dangerous]

Well Im thinking a quick ride in the arvo out through the Weka pass, Scargill, Greta Vally, Beer wounder round then back h/w1.

Any one keen on that?


Hows this sound then:

Shell we say meet at The Peg Pub main North rd @ 12:30 Saturday.

[alley cat]

Well Im thinking a quick ride in the arvo out through the Weka pass, Scargill, Greta Vally, Beer wounder round then back h/w1.

Any one keen on that?


Hows this sound then:

Shell we say meet at The Peg Pub main North rd @ 12:30 Saturday.

mmmmeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

[MyGSXF:Me]

1 more sleep..

[Ghost_Bullet]

1 more sleep..

Awesome, have a great time up there... 2 more sets of 40winks and off to the deep south, which looks like it is going to be wet... yay!!!!!

people

[MyGSXF:Me]

Awesome, have a great time up there... 2 more sets of 40winks and off to the deep south, which looks like it is going to be wet... yay!!!!!

people

Cheers Q.. you guys have a great time down South too..

Safe ride

Jen

[Silage]

Well, by the lack of interaction (and off topic comments) on this thread it would seem that there is not much interest. It is raining small misty, visor sticky stuff but I am off to see who turns up.

[Silage]

Well that was an interesting ride.

Fine misty stuff all the way out to Waipara with visibility about 100m at times. Not too much traffic (and no bikes) and fortunately all were behaving. Rain cleared after Waipara and the road was drying so made much better time. Arrived at Greta Valley around 3pm. Looked like about a dozen tents. Guys on the gate were a bit titchy about me wandering through (understandable) so didn't see you around Jen.

After a coke and coffee at the pub and a bit of a chat (no KBers in sight) set off for home just as it started raining. Wet only as far as Waipara so no probs. Gear kept out most of the wet and I was warm all the way (yay for neck warmers and polypros).

Pity about the weather and low turn out. Seemed like another 10 or so bikes heading that way as I rode home. Well there is always next year.

[laRIKin]

Silage I think I seen you heading home as I was going there. (I waved)
I got a bit wet after Amberly and it just got worse after that.
I did see Jen and TWR they were changing chain and sprockets on her bike and that why you did not see them.
They found me, just after finishing the job.
Headed home in the dark and got a little light rain and mist, wasn't to bad at all.

Today brother-in-law and I went around the block.
No rain, wet roads and was farken cold in Arthurs. (just got home)

[Ghost_Bullet]

All a bit disapointing, this will make it two years in a row that the weather has not played the game???

A couple of us headed off to the Beaumont, and had drizzle all the way to Timaru, then it started to dry out.... but ya best check out the related thread.

Hope all others that went to the Sundown(kinda ironic... no sun???) had a blast of a time.

[T.W.R]

Arrived at Greta Valley around 3pm. Looked like about a dozen tents. (no KBers in sight)

I did see Jen and TWR they were changing chain and sprockets on her bike and that why you did not see them.
They found me, just after finishing the job.

mmm yes chain & sprockets, a long over due job that needed to be done.
Ha Silage we weren't silly parking up in a tent, we scored a cabin that's probably why you didn't see us would have been good to catch up too.
Lemans it was good to see you there for a brief visit.

Well my trip there started on late on Friday evening, leaving home in the dark with a light drizzle. Only to get into ChCh to be met by heavy swirling drizzle & soaked roads and bloody traffic. North of ChCh things didn't improve until the waipara turn-off (dry road) but it was short lived with only 20 odd Ks until Greta (rolled in roughly at 9.15pm).
As a barer of good news Jen informed that she'd made an executive decision saying stuff the tent and had managed to score a Caravan for the night, which suited me just fine (Jen had one hell trip down from all accounts). So it was pack the gear away and into the social side of events down at the pub with the P.M.C crew (Which are a bloody good bunch!), and finishing up somewhere in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Saturday morning brought the usual host of jobs & chores to do though some people had severe issues actually exiting their places of slumber
The weather hadn't improved any which signalled that things would be quiet in attendance numbers, but that wasn't an issue. The day progressed and with nursing a slightly foggy head and taking care of a few bits n pieces and bowling over a good feed at the pub, we managed to lay claim to a cabin, so it with a couple of short trips all the gear was transferred from caravan to cabin . Then it was time to attack Jen's bike and sort the C & S out, pretty straight forward job and bloody pleasing to see rid of the accident waiting to happen that had been in place

Onced cleaned up it was time to target food & refreshments, and heading back up to the gate we found Lemans and had a good chat & so forth

Once the evening got rocking which with the number there was a good atmosphere and everyone was enjoying themselves, the band was probably one of the better groups playing a good cross section of sounds to suit everyone. A few of the nights games got a bit woolly though with Keg throwing (someone actually managed to stay connected to the keg when it took flight ) some chic grew very attached to a decoy duck which bemused plenty

Waking Sunday to a clear sky was a pleasant sight so it was into the packing up and prep for the homeward journey whilst someone fought the blankets off bravely though we headed up to Cheviot for lunch before I returned south heading back to base camp.

Didn't take a lot of pics but heres a couple below, spot the homebrew oddball

Even though the conditions kept numbers down it was a good wee rally and worthy of marking on the calender for next time.

[MyGSXF:Me]

Arrived at Greta Valley around 3pm. Looked like about a dozen tents. After a coke and coffee at the pub and a bit of a chat (no KBers in sight) set off for home just as it started raining

Sorry we missed you A.. yeah, as T.W.R says we were down in front of the cabin under the verandah doing some bike work! I will mention it to my club though, as it would have been good if someone had come & let us know that you were looking for us!

I did see Jen and TWR they were changing chain and sprockets on her bike and that why you did not see them

you struck bloody good timing R. We had just finished the bike, & was heading up for a well earned beverage! Good to catch up with you!

[MyGSXF:Me]

Well.. Fri dawned.. friggin pissing down!!! but packed up & headed away about 1.30 anyway. Went via Blenheim & Kaikoura.. as according to the weather I may have DROWNED going via the Lewis!! Had a patch of heavy rain through the Whangamoas, otherwise it drizzled on & off all the way!! Had a rather uneventful trip as far as Kaikoura, where it stared getting dark shortly after I left.

The last 45 minutes, I would class as being the WORST ride in my 16 YEARS!!! Heavy drizzle that did nothing but smear over the inside & outside of my visor, which I HAD to have open a couple of notches to stop the bloody fogging.. (anti-fog stuff I had put on.. DIDN'T work.. ) so had as much rain pouring down the inside as on the outside.. & my eyes were streaming coz of the cold.. dark.. oncoming traffic lights.. cars up me date.. couldn't see a friggin thing.. & got to the rally site thoroughly harrassed to say the least!! apparantly upon my arrival, my eyes looked like I had spent the last week being stoned 24 hours of the day... even though I don't smoke!!!

Annnnnywaaay.. made an executive decision, said stuff the tent, & managed to score a caravan for the night. Got my gear & bike sorted, then joined my club in the pub & had a great night!! Bill eventually showed bout 9.15.. only nearly an hour & a half late.. apparently me beloved Pa had showed up at his work right on knock off time..

Saturday morning dawned.. still raining.. as it did aaaaaalllllll day & night!! Seemed like a GREAT excuse to stay ensconced in a snuggly cuddly wuddly warm bed. Managed to score a great cabin for Sat night.. apparantly was a cancelation due to the weather.. funny that.. their loss.. our gain! Parked the GSXF under the verandah & proceeded to do some (overdue) surgery.. Working on a bike together is very companionable.. Job well done, thanks babe xx & off up to the pub we went, meeting Lemans on the way.

The band cranked up in the pub & played an awesome selection of music.. had a good crowd up dancing!! Had a fun game of toss the handbag outside.. yours truely actually won.. but being a club member.. I wasn't allowed to claim a prize.. The toss the keg was amusing to say the least.. & duck girl was a crack up!! A bloody good night had by all.. & finally got to bed bout 4am...

Sunday, the fiiiiinally decided to show it's face.. made things rather more pleasant to pack up the mass of club gear!! Loaded up the bikes & Bill & I headed up to Cheviot for a yummy brunch of Kumara chips

Time came to say farethewell, with Bill heading South, & I headed towards Kaikoura again (I HATE that bit..) A few ks out of Cheviot, the dark clouds closed in, & I had a bloody cold ride home again.. Got dark about Havelock, for the last 45 minutes of my ride.. but at least it wasn't raining this time..

All in all despite the rain & hairy ride down.. was a bloody great weekend!!

Numbers were a mere 93.. including 18 club members.. but the atmosphere was excellent & everyone had a great time!!

Roll on next year.. & hopefully the sun gods will shine on us.. 3rd time lucky!!

Jen

1) T.W.R & lemans
2) My puuuuurdy new shiny bits..
3) what's wrong with this then hmmmm...????

[T.W.R]

The last 45 minutes, I would class as being the WORST ride in my 16 YEARS!!! Heavy drizzle that did nothing but smear over the inside & outside of my visor, which I HAD to have open a couple of notches to stop the bloody fogging.. (anti-fog stuff I had put on.. DIDN'T work.. ).

Bill eventually showed bout 9.15.. only nearly an hour & a half late.. apparently me beloved Pa had showed up at his work right on knock off time..

2) My puuuuurdy new shiny bits..

Ever wondered why it's called "CAT CRAP" coz it's CATSHIT! from what I saw of your helmet when I got there you may as well have smeared grease on the visor as it probably would have worked better

lols SD & CB did call in briefly on their way towards ChCh with the XN85, though they aren't to blame for my delay getting there. Total bollocks traffic either side of ChCh & the conditions damaged the ETA more so

Get a link whacked out of the chain when you can or I'll attack it when I get up next. If I had known it was going to take-up adjustment at that point I would have brought my breaker with me to do the job:slap:

[MyGSXF:Me]

Ever wondered why it's called "CAT CRAP" coz it's CATSHIT! from what I saw of your helmet when I got there you may as well have smeared grease on the visor as it probably would have worked better

yeah.. being able to actually SEE makes a bit of a difference..

lols SD & CB did call in briefly on their way towards ChCh with the XN85, though they aren't to blame for my delay getting there. Total bollocks traffic either side of ChCh & the conditions damaged the ETA more so

sure you weren't just busy pissin round like a bloody old nana...???

Get a link whacked out of the chain when you can or I'll attack it when I get up next. If I had known it was going to take-up adjustment at that point I would have brought my breaker with me to do the job

Will see what I can organise.. when it bloody stops raining long enough for me to go check out the state of it after riding home.. had enough rain to last for the entire bloody Winter already!! :slap:

As for forgetting your tools.. you'll get a for that!!!!