2005 Southern Cross Ride

[mangell6]

So being rather brash and bold, there is accommodation in Wellington, Tokoroa, Christchurch, Alexandra, Mt Maunganui (must tell mum). That would lessen the costs. Just need accommodation north of Whangarei, like Kaitaia, and possibly in Bluff/Invercargill if one is to go to the "Club night". So we have a team . . . . .

[Blackbird]

Morning Mike - indeed we do. Tokoroa will be my stopoff on the evenings of the 9th and 12th if all goes to plan. Room for 3 others if required.

Would you believe that I booked the ferries last night, crossing south on the 5th on the Aratere. Listening to this morning's news, I'm not sure what to do now. Think I might wait until next week before thinking about changing.

Cheers

Geoff

[Jantar]

Our place is available for anyone wishing to stop off on the way south to Bluff. We have a spare room with a double bed, but also a couple of camp stretchers we can soon put up. Then there's 10 acres of paddocks for tents.

My plans for each night are:
7th - Cabin at Bluff Camping ground.
8th - Tent in a roadside stop area somewhere between Waipara and Kaikoura.
9th - 1:30 pm ferry crossing then on to Wanganui (Any KBers with accomadation?)
10th - Kaitaia or further north. Probably tent again.
11th - Whakatane area, Probably tent again.
12th - Whakamaru Tokoroa area. Any room at your place Blackbird?
13th - Somewhere close to the finish point.

I haven't booked the return trip yet. I will still have another week off work so I may head back up to the Waikato, or else return home via Nelson and the West Coast.

I've budgeted for around $2000 in fuel, tyres food etc.

[Krusti]

If anyone needs a bed,Okoroire ( between Mamaku'sand Matamata) couple available. Just let us know.

[Blackbird]

Yep, 12th will be fine.

Geoff

[Lee Rusty]

of this years Southern Cross Road Rally.
There are now over 70 entrants - if you want to come get your entries in to RNMC - Dont leave it to the last moment, it just makes lots of work for the organisers.

We look forward to seeing you in Bluff for the Rusty Nuts M/C Club nite on Saturday nite 7th of May. The SCRR starts at midday on 8th May.

DOnt forget also the 19th Grand Challenge 1000 miles in 24 hours. to be held 15th and 16th October. Start and finish in Turangi.

more details and entry forms from www.rustynuts.co.nz

[Lee Rusty]

Rusty Nuts M/c are looking at beating the previous record of starters in the Southern Cross Road Rally. The number to beat is 98 entrants and we are nearing 90 with a couple of weeks to go for entries to be recieved.

With approx 6300km for riders from home back to home we are looking at serious mileage here.

The last two weeks are the usual time of a last minute rush of entrants as those who have to wait until the last few weeks to see if they can get time off etc - particually those who are self employed.

We look forward to seeing those KB people who can attend.

If you are still thinking about it - get into it.

LR

[Blackbird]

Have a word with the weather gods Lee and see if you can arrange some decent stuff eh??
Geoff

[Legolas]

I really do admire and envy all you guys that are doing this ride.
The planning alone must be a nightmare.

I had a passing notion of doing the four points ride in the UK but not actually done anything about it yet. One day perhaps.

I wish you all the very best of luck and hope the weather Gods smile on you.

Safe journey. Steve.

[Blackbird]

Hi Steve me ol' mate

Thanks for the good wishes - we're gonna need them if this weekend's weather has been anything to go by - snow in parts of the north and south islands, exactly where we will be next week travelling down to the start point. Let's hope that it's an isolated incident!

Cheers

Geoff

[RiderInBlack]

Mangakahia is still got a fair bit of road works on it so you might have to stay on SH1 through Whangarei. I will try a ride the roads up around here this Sun and post a run down on their condition here. Please post which roads you are planning to use and I will try a check those out. See attached map for area that I would cover. I might get kean and go as far as Kaitaia but will what I feel like doing come the weekend. I an riding to AK Friday evening and returning Sat so could check SH1 & SH16 as well

[Blackbird]

Really nice of you RIB and thanks so much for all the trouble. I haven't talked to the guys yet about routes up north but sort of figured that we'd probably stay on SH1 all the way up. Weather excepting, it's not too bad a run from Tokoroa. We're staying at Houhora overnight and from memory, it's less than 700 km - probably the easiest daily run we've got. Is going through the Bay of Islands on SH 10 significantly longer than the Mangamukas?

We did a 1000 miler up that way in 1999 (I think), leaving Turangi at about 3.45 pm and arriving in Kaitaia smack on midnight including an out of the way checkpoint and an hour lost in Auckland whilst a riding partner changed his front wheel bearings in Auckland We went through the Bay of Islands on that occasion.

I'm heading south on the 4th and meeting up with Mangell6 at Bluff.

Cheers

Geoff

[Jantar]

Mangakahia is still got a fair bit of road works on it so you might have to stay on SH1 through Whangarei. I will try a ride the roads up around here this Sun and post a run down on their condition here. Please post which roads you are planning to use and I will try a check those out. See attached map for area that I would cover. I might get kean and go as far as Kaitaia but will what I feel like doing come the weekend. I an riding to AK Friday evening and returning Sat so could check SH1 & SH16 as well

Many thanks for the update RIB. Unless you advise any different next week I intend to follow the route you suggested to me for the Northland area. I also have another couple of alternative Southland routes that I'll suggest to Blackbird and Mangell6 when we all meet up in Bluff.

[RiderInBlack]

Is going through the Bay of Islands on SH 10 significantly longer than the Mangamukas?
Geoff

Time wise it most definitely is. I would recommend going via Mangamuka if time is an issue. Via BOI (SH 10) You have more little townships to go through. There are also more patrol cars normal that way (SH 10) than through the Mangamukas (SH 1).

[RiderInBlack]

Mangakahia is still got a fair bit of road works on it so you might have to stay on SH1 through Whangarei. I will try a ride the roads up around here this Sun and post a run down on their condition here. Please post which roads you are planning to use and I will try a check those out. See attached map for area that I would cover. I might get kean and go as far as Kaitaia but will what I feel like doing come the weekend. I an riding to AK Friday evening and returning Sat so could check SH1 & SH16 as well

Have return from AK via SH1 and Mangakahia Rd click on this link for a update on the raod conditions http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...&postcount=123. Hope to ride the rest of Mangakahia Rd from home to Kaikohe and back the Whg via SH1. Will write a report on time and distances taken for both routes, and post it here.