31 August 2008 Ride With Wellington Ulysses over Admiral Range

[merv]

Well I've been a member of Ulysses for over 12 years and when Kennif posted on KB that they were doing a bit of a gravel ride; myself, Aslan, Frodo, marks and a few others thought we'd join them. The plan was to leave Upper Hutt as a combined road and gravel group and then to separate out of Martinborough at the Bell Tea corner. In the end a few of the roadies decided to come to Hinakura with us and ride back on the gravel to Gladstone, where we all met for lunch.

Here's my record of the day in photos. The big surprise was how sunny it was and my photos heaven help them are full of those lovely reflective streaks of sunshine making the bikes shine.

I'm not even going to attempt to put names to too many of the photos because I didn't know all the people on the ride.

[merv]

Other KBers there on the road option were dennisr, DougieNZ and KoroJ and you'll recognise the gravel crew. marks wasn't sure he'd make it but there he was on his KLR650 complete with large travel bag because lucky bugger was just going to go on for a couple of days and return home via Napier and the Taihape Road.

The crew left from Brown Owl shops on Akatarawa Road and then regrouped at Featherston.

Crikey talk about "Bring back Buck" there he was on the ride the one and only BuckBuckNo1 (now known as terminated), he may have left KB but he is alive and well over at Ulysses.

[merv]

We rode on to Martinborough and a guy riding a Yamaha Venture Royale tourer just stood out too far for Scumdog and Spudchucka's mates and next thing you know we have a screw in a Commodore Station Wagon Police vehicle doing a u-ey up ahead and he chased him into Martinborough and did him for doing 117km/hr. That's the criminal in the 5th pic second from right with the cap on.

How many other bikes got done out that way today, because we saw the car again later in the day when we were on our way home. Hhhmmmm the boys are watching huh!

See that sunshine on the bikes - beautiful

[merv]

It was quite a big crowd at Martinborough eh!

Then us gravel team headed off to Hinakura and the roadies on a BMW and the Venture Royale came with us. I don't think I'd be bothered getting my road bike dirty on that stuff.

The weather remained perfect - well of course Scumdog had gone back to the Riviera

[merv]

Nice gravel road eh, but then you've seen my pics of this before on previous rides. I never get sick of going over it and at this time of the year it was about right - not too wet and not too dry which makes the surface quite grippy and not too dusty - not like in the heat of the summer when the gravel is slippery like ball bearings and dusty as you know what.

[merv]

Marks certainly has a smile on his face riding that Kawasaki. My only comment to him about it was how much oil it was burning when I followed him for a while and he reckons its a fault with them. I'm not used to filling bikes up with oil between changes so I'd find that a bit of a worry.

You can see that some of the other roadies came up Admirals Road to meet us at the end of the gravel and then we all headed off for lunch at the Gladstone pub.

There was a crowd of bikes of all types at the pub as you can see.

[merv]

I like this first pic, boys with beers in theirs hands having a look at the old Indian.

The crowd had fun sitting in the sun enjoying food and drink.

[merv]

Myself and Aslan and our friend on his Bonneville 750 decided the only sensible thing to do was go home via the gravel route too.

That's all my pics folks. We stopped at Martinborough for a coffee but I left the camera in its bag and just enjoyed the drink, so no more photos and then we just headed off home over a rather busy hill road.

[marks]

Great write up Merv

My only comment to him about it was how much oil it was burning when I followed him for a while and he reckons its a fault with them. I'm not used to filling bikes up with oil between changes so I'd find that a bit of a worry.

I'm waiting to hear back from Kawasaki. If they don't play ball a big bore kit with forged piston is only $270US.

I also posted a few photos here

cheers

Mark

[merv]

Great photos from the rest of your day mark, shame you decided to go home and not do the Taihape Road loop and carried that large bag for nothing but the fun of it huh. Meanwhile we had mainly relaxed with that last coffee in Martinborough before heading home.

Aslan being a devil for punishment was today going on a day skiing as I understand so I am sure we will hear from him tomorrow.

[DougieNZ]

Nice job with the piccy's merv! It was a magnificent day for it. My first time as TEC went OK. No one got lost! :-)

Thanks to everyone that turned up and made it the great day it was!

[merv]

Nice job with the piccy's merv! It was a magnificent day for it. My first time as TEC went OK. No one got lost! :-)

Thanks to everyone that turned up and made it the great day it was!

Yeah well someone has to post the pics otherwise if it isn't recorded it never happened eh

[pete376403]

Looks like I missed a great day - as it happened I ended up replacing a leaking hot water cylinder (after rebuilding the rotten floor underneath it). Interesting but no-where near like the fun it appears you guys had.

Mark, how much oil is you bike using (ml/100km or whatever)? Mine does use a bit, but only when I'm sitting on around 130 or over. Have you approached Kawasaki about it?

[marks]

Mark, how much oil is you bike using (ml/100km or whatever)? Mine does use a bit, but only when I'm sitting on around 130 or over. Have you approached Kawasaki about it?

Hi Pete

somewhere around 600-700ml per 1000km. I am waiting to hear back from motorad who have contacted kawasaki. If it turns into a big drama - having to prove the consumption to their satisfaction etc etc I will just live with it for a while (no different than my DT230 really) and put in a 685 kit sometime.

[KoroJ]

Nice one Merv. That Indian was certainly mint.

Here's a couple of pix. Can't say a Yammy Venturer would be my choice of adventure bike.