Pissed Penguin Rally 19-20-21 Sept

[XF650]

Sunday I tagged on with Jantar & Oldrider to Alexandra. We got hit with vicious norwest side winds at Ettrick, to the extent I got blown off the road (yes, my 2nd trip into the roadside for the weekend). Managed to keep upright & momentum going through the grass for another 100m before I could get back on the seal. Was worse though getting blown towards centre line with oncoming traffic. Stopping didn't seem an option - without momentum I'm sure the wind would have just blown the bike over. I think my issue was the top heavy load way back over the back wheel, making the front too light, so I ended up sitting right up on the tank & hanging on for dear life. By the time we got to Jantar's place we were all exhausted.
Oldrider headed for home via the Lindas while I rode into the Maniototo to do some work (farm) calls. Those gravel roads in there would have to be some of the best in NZ - not much loose stuff & plenty of grip, more like swept dirt. Got to Oamaru for the night via the Pig Route & Trotters Gorge, both valley's relatively sheltered from the high winds. And yes, there is a gravel connection to avoid going into Palmerston.
Monday headed to Kurow via Enfield and any gravel bits I could find. Plus had a crack at finding my way through the old Kurow Creek track (where I found the up market dunny) but chickened out at the river crossing - it was deceptively swift, deep & rocky. Didn't feel confident enough, being on my own in a remote spot if I got it wrong. Can't wait to go back there though, with other bikes around to pick me up!!

[XF650]

After finishing a work call at Kurow I met Red KLR650 (Stu) to ride the Clarksfield Rd from Highway 82 to Waimate (the back way). First pic is top of first climb, looking back over the Waitaki Valley.The road then heads towards Elephant Hill via some real twisty loose gravel and heaps of negative camber corners......
Next pic is corner where Stu binned his (previously) spotless KLR. Note that the skid mark is his, not mine, & that just past where he is standing is a steep drop off. He blamed his tyres, which is understandable if you look at pic 3. Stu is normally very competant on gravel and certainly one of the fastest I have tried to follow - I was eating his dust all afternoon. But he sure blew that one, something we all do at some time or another. It's just worse though if there's some prick following with a camera !!
Under those jeans in the last pic is some gravel embedded in that knee.

[XF650]

Our quest for more gravel included the road to the Waimate Plane Table on the hill top where the white horse monument is. Great views from up there & often frequented by couples at night (a Waimo told me!!).

[XF650]

We continued to follow the gravel along the foot of the Hunter Hills, right through to Cave. These roads are Stu's playground and includes BackLine Rd, possibly the most varied & interesting gravel road for m/bikes in South Canterbury. Off this road is Mt Studholme, worthy of a adv ride up to the transmitter alone. Plus there are other tracks heading up from Mt Nimrod. We stopped at the Guns Bush camp to check out it's suitability for a KB event, ala South Canterbury Dusty Butt anyone?? Last pic shows sun setting on Mt Hutt in the distance - my beacon for home. Thanks Stu, a fantastic way to finish my Pissed Penguin (by gravel) trip.

[cobber]

Ruralman then led us to the Rally via Clinton & lunch at Owaka. After pitching the tents he took us on a tour of the Catlins - a great mix of gravel through the forestry (incl a village that looked like the setting for "Deliverance") plus a decent fang through the twisties of the glorious Catlins highway. I was really pushing the EO9's & am real proud of the wear on the front side knobs (see pic).
Another "achievement" for me that day was overtaking a Ducati Multistrada, plus a Triumph 600 & a Yamy 600 sports bikes. OK, I'll admit we were on gravel at the time, but that's about as good as it gets for a Freewind!!
The Rally itself was great, even if it was really just the excuse for the ride. There will be Rally pics & stuff over in the "Meetings & Events" forum.

there aint much rubber hanging onto the road at lean angle is there definately wouldnt want to clip a wet patch of seal.

[cooneyr]

....We stopped at the Guns Bush camp to check out it's suitability for a KB event, ala South Canterbury Dust Butt anyone??....

Thanks for the ride report XF. Some interesting places to check out around that area. Another option instead of Gunns Bush is Atwill Park at Kelceys Bush just a little bit south.

Cheers R

[XF650]

there aint much rubber hanging onto the road at lean angle is there definately wouldnt want to clip a wet patch of seal.

The only time I felt the tyres step out (on seal) was when cornering on damp lichen along that road from Clydvale to Baumont.

[XF650]

Thanks for the ride report XF. Some interesting places to check out around that area. Another option instead of Gunns Bush is Atwill Park at Kelceys Bush just a little bit south.

Cheers R

I remember seeing that Kelceys Bush sign - a good excuse to go back for another look. The Gunns Bush camp till recently was owned by the Methodist Church but the new owners have lifted the "no booze" ban. Stu has got their details.

[cooneyr]

I remember seeing that Kelceys Bush sign - a good excuse to go back for another look. The Gunns Bush camp till recently was owned by the Methodist Church but the new owners have lifted the "no booze" ban.

Though the Gunns Bush camp was the churchy one. Atwell Park (Kelceys Bush) is the scout camp - no problems with booze there and there is heaps more space for camping. Not sure if the digs are quite so nice at Atwell Park.

Cheers R

[RedKLR650]

Though the Gunns Bush camp was the churchy one. Atwell Park (Kelceys Bush) is the scout camp - no problems with booze there and there is heaps more space for camping. Not sure if the digs are quite so nice at Atwell Park.
Cheers R

We got all the info yesterday

$8 per adult if tenting, $14 to use the bunkrooms and the people there seem fairly flexible on things. Alcohol OK as long as we're not going to be causing mayhem..... ( I guess Mayhem can be interpreted differently by different people )

and some GREAT shingle roads in the area......

Cheers for the invite yesterday Struan, now I'd better fix that indicator.....

Stu

[marks]

great report Struan

I'm insanely jealous

I will be down in late Nov or early Dec for you to take me on a guided tour...

[timg]

so I'v really scrubbed in the EO9's now. And great tyres they are too - seal or gravel, I'm very impressed with them.

Now you know why I'm so rapt with the TKC80's on my bike A good allround choice. Just don't push too hard on wet seal.

[far queue]

You would have had more fun if you'd come down the Tahakopa Valley with us - and we could have fed you to the hillbillies

But, but, but, we got to the site and after I'd set up camp, I went and paid my fee and had a look around. When I came back you'd all buggered off I didn't know you lot weren't staying the night, and didn't know you were heading out for another ride

Got home tonight with the trip meter showing 1,552km's. A good two thirds of that was on gravel so I'v really scrubbed in the EO9's now. And great tyres they are too - seal or gravel, I'm very impressed with them.
The trip sort of went like this:
Met shreck lone rider (Keith on his tractor)) & far queue (Owen on his fuel tanker) at Fairlie on Fri morning. ChCh must be in a different time zone because they were very late. On to the Haldon Rd from Dog Kennel corner & into BlackForest Station. Paid our "gate fee's" & hit the track... etc, etc

What he said, but I came straight home on Sunday for a round trip of 1272km. Here's some more pics ...

1. Shrek on Black Forest Rd
2. XF650 on Black Forest Rd
3. My bike on Black Forest Rd
4. Ruralman arriving at the punt
5. Hayden, ?, Delphinus, Ruralman, Cold Comfort, XF650 assembling the group back together on the way to Owaka for lunch.

There'll be more on the PP thread in meetings and events shortly, I'm just off to do that one now ...

[_Shrek_]

The Rally itself was great, even if it was really just the excuse for the ride. There will be Rally pics & stuff over in the "Meetings & Events" forum.

I put mine in there forgot about this thread