Central Plateau - 42nd Traverse and Fishers Track - 29/30 November '08

[Re-cycled]

Yes, a great weekend, made perfect as far as I am concerned by the run down the beach as we were getting closer to home Sunday. Thanks Aslan, for pulling this together, and thanks to the rest of the mob for making it such an enjoyable experience. I have a stack of pics but a lot of them would be repetitive so will just test my skills by attempting to load some of the better ones.

Starting with the finish, a couple of shots of 'the beach boys' grinning widely. And my absolute favourite, 'Fishers' cottage' (??). Rough access but looks reasonably comfortable to justify the journey. It is at the end of Fishers Road anyways. While we are on Fisher's the next 2 are Fred and Eddie on the track, and finally the bikes at rest before moving on to do the 42nd.

[Brian d marge]

Lovely pics , its a great day here ,,but boy I wish i were there !

Mind you the sign say 100 kmph on that road , Glad the LTSA , posted a warning sign , I might have not known !!!

Stephen

[Re-cycled]

Ugh, grotty images, I can supply clearer versions on request.

This lot takes up the voyage at Hurihama where we see our leader settling in to the lodgings, and the scene next morning as we prepare to launch. Then the demolition of pies at Raetihi. [At this point I have to acknowledge a gem of wisdom from our initially fierce hostess of the night before, she redeemed herself by informing me that Raetihi's superb wide main street was made that way to allow the bullocky's to turn their wagons - not, as I had long imagined, because of any visions of grandeur on the part of the towns founders.]

Now, where were we ? Oh yes, fast forward now to the entry to the 42nd crossing, and a side step to Aslan at the Ohakune Domain and part of the Troup on the nearby paper road. Here goes nuttin'.

[Re-cycled]

We have here the 'triumphant emergence of the lost boys' after finally negotiating that nasty stream exit; Aslan, Eddie and Fred in turn, and then there they are taking a much needed recovery break.

[Re-cycled]

Here we have Pampa and Aslan somewhere in the Whangaehu Valley, the spectacular cliffs found down that way, and Fred at rest in the metropolis of Mangamahu while Pampa was replacing his gear shift lever [now thats thorough attention to the spares department, n'est ce pas ?]

Any of the participants who would like to have original images or to see additional pics of themselves in action, message me your email address via a personal contact.

Cheers, Brian

[Aslan]

following should be Pampa followed by Recycled early on in the Fishers Track

Next one is an early stop on the Fisher's - hot and bothered

Followed by Eddie and Pampa

[Aslan]

We were really fortunate with the weather - most agreed both the Fishers and the 42nd would not have been fun after a lot of rain.

Jerusalem and the Whanganui National Park including the River Road is a magic place as is the Whangehu Valley

National Park hotel under present management - Matt and Chef (name sorry) looked after us really well. Bed $30 - $35, Roast Dinner $18 and big Kiwi Breakfast $12 - Dinner bed and breakfast all for $60 close to the Traverse and Fishers really great.

Relieved no one was hurt - things can certainly go wrong very quickly.

Great camaraderie from all the guys - a truly fun adventure.

PM me with your email if you'd like pics I have of you. Will attempt to post more tomorrow night.

Cheers Aslan

[Aslan]

We have here the 'triumphant emergence of the lost boys' after finally negotiating that nasty stream exit; Aslan, Eddie and Fred in turn, and then there they are taking a much needed recovery break.

big thanks to Eddie and Fred for coming to my rescue when I could not muster the energy to negotiate the steepest of stream exits.

Prolly as Eddie said at the time I wasn't giving the DR enough 'Welly'. Certainly know with the heat and the weight I was really feeing stuffed when I agreed Fred should ride my DR out for me. Cheeky bugger then tells me it has less puff than his DRZ!

thanks again guys and Recycled for the restorative meusli bar that quickly brought me right! last pic in Recycled's post shows a very drained Aslan stuffing a meusli bar into himself

[Aslan]

NZKTM aka Mark having breasted the log on the Fishers in the morning

Recycled on the Fishers

NZKTM and Pampa discussing the finer points of life at the lunch break

[Aslan]

looking forward to the next ride - cheers Aslan

[GSers]

My 2 cents worth. What a great weekend good weather great group and good tracks. Thanks to Stephen for bringing the group and ride together and for the guys from Te Aroha Mark & Brett with there experience for showing the way especially through the 42nd Traverse. I believe but did'nt see that Brett was the first bike over the tree stump on the Fishers without even stopping to take a look Now that is confidence. I take my hat off to you.
As for the favourite Tracks I found that the 42nd to be my pick of the day. The big 1100 { 240 Kgs ) plus me does not like any wet slippery grass and I am always waiting for the front end to wash out which I must confess that did happen on the Fisher Track sending me for a dishonourable dismount one corner before the tree stump. But hay this was a adventure challange ride right. Back to the 42nd I enjoyed it plenty of grip on the day, wet well that would be a different story.
Alas Father Busajim & Friar Marks I will spill the beans
When we entered the 42nd Brett was leading and Mak was in hot persuit in a cloud of dust. At a fork in the track Brett had to stop in a hurry which will become obvious when Stephen puts up my photos and by the time Brett came through the dust and saw the obstacle had no option but to put his bike down. I would not have called this a drop but a very well executed life preserving maneuver.
Mark I hope the pain is going away and you are on the road to recovery and well done for riding the rest of the track.
The obstacle was a un-signposted closed road with 2 wire ropes across it.
As for easy or a challange depends on what you are riding.
An 1100 GS anything of gravel or tarseal can be considered a challange at one time or another A DZR400 makes it all look easy
I enjoy the challange for now anyway.
Thanks to all who where there. hope to see you out there again soon
Regards GSers AKA boGSer Gerard

[Aslan]

My 2 cents worth. What a great weekend good weather great group and good tracks. Thanks to Stephen for bringing the group and ride together and for the guys from Te Aroha Mark & Brett with there experience for showing the way especially through the 42nd Traverse. I believe but did'nt see that Brett was the first bike over the tree stump on the Fishers without even stopping to take a look Now that is confidence. I take my hat off to you.
As for the favourite Tracks I found that the 42nd to be my pick of the day. The big 1100 { 240 Kgs ) plus me does not like any wet slippery grass and I am always waiting for the front end to wash out which I must confess that did happen on the Fisher Track sending me for a dishonourable dismount one corner before the tree stump. But hay this was a adventure challange ride right. Back to the 42nd I enjoyed it plenty of grip on the day, wet well that would be a different story.
Alas Father Busajim & Friar Marks I will spill the beans
When we entered the 42nd Brett was leading and Mak was in hot persuit in a cloud of dust. At a fork in the track Brett had to stop in a hurry which will become obvious when Stephen puts up my photos and by the time Brett came through the dust and saw the obstacle had no option but to put his bike down. I would not have called this a drop but a very well executed life preserving maneuver.
Mark I hope the pain is going away and you are on the road to recovery and well done for riding the rest of the track.
The obstacle was a un-signposted closed road with 2 wire ropes across it.
As for easy or a challange depends on what you are riding.
An 1100 GS anything of gravel or tarseal can be considered a challange at one time or another A DZR400 makes it all look easy
I enjoy the challange for now anyway.
Thanks to all who where there. hope to see you out there again soon
Regards GSers AKA boGSer Gerard

+1 Gerard!

[Waihou Thumper]

Alas Father Busajim & Friar Marks I will spill the beans
When we entered the 42nd Brett was leading and Mak was in hot persuit in a cloud of dust. At a fork in the track Brett had to stop in a hurry which will become obvious when Stephen puts up my photos and by the time Brett came through the dust and saw the obstacle had no option but to put his bike down. I would not have called this a drop but a very well executed life preserving maneuver.
Mark I hope the pain is going away and you are on the road to recovery and well done for riding the rest of the track.

Regards GSers AKA boGSer Gerard

Thanks mate! Well put, couldn't have said it better myself....
That down did save my hide otherwise I might have been sliced and diced!
The bike sort of made it half and half though, but looks good now, just fixed up and has the battle scars now....
Thanks for a great day out and good team work all round!

[Waihou Thumper]

NZKTM aka Mark having breasted the log on the Fishers in the morning

Recycled on the Fishers

NZKTM and Pampa discussing the finer points of life at the lunch break

Can I get a snap of me there please, the one with me waving so graciously....lol
Thanks

[cave weta]

OK... Ive looked on my big readers digest map of the world and I have followed the 42nd parallel.
where it crosses NZ is nowhere bloody near National Park!

It is close to Murchison and Westport however. Why does everyone call it the 42nd Traverse?

Now Im really confused

Im buying myself a dualsport for christmas and if I head out with you lot do I bring my own maps or rely on yours?????