Wellington Rideouts - Where next?

**bart** · 5th June 2009, 20:36

Originally Posted by junkmanjoe

what the fuck u doing in a aeroplane....

Work meeting in Christchurch.

**junkmanjoe** · 5th June 2009, 20:44

did your plane fall in the ocean or sumthing silly like that

**jezzaNZ** · 5th June 2009, 23:35

Ummmmmmmmm........

**jezzaNZ** · 5th June 2009, 23:38

yeah i'll be there.........10 sharpish.....

**jezzaNZ** · 6th June 2009, 07:54

Sorry guys not enough quality sleep last night so I will have to bail.....might do something tomorrow......enjoy the ride. Jez

**Paladin** · 6th June 2009, 08:25

Well I'm still going!

**junkmanjoe** · 6th June 2009, 08:26

not sure if ill make it dave.

if im there im there.

if not i couldnt afford gas...........

but your wellcome to call here later if you like.

**Paladin** · 6th June 2009, 09:11

Originally Posted by junkmanjoe

not sure if ill make it dave.

if im there im there.

if not i couldnt afford gas...........

but your wellcome to call here later if you like.

OK mate!

Maybe sees ya later on. If I end up out on my own, will definitely call in after doin a loop somewhere!

**Quasi** · 6th June 2009, 16:08

Originally Posted by junkmanjoe

ok i guess i c u at hooters then

an i will bring my camera...... zoooommm innn nice...

Hahaha - Hooters Cafe - ya bunch of old letches

Were you the group I saw sitting outside there about 1pm? Someone is gonna have to tell that poor wee lass her hanging cleavage getting you guys all hot and bothered

Was a great day for a ride tho.

**junkmanjoe** · 6th June 2009, 16:24

did dave leave a drool puddle on the footpath...
most times hes triping over his tongue just trying to get in the door......

**Pampera** · 6th June 2009, 17:13

Met up with Dave, and then Ben, at Caltex pretty much dead on ten. I am afflicted with the same head cold as Dave and Mark. Mine has just moved on from the "warm liquid gooey phase". Taking this into account I took the R100RS rather than an "adventure" bike, to keep as warm as possible.

What a cracker day, cold but still and sunny. After a spin across the Hill road we had an enjoyable brunch outside in the sun at Toppy's, complete with attention from the regular serving staff, before parting company at about midday. The adventurous ones heading for Sutherland's Hut and me for Wellington. The Southerly has only just arrived here and so far no action apart from some clouds and bit of a breeze.

We will wait for Dave to report in...........

Michael

**Paladin** · 6th June 2009, 19:29

Great to see you Michael - that Beemer is sure in mint condition!

After a casual pitstop at Cleavage Central, Ben & I headed for Sutherland's Hut for Ben's first visit there and his first proper offroad adv ride on his new Dakar!

On the way in the grader had stripped the gravel bare so we zooooooomed up that bit. When we got to the start of the track proper the cold southerly could already be felt - figured by the time we got out it was gonna be

(and it was LOL!).

The puddles were deep, that yellow clay shit was slippery as snot and three of the five river crossings were DEEP with all the wet weather having cut the rivers into a deep V shape and big boulders all over the shop! One of the crossings we had to venture 10 yards up stream for a new crossing and then edge the bikes thru a boulder bank back to the main track! The track in general is getting pretty rugged now - sure different to goin in there in summer!

One exit we both got some nice front wheel pop up as the exit had gotten quite a bit steeper than usual! Good fun tho!

Made it to the Hut with no major offs altho Ben had a little sly slide off on the wet grass behind my back!

Saw a bloke & his dog and a gun headed up Cnut Hill on a quad - wished him luck and NO I wasn't tempted at all! By the time we hit the Hut we were pretty hot & sweaty - it was hard work in there today!

On the return things got a little more interesting! I made the fateful mistake of saying:
"No major offs so far!"

First we saw some trampers by one crossing and then I proceeded to get my back wheel sliding on the far bank exit and dropped the DR in the drink in front of them all!

Then we came to that crossing where we had to go further upstream thru the boulder bank. For some reason it seemed trickier on the return = DR in drink a second time!

Even so the river crossings WERE fun and certainly gave a sense of achievement! And that was my undoing - thought we were done with the hard bit - err no we weren't! On the climb up through the clay sections got the DR up on a narrow wet section a tyre width wide and , err, you guessed it, DR slid off and I dropped it for a 3rd time.....grrrr!

Result - another bent riser bolt, the RHS this time(!), or maybe its the bars! Not major tho!

Ben did great, no major offs or even drops like I had! Once out we felt the full force of the southerly, few drops of rain as we headed to Martinborough for a refuel at Toppys(of course!). The grader had re-gravelled the road out so that was a bit more fun - few slidey moments!

We both had freezin cold wet feet and it pissed down on the Takas too but was a good day and great fun!

**junkmanjoe** · 6th June 2009, 19:33

at least you got home ok mate.

yes it can get messy in there in winter time.

any new dents, did ya get wet balls.....

**Paladin** · 6th June 2009, 19:37

Originally Posted by junkmanjoe

at least you got home ok mate.

yes it can get messy in there in winter time.

any new dents, did ya get wet balls.....

STILL no dents in the tank even tho one drop in the river was straight onto boulders!

One shredded Short Way Round sticker on the RHS and one bent Riser Bolt(I hope its that & not the bars!)

Oh i nearly forgot..... my front brake lever now has a nice curly shape to the end of it - weird it just bent round but didn't snap - Bart is defo right about those Acerbis handgurads - bloody useless when you really need em - they just spin round & your levers take a big hit!!!!