Blenheim Adv Rides

**buggsubique** · 25th January 2009, 14:01

Well I thought I might start a thread for ride reports / routes etc for those who may be interested in doing any of them as they pass through going North or South.

Not too many around here that y'all don't know about, but maybe some photos might inspire some to get out there.

Cheers, Buggs.

**buggsubique** · 25th January 2009, 14:50

Well this one is pretty well known from the DB1k. As a 1-dayer the weather was pretty crappy so Zerax and I wizzed up there this arvo for another go at it on a clear day. The weather was perfect, although riding through the Awatere Valley was like sitting behind a jet turbine - very hot and dry.

We didn't really muck around - pretty much 2 hrs return from Blenheim. The track was very dry and fast - still very slippery with peametal and large rocks. Coupled with a 3/4 worn MT21 (really starting to dislike those tyres now) made for some loose slides.

Wind picked up above the snow markers (not a bad thing today!) and was actually quite refreshing at the top. View was bloody brilliant, here's my photos.

Cheers for the ride Z.

**dino3310** · 25th January 2009, 15:04

awesome mate if i was down there i'd be very keen for some rides

**JATZ** · 25th January 2009, 17:53

Originally Posted by buggsubique

Well this one is pretty well known from the DB1k. As a 1-dayer the weather was pretty crappy so Zerax and I wizzed up there this arvo for another go at it on a clear day. The weather was perfect, although riding through the Awatere Valley was like sitting behind a jet turbine - very hot and dry.

We didn't really muck around - pretty much 2 hrs return from Blenheim. The track was very dry and fast - still very slippery with peametal and large rocks. Coupled with a 3/4 worn MT21 (really starting to dislike those tyres now) made for some loose slides.

Wind picked up above the snow markers (not a bad thing today!) and was actually quite refreshing at the top. View was bloody brilliant, here's my photos.

Cheers for the ride Z.

Good idea Buggs, be nice to know if you guys are doing anything that might be worth a ride over for.
I know what you mean about the heat, came down the Wairau today and it sucked, only thing that made it interesting was a bee sting (through my leathers) and a small donation request from a man in a blue car with flashing lights.
Must stay away from that valley, gotta be one of the most boring bits of road in the country

**zeRax** · 25th January 2009, 21:49

was good quick ride and so close to home

, was killer hot, some areas having visor up was terrible, breathing hot air is weak! v nice up top there ;D

cheers cheers

**Underground** · 26th January 2009, 09:31

I still havent got up Altimarloch on a nice day ,just on the DB1K with a screaming gale and zero viz.
Wanted to shoot up there on thurs on our way to Chch but it would have made too long a day through Molesworth 2 up ,but I did look longingly in that direction as we headed down the coast on the black stuff. (it'll keep)
Got to come back through Rainbow on saturday though

**JATZ** · 26th January 2009, 17:13

Originally Posted by Underground

I still havent got up Altimarloch on a nice day ,just on the DB1K with a screaming gale and zero viz.
Wanted to shoot up there on thurs on our way to Chch but it would have made too long a day through Molesworth 2 up ,but I did look longingly in that direction as we headed down the coast on the black stuff. (it'll keep)
Got to come back through Rainbow on saturday though

So it wasn't you I saw heading up the Wairau on sunday afternoon ? faded red jacket/africa twin combo, and you wouldn't have been on the @-twin I went past heading to pelorous either.
Dang those bikes are Common

**Underground** · 27th January 2009, 07:38

Nah Jatz,we came home via wangas sunday arvo, heading over the maunga this morning tho

**buggsubique** · 31st January 2009, 14:00

With all this superb weather it would have been bloody rude not to get out there again this weekend. Zerax and I headed out to Picton, through Waikawa to the hills above Port Underwood heading out to Tory Channel.

We'll look at hosting a KB ride using this route in the near future. It will be more oriented to trail bikes, off rd adv bikes. The big beamers should also be ok but will miss out on having a hell of a good time in the technical and steep stuff

! There is a range of riding available and you can pick and choose most of it.

The gravel and dust was so powdery at times that we both wondered if we has flatted - the tyres were just sluicing around everywhere...

Anyway, t'was about 110 or so kms round trip coming back through Rarangi. Plenty more time could have been spent out towards Tory Channel but we had to get home to the girls...

Here's te pitchers and a vid of Zerax climbing the track in the last photo:

Video sound is crap thanks to CrapTube.

**CrazyFrog** · 31st January 2009, 15:19

Good on ya boys, ya pics have got me fizzin' at the bung. Gotta get over your way soon, I've got 2 weeks leave starting next weekend, so am gonna have to do a reccy
Shi-yite it's hot over here today, hangin for a bit of rain really. Think I'll get out tomorrow and do some river crossings, mmmm, water.

**Woodman** · 31st January 2009, 18:55

Yea. Theres a good days hooning up there

**Padmei** · 1st February 2009, 19:38

Bubbsique you bastard. I have spent the last 2 weekends over there at Trevalli Bay (by Opua rd, Hakana) & heard yous going up.
I also took the vid camera & put together a little doco (lots of yakking not much riding

) for a ride report.

When I got back to the bach I told my wife I'll try to organise a KB ride over here. Talk about like minds

I'd love to get down to Whataroa on the sthn end of the Arm however will have to get permisson from owners. I have a cussy that is a forestry manager for that area so I'll hit him up.

I went across toawrds the Tory channel end but ended at a locked gate on Jacks Rd? Would be cool to get to the end.
The next time I went up from the Tounge & chose the middle road at the skidder site cos the steep one looked a bit steep for me on my own. I ended up at te repeater station & then carried on down & arround towards the next repeater station.

WHy don't we get a few riders together & have some fun. The only thing Id be cautious of at the mo is the fire danger so maybe in March if it cools off? waddayathink.

**buggsubique** · 1st February 2009, 19:48

Mate, chuck that video up so we can have a squizz! Wasn't sure if you'd be around there, half wondered if we'd bump into you. Contacts are good to have, so yeah we'll have a sniff around and see if we can get a wee route planned. Even April will still be hot enuff me thinks.

Keep in touch for when you're in this neck of the woods. Zerax and I are always up for riding with other like minded fellas.