North Island invasion of South Island

[Aslan]

sorely tempted - am also planning on going to the Brass Monkey on the bimmer so will have to decide whether i can commit nearer the time - cheers all those hardy Nelson souls (and the mighty marlborough men) Ciao Aslan

[NordieBoy]

With this much advanced planning we could end up with a fair sized army going across for the beach landing!

And there you'd get stuck

[marks]

given the significant cost of the ferry it seems better value to do a 3 day ride if possible.

Personally I would prefer lateish May rather than June

Ideally something like
Thurs night 6.25 ferry to Picton - arrive Picton 9.25 stay at Picton or Waikawa
Fri morning leave 8-8.30 blast down hw 63 to St Arnaud for late morning tea.
Do Da Porika and Braeburn with late lunch at Murchison (2 ish?).
Go down the New Creek to Denniston track and turn back at the river.
Get to Reefton about 6 or so and stay Fri and Sat nights
on Saturday do Big River and Waitahu River
on Sunday head to Picton via interesting routes and Nelson/Mangatapu Track

Would some of you locals comment on timing etc please

If majority wanted either 2 days or Sat Sun Mon then that's cool too

[Aslan]

given the significant cost of the ferry it seems better value to do a 3 day ride if possible.

Personally I would prefer lateish May rather than June

Ideally something like
Thurs night 6.25 ferry to Picton - arrive Picton 9.25 stay at Picton or Waikawa
Fri morning leave 8-8.30 blast down hw 63 to St Arnaud for late morning tea.
Do Da Porika and Braeburn with late lunch at Murchison (2 ish?).
Go down the New Creek to Denniston track and turn back at the river.
Get to Reefton about 6 or so and stay Fri and Sat nights
on Saturday do Big River and Waitahu River
on Sunday head to Picton via interesting routes and Nelson/Mangatapu Track

Would some of you locals comment on timing etc please

If majority wanted either 2 days or Sat Sun Mon then that's cool too

I favour this suggestion of MarkS' - however, may have to decide between this and the Brass Monkey - terrible having to find rides that justify me keeping my bimmer as well as the DR which has become weapon of choice given my confidence level

[Eddieb]

I favour this suggestion of MarkS' - however, may have to decide between this and the Brass Monkey - terrible having to find rides that justify me keeping my bimmer as well as the DR which has become weapon of choice given my confidence level

So trade the 1150 & the DR on the new F800GS.

And then give your mates a ride, hint hint.

[Paladin]

And there you'd get stuck

Knowing me I probably would!

[Aslan]

So trade the 1150 & the DR on the new F800GS.

And then give your mates a ride, hint hint.

good one Eddie - they look tasty - though i sense a tad fragile relative to the DR - thinking of the inevitable drops

[JATZ]

given the significant cost of the ferry it seems better value to do a 3 day ride if possible.

Personally I would prefer lateish May rather than June

Ideally something like
Thurs night 6.25 ferry to Picton - arrive Picton 9.25 stay at Picton or Waikawa
Fri morning leave 8-8.30 blast down hw 63 to St Arnaud for late morning tea.
Do Da Porika and Braeburn with late lunch at Murchison (2 ish?).
Go down the New Creek to Denniston track and turn back at the river.
Get to Reefton about 6 or so and stay Fri and Sat nights
on Saturday do Big River and Waitahu River
on Sunday head to Picton via interesting routes and Nelson/Mangatapu Track

Would some of you locals comment on timing etc please

If majority wanted either 2 days or Sat Sun Mon then that's cool too

Seems like a doable plan, but it would be a late arrival into Reefton, MMMMM the smell of coal fires, and beef burgers @ Wilsons.
How about chucking in a ride down to Kahurangi lighthouse, depending on tides of course, maybe into the Cobb

[Woodman]

i think the bulebridge is cheaper than the interislander,
for 1 bike and 1 passenger..
i could be wrong.....

just booked crossings for a couple weeks away last night and bluebridge is $105 vs $122-$132 one way for bike and rider.

if you guys set a date and time a fair way in advance it would be great for us to organise time and to organise somewhere for you guys to stay. I am happy for a few to stay here too.

[Padmei]

Seems like a doable plan, but it would be a late arrival into Reefton, MMMMM the smell of coal fires, and beef burgers @ Wilsons.
How about chucking in a ride down to Kahurangi lighthouse, depending on tides of course, maybe into the Cobb

Yeah the lighthouse would be good & the Cobb... Heeeeeyy what about WE do their ride instead of them. Or would that be impolite... but it is our island after all...

[Paladin]

Yeah the lighthouse would be good & the Cobb... Heeeeeyy what about WE do their ride instead of them. Or would that be impolite... but it is our island after all...

Or, shock horror, we could all join up and ride TOGETHER!

Heehee!

I think we should!

[Woodman]

How about a couple of day rides outta nelson area?? Our favourites.

[Pampera]

Mark - I too would be a starter, South Island is always my preferred destination for Adventure Rides and another expedition would not be unwelcome. Three days is probably a good idea - otherwise the ferry crossing ends up being too big a portion of the weekend. After work crossing (Thursday) and a night in Picton is probably the best option for ensuring Friday is used best. Avoiding the temptation of being too ambitious with the planned mileage is something to be careful about - leave time for admiring the view, supping coffee and socialising over a meal and a drink at the end of the day!

Michael M

[junkmanjoe]

How about a couple of day rides outta nelson area?? Our favourites.

be carefull paladin,, it could be a DR trap....

[MyGSXF:Me]

if you guys set a date and time a fair way in advance it would be great for us to organise time and to organise somewhere for you guys to stay.

Yep.. advance notice would be good.. so I have time to scrounge a bike...

can put a bod or 3 up here too!!