Brass Monkey: she's gunna be a cold one this year!

**awayatc** · 31st May 2009, 18:01

The end off the world is nigh, the sky is falling.........

Bollocks, and my balls are still intact and attached.

Lovely rally, nice and mild day and evening.
Good band, great company, surreal surroundings.
Bit of snow/hail and rain on the way back......but nothing an extra layer of polyprop couldn't handle.

Back again next time?
You bet!

**Gixxer peter** · 31st May 2009, 18:15

Was a little chilly on the way through the pig root, never ridden in a blizzard before.
30th aniversary next year, better go wash the busa.

**_Shrek_** · 31st May 2009, 18:41

what a blast
left home Friday morning & at Mr S's by 8:30 to find GB, doc, goblin & 2 other norfy's dick & yarn, got a tex from awayatc to say him & Rosie would catch us up at Ranfurly as they found another problem with the bike that needed sorting
so sth we headed stoped in at 98tls's for lunch only to find him not there as he was called away to help a mate who had a mishap with his cage so we had lunch at cafe where 98 found us
road to Palmy & the weather was looking like will we make it to Ranfurly, so 98 headed home & we went in land only to find after a few k's had to pull over & get the sun visor's & glasses out & on not a cloud to been seen in front of us
a very nice ride was had through the pig root, got to Ranfurly into the hut gear sorted then off to town, back to hut for an early ish night

woke up to another almost cloudless day & frost it was going to be magic again

got to the site before lunch set up then headed out to ......... can't spell it for lunch then into Alex for fuel x 2 & back to camp

had a few

then dinner by candle light with GB & Mr S

then let the fun begin

was great catchin up every one & meeting some new faces lol. one of the best parts of sat night was the doing the knight thing from the back of the bike & seeing the fear in the others eyes as the lance hit his chest & took them both out both times every thing else that happened .... not telling

no one moved that fast this morning we got a dusting of snow in the night & some while having breaky & talking about the night b4 after that the sun came out
we got a bit of snow through the pig root & a bit of rain nith of ashvagus but other than that dry roads & a great weekend with some very

peeps, lets to it again

for my riding mates cheers guys

**Winston001** · 31st May 2009, 18:53

Another great Brass Monkey experience enjoyed by all who made the pilgrimage. And pilgrimage it is. This rally has waxed and waned over the years with attendance varying from 1500 to 3500 people, but it has never been small or uninteresting.

The site is on a wonderfully exposed Central Otago ridge with views over the Ida Dam to the magnificent Hawkdun Range to north. It's remote, harsh, and spartan - and that is the point. Riding to the Brass isn't something you do for an afternoons ride.

Despite weather forecasts, Saturday was benign and sunny. Indeed the lads I was with had the requisite t-shirts, shorts and jandals. Well, for as long as it took for a quick snapshot.....

Built a shelter, laid in the firewood and we were set.

Later I stumbled (rhetorical) over some near-do-wells clustered around a hammock and favoured them with my company - cos I'm good like that.

The prosaically named Mr Sensible, the mysterious Ghostbullet, the eponomous Shrek, accompanied by the anti-global warmist Salthydog, and the ever urbane Doc with the lovely Goblin. And others whose identities escape me at the moment but great to meet you. Oh and of course, the effervescent Woodybee!

No sign of the Nighthawk or Xaria but I suppose Dunedin is a long way.....

The band IMHO were very talented, playing some skillful guitar sets. It wasn't ACDC or Rolling Stones but personally I like watching a band play well. Perhaps the vocalist could just stick to playing lead tho......

Started to snow about 11pm, just light skiffs which became more determined as the night drew on but that didn't dampen the enthusiasm of various groups clustered around drums. There were quite a few chaps I could hear making no sense at - and very loudly - at 4am.

We woke to a liberal sprinkling of hard snow all over but the drums rekindled readily enough making the struggle into the dawn just a little kinder. Coffee and some more ritual abuse of the KB folk - why do you guys camp so far from everything....?? Then on the road with the snow blowing away and into a nice if cold ride home.

Thanks for your company everyone, this Brass was certainly worth attending.

**98tls** · 31st May 2009, 19:03

Good to catch up with Shrek/ant/GB and co,nice to meet the guys from Auckland,sorry about lunch guys if you had been 1/2 hour later it would have worked out.On my way back from Palmerston there was 3 cops

along the way,all already busy thankfully

Pissed me off having to return home but thats the way it goes eh,next year.

**Rhubarb** · 31st May 2009, 19:16

It was my first Brass Monkey but it certainly won't be my last. We met some great people who proclaimed us to be Monkey Virgins (it's been along time since I've been called that!!)

The ride there on Saturday was excellent. Great roads, sun shining lots of bikes.

I really hope the guy that came off his Harley and required an ambulance is okay.

To all the friendly people I met - thanks for making it a wonderful time.

Even riding home today in the snow, hail and rain didn't matter. It was all part of the great experience.

**droid** · 31st May 2009, 20:07

Also my first monkey. Three of us geoff.c and owen from wellington left Oamaru at 11.45am saturday. Called at Fleurs Place to meet up with some other riders from Oamaru, several were scared by Jim Hickys gloomy forcast turned around at Palmerston. Great ride to the site, flew around the site in the hellicopter there and took some photos.Enjoyed thre food, band and booze. Jumped on the free shuttle and went to the local pub for a drink then back to the site. Meet a few new people and caught up with others. Sky was looking pretty mean this morning so time to move and managed to keep clear of it all.Will be back next year.

**98tls** · 31st May 2009, 20:13

Originally Posted by droid

Also my first monkey. Three of us geoff.c and owen from wellington left Oamaru at 11.45am saturday. Called at Fleurs Place to meet up with some other riders from Oamaru, several were scared by Jim Hickys gloomy forcast turned around at Palmerston. Great ride to the site, flew around the site in the hellicopter there and took some photos.Enjoyed thre food, band and booze. Jumped on the free shuttle and went to the local pub for a drink then back to the site. Meet a few new people and caught up with others. Sky was looking pretty mean this morning so time to move and managed to keep clear of it all.Will be back next year.

Welcome,from Oamaru myself,glad to see another on here.

**awayatc** · 31st May 2009, 20:15

Originally Posted by Winston001

more ritual abuse of the KB folk - why do you guys camp so far from everything....??

To try and keep the riff raff away......

Didn't quite work......
not 100% anyway......
Mind you was good to meet you and the other explorers who ventured off the beaten track into "hammock land"....

It took me 6 layers of merino/polyprop/wool and leather to prevent my sorry balls from freezing off....

Global F**in warming You reckon........?
hate to break it to you but whatever it is that shines out of these doomsdaysayers arses sure as helldidn't feel like sunshine to me....

Go ahead and get yourself some sunscreen,
I myself rather get some more polyprop.......

**dangerous** · 31st May 2009, 20:21

Originally Posted by droid

flew around the site in the hellicopter there and took some photos.

ohhhh, bloody hell the lakes not even frozen...

**droid** · 31st May 2009, 20:36

- the water was cold, check out the snow this morning(hint-look around the base of the tents).

**Ghost_Bullet** · 31st May 2009, 21:21

It was an awesome rally yet again, not much to add to what has been said, I will post some pictures and stuff once I get sorted. Was nothing as cold as the snow of 2004, brisk maybe, the shanks went down well.

Looking forward to the 30th.

**rosie631** · 31st May 2009, 21:24

Originally Posted by Ghost_Bullet

Looking forward to the 30th.

Me too. And I'll be there for the duration this time. Gotta get some decent camping gear sorted before the pissed penguin and then I'm good to go.

**FJRider** · 31st May 2009, 21:25

Originally Posted by droid

- the water was cold, check out the snow this morning(hint-look around the base of the tents).

The view that I had first thing this morning ... and the heat last night ...

My thanks to all those I had the pleasure of being in the company of.

The evidencial photographs will be sent (you know who to) on notification from the bank ... the cheques have cleared ...

I was the last entrant to leave the site (LONG STORY) and the 30 minute ride home to Alex was nice ... a bit on the cool side ... but nice.

**98tls** · 31st May 2009, 21:27

Originally Posted by Ghost_Bullet

It was an awesome rally yet again, not much to add to what has been said, I will post some pictures and stuff once I get sorted. Was nothing as cold as the snow of 2004, brisk maybe, the shanks went down well.

Looking forward to the 30th.

Shanks

Hey GB when you get a minute can you flick me a copy of the pic taken at Palmerston,Ta.Good to see catch up.