Queen's Birthday South Island ADV Ride

[NordieBoy]

Stop with the "rapier sharp wit" and start uploading photos / videos

or did your cameras get drowned

Oh all right.

and

Yes

[NordieBoy]

Some tasters...

It was wet and slippery...

Slippery deep mud at Lake Daniels...

Wet at Big River...

Steep and slippery down...

Steep and slippery up...

Papa clay you can't even walk on, type steep and slippery...


In none of these photos was there any rain

[ADVGD]

What a great ride

Was great to catch up with mattsdakar and JATZ again and finally meet NordiBoy and Piglet. As for TrailsRider, a huge thanks for your time showing us around your old stomping ground, we had a great time!! That mission into Big River in the dark to set a meet-up time was well beyond the call of duty, so too was waiting while we swam our bikes across the river and dried them out, you are a good man Paul

Considering the forecast the weather was mint, couldn't have asked for better, thanks mother nature There were a few interesting incidents that certainly made this adventure ride a real adventure

Station Creek is a great track, Slab Hut + detours were certainly challenging in sections, Totara Valley Road is a really nice scenic gravel stretch, the old rail track out of Ross was something different, and as for Mt Greenland, that I feel comfortable saying is a summer only track, the hard packed clay is as slippery as ice, in my boots I could hardly stand up, if I tried to walk I was on my arse. We made it up about half way to the end of the track where we could find traction off to the sides but when this ran out and there was nothing but steep faces of slippery clay rock, if we attempted it to climb them it was either going to be a broken bike or a broken us We will be back in summer to conquer it

Lots of broken things to fix or replace including both a drowned camera and cell phone but minor cons outweighed but the many pros. Here are some pics up till the point I killed my camera, this is day one, Station Creek, just NordieBoy, Matt and me while JATZ and Piglet had some mechanical issues and caught up with us at Big River ...

Images moved here...

[Trials Rider]

Well I enjoyed the ride in the rain and dark to big river, quite a different perspective than day riding, anyway I couldn't miss an appointment

When we finally got back a little late from our Sunday ride Deb was worried about me and a little mad, anyway I explained that it wasnt my fault as we had no cell phone coverage, it is easier to seek forgiveness than permission , I still got beaten up, oh well we had a good day

Lucky we got back as she was about to send a search party to look for us

All in all a good day

[thepom]

ha ha ha your f#%*ing mad..........all of you.......

[tri boy]

I hopethe Naki crew, and Nordie and his mad mates never plan a winter ride together.
Oh the humanity
Seriously, damn fine effort you lot.

[bart]

Good stuff guys. I think that's the river I got stuck in when it wasn't flooded a couple of years ago.

[JATZ]

Good stuff guys. I think that's the river I got stuck in when it wasn't flooded a couple of years ago.

Thats the one it's usually a friendly little stream

[cooneyr]

Bloody good stuff fellas. You've done the SIers proud - ya nutters. Do I count correctly - Matt Dakar drowned his bike 3 times in one weekend? Is that some kind of record?

Just a though for you re getting out of Big River - sticks through the wheels and a person on each end as they do when going up to Cape York. Only about 35-40kg each. Might have been hard work with current and stoney bed but something to consider.



Kinda glad I was stuck at home sanding but then again sounds like it was a bloody good challenge.

Cheers R

[thepom]

hey I like that idea,don,t know if I would be happy being so wet for so long.....

[NordieBoy]

It's only officially drowned if you were riding it at the time.
Like it's not considered falling off if you don't leave your feet.

So that makes it only 2 drownings for Matt.

The sticks would have been useful but there's no straight sticks up there

[Monstaman]

Lots of broken things to fix or replace including both a drowned camera and cell phone .

I have a brand new Phone for sale that will suit you to the ground (and underwater), bought it for Ellen as her old phone shit itself but she does not want it as we won't need two phones so it is brand new in the box unopened and for sale

I have been using them for three years now, Sonim Phone Xp3.2 Quest Pro http://www.sonimtech.com/products/xp3questpro.php

Waterproof, shock and dust proof, LED torch 8 week standby time and super strength in the signal just to name a few great features, an adv riders buddy.

Bro has a waterproof camera as well, worth while as well for our big trip away.

Anyway, if anyone is interested in buying the phone from me we can do a deal.

[Trials Rider]

Yes when it comes to cameras I have two, Canon SX 1 IS, 10 meg, 20 optical zoom, fantastic camera BUT NOT good on the bike so I got a Panasonic DMC FT2, drop proof 2 metres, 14 megs, 5 optical zoom, 2.8" LCD screen, easy menu, water proof 10 metres (should do most bike trips), best of all no protruding front lens so nearly bullet proof, it is just the ticket for ADV riding and pretty good photos.

I hardly use my Canon now because the FT2 is so easy and it fits in your pock easy

There is a DMC FT1 but the zoom toggle is a pain to use specially with gloves on, the FT2 is much more user freindly,

Here is a link
http://www.dpreview.com/news/1001/10...panadmcft2.asp

I got mine in KTM orange so if I drop it in the grass or a deep puddle I have half a chance of finding it.

[ADVGD]

Oh all right.

How's that video coming along NordieBoy?

[JATZ]

Couple of little vids from me, no music or fancy schmansy editing, but you get the idea
I hope the quality's o.k.