Adv Ride: Molesworth (North to South) & Altimarloch - 22 Dec 2012

[ADVGD]

My Trip planning is coming along nicely

Crazyfrog, ADVGD, Transalper and Crim(pending permission from the BOSS, try tell her a poor unfortunate norf islander needs help finding his way around)
Are you guys still keen? No problem to keep it casual, but it would be great to have some company.

Good to hear the planning is going well, I am still all go to join you and looking forward to it, I love that area, a good way to kick of the first official day of my break.

I am also winning the battle regarding access info, currently playing phone tag with two land owners:

1) for the New Creek to Denniston track. Access is looking promising, I will update once I pin down and can confirm with the new land owner
2) an extended route that includes the Macaulay Hut avoiding the typical in/out same way deal.

The dates are not set and can be fluid, I have a few days of work in-between then but will then have two weeks up my sleeve, a week either side of the DB1K. I'll also be heading down Mavora way, I may aim to do the #2 route above and use Macaulay hut as a base the night before the meet'n'greet of the DB1K, unsure right at this point as I haven't finalised my route. This may work in with you, socialites, Clint640, or whoever else. I will post info as it comes to hand

Cheers

Josh

[clint640]

Good stuff, will be keen to see what you come up with. We will definitely have the Thurs & Fri (& maybe the Wed) before the Dusty free for some exploring & will be set up to camp anywhere. We will be staying at my sister's place near Staveley before that on the way down & were also thinking about a day trip out around Lake Heron / Double Hill plus Mount Olympus area if we can sort out access.

Cheers
Clint

[MXNUT]

Anyone else heading south on the Thursday before the Dusty.

I am crossing over on the evening ferry on Wednesday and staying the night in Blenheim.

Thursday plan is .... Taylors pass Rd - Mt Altimarloch - Molesworth to Hamner - Hamner to Private station into Lees Valley then out to Oxford - then if time allows - Waimakariri river bed and onto Methven for the night.

Keen to join up with any others heading south.


Friday morning meet up with the Mattsdakar Ride at Blackford Road.

[Underground]

My Trip planning is coming along nicely, so it looks like I am still on for hitting the mainland on the 19/20th Dec which leaves me very keen to do Mt Patriarch then down the Rainbow (Mailing/Edwards on the way) on the 22nd.

I think I shall leave Altimarlock for the trip back north after the db1k.

Crazyfrog, ADVGD, Transalper and Crim(pending permission from the BOSS, try tell her a poor unfortunate norf islander needs help finding his way around)
Are you guys still keen? No problem to keep it casual, but it would be great to have some company.

I just looked at my calendar and would you believe it , I dont seem to have anything penned in for those days! I'll be keen on Mt Pat for sure.

[.chris]

I just looked at my calendar and would you believe it , I dont seem to have anything penned in for those days! I'll be keen on Mt Pat for sure.

Great to hear, will be good to catch up again.

[ADVGD]

My Trip planning is coming along nicely, so it looks like I am still on for hitting the mainland on the 19/20th Dec which leaves me very keen to do Mt Patriarch then down the Rainbow (Mailing/Edwards on the way) on the 22nd.

I think I shall leave Altimarlock for the trip back north after the db1k.

Crazyfrog, ADVGD, Transalper and Crim(pending permission from the BOSS, try tell her a poor unfortunate norf islander needs help finding his way around)
Are you guys still keen? No problem to keep it casual, but it would be great to have some company.

Times'a ticking on, should we lock in some dates and times to see if they all click together? A few questions to clarify and confirm your plan...

Is the plan still to do Mt Patriarch, Rainbow Road, Mailing and Edwards pass on the 22nd Dec?
If so, where are you heading from after Edwards Pass? Back out the same way, carrying on down south through Hanmer, camping up?
Have you organized permission for Rainbow road and gate access for Mailing/Edwards? Do you have the info to do this?

At this stage I will be riding/fishing on the 20th, 21st and camping up (maybe Rotoroa or Rotoiti campground), then aim to meet you at St Arnaud servo on the morning of the 22nd (we can arrange a time closer to date). I may join you for Mt Patriarch but I have some water lined up to fish a little more West so probably just join you for the Rainbow, Mailing, Edwards leg. My plan is then to either camp up at the end of Edwards pass or stay in one of the huts or get permission to head up and camp up the Clarence River on the 22nd

So, am I on track? Does that work in with you and your plan for the ride on the 22nd?

Cheers

Josh

[.chris]

Times'a ticking on, should we lock in some dates and times to see if they all click together? A few questions to clarify and confirm your plan...

Is the plan still to do Mt Patriarch, Rainbow Road, Mailing and Edwards pass on the 22nd Dec?
If so, where are you heading from after Edwards Pass? Back out the same way, carrying on down south through Hanmer, camping up?
Have you organized permission for Rainbow road and gate access for Mailing/Edwards? Do you have the info to do this?

At this stage I will be riding/fishing on the 20th, 21st and camping up (maybe Rotoroa or Rotoiti campground), then aim to meet you at St Arnaud servo on the morning of the 22nd (we can arrange a time closer to date). I may join you for Mt Patriarch but I have some water lined up to fish a little more West so probably just join you for the Rainbow, Mailing, Edwards leg. My plan is then to either camp up at the end of Edwards pass or stay in one of the huts or get permission to head up and camp up the Clarence River on the 22nd

So, am I on track? Does that work in with you and your plan for the ride on the 22nd?

Cheers

Josh

I had planned to get more organised sometime this week (thanks for the hurry up).

Yes plan is still Sat 22nd, Mt Patriarch, Rainbow/Mailing/Edwards.
No I have not yet organised permission (wanted to get a better idea of numbers before I did that, but I guess if I let them know it will be a group somewhere between 2-10 it would be ok?)
The info for access appears to be conveniently on your advguides site

A rough plan.....
10am Blenheim - I figure we do a 10am start from Blenheim (give people a chance to arrive) head up Mt Patriarch with a packed lunch to enjoy on the summit, not entirely sure how long this will take would assume 2hr round trip?
Down SH63 to St Anard arrving around 12:30/1pm
1pm - Head into Rainbow Road

As for plans afterwards I did have visions of heading down into CHCH, but I don't need to rush on that. Camping somewhere could be a good option Edwards pass or into the Clarence if time permits.
23rd I would need to make my way to at least CHCH.

[pete-blen]

I had planned to get more organised sometime this week (thanks for the hurry up).

Yes plan is still Sat 22nd, Mt Patriarch, Rainbow/Mailing/Edwards.
No I have not yet organised permission (wanted to get a better idea of numbers before I did that, but I guess if I let them know it will be a group somewhere between 2-10 it would be ok?)
The info for access appears to be conveniently on your advguides site

A rough plan.....
10am Blenheim - I figure we do a 10am start from Blenheim (give people a chance to arrive) head up Mt Patriarch with a packed lunch to enjoy on the summit, not entirely sure how long this will take would assume 2hr round trip?
Down SH63 to St Anard arrving around 12:30/1pm
1pm - Head into Rainbow Road

As for plans afterwards I did have visions of heading down into CHCH, but I don't need to rush on that. Camping somewhere could be a good option Edwards pass or into the Clarence if time permits.
23rd I would need to make my way to at least CHCH.

2 hours Blenheim / Patriarch Summit / back to Renwick for fuel will be pushing it.. I would say 3 hours ...
I will be driving up to Blen on the night of the 21st.. if the XR goes after a 3 month rest.. I will join yer for Mt Pat on the 22nd...
would come the whole way but the reg or WOF are out at the moment...

[.chris]

OK, 3hrs for Mt Patriarch, lets kick of at 9AM from Renwick Gas Petrol station instead of Blenhiem.

My plan is looking like I will probably be staying at Perlous campsite on the friday night so only a quick trip down to Renwick for me.

[Crim]

Hi Chris, A couple of us from ChCh are thinking of coming up and joining in the fun, probably just come up in the morning and meet you on the Rainbow - but Josh a question for you; I have free accomodation in Westport - would New Creek / Denniston, Braeburn, Porika and still be in time to meet at St Arnaud at high noon be doable?

[.chris]

Hi Chris, A couple of us from ChCh are thinking of coming up and joining in the fun, probably just come up in the morning and meet you on the Rainbow - but Josh a question for you; I have free accomodation in Westport - would New Creek / Denniston, Braeburn, Porika and still be in time to meet at St Arnaud at high noon be doable?

Will be aiming for a more like 1/1:30pm start on the rainbow. Assuming it will take us 3hrs to do mt patriarch then 1hr to get down to St Arnard.

[ADVGD]

Hi Chris, A couple of us from ChCh are thinking of coming up and joining in the fun, probably just come up in the morning and meet you on the Rainbow - but Josh a question for you; I have free accomodation in Westport - would New Creek / Denniston, Braeburn, Porika and still be in time to meet at St Arnaud at high noon be doable?

Hey mate, not sure how I missed this.... yep, doable, but pretty much anything is doable if you get up and start riding at 1am Let me know if you are locking this in, I may join you depending on where I will be.

Rough times (generous):
Westport to Waimangaroa : 15mins
Waimangaroa to Denniston : 15mins
Denniston to New Creek : 2 hours
Iron Bridge to Mangles Valley Road: 45 mins
Mangles Valley Road/Breaburn Road to Porika : 40 mins
Porika to SH63: 40 mins
SH63 to start of Rainbow : 15 mins

Roughly a 5 hour route, fairly generous times but not accounting for mechanical issues. I didn't mention rider issues as I know your riding skills are of impeccable competition race standard

If you kicked off at 8am sharp you should breeze in to meet up at 1:30

[Transalper]

Feck.... any spare room for an extra at your 'free' accommodation in Westport Crim? This could be my big Christmas adventure, it's everything I wanted to do plus a couple I've never done.
I'd likely be sitting at home or on the local cycle tracks with no gas after this for the rest of the break but it sounds worth it.

[Padmei]

Just to clarify with all the plans flying around... Chris - The northern assault is to ride from Renwick to Mt Pat & out again back to Renwick then you'll travel down to St Arnaud to catch up with the Western Alliance?
If so I may be interested in a lil tootle with ya for the Mt pat part. Is Mt Pat doable on road tyres Pete? i would be taking Schmidt if I was going. Is it very knarly or just access road stuff?

Be good to catch up with ya Crim but prob wouldn't commit to do a full on trip at this stage as my rib is still giving me gyp.

[Crim]

G'day Fellas,

yes still looking to do this - accom is actually at Kerr's Cnr - 2 ks south of Granity so we wouldn't have to leave until 08:07 - yes room for another - it is work accomodation, still trying to see if I can get up Friday but looking good at this stage, Denniston / New Creek is very weather dependent though (isn't it Josh?) so will have to look at the rainfall in days prior. Would be great to catch up Padmei but if you can't make it - no doubt see you on the Dusty Butt (looks like work may interfere again but I am moving heaven and earth) - would be great to ride with Schmidt again he just adds class to any assemblage!