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

[ADVGD]

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.

With this new plan I may leave Karamea on the 22nd, that means if you want to crash here at the holiday batch you are more than welcome, heaps of room and 4 spare beds. Karamea is 91km from Westport, then from Karamea to Waimangaroa (to start the Denniston to New Creek track) it is 77km. We could then catch up with Crim on Sat morning at Waimagaroa for the route mentioned, then catch up with .chris at 1:30 for the St Arnard for the Rainbow/Mailing/Edwards and camp up somewhere. Presumably we'll all be camping up as time will be getting on starting Rainbow at 1:30 then doing Mailing and Edwards Pass.

[NordieBoy]

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.

Mt Pat is just a looooong access road. The Porika is gnarlier, terrain wise.

[Transalper]

Karamea is a fair bit further than Granity after the last day of work but could be done.
Whole trip would be easier for me starting a day later but if the Denniston to New Creek track is being done Saturday then so be it.
I'd maybe go for Crims closer bed to save a bit of time though I know the road to Karamea is great.
Blacktop all the way there on the WR250 leaving home late afternoon, won't that be fun.

[ADVGD]

Karamea is a fair bit further than Granity after the last day of work but could be done.
Whole trip would be easier for me starting a day later but if the Denniston to New Creek track is being done Saturday then so be it.
I'd go for Crims closer bed probably to save a bit of time though I know the road to Karamea is great.
Blacktop all the way there on the WR250 leaving home late afternoon, won't that be fun.

The road into Karamea (Karamea Highway) is a rip snorter of a section of twisty ascending and descending tarmac, bloody good fun and great views! But, if you are leaving Chch late arvo after work and just blasting all the way without stopping it is 5 1/4 hours of solid tarmac to get here and the last hour can be a bit of a killer. Better to do it with more time up your sleeve and enjoy it rather than endure it. All good mate, I'll just meet you and Crim at Waimangaroa in the morning

[Transalper]

If Crim get's stuck with work or I get to finish early I may have a go, I'll work on it. We supposed to finish at mid day then I think it's supposed to be a work BBQ thing but I may try escape that to go

I'd have been in on your jacket too if $$ were available. Next year the child support stops end of winter, should start saving for retirement or something but I know I will just pay a few debts and then start buying more gas.

[Woodman]

Hmmmm. Thinking thinking, may possibly latch on to part of this trip meself.

Padmei, mt Pat is doable on roady tyres and a heavy bike.

[.chris]

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?
.

Yep that is the plan, there will probably be a couple of people just doing the Mt Pat part.

then catch up with .chris at 1:30 for the St Arnard for the Rainbow/Mailing/Edwards and camp up somewhere. Presumably we'll all be camping up as time will be getting on starting Rainbow at 1:30 then doing Mailing and Edwards Pass.

Yep my intention (not sure about the others) will be to camp somewhere along the way, will be prepared for it.

[NordieBoy]

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?

You only came as far as Pelorus in 2008?


Underground and MrsUnderground...


Nerdneh in the distance...

[Underground]

Yeah, Mt Pat.... one of my favourite places to ride, so I'll be there!
I'm tempted with this Denniston ride though, I wonder if I can persuade my pillion out on this one?

[pete-blen]

Mt Pat is just a looooong access road. The Porika is gnarlier, terrain wise.

The last 2/3k is a bit gnarlier... up to there its just a narrow road...

I have done it with 705s on the XT & with the sidecar on the XR.."but I did put the XR & sidecar over a bank"
had to un-bolt the dam thing and bring it up in bits .. reassemble it on the road...

[Transalper]

With this new plan I may leave Karamea on the 22nd, that means if you want to crash here at the holiday batch you are more than welcome...

Righty going to skip the work thing, get away at lunch time and now have a Nordie type special windscreen made from the side of a 20L bucket that was free (just add tape or velcro) so I'll go all the way to Karamea.
Really looking forward to this now.

[pete-blen]

MT Pat...
wonder if Kiwi & Barletts roads have re-opened from the logging...
been a year since I last had a look up there...

[ADVGD]

Righty going to skip the work thing, get away at lunch time and now have a Nordie type special windscreen made from the side of a 20L bucket that was free (just add tape or velcro) so I'll go all the way to Karamea.
Really looking forward to this now.

All good mate, there will be three of us meeting Crim and heading over Denniston to the Rainbow meeting point

[.chris]

I have talked to the Rainbow access road people and I need to call closer to the time but they are happy with us going through on the 22nd.
Will just need to pickup the key from the homestead.

[Crim]

Josh, Carl et al - do we have a back up plan if Denniston through is no go

WESTPORT
Tuesday 18 Dec, Rain, 20°C High, 13°C Overnight, Rain. Northerlies.
Wednesday,19 Dec, Rain, 20°C High, 12°C Overnight, Rain with northwesterlies.
Thursday, 20 Dec, Showers, 20°C High, 11°C Overnight, Showers with westerlies.
Friday, 21 Dec, Showers, 20°C High, 10°C Overnight, Showers with northwesterlies.
Saturday, 22 Dec, Showers, 20°C High, 12°C Overnight, Showers with northwesterlies.

seems like a bit of water might be around