Some of us took the opportunity to try out some different roads to get there. I arranged to meet with Old Rider and a few of the Canty riders at Dansys Pub for a pie and a pint at lunch time on friday. I left home a little earlier than needed as I wanted to try out a potential shortcut in the Naseby area. As a result I arrived at the pub about 40 minutes early, so I just headed on up to the top of Danseys Pass to wait.
I no sooner got there when it started to rain, and as I waited the rain just got heavier and colder. After 10 minutes or so I figured I'd head back down to lower altitudes where it was a bit warmer. However about 2 kms down from the top the rain stopped so I pulled up and looked back in time to see a headlight appear at the top of the pass. I waited and it wasn't long before Old Rider pulled up alongside. We both carried on to Danseys Pub to wait, and the rest arrived about 10 minutes later.
After a tasy lunch, OldRider left us to go via Hyde while an intrepid group of 5 went via Ranfurly and Paerau to the Old Dunstan Trail. It was raining as we approached the trail and although I have been over here many times in the dry, it was my first time so early in the season, and my first wet crossing on a clay surface. Things did not look good when TMG had a little lay down at the first gate, and he at least had semi dirt tyres. I had the road version of pirelli Scorpions, so I knew straight off that I could be in for a tough ride with not too much grip. As it turned out i needn't have worried, my tyres had absolutely no grip on that surface and were simply sliding all over the place. The others very kindly held back to help pick my bike up, but I just had to disappoint hem and stay upright all the way.
On the downhill section to Rocklands Station we found that the farmer had very considerately stopped any trafic coming towards us by still having the gate locked. It was supposed to have been opened on 1st September, but now we had a problem. It was a long way back and we didn't bring any bolt cutters with us. Fortunately after a bit of looking we found an alternate route which got us back on track. and up to Clarkes junction. (some-one else can tell the story of the magpie)
From there we took the Lee flat road to Mahinerangi and on to Ruralman's.
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Originally Posted by scumdog
but yes it was an awesome ride thanks Jantar. We really enjoyed 'Jantar's Journey's' followed by the hospitality of Ruralman and Princess Fiona. Home via Danseys and Hakataramea Valley was all good going apart from a couple of dopey cage drivers. An awesome weekend in every way. Cheers.
Lets do that again
let the fun begin pack bike 
the Princess gone by 6 down to Ashvagus for breaky, 8:45 meet up with XL650, Timg & Ronnie we're off down to Waimate over Dyers pass onto the hakataramae down to Kurow for fuel "your're Late" is the 1st thing the lady at the caltex said, Oldrider left 10min ago 
Timg's fault
the cages & the dust 
moments as you do from time to time 
the rest at the house in various places a few beers followed after the unpacking then a dinner of roast wild pork, spuds etc 
John.
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