Lee's Valley in the dark before Dusty Butt

**cooneyr** · 29th December 2008, 10:09

Originally Posted by mattsdakar

You coming for a blast Ryan???
Caltex Russley at 19:30

I'm swanning around in Padmei's part of the country at the moment so I wont be there. Went for a 300kms blat over some hills with some of the NN locals yesterday. We need more hills and forestry in Canterbury

Cheers R

**Alpha Solo** · 29th December 2008, 14:47

I've never timed it myself, but possibly 2.5 hours at night?

I rode it last night in the dark but nanna'd it due to dropping it the day before!

It also depends on the size of the group as I was opening all my own gates etc... and playing around with the mp3 player

Be aware that all the garages in Oxford close at 7pm, so you will have to fill up in Springfield or Rangiora.

Sorry for the late reply on this, too busy riding KTM!!!

**Alpha Solo** · 29th December 2008, 14:57

I've never timed it myself, but possibly 2.5 hours at night?

I rode it last night in the dark but nanna'd it due to dropping it the day before!

It also depends on the size of the group as I was opening all my own gates etc... and playing around with the mp3 player

Be aware that all the garages in Oxford close at 7pm, so you will have to fill up in Springfield or Rangiora.

Sorry for the late reply on this, too busy riding KTM!!!

**Peril** · 29th December 2008, 16:11

Heads up for you guys going up the south side of the Waimak,be aware that the cattle stop thingy at the end of the willows that leads to the intake forest block has been dug up..IE they've taken a digger and dug the dirt out between the steel rails,making getting a bike across,a big Beemer especially,very difficult.I'm assuming it's due to them doing forestry work in that section at the moment.

**Padmei** · 29th December 2008, 17:55

sorry guys I got my back fixed today so will take it easy. I'm heading back up to Nelson on the 1st if anybody wants to come. The family is staying here til the 5th I think so anyone wanting accom over the DB give me a pm.

**Transalper** · 29th December 2008, 22:53

I just got back in to Christchurch from down southish and over westish... skimmed this thread and looked to me like you guys are probably in lees valley right now?
I see the river is up on the river flow site so I am interested to know if you got through or turned around in the middle?
Give us a better idea of how accurate the site is.
Cheers
TA.

**Alpha Solo** · 29th December 2008, 23:14

Hi Carl,

The river was OK today and yesterday, three of us rode through tonight and no issues... didn't seem too deep but the rocks looked bigger!

Good fast ride, the headtorches were ok if you were in front but whenever there was a dust cloud then it was like driving with your high beam on in fog. Be good in technical sections in forests etc.

**_Shrek_** · 29th December 2008, 23:28

Originally Posted by peachvw

Hi Carl,

The river was OK today and yesterday, three of us rode through tonight and no issues... didn't seem too deep but the rocks looked bigger!

Good fast ride, the headtorches were ok if you were in front but whenever there was a dust cloud then it was like driving with your high beam on in fog. Be good in technical sections in forests etc.

I see you got back before me

**Transalper** · 30th December 2008, 08:21

Very good. The site lists the river as about 7cumecs at the moment but does say the figures are not reliable below 60cumec. I was hesitant to go through when it was over 3... until now.
Maybe it's a bit more like pot luck and I shouldn't take so much notice of them when thinking about doing the run. I suppose it is still a good ride when you are forced to turn around at Okuku Fox Creek to backtrack anyway.

**MotoRad-ical** · 30th December 2008, 09:47

Ride was great last night. Good to test out all the gear etc and good to meet Mattsdakar and peachvw.

Opinion on head lamp is....... Good if someone was to ask me weather to put lights on a bike or on ya head I think I do the lights on ya bike first mounted a low as possible to get under the dust. The head lamp was great in slow technical situations like river crossings or meeting Shrek

but as peachvw said if your in the dust its like turning your highbeam on in fog and actually becomes abit dangerous. Light output is about as strong as your DR650 headlight on low beam which is really what you want anyway it just gives you the advantage of being able to put the light where you want it.

River crossing was fine up Lees valley if anything the crossing up the south side of the waimak was consideribly deeper! Good fun though.