Greta Valley Rally (4-5 April 2009)

**Kemet** · 23rd March 2009, 20:16

So who here is going??

Beginning to wonder if I'll be the only one from Dunedin going there instead of Off the Rails....

The reason I'd rather go to Canterbury being have been through Middlemarch enough this season and I haven't been north of Christchurch in a bloody long time. Sometime back in high actually ---> 10+ years ago...

Yikes!!

Taking Friday off work to go up and Monday off as well so that I can just cruise back! Planning to spend Sunday night in Tekapo and hopefully get some awesome night shots of the lake and night sky up there. Make the most of the opportunity of being somewhere with so little light pollution at night.

**Kemet** · 23rd March 2009, 20:37

PS

Will also be my first time at this particular rally...

**98tls** · 23rd March 2009, 20:41

Not a bad rally,problem is before i get anywhere near Ch-CH ive had enough of straight roads and hang a left and end up in Greymouth.

**R1madness** · 23rd March 2009, 20:48

hope get there but workin sat and sun so will be last there and first to go

**Kemet** · 23rd March 2009, 21:28

Originally Posted by 98tls

Not a bad rally,problem is before i get anywhere near Ch-CH ive had enough of straight roads and hang a left and end up in Greymouth.

Close your eyes on the straight bits then!!

'sides... there's lots of little back roads. I've not done the ones on the seaward side of SH1 Timaru->Ashvegas so don't know myself but surely they won't all be straight...

Then again google-maps may just be proving me very wrong......

**SDU** · 24th March 2009, 12:02

I'll be working too! Not sure if I'll get out for a ride yet

**Kemet** · 24th March 2009, 19:49

Good luck for that weekend then, SDU. Was VCR when I last saw you.

**KZT** · 24th March 2009, 20:40

Originally Posted by Kemet

Close your eyes on the straight bits then!!

'sides... there's lots of little back roads. I've not done the ones on the seaward side of SH1 Timaru->Ashvegas so don't know myself but surely they won't all be straight...

Then again google-maps may just be proving me very wrong......

You will be lucky to find many decent roads on the Canterbury "Plains"!! I suggest you turn off after St Andrews and head thru the Pareora Gorge to Cave, then Fairlie, then follow S/H 72 to Geraldine, past Mt Somers, the Rakaia Gorge, Glentunnel, Waimakariri Gorge, Oxford, Cust, Rangiora, turn off over the Ashley Bridge, thru Ashley and back onto S/H 1 at Amberley then up to Greta Valley.

That way you miss most of the boring S/H 1 bits and Chch.
There a some great round trips once you get up there, the Leader Road to Waiau, and the inland Kaikoura road are both exceptional!!
On your way back, when you get to Tekapo, take the time to head just south of Tekapo (1-2 kms) then turn right and follow the road up to the Mt John Observatory, a tight little road with some great views!! plus there's a coffee shop up there too!!

**Kemet** · 25th March 2009, 16:36

Originally Posted by Kwaka Zed Thou

...On your way back, when you get to Tekapo, take the time to head just south of Tekapo (1-2 kms) then turn right and follow the road up to the Mt John Observatory, a tight little road with some great views!! plus there's a coffee shop up there too!!

Been up that "little"

road in the cage once.. suprised the tour bus gets up there at night!!

Definitely planning on doing that section of the trip. Bringing my SLR especially for it!! Was hoping (if it doesn't cost too much after the big weekend...) of going up there with the tour that night (which will leave hands free for picture-taking on the ride up). I wonder though... if I do go up on the bike earlier in the day(-ish) if I should take some bacon and eggs with me, that way when I get back down to the bottom I can rest the bike on its side and cook up a snack on the brake disks??

**KZT** · 30th March 2009, 14:51

Originally Posted by Kemet

Been up that "little"

road in the cage once.. suprised the tour bus gets up there at night!!

Definitely planning on doing that section of the trip. Bringing my SLR especially for it!! Was hoping (if it doesn't cost too much after the big weekend...) of going up there with the tour that night (which will leave hands free for picture-taking on the ride up). I wonder though... if I do go up on the bike earlier in the day(-ish) if I should take some bacon and eggs with me, that way when I get back down to the bottom I can rest the bike on its side and cook up a snack on the brake disks??

Or!!

if it's later in the day what about "Pikelets"?? bit of strawberry jam & cream on top , and a coffee!!

**Kemet** · 30th March 2009, 21:42

the bacon and eggs on one wheelthe pikelets on the other, eh?!

**Ruralman** · 31st March 2009, 11:59

Originally Posted by Kemet

the bacon and eggs on one wheelthe pikelets on the other, eh?!

I can almost visualize that - bling

As for the night sky up there - it is very impressive but based on these weather maps, if you can, it might be better to go up there on your way up rather than your way home. Good luck, have a great trip.

http://metvuw.com/forecast/forecast....zsi&noofdays=7

**Wannabike** · 2nd April 2009, 09:05

I've been thinking of heading to the Greta rally but don't know anyone going. I can't leave till Saturday morning got rugby tickets for Friday night.

**3umph** · 2nd April 2009, 09:21

I'm going up on sat sometime as well....

**Kemet** · 5th April 2009, 21:48

I never made it in the end.

An, as yet, undiagnosed electrical problem had me stopped when I had barely got outta town. Had to get towed back.

By the time I got to the bikeshop it came right and started first go and we couldn't find what it was.

Ended up going on the easter egg run then OTR, so weekend bot a total loss.

Will have to wait til next year now.

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