Maitai Rally Adventure Ride 3-5/11/06

[far queue]

Not at this stage. There is a Triumph RAT ride on Sunday, the first since I've had the Triumph back and been in town. But keen to come out and meet you at Murchison on Friday, and probably ride the Maungatapu on Sat.

Excellent, a guide. We won't be getting along too fast, and want to stop for photos of the good bits. I hope that suits.

[far queue]

Change of plan. I rang the Rainbow Station manager to confirm access for the ride home on Sunday to be told the road is closed due to a slip. I explained we were on bikes and asked if there was a way through, his words were “there’s half a mountain on the road, and it’s a shear drop to the river which is running high, so you wont get through” – so that’s that idea rooted then. I’m now looking coming home via the Molesworth. I understand that this is normally closed until December, but I’m hoping that a kindly station manager will let us through. The station manager is out at the moment, so I’ll try again tonight.

So, in the event that we can’t do the Molesworth either, I’m looking for ideas on other routes home that avoid the seal where possible. As I far as I know the Rainbow and the Molesworth are it. There look to be a few options between Wakefield and St Arnaud and in the area between St Arnaud and Burnbrae.

Hmm, wonder if Matakitaki Station can be approached to access a through route from Burnbrae to Tutaki??

You don't have a contact number for the station that you could PM to me do you? I'll give them a call if the Molesworth plan falls through.

[miSTa]

That's a bugger, I'm sure you'll find another way. Shame I'm not coming with you though.

[far queue]

Christ, they’re falling like flies.

Just me doing this ride now. My mate on the KLR650 has had to pull out due to last minute bike problems, it’s off the road waiting for parts to come from Japan. So, in view of this, I’ve decided that it’s probably not wise to go too remote by myself. Plus the fact that the Rainbow is now closed, and still not being able to contact the Molesworth Manager – I’ve spoken to his wife, but need to speak to him for permission. Therefore the ride home will be probably be a repeat of the ride up. The ride up remains unchanged, and the Sat day ride remains unchanged.

[warewolf]

My mate on the KLR650 has had to pull out due to last minute bike problems, it’s off the road waiting for parts to come from Japan.

Bugger!

That old thing? So much for parts availability being an advantage for Jappers over European bikes...

[warewolf]

OK have checked out the last couple of leads. Lud Valley is no go, ends at a locked gate in a farm house yard. Teal Valley ends at an unlocked gate but I didn't go through, was a long way up a private road at the time.

However, I did manage to speak to forest management. The forest stays closed on weekends due to thefts and vandalism. Permit for through trip on the public easement is a possibility, but not in time for this weekend. He said, send us dates, we'll pass on to Carter Holt Harvey for approval. There may be a permit fee and will be a key deposit; key to be collected from the office (below). Weekends only.

Contact details for permit application for Hira forest gates:

Jim Hamilton (or Trish Cook on front desk)
Action Forest Management
66 Oxford Street
Richmond, Nelson
Tel: 03 544 8541

[cooneyr]

Bugger - this trip is hitting a few snags! Hope you manage to find a interesting route for the Sat and for the trip home. I'm still planning on taking the bike up to NN over Xmas/new years. I know that your keen to explore round the area FQ, are others i.e. Warewolf interested in joining up for a couple of days?

Cheers
R

[warewolf]

are others i.e. Warewolf interested in joining up for a couple of days?

Yep. I've got a spare room & garage space if required. I'll be around for the bulk of the time but will have to co-ordinate activities with my missus before I commit to any dates.

Looking at the topomap the other night, there's quite a few gravel roads that need investigating in the area S-SW of Nelson.

[cooneyr]

Yep. I've got a spare room & garage space if required. I'll be around for the bulk of the time but will have to co-ordinate activities with my missus before I commit to any dates.

Looking at the topomap the other night, there's quite a few gravel roads that need investigating in the area S-SW of Nelson.

My in-laws are in NN and wifey and I plan on spending the Hols up there so dont need room etc but thanks for the offer. I'm keen to check the place out some more over the holds so will be in touch.

Cheers
R

[far queue]

I know that your keen to explore round the area FQ

Yep, that's on the wish list for Xmas, just gotta see how things pan out.

Yep. I've got a spare room & garage space if required. I'll be around for the bulk of the time but will have to co-ordinate activities with my missus before I commit to any dates.

Looking at the topomap the other night, there's quite a few gravel roads that need investigating in the area S-SW of Nelson.

I've done no exploring up that way, so happy to go wherever you guys suggest. I'll probably have another go at the Rainbow then too.

[PLUG]

... have a safe & enjoyable weekend guys ...

[far queue]

... have a safe & enjoyable weekend guys ...

Cheers, I intend to

[far queue]

OK, settle in, here's the report ...

Got away from home at 12.10, had a good ride over Lewis Pass to Springs Junction, then 35km after Springs took a left to go through the Maruia Saddle to Murchison – the sign at the beginning warning of narrow, winding, rough surfaces with stream crossings sounded promising. And indeed, what a great diversion it was, 32km of native bush, water falls, and great scenery.

At Murchison, I met up and had a coffee with Warewolf. Then it was off the main road again at Longford, just 5km out of Murchison, into Mangles Valley and on to Rotoroa, then the Porika Pylon track, which was steep, good fun and had great views – though it would have been better without all the gear I was carrying - an incentive to get back here sometime with a bit more time to explore. Came across a couple of baby pigs on a track, a black one and a tan and black one – flat out they were going in front of me, they kept looking back, but that bloody motorbike was still there, they must have been rooted by the time I got past them. Took Howards Valley Rd back out onto SHY63, then, as time was getting on it was back onto SHY6 and straight to Nelson and the rally.

I arrived at the rally in the dark at around 9pm where it proved near impossible to find the guys I was to meet up with. Tents and bikes everywhere amongst the trees, and no mobile coverage, so I couldn’t ring for a fix. Eventually found one of them, who pointed me in the right direction, but it turned out he was pissed and had actually pointed me in the wrong direction – anyway, found them in the end and got the house built.

Met, this pommie chick later the evening ... from Dunedin ... had ridden up on a triumph ... couldn’t shut her up ... this could only be ... “you wouldn’t be Woodybee would you”, yep sure enough it was, so I asked her about the chicken strips. Well, Ruralman, she’s hunting for you when she gets back. Good to meet you Woodybee. Had a great night, lots of people and bikes there for a Friday.

Pics …
1, 2, 3 – Maruia Saddle
4, 5, 6 – Porika Track

[far queue]

Saturday 04/11/06

The day started for me at 8.30, but I really wish it hadn’t. Not feeling the best after the previous nights festivities. Eventually dragged my sorry arse away from the site at 11.00, but really wasn’t feeling up to being tossed about up a pylon track so went to Richmond for a look around, then popped into Stoke to meet Kro and see the DR250 he’s been restoring ... a mighty fine job it is too, and a nice chap he is. Then headed round to Warewolfs for a coffee and check out his garage. Then finally, feeling much better by now, it was off to the Maungatapu at around 3pm and saw more great scenery – you Nelson guys have got some great adventure riding in your backyard, it makes me eager to get back there for more exploring. The Maungatapu was a mixture of gravel road and steep rocky 4wd pylon track, nothing too difficult though, unless you want to explore some of he more obscure bits. Stopped in at Pelorus for a coffee and a venison pie, and provided the sandflies with a feed while I was there, then it was a return over the Maungatapu to the rally site for the evenings festivities. The return trip was made a bit more tricky by heading into the setting sun ... visor down and you cant see for the glare on it, visor up and get bombarded by insects.

Back at the rally site, I found the KB encampment and met up with the usual suspects and managed to put some new faces to names – good to meet you MYGSXF, coolcrazyq, and chickincharge. Another late one, but stone cold sober this time, all set to be bright eyed and bushy tailed for the ride home in the morning.

Pics …
1. My Camp site at the rally
2. On the Maungatapu
3. One of the advantages of having a guide to go 1st
4, 5, 6 – more views from the Maungatapu

[far queue]

Sunday 05/11/06

Up at 0730, had breaky, final farewells with a few people, packed and on the road at 9.10am. Turned off the main road at Wakefield onto Eighty Eight Valley Rd to Hiwipango, and on to Golden Downs – along the way saw a sign to Motueka Gorge so took a diversion to have a look see, but nothing of note there – oh well, if you don’t look you never know. Continued on to St Arnaud and Lake Rotoiti thinking that it would be reasonably touristy, but no, not the case. Nothing of note here either, other than a nice lake, and no fuel available – the only petrol station was closed, so this would have upset my plans had I been continuing on through the Rainbow as originally planned. On to Murchison via the main road for lunch - a bus load of Germans turned up so I was careful not to mention the war. The Muruia Saddle was so good on day one I decided to enjoy it again from the opposite direction. I could see the low cloud shrouding the hills in the distance, then it was back onto the main road again and sure enough struck rain and lower temperatures about 25km before Springs Junction, so pulled up under a tree at Maruia to put the wets and a fleece on. The rain continued until about 40km past Springs Junction. Back into Canterbury and the rising temperature saw me getting bloody hot under layers of fleece and wet weather gear.

So, overall ...
Pros ...
Rode some great backcountry roads, saw some great scenery, met some more great people.
Nice to meet Warewolf, Kro, Woodybee, MYGSXF, coolcrazyq, and chickincharge, and catch up again with Dangerous and Rashika, and my mates from the coast.
Great rally site
Friday night

Cons …
The others that were coming couldn’t make it due to unfortunate circumstances.
Saturday Morning
The Rainbow Rd closure

A special thanks to Warewolf for the time you into put into scouting out the tracks and the time you gave up to guide a stranger around your backyard – thanks mate.

Pics …
1. A small portion of the rally site on Sun morning
2. Eighty Eight Valley Road
3. Motueka Gorge
4. Lake Rotoiti
5 & 6. Maruia Saddle