Dusty Butt 1,000km adventure ride

[cooneyr]

The Qn Charlotte wont be the fastest but riding from Havelock to the Wairau is on seal and relatively straight so is it really that much better. Since it seems we are not to worried about the in and out routes I'm sure we can find something more interesting to do than the Qn Charlotte drive. Will look into it.

Talking about loosing the plot. This is one thing I like about the route in that the last 300km are all within about 1.25 hrs ride of Nelson (Murch). If people are really struggling then can bail - but I didnt say that What I means is the last 300kms are not traveling through the Molesworth/Rainbow where the is no choice but to finish.

A phone/txt in base is another idea and it is a good one. Only problem I have with it is that if you have an big off and the next person behind you is 30 mins away then your kinda in trouble. We don't need to have official groups just need to know that there is somebody looking out for you along the route. This especially applies to tail end charlie. The phone/txt stops would probably coincide with fuel stops and there is 200ish kms between so lot of ground to cover if you disapear into the bush and nobody sees it. We need to think about this some more.

Anybody arty in this thread. Still looking for something to make into a sticker. I'm a number crunching engineer so if I end up doing it you wont want to put it on your bike

Cheers R

[XP@]

... sounds like it's a chore for you ... not for me though ...

It's just this thing I have about looking where I am going :-)
Not a chore :-)

[RedKLR650]

Right you are with the dates. Lets make it Saturday the 10th unless some "major conflict" with other event as March Hare on the 3/4th.

I've refined Plugs route a little. Doesn't appear to be quite long enough measuring from topomap. Attached is an image of the route and and my calcs of distances (including fuel intervals) and times. I've allowed a 10 min break about every 100km.

All up I recon around 15 hour trip, leave at 6 back at 9 and daylight is roughly 7 to 8 at that time of year so first hour and last hour in dark. About 550km of gravel/dirt in route. Generally interval between fuel about 200km.

Cheers R

I'm a starter as long it's the 10th or 11th..... ( I've put my name on the list ) As for your map, for some reason when viewing, it all shows until the GIF changes to add the route lines then the bottom 1/2 of the map disappears ???

Cheers, Stu

[cooneyr]

I'm a starter as long it's the 10th or 11th..... ( I've put my name on the list ) As for your map, for some reason when viewing, it all shows until the GIF changes to add the route lines then the bottom 1/2 of the map disappears ???

Cheers, Stu

Hi ya Stu. Glad your keen and I really don't see the date changing now. Not sure what is happening with the GIF. Try downloading and viewing with the XP fax and photo viewer (assuming you have XP) or some other software.

All
Following some suggestions I'm currently investigating further refinements to the route that would enable us to remove the Qn Charlott and Port Underwood leg and include more around the Blenhiem and Tapawera/Wakefield areas. Will hopefully get our gravel percentage up. Will post more when more certain of details.

Cheers R

[Balrog]

We're in

MagicFairy and I booked our ferry sailings last night. We're arriving in Picton
about 9pm on the Friday night and we'll head straight over to Nelson.

Looking forward to meeting you all

[Zukin]

We're in

MagicFairy and I booked our ferry sailings last night. We're arriving in Picton
about 9pm on the Friday night and we'll head straight over to Nelson.

Looking forward to meeting you all

Hmmm
I wonder if I will have funds left after our ride??
I should book too

I wont be able to check on this much after the 3rd Feb so keep all the info coming and I will check when I can.

Cheers Scott

[cooneyr]

We are getting pretty close to having a route sorted short of checking access with forestry management in Nelson. Checking access is purely to make sure the roads are not locked and there is not logging in the area that would be an issue. We are planning on staying on haul roads or better i.e. there will be no forestry "trails".

I think a route roll chart is going to be necessary as parts of the route are complicated. I will provide the charts in electronic format once the route has been finalised. You will need to cut and stick the charts into a strip so you can put it into a holders. An example of a roll chart holder is here http://www.heeters.com/enduro.shtml
Roll chart holders can easily be made from the smallest click clack boxes. I'm yet to make one but if anybody has one they could take a pic of and put up it would be appreciated. The chart will be around 70mm wide depending on how you cut it i.e. you need to make sure the holder is wide enough.

The starting place will be the carpark next to the information centre (recently rebuilt) on Trafalgar Street near the Maitai River. The shell garage less than a block away is open 24 hours for the final top up before we start.

I'll put up maps, route roll charts and details later on.

We have 8 people signed on the calender up so far which is awesome.

Cheers R

[magicfairy]

Big thanks for all the organising effort going into this. BusaJim and I are off on Wed for 10 days, to go down the Murray River in a houseboat with a bunch of friends. So we won't be checking KB till the 12th Feb for any updates.
Just to let you know we are still "in"

[Zukin]

Hey

Just put me down for a maybe rider.

I wont have long after our big trip to organise things for another, but I will do my best, as this sounds like me

Is there a way you can load waypoints (using topomap) then I can load them into my gps, that way that roll thing is one less thing to make

Keep me posted.

[warewolf]

Big thanks for all the organising effort going into this. BusaJim and I are off on Wed for 10 days, to go down the Murray River in a houseboat with a bunch of friends. So we won't be checking KB till the 12th Feb for any updates.
Just to let you know we are still "in"

Hope there's enough water, carrying canoes is a b!tch, but carrying a houseboat must be a m*therf*cker!!!

[warewolf]

Roll chart holders can easily be made from the smallest click clack boxes. I'm yet to make one but if anybody has one they could take a pic of and put up it would be appreciated.

They were invented by our very own 4skins, search here (and advrider.com) for his Capital Coast Adventure threads, I think he put details on there.

[far queue]

Roll chart holders can easily be made from the smallest click clack boxes. I'm yet to make one but if anybody has one they could take a pic of and put up it would be appreciated.

Here you go guys.

Looks you'll have a fun weekend ... and sore arses at the end of it I wouldn't mind tagging along, but too far in one day for me. I prefer to take my time, and stop to enjoy the view and take a few pics when I get the urge. Anyway have fun ... I'll revert to lurk mode now.

[Ghost Lemur]

Here you go guys.

Not the best of instructions, doesn't mention tensioning or how the bolts are fixed to the click clack. Saw some good ones on the Canty Rides ride, but didn't take a close enough look at enough to see the different particulars individuals had used.

Me, I want the Dakar system. Button controlled motor rolls on the chart... mmmm Sexy. Excessive, but sexy. I'm sure it wouldn't be too hard to make a smaller version (the Dakar one's are huge) given someone with the right skills.

[cooneyr]

Here you go guys.

Looks you'll have a fun weekend ... and sore arses at the end of it I wouldn't mind tagging along, but too far in one day for me. I prefer to take my time, and stop to enjoy the view and take a few pics when I get the urge. Anyway have fun ... I'll revert to lurk mode now.

No need to lurk FQ. Could tag along and ride as much as you want We are never too far from somewhere with accommodation. Thanks for the link.

I made a holder last night but have not put the little bars across in the top corners so not quite finished. Not overly happy with the mounting location re the nadds but I figure if they get that close to the handle bars then I probably got problems anyway. Doesnt touch the fuel tank (about 10mm gap).

Cheers R

[cooneyr]

Hey

Just put me down for a maybe rider.

I wont have long after our big trip to organise things for another, but I will do my best, as this sounds like me

Is there a way you can load waypoints (using topomap) then I can load them into my gps, that way that roll thing is one less thing to make

Keep me posted.

I know I can create waypoints but you need to let me know some more details of format, reference system etc. I've never done it for real before only mucking round. Also where do you want the waypoints at the same locations as the roll chart instructions i.e. intersections where turning into a new road?

Good luck with the big trip.

Cheers R