Waitangi Day wanderings... (6 February)

[PLUG]

FINE WEATHER ONLY ... will post ya or na Monday nite

Have got land owners permission ($10 per bike) to link through from the upper reachers on the Rakaia river, into lake Heron. In behing the Mt Hutt range. This opens out into an alpine platue that encompasses lake Clearwater & goes as far down to the north bank of the Rangitata river. This is all Lord of the Rings country, vast & majestic.

Who's up for it ???

The plan is to LEAVE from the Yaldhurst gas station 8am & spend the whole day making dust in there & come out through Mt Somers village.

Those with thirsty bikes or small tanks will probably need fuel to make the most of the day.

[Transalper]

Who's up for it ???

Yep, i'm in .

[far queue]

Those with thirsty bikes or small tanks will probably need fuel to make the most of the day.

What sort of distance are you talking from Petrol Station do the ride and back to Petrol Station? Non committal at this point, just checking on the requirements in case I can make it, but don't hold your breath.

[PLUG]

What sort of distance are you talking from Petrol Station do the ride and back to Petrol Station?

The only petrol for sure is Yaldhurst on the way out & Rakaia on the way back. In between could be up to 300+k. There is a gas station at Hororata, but weather it's open, & unsure if there is anything at Mt Somers on the way out.

[cooneyr]

What sort of distance are you talking from Petrol Station do the ride and back to Petrol Station?

Yaldhurst to Rakaia is about 320km and Yaldhurst to Yaldhurst is about 380km. Wouldn't rely on the Hororata station have been caught out there before. I take it your planning to drop down to Rakaia from Mt Somers on the way out rather than back to Yaldhurst? Guess it is long a straight either way round! (now thats sensible - round straights, though technically ......... nah)

Ohh - I'm in.

Cheers R

[RedKLR650]

FINE WEATHER ONLY ... will post ya or na Monday nite
Have got land owners permission ($10 per bike) to link through from the upper reachers on the Rakaia river, into lake Heron. In behing the Mt Hutt range. This opens out into an alpine platue that encompasses lake Clearwater & goes as far down to the north bank of the Rangitata river. This is all Lord of the Rings country, vast & majestic.
Who's up for it ???
The plan is to LEAVE from the Yaldhurst gas station 8am & spend the whole day making dust in there & come out through Mt Somers village.
Those with thirsty bikes or small tanks will probably need fuel to make the most of the day.

Any river crossings ?

I'm in as long as no swimming required

Cheers, Stu

[cooneyr]

Any river crossings ?

I'm in as long as no swimming required

Cheers, Stu

There are no river crossings and I don't think there are even any fords. Not sure about around the north western side of Mt Hutt but at worst would be some creek fords.

Cheers R

[RedKLR650]

There are no river crossings and I don't think there are even any fords. Not sure about around the north western side of Mt Hutt but at worst would be some creek fords.
Cheers R

In that case, I'm there !! In case it's needed, I don't have a problem carrying a bit of extra fuel in case someone runs short or out ( ~5-10 litres ). Mines a 23 litre tank so should be OK personally, but hate to see someone else run out 10km short of a refueling stop....
Cheers, Stu

[PLUG]

In that case, I'm there !!

Presume you are coming form Timaru ... meet you at the corner of Blackford rd & hiway 72 some where around 9am ... that's the turn off into the upper reachers of the southside of the Rakaia river.

[far queue]

Non committal at this point, just checking on the requirements in case I can make it, but don't hold your breath.

OK, I can now confirm that I can't make it. Have fun guys.

[timg]

What sort of distance are you talking from Petrol Station do the ride and back to Petrol Station? Non committal at this point, just checking on the requirements in case I can make it, but don't hold your breath.

Hi, I made a couple of ph calls re fuel stops. Methven Motors/Mobil will be open and so will Mt Somers Store. Comming from CHCH to Rakaia and then to Methven will not be much longer (Methven residents take this route when going to CHCH as it's quicker than going via Darfield) for those with smaller tanks to fill up at Methven before the start and then again at Mt Somers at the end.

I assume you folks will be following the Lake Stream track through from Glenariffe through to the upper Ashburton Gorge so the trip would be suitable for a less experienced riders like me? I've done the trip before in a 4X4 so know what the track is like. Cheers, Tim.

[cooneyr]

Hi, I made a couple of ph calls re fuel stops. Methven Motors/Mobil will be open and so will Mt Somers Store. Comming from CHCH to Rakaia and then to Methven will not be much longer (Methven residents take this route when going to CHCH as it's quicker than going via Darfield) for those with smaller tanks to fill up at Methven before the start and then again at Mt Somers at the end.

I assume you folks will be following the Lake Stream track through from Glenariffe through to the upper Ashburton Gorge so the trip would be suitable for a less experienced riders like me? I've done the trip before in a 4X4 so know what the track is like. Cheers, Tim.

From my measuring going from Yaldhurst, along the Bealy Road through Horarata to the Blackford Road turn off is about 85km where as via Rakia and Methven is about 105kms. If I went into Methven first I would only take about a litre or so as emergency fuel. Given that others (not sure which bike you are bringing TA) will not have an issues with fuel, only me and possibly TA, I'm happy to carry some rather than muck around gowing through Methven - it adds to the adventure

If you are comfortable riding the Lake Stream track timg, then you should be fine. The rest of it is wide gravel roads with maybe a little play somewhere along the way. Suggest we (chch guys) meet you and RedKLR650 at the intersection of SH 72 and Blackford Road around 9 as Plug said.

Cheers R

[Transalper]

I have two non KBers interested both using TTR250's.
Either J will come along on the DR650 with me on the Transalp or I might be on the DR650... so R, how much fuel do i want to pack for the DR?

[Transalper]

Or should i just ask... how much fuel are you packing?

[cooneyr]

I have two non KBers interested both using TTR250's.
Either J will come along on the DR650 with me on the Transalp or I might be on the DR650... so R, how much fuel do i want to pack for the DR?

Or should i just ask... how much fuel are you packing?

Opps didnt see the edit there. My reconing is need min of 320km but if Mt Somers gas station is open then need about 280kms. I recon that need about extra 6 litres for trip to Rakaia. I think I'll take my 5 litre with the 1.5 in the tail bag (coke bottle). The 5 litre should just about fit in at the start of the Blackford road so not too heavy through the gravel sections.

Cheers R