Tuesday 29th May

What a ride. Fatman. Geez, Tinkerbell, Silverfox and Rubberjaws met at Dot Com. Steve the accountant showed up also. We headed up Whitewash Head Rd (steep at the top) and then into Nicholson Park. Never ridden this up before and it is steeper than I thought. Never seemed that steep when coming down. We chased a van down to Taylors and then up the Single track of the tail and the Anaconda. Excellent ride by all going up. Headed round the single track under the road. Bombed it well. Stopped and chatted at the end and then reversed it all the way back. Blasted down the Anaconda cos we knew where it was slick then onto the tail. This is where Tinkerbell left the track under mysterious circumstances. I was following and he just disappeared off the edge. Lucky not to go all the way down. He was ok, a gark below his knee that swelled to the size of a third kneecap. washed it at Taylors then up over Scarborough and back to the cars. Good ride, 3 steady climbs.

Sunday 24th May

Mellonfarmer, Geez, Tinkerbell met at Rubberjaws. We headed off round the back of the industrial area of the Heathcote, across the river and along the souternbank back to Radley St. We crossed the bridge and then turned back along the river and headed to the tunnel road. We went round the back of the Heathcote and came out behind Ferrymead Park, along the rail track to the entrance and back behind the Ferrymead industrial area. shot down Charlesworth St to the Trees for Canterbury planting. We met Fatman there and assisted in planting 2000 native plants. A great ride although short but what a worthy cause. We think we should be calling Tinkerbell, Sniff due to the way he moves among the single woman.

sunday, 18th May

(only slightly different to swtchbckr's post) Sunday. met at Rubberjaws's. He, Fatboy, Tink, the Silverfox, Geez and the Mellonfarmer. several sporting minor alcohol poisoning from previous night... headed down Garlands, into KingEdward Tce round behind the stinky fish factory, over the fence along the trueright side of heathcote river to tunnel road bridge, the over to the other side and round behind ferrymead industry, then around to the mccormacks bay trail, up the steeps riding much more than previous week. up road, over greenwood, all the new stuff was much better than before. greasy greasy slats causing both Mellonfarmer and Fatboy to squirrel their front wheels in gloomy gulch, then on down, bombing it nicely. all on good form. then out godley, bombing it all good, and then we hammered it down the anaconda, beautiful roll. over the hill, coffee at dotcom, then the haul home, Mellonfarmer and Geez peeling off at humphreys... no flats, no mechanicals, no crashes, no injuries - long may it remain that way.

Saturday 10th May

Due to Sunday being Mothers Day, Mellonfarmer, Tinkerbell, Geez and Twopot arrived at Rubberjaws for a ride about 9.15. Rubberjaws was feeling a bit rough due to a late night and a tad to much to drink. He was still ready to go. After a breif chat we all decided to head up and help do some work at Greenwood park. We followed Mellonfarmer around the back of the Woolston Loop (that the Woolston Cut cut) Industrial zone on some single style track behind the fish factory, over the river onto the track along the river behind the Ferry Rd industrial Zone. I think it used to be the track used for towing the barges and ferries along with horses. Back to business anyway, out along here and a little bit of road to McCormacks Bay. Checked out the slip that had happened here. Bit noisey. Then we went up this really cool track from the end of McCormacks Bay. It is a nice gradient with a couple of steep hairpins but I would say 99% rideable, (unless you have to much blood in your alcohol system). It joins up with the Mt Pleasant Road easily 2/3rds of the way up. A simple road ride to the start of the Greenwood track. We caught up with the workers who were removing a few of the really sharp shitty rocks and re aligning some of the track. Did some work for 1/2 an hour and got a $10 voucher for The Hub cycles. Good scheme. We then headed down Richmond Hill, (not the MTB track but cross country to Richmond Hill Rd). MF and 2P rode on while, T, G and R stopped for Coffee before the road ride home. A nice way to spend 1/2 a day.

Thursday 8th May

Fatman, Silverfox, Geez, Twopot and the Dreaded One all met at Rubberjaws place at 6ish. We headed up the Rapaki, passing a large group at the first cattlestop. Kept in front of them all the way up and then the Dreaded One had to have a blast as per usual. Rubberjaws, Silver Fox and Geez led up over Mt Vernon but got passed by the other 3 before we got to the road crossing. Twopot actually went over the bars on some rocks though. We regrouped then flew around to the top of Vic park. Rubberjaws nearly endoed in the rocky garden just before you get to Lava Flow. At Vic park dropped down and played in the new jumpy bit then down through the gums. We actually lost Geez when he carried on down the single track to the road. Down the new bits of Dazza's, (I like it a lot) still a bit loose in here then down through the old pines below this. Once again Rubberjaws slammed a tree (but ever so gently only broke my handlebar light). Very sketchy trhu here. Down Eastside track and out. Geez hit a puddle just before the cattlestop on the eastside track and splattered as his wheels hit the metal poles. A good ride on a wonderfully balmy night. Look forward to the ride on Saturday.

happy birthday is in order

a big happy birthday to my swtchbckr blog yesterday. 3 years, and 200 posts old...

Tuesday 6th

Deposits all paid for the trip. great accommodation with linen supplied. One less thing to pack

Sunday 4th May

We had a road ride plannd for the day which was lucky as all the tracks were out of bounds on the hills due to the weather. We actualy rode out to Styx Mill Reserve and help Trees for Canterbury plant 2000 native plants. Rubberjaws met Tinkerbell and Anton at Fatmans (aka Pete) rode through Hagley and picked up the Silverfox at Kilmarnock St by the railroad track. We rode down the cycleway to Northcote Rd and then onto the Styx Reserve, around the edge and through the river. Planted the trees and returned the same way. Rubberjaws clocked 52km for the day. Twopot and Mellonfarmer (aka swtchbckr) and Hubby met us at the planting.