Choose-day, 20th January

good sized group assembled at Rubberjawn's (who'd returned from holiday), to find him was piking all due flat tire... in attendance were myself - Mellonfarmer, Fatboy, Randyandy(tinks), Tink's Bro, Weird-little-Silverfox, Geez, Nelson/Picton/Blenheim, Warren, and then we picked up English at bottom of Rapaki Rd.

tootled up Rapaki, some nice views to be had, with hoards of other bikers, runners and walkers. busy busy. made the top the first few having a good rest whilst awaiting the arrival of the stragglers, then on up Vernon.

took off from below road round traverse. good bomb round to vic, with one incident just before the pond where this guy could have easily pulled up and let Blenheim thru, but cos he was on the uphill decided he had right of way and nearly collided with Nelson, and me right behind. sure, uphill has right of way, but only where practical, and its courtesy to give people way if its easier... dumbass.

all assembled eventually at vic, and no sign of Geez. weird-little-Silverfox went back, Randypandy checked his txts and there was one from Geez, flat tire... right back at the start. he showed up eventually.

then it was over and down Thomsons, some taking both bits, others not., then up road to top of Marleys. Picton and Mellonfarmer just absolutely flew down this. really getting the flow on. bombing the rocky bits, jumping, nelson nearly losing it on the jump into the old below the road. made the kiwi and waited. and waited. English turned up. we waited. waited... then along come the others. Fatboy in a bit of a state. little blood leaking from knee, (what will be) a (very) bruised chest, scraped hip... he'd lost it on the same jump Blenheim nearly did.

Fatboy bailed down Dyers Pass Road, the rest went back up into Vic. all taking different lines to Brake Free, then into the new below that, to skidder site.

then into Dazza's, nice flow down, bottom bit a bit brake-cut. into Brents, flew thru there. before Flow, Weird-little- busted a whole bunch of spokes, so he bailed, walking back up to road and out home, the rest of us continued down. most taking the high line across Bridges, into K2, Mellonfarmer cleaning it all, and down 'washout', the others walking down. then wayne crashed at top of washout when trying remount his steed...

Then the rest continued down valley while Mellonfarmer and Picton took the newly nearly-restored zigs and zags up to pylon at beginning of lower OldSkool. bit of granny, bit of walking, but moderately effortless gain of altitude to an excellent flowy descent, Mellon-defamer taking every line Nelson didnt... including the old bit that has the overhanging gorse, extrawidth thistles and sketchy rocks, which surprising cuts a couple of minutes off the descent... waited, then bombed the last. out bowenvale.

A mishap ridden ride...