Sunday 28th March

A cool overcast start to the day with the moisture sitting on the ground from the overnight rain. Hat and sleeves on to keep me warm. Abba arrived and we set of picking sandals up on the way. We headed up to the summit road and followed this down to Gebbies Pass. Phatboy and Silvefox got there first as they were in the Cosworth. I caught Tinkerbell with Dozer and Bugs aboard as we drove down to the meeting pointing. Slow drivers just get in the way.



We unloaded and I showed off my new Gravity Dropper I was looking forward to testing it out. We headed up the climb to the single track to the Pack Horse. First downhill I hit the button, no seat in the way and let rip. Coooooolll. Hit the button for the climb and all was good. We set a good pace up through the paddock, grunted a bit but all cool then up, up up, past the little hut on the right and up into the Zig Zags up we went and then over the fence and around the drops. Tinkerbell decided to show where not to fall by landing on his arse on a corner by a steep drop. Luck was with him. Continued to climb and arrived at the Packhorse Hut feeling good. A cool breeze blowing so we had a bite and a photo shoot inside the hut.

Then the fun we headed down. When we got to the fence before the pines Phatboy led off followed by myself and the others. Fast it was nearly loosing it in a muddy section just before a downed pine. Squeezed my sphincter and carried on. Loving it all so much. Regrouped by the little hut and then carried on down. Fast and fun, back into the paddock. Here Tinkerbell decided to do another off in good fashion. I noticed that Silverfox had also a good scrape on his arm from a tree. All smile though. Then along the fence up and out. Loaded up the cars and around to Allandale Hall.

From here we went up into living springs. Nice new section as you go into the pines. Sandals led in this section going at a nice clip. Regrouped at the top, did the new section above the building, stopped for water and a piss then down we went. Fast and furious. Everyone survived although one did come off. At the bottom regrouped and then back to the cars in good time. We started at Gebbies at 9.15 precisely and were loaded up ready to go home at Allandale by 12.30. Good time and a bloody good ride to boot.

The gravity Dropper worked a treat. My girls did good in giving it to me.

meanwhile, the day previous, due being unable to ride at this alotted time, MellonFarmer and Chris did exactly the same loopages, tho they parked up on Bamfords to save time...

Tuesday 23rd March

The Crocodile is what we set our sites on and it is what we did, .....twice.

I met up with Dozer, Bugs, Te Rex, Abba and Phatboy at the main gate of Halswell Quarry. We set off up the Quarry Track. Nice grunt here but felt good. Going down the other side was great, brakes making a bit of noise but nothing like last week. Grunted through the farm and up the last zig zag. Caught our breath on the last bit of road before the zigs and zags, little grunts and nice bits as we headed to the top of the bottom of Kennedy's. Waited a couple of minutes for Mellonfarmer and Jo to hook up. They had gone up Worsley and down Kennedy's. Blasted back down and then into the Crocodile. Blasting down here, all excited about getting the tricky rocks in the middle. We then had issues with uphill riders, whom nearly got pushed off the track, then some Fijian Indians who smiled as we scared them off the track. Up the grunt for a regroup and then down, across the rocks and here we started to climb again. Back up through the farm and to the start of the Crocodile again. So the Fijians again at the top, still smiling. Getting quite dim as we headed into the crocodile this time. Lots of blinking to keep vision. Bugs rammed me when I got to the tricky rock but I forgive him. Down and out. We saw the Fijians again. They were still smiling. Abba just took off although I had offered a lift. I dropped Jo off and was home by 8.15 feeling good.

Sunday, 21st March

pretty much as written in Swtchbckr.blogspot... Dozer-Jeez, Weird-Little, Tinks and FarmerofMellons assembled at Rubberjonk's, who stumbled out in his dressing gown complaining of tiredness. so the former four moseyed on up the Rapaki Track, 4 laned highway that it is - amazed at the number of bikers met riding down it... bah. pushed and shoved our way to the top and had word from Sandalicious that she was heading our way.

got going up Vernon, twisting and turning round and up and over, bumping into her above the upper switchies. onwards round the summit motorway, accompanied with maybe $50K worth of Specialized's and their mounts. we kept ahead of them til Vic Park, then bumped into them all again several times from there til top of the Nun. also chatted with various others on the road to top of Nun too.

regrouped at top and then set off, blasting down it with it fresh in the mind from Tuesday night. awesome ramble, tho Tinks complained he was off form, then it was back up road to top of Vic.

Straight in, dropping down, Mellonfucker popped over the see saw and caught some air on the first few jumps before bailing out and rejoining the others to head down the gummies. blazing down the old skool trails and regrouping at the skidder, then off up to take in Cool Runnings, which none had done for a while. bit of fun in there, then out flow, bridges, highline for MotherFarmer dropping right down.

Hidden Valley up to OldSkool and great blast down taking in the new bit in the middle. all enjoyed, splitting their separate ways around the river, home by 12.30

Tuesday 17th march

Bugs showed up at my place so we loaded him in the ute and headed off. Picked up Silverfox and Sandals along the way. Met Dozer at the Marleys Halfway Carpark and headed up the road to the beginning of the track. At the top of Worsley we hooked up with Mellonfarmer and Jo of DoC. Up the track to the start of Marleys. I followed MF but my brakes were screeching and squealing. I was a tad concerned. Made it down and we then regrouped and went down the Guvnors Track. A first for most and loved it except for the noise and the climb out. Back up and around for another run down Marleys. Better but brakes worse so I waited while the rest did another loop. Chris pulled in so chatted until the group got back. We then left by various means.

Sunday 14th March

This discription of Sunday arrived in my email today. I was not riding as I was feeling tired from the day before and took the oppurtunity of being childless to spend all morning in bed. Lazy Lazy me. I had heard that the 3 keen riders had a good ride and would of blown us all away by their staying power. I am pleased to attach this and if anyone wants to know who rode it, think feet first, remove your shoes and put something other than jandals on. :)


Track taken: Rapaki, Vernon, Traverse highway, Flying Nun, Seaseme Street, Dazers, The Dark Forest, The Hidden Track then Old Skool Bowenvale.
Participants: SilverFox, Dozer and Sandals.
Traverse note: Wheelchair acccess has been extended through/around Lava Flow with some rocks noteably missing and the likelyhood of encountering first time bike pushers & obstacles on this section of track was confirmed.
Hidden Track : consenses again that cleaning this section is not far off & do-able, but still remains undone by ride participants, with the excuse of a 27-30 degree sunbaker of a day. Summary: great ride, big smiles & much contentment all around.

Saturday 13th March or The Womans Day out

THE WAY WE WERE!!!

Today was the day to involve not only the riders but also our partners where possible. J9 and I rode over on our cruisers and picked up Bugs and and Marianne who were riding a tandem. We headed down Maces, Cuthberts, Breezes and Rowses Rd before cutting through the Cycling Track to Bexley, then Pages arriving at Robbies by the Brighton Bridge. We had a drink and some food while we waited for the others to arrive. In no particular order there was Phatboy and Debbie, Te Rex and Debbie (his Debbie not Phatboys Debbie and we will now call her Deb), Dozer and Cheryl, Abba and Mellonfarmer. We then headed off for a warm up along the river before cutting down Palmer's onto Keyes and arriving at Chats Bar on Travis/Bower cnr. A beer here and then we were off again. Down Wattle Drive and onto the river bank again. MF lost his chain which caused a quick intake of breath as he realised that no chain on a cruiser means no

brakes. Flintstones feet stop. A quick fix and then we were off around the river and across the road into Horseshoe Lake. A pleasant cruise here although the Tandem did have problems on the sharp corner. Ohs and aahs as we went past trees we planted with TFC. Down Lake Terrace Rd onto Joy street before stopping at the Fox and Ferret. The Palms that is. A bite and a drink.

From here we headed down and around Banks Ave before following the Avon. A bit of bike swapping had taken place. Deb was now on Debbies bike, Abba was now on a Skinny wheeled beast and I am sure there was other swapping happening. We had Mellonfarmer peel off to feed his dog and chookens. We continued until we arrived at Pomeroys. Nice place to do a minor repair on my cruiser. We found a broken spoke to be the giver of a buckle in my wheel. No problem though as we could still ride. A wee doo dah helped to adjust a couple of our perspectives at this point. We finished our drinks and headed around the Avon Loop and then followed our normal tracks. We stopped in Victoria square where more swapping of bikes went down. We then headed past the courts and into Worcester street. My theory of saying Hello to pedestrians got a lot of positive response. At the Gardens we turned left and followed the river to Cashel Street. We paused for a moments silence at the bridge of Remembrance. ............................................. This gap is our pause. Now we were on the homeward stretch as we blasted down Cashel Mall, onto High Street before entering the maze of Alleys that I call Poplar Lane. We parked up outside the Bismark Bar and started to drink a bit more. The owner gave us a big plate of sausage and beer while we discussed our eating options. Some ate here while others got pizza at the Vespa Bar. Sandals, Silverfox and Di arrived to finish the journey and share in the fun. Slowly people disappeared as the alcohol or the day took its toll. MF, Silverfox, Di, J9 and I were the last to leave. We had turned out our lights by this stage.

The END!

Sunday 7th March

With a big night out at the rugby and then drinks afterwards I knew it was going to be tough getting up and out, but I did get out.

I rode round the river and met Bugs. We continued along the single track behind Ferrymead and then onto the tarmac for the haul out to Dot Com. Head wind along the causeway. it was tough. My head was slightly sore for some reason. Ah yes that's right, the last drink or 3.

Met Tinkerbell, Mellonfarmer and Dozer (with his new bike) and after shooting the breeze for 5 headed up Richmond Hill. Tough tarmac climb then down the single track in the valley. We had just started climbing out when clunk goes Bugs bike. freewheel blew itself so he got to go home. The rest of us then grunted up the steep hill, Tinks trying to find his own line and failing. Kept going up and finally onto the Summit road and around to the start of Greenwood. Blasted down here in good time, enjoying the run all the way down. Wind blowing us around at times.

Over and onto the Godley track. Blew the techy sections, in fact we all did. Continued around enjoying the riding and stopped at Livingstone Col. mellonfarmer noticed his chain tensioner was missing the tensioner wheel. Oh dear. Back on the bikes, up and over to Breeze Col. Everyone except the female jogging missing Tinkerbells off. Down the snake and the tail. Getting some stunning air in front of the walkers. Gosh I must of looked good. Grind back up from Taylor's and back to Dot Com for Coffee. Bugs came back with Tinks car to join us. Dozer and I then enjoyed the tail wind home.

All in all a good ride.

Next week the family ride.

Tuesday 2nd March

The boyz and girlie went out on Sunday and I heard they had fun. Of course I can not put what they all did and they were to lazy to write it down. Not to worry. I am back.

Tuesday the Silverfox arrived so we set off picking Bugs up on the way. Arrived at Taylor's Mistake where Te Rex was and then waited for Phatboy and Mellonfarmer. Talk about the slow pair. We headed up the tail which is steeper before it starts and quite enjoyable. Then up the hill and out to Godley car park. Nice climb cleaning all except the 1 dab. Up and over towards Breeze Col, sun in the eyes before thinking lets go back so we did. Up the steep slopes, Te Rex cleaning them then the rest of us having differing success. We then took the under road section before blasting down the snake. Must say the work done on my rear shock makes it smooth. All I have to do now is get rid of the creaky saddle. Home just after 8.30.