Sunday 29th August

practically copied word for word from MellonFarmer's bloggage.

so good to finally get out today.
Mellonfarmer, Weirdlittle, Dozer, Tinks, Phatboy and Bugs out front of Rubber's, who had an excuse of family bother to get him out of riding... not pisscrookedness at all, right?

anyway, off up Rapaki we lugged our sorry states, meeting Helmark and Sandals and truck at end of road. Sandals joined us, while HelMark drove off to see us up top. climbed like climbing things, MF and Phatboy surprising themselves i think with their ability to actually succeed after rather messy evenings before. cold southerly wind in our faces all the way up, and into the clouds up top, with some spitty drizzliness going for it dampening everything. decided on heading towards Sumner, but not thinking we'd make it.

Witch hill was like a pinball machine, little bit of grease on the rocks pinging tires all over the place. numerous dabs, lurches and lost momentums. but all over quite good. Sandals and Warren took the road, Sandals due to a bad wrist. regrouped and headed on up summit road towards the Castle.

Castle Rock started out a bit mucky but not bad. a few damp spots down the way, but mostly pretty good, had a nice flow on down round the hill, first hairpin nicely negotiated, on down and after the second hairpin nasty rutsville just before the bridge. pete stepped off to film everybody, and Silverweirdlittle had a nice tumble off down the hill, i think caught on film, nice couple garks on his legs. Sandals took the road. helMark showed up and we chatted and then got on our ways on round, in the clouds, tailwind, to Britten

John Britten trail: nice and dry cept for under the very wet (rainmaking) shelterbelt. MF got round to the road where he waited. and waited. and waited, and thought, hmmm, and was just about to ride on back to see what'd happened, when Sandals and Bugs and WeirdLittle appeared out of the gloom saying Pete had had an off but they were on their way. he'd been straddling his bike, walking up that steep uprock when one of his feet gave way and off he tumbled down the hill, garking himself nicely. Helmark rolled up and Sandals changed bikes here.

hit Greenwood, for the first time in a lonnnnnng time. started off with a greasy rut which threw most a bit, but dried out nicely on further up, with even some dust appearing at one stage... had a good cruise down really enjoying the freedom of this trail, and pleasantly surprised at how little damage the winter had inflicted, maybe a few more rocks showing a bit more of their teeth after dirt's been washed away. mucky wetspot after rockgap, but all good round into gloomy gulch. still in the clouds at this point, pulled up just down from usual stopping place, and regrouped again, looking down on the willing workers we were intending on joining. got rolling again and cruised down to the workers, stopping to chat with Ranger Nick Singletrack, who basically said no need to worry about helping out and to enjoy the ride!!! gotta make it to the next workday. bolled down the rest of the trail, seeing Mark again, and then hit Captain Thomas.

First corner, more workers (and a "NICE BIKE" comment on the Mellonfarmer's Soul), chatted to Graham a bit then continued on down. bad slip mud eating Mellon's wheels before the first nemesis. MF walked quickly down, then turned round to see Phatboy dropping his bike and scuttling down and juuust stopping on his hands... most enjoyed the rest of the trail. one or two other wet bits, nothing too major, quite fun dodging and popping the various holes and rutty bits, on out to the bottom. up pulls Helmark, informing us Sandals was behind. once she arrived we all tootled down to DotCom and coffeed up before the slog home. MF peeling off first

Tuesday 24th August

A meeting re the trip away was planned. Sandals and Helmut on a road tandem, Bugs on his stead, Phatboy on grandad, Mellonfarmer on the towncruiser and I on the cruiser headed around the river, following it to Cashmere before taking a few back streets to Pioneer Stadium. From Here it was just a short blast to the Home of the Silverfox. We met up with the others, drunk, talked and planned. Got confirmation on 10 and a possible on 2 others. looking good for the trip.

Sunday 23rd August

A ride to remember with a good bunch of riders. PhatBoy, Silverfox, Bugs, Tinkerbell, Dozer Sandals and I were just about to head off when Abba joined us. The eight of us headed off around the river towards Sumner. (most tracks closed still). Followed the river track pumping along at a good pace, then across the causeway. We stopped at the bottom of Richmond Hill to remove jackets. Then we climbed, and climbed and grunted up the road for a regroup near the top of the road. We then headed up the farm track where Abba had to walk due to lack of tread on tires. I walked 5 paces and had a couple of Dabs while the rest had a dab or two but rode well. At the top we nearly left Sandals behind cos I did not notice she was having a bite to eat when I took off. A couple of lads waited for her. A regroup at John Britten before heading on. Good road blast around to the traverse. Pushed hard all the way and had a bite and regroup at the start of the traverse. Abba bailed to do some stuff and the rest of us headed on. Great to be on single track again. Pumped hard all the way. Regroup at Vic before showing the roadies how to ride down hill to the Kiwi. Toilet stops for the boys before we chased Sandals who had continued upwards towards Worsley. Pushed hard. Worsley was as one would expect. Wet and Muddy. Took the technical lines where poss and enjoyed it all the way. Arms aching from control the bike and brakes. Got home after a 38km ride feeling like I had worked hard.

Tuesday 17th August

Cor, another ride, that's nearly a record for the winter. 2 rides in 3 days. Bugs, Silverfox, Phatboy and I set off for Sumner in the fog and pumped hard all the way there. My rear light keeping cars at bay. We headed up Richmond Hill again, the Grunt on the road and the slip and slide of the farm track. I did not make it all the way this time but still got there. Bugs and Phatboy more determined though. At the top, a little rest and then onto John Britten Reserve. Down through here was fun and off piste. Down Mt Pleasant and then we took the McCormick's Bay track. This was hell at the top. Very much hold on and hope. The mud was thick but oh so much fun. Worth a laugh. The bottom half after the bridge was better and we opened up a bit more. Once we hit the road we pumped home with Phatboy turning off at Linwood Ave, the Bugs at his place. I stopped at mine leaving Silverfox the slog home alone. A couple of notable things on the ride was the fog. Overlooking Sumner and into the valley we were above the fog. It looked awesome. The other thing was before we came down from Mt Pleasant you could not see the city at all. It was a blanket of fluffy fog with only the occasional hint of light.

Sunday 15th August

Finally the tracks were open and we could ride. Woke up and it was drizzling but I was determined to ride. A few contacted me to double check so I sent the message. I was riding. Tinkerbell, Sandals, Dozer and Phatboy arrived and we set off, picking up Bugs on Ferry Rd. We rode out to Sumner and then started the grind up Richmond Hill. We all did well considering the lack of riding. At the top we decided on a new approach from the normal 2 options. I had googled the farm track and we took this instead. Slippery as shit. Not to sound like Mellonfarmer but I rode the whole thing. A few had to walk through the worst of it, but I am sure when we do it on Tuesday they will make the top. About 2/3 rds of the way up I got a call. J9 and Grace had locked themselves out. I decided to head down Mt Pleasant Road. Arriving at the top the drizzle was heavy and a call was made. Everyone followed me and after a blast down the road we dropped some keys to the girls and headed into town for coffee and also to click over some kms. Not a bad ride and we have decided to do similar on Tuesday.

The whole week

No riding for me this week other than to and from work. Oh I also rode to the rugby and into town with Phatboy. Hopefully we can get out this coming Sunday.

Sunday 1st August

After a night watching the rugby an early start so we could head to Orton Bradley for a planting. Dozer, Silverfox and Phatboy arrived and we loaded evrything into the Ford and the 4 of us drove to Lyttleton to catch the ferry. While waiting Abba showed up after coming up and down the bridal Path. Once we unloaded at Diamond Harbour a puff up the hill and a casual ride to the planting. We helped plant 900 plants inside of an hour. Stopped for coffee and found out how to acess the cliff track for the ride back to catch the ferry. The plan was to get the 12.30 sailing. Alas the cliff track is not really all that good for riding. It has some wonderful bits but a few carries up and a few carries down. Abba, Silverfox and I made it just in time for the ferry. Abba jumped on while the Fox and I waited for the other 2. A couple of bike problems delayed them and we got the 1pm sailing. Due to committments we drove home and arrived at mine at the same time Abba got to the top of the hill. Bummer not to do the whole ride but at least got on the bike.