Sunday 29th January

I picked up Silverfox and Sandals and headed out to meet with the others at Halswell School. We arrived to find, Tinkerbell, Dozer and Bugs all raring to go. Shortly there after Phatboy and the little huxter arrived. In convoy we headed off towards McQueens valley for a tour of Haven MTB Park. Shailer met us at the end of the shingle rd that leads into his place. A short sharp uphill to get us warmed up and breathing properly to start with, then it was downhill for a ways after passing hi main gate. We got to ride up the driveway later as you will see. Any how we continued down to the carpark of the park. Shailer led us around the tracks down here. Some have been there for a while others are quite knew and all are best described as sort of cross country with ups and downs, twists and turns. Some of the older berms are riding sweetly and the knewer ones will settle down. Although it was a pump over knew tracks I thoroughly enjoyed myself as we went around the tracks first one way then the other. great potential in here. Phatboy managed to break a chain, followed by a quick repair. Lisa (Shailers partner) was amongst the trails getting photos of us all (when I get copies I will post some on here) looking good. After a few loops we headed back up the road and then up the drive. A little steep number with a couple of switchbacks. At the house we hung a left onto a track called Chickenrun which is hand built across the face of the hill. Great track. A few of us took a wrong turn but we all ended up at the same place, returning along Chicken Run before going up a ZigZag to do another trail, down we went then back up and down. Due to time constraints we had to pull out, Phatboy had broken the chain again and had departed one loop earlier. From the house it was downhill all the way back to the cars. I for one thoroughly enjoyed myself and can see heaps of potential at the park. The others spoken to all enjoyed themselves. We will be back and for $15 for a years membership will certainly be joining up. Big thanks to Shailer and Lisa.

Tuesday 24th January

Loaded Silverfox and Sandals into the car and drove up to the top of Mt Pleasant Rd. Joined up with The Cook, Mellonfarmer, Bugs, Phatboy, Dozer, PB Jnr, The Silent One and the Cuz. Rode to the start of Greenwood and went for it. The first part still not trimmed but as you get going the trimmining is done. Scary really as the cut grass is all over the track which makes it ultra slippery. Regroup above the ruins before blasting continuosly to the bottom. Only stop I made was when I lost control and over I went. No injury but close. Back on the bike and continued. Great blast down. Then it was a pump back up the road with a regroup at the pines. No one seemed all that bothered about the length of ride so we continued to John Brtan reserve. Blasted both ways. It was nice for a change. Some then headed down the track and road to get picked up at the bottom. Home bright and early.

Sunday 22nd january

Bugs arrived at mine and we drove to the top of Victoria Park. We met Phatboy (in his camper)and then Tinkerbell and Dozer. It was bloody cold and very windy when we headed around the traverse track towards Rapaki. Blasting along here just to keep warm. Bumped into the lone Goat just by the pond. Chatted and then carried on. From here we turned around at the road and headed back fast. It started raining halfway back and got heavier as we approached the cars. We all agreed this was it. Phatboy headed home and just before Bugs and i left, Tinks came and told us that he had locked his keys in the van. So we waited until AA arrived(about an hour) to let him in. Would of stopped for coffee at Sandals but a bit damp and cold by then.

Tuesday 17th january

Picked up The Cook and Silverfox before driving up to and parking at the 19th Battilion Memorial. We hooked up with Nelsie, Mellonfarmer, Twopot, Little Ivan, Sandals, Tinkerbell, Dozer and Phatboy. Headed up onto Latters Spur for an early grunt then up past the jumpy bits before going up the worm to the top of Vic Park for a regroup. It was down Thompsons to the Kiwi next, managing to pick up some guy who was unknown to us but wanted to learn the tracks. Up we ground to the top of Marleys before setting up an order to come down. Nelsie, Mellonfarmer and Phatboy went all the way and we did not see them until a regroup back at the top of Marleys. The rest of us went the top half. Tinks led our group kicking up enough dust to be off putting but after a while this was gone and all was excellant. Good run down here and at halfway went straight back into the climb. Somewhere in here Little Ivan did his own thing. We all regrouped back at the top. Time for the 2nd run. Same order but we all went the whole way. This was a hellishly fast blast. No stopping with Tinkerbell just in front. Somehow Nelsie slowed or stopped and then he slowed us down. Tinkerbell then got a puncture and pulled to the side, then nelsie pulled out halfway while I continued into the bottom half. Meeting by Sign of the Kiwi. Eventually most people were there. Due to Tinks puncture nelsie, Mellonfarmer and Phatboy headed up for another loop. Phatboy only doing the bottom half. Imediately Tinks caught us we headed down Old Dyers. Great blast with Silverfox keeping up on my tail. Not many do down here normally. Everyone managed to stay out of the hole in the track....just! He was having a good run and loving it. Regrouped at the 4wd track where Phatboy caught up. From here just a lovely run before climbing back into Vic. Nice tuesday night cruise.

Saturday 14th january 2012

Phatboys family and rubberjaws family headed up to Hamner for the day and the boys took their bikes. The girls dropped us at the top of Threshold and we rode up the fire road to the top. There were Phatboy, PH Junior, the Silent one and myself. We attack Threshold, once again enjoying the steep tops and the swooping long trail of the bottom. From here we rode around up did mach 1, taking a left onto Dog stream before heading up another fire road to the top of Red Rocks. Great blast down here except for the track being well over grown. We then did the western link track and rode up Swamp. nice track that flows all the way to the access rd for Yankee Zephyr. Grunted up to the top, me taking a toilet stop before blasting down this flowing fast track. Phatboy got A Thing jabbed into his arm which caused some grief but continued on. From here we took swoop track which was really overgrown and plenty of blackberry ripping at your arms, legs and head. At last back to the cars before going for a dip at the pools.

Sunday 8th january

I jumped in the ute and drove to top of mt pleasant where i hooked up with bugs, Dozer and tinkerbell. We headed out on the greenwood track. The grass is so long you cannot see the track at all in some places. Amazing no one came off. from the ruins I led off at a good clip closely followed by Bugs. Blasted through here scaring ourselves in the long grass still. Cleaned everything and had a quick regroup halfway down. off we went again with same long grass problems. soon this track will be unrideable only due to this. Finally out of the grass at the bottom and time for the road ride back up. at the pines we headed down the single track stopping to chat at each stile. We returned up the ground effect track and then headed up the farm track to the crossover above the ruins on greenwood. tinks led off with Bugs, me and Dozer. Tinks faltered so bugs took over. Stayed on his wheel but gosh a few scary moments. Bugs and Dozer then headed back down to sumner via the single track while tinks and i drove down and hooked up at Dot com with the boyZ. Home by 12.15. Short and sweet but oh so good.

Saturday7th January 2012

Well I do not know whos been riding lately but I have got 3 rides in since the beginning of the year.

Ride 1 was a simple grunt up the main Rd towards Riwaka from marahau. Long climb to the top then left onto the fire rd still climbing. From here i followed it down at speed. A few ruts a slip or two to negotiate but fun all the same. Got back to the kaiteriteri Rd and then rode back to camp.

Ride 2 was from camp along the Kaiteriteri rd. This twists and turns all the way, up and down. I then looked at the veiws along the beach before doing some of the MTB park. After 20minutes in here it was the ride back to camp.

Ride 3 I took a couple of novices with me. They hired some bikes and we entered the Kaiteriteri MTB park at the bethels Beach Camp end. We attacked Ziggy (well I attacked and they struggled) which zigs and zags up the hill before climbing further along big Airs. They were happy to go straight back but I said "No come this way." That was along the new one way section of Skull Duggery. A nice peice of singletrack winding its way along the face of the ridges. Quite narrow with some big drops but oh so sweet. Rode along here to Bay Veiw which is an up and down fire road. Excellant little rutty downs and short steep climbs. Dropped from here down to easy rider before heading back around Switch, swamp monster and revelation to the beginning. A great little ride and I sure want to do some more next time.





Meanwhile, Mellonfarmer enjoyed a summery time at his bach in Little Akaloa. Whilst there he rode a few times, including a wee blat over the Menzies Bay Rd, a ride up View Hill with Phatboy and Phatboy Jr and the Palmtree (Phatboy Jr's buddy), a ride of two rides of more down than up, and his first of the new year, a grovelly climb out of the bay and back round over View Hill...