Sunday 29th July

Final ride for July.  Only a small posse gathered at mine.  Four of us.  Tinkerbell, Silverfox, Dozer and I.  We headed up Rapaki for a change.  It confirmed to me that it is a boring track, so wide and smooth and not much to see except track going up in front of you.  Silverfox was trying to stop his bladder leaking (the one on his back) got into thick shingle and fell off going up.  We continued at a steady pace slowing in the top section to allow Dozer to talk on his phone and catch up.  From the top we were going to go by road as we remembered the mud of a week ago.  We agreed with Tinks and went up the single track to find no mud or puddles.  Cleaned it all even with a guy stopping directly in front on some rocks, I balanced until he moved and went on through with out dabbing.  From the road we blasted around with no stops, down through the pines with a quick stop at the feild.  We then headed down Rock garden, taking the alternative line before heading down Shazzas and into Brents.  We all took different lines with Tinks doing a flying little jump across my path.  Great fun down here.  Then down flow  and bridges and then after a regroup we headed up hidden valley to old skool.  Problem was my seat got stuck down so I ended up walking, slipping my way up the steeper bits.  From the high point it was plain sailing around the zigs and zags, over the rocks, through some slippery shit all the way down.  Cleaned that nasty bit at the bottom with only one wee dab.  Great ride and then off for coffee.

Sunday 22nd July

A foggy cool morning but Tinkerbell and mellonfarmer arrived and we set off in the vano to Dot Com.  Surprised by seeing Dozer and Bugs.  Our smallish Posse set off up Richmond Hill grunty Rd.  mellonfarmer on his no suspension anywhere singlespeed.  He had to walk quitre a bit up here.  The rest of us treated our bikes like a singlespeed and engaged granny to the  top.  Pleasantly surprised by the speed we maintained all the way.  Got back into the cloud/fog at the top of the farm track and so coated up at the road.  Fog got thicker as we rode to the start of greenwood.  Not a bad blast for the first section although the rocks were a tad slippery and my glasses fogged up.  Set off down the hill stopping for me to put my glasses in the bag.  Sketchy in some sections and I scared myself silly once or twice.  Lower we got the faster we got.  From Evans we climbed up the first leg of Godley before dropping down the farm track to the road.  We followed Mellonfarmer down a track before climbiung a stile into the walking track down to the Taylors rd.  Good singletrack down and seemed really long.  from the road a quick grind up then down to Dot Com.  great  ride.

Tuesday 17th July

Headed up the hill with The Cook where we hooked up with Nellie, Mellonfarmer, Bugs, Dozer and Phatboy.  Headed up the hill from S
The Kiwi to top of Vic before starting the grinding climb around the Traverse.  Gosh I was PATHETIC. The track was in ok condition with just a few puddles.  regrouped before going up and over Vernon to the top of Rapaki.  Did better through here until the muddy rocky section just before you head down the hill.  Dab dab feckin dab.  The earlier bit has been made into a red carpet so smooth.  From  the top of Rapaki we climbed the road to the Traverse and headed back.  The down Thompsons.  I was completely fecked now so pulled the pin and the Cook came with me.  All my heroes rode up and did Marleys before heading home.

Sunday 15th July

Yahoo a ride finally.  I drove out to Dot Com where I was joined shortly by Texas, Bugs, Dozer, Sandals, Tinkerbell, Mellonfarmer, Phatboy and Bernie the old boy Hilbers.  We rode round the shore and up the Scarboruogh Rd with the Old Boy leading all the way to Godley Dr.  This is a steep little bit of road but we all made it to the deer fence gate.  After opening this with my special key we rode on up the shingle rd, opening or climbing gates as we went.  At the road we turned right then left up the farm track and along the fenceline until we connected with the Godley Head track.  Right towards Evans after chatting with another group of riders.  3 continued nearly all the way down while the rest of us turned at the point that saved us climbing too much.  The return was better with me getting my eye in and getting use to the slippery surface.  A fast blast down to Livingstoone Col for a regroup.  As we started up mellonfarmer pulled over with a flat so I led off up here cleaning all except for 1 dab.  I think by now we were all riding much easier and at the top we just rolled on down to breeze Col.  Moost of us riding over PFMTBC Rock.  Out along the low track to Godley Head ducking under the wire hanging low before returning along the same way.  We found a way around the fence closing Anaconda before blasting down.  Only hiccup was some really greasy corners in the zigs and zags.  Then the tail before grinding up from Taylors.  The old man did really well and after stopping for coffee at Dotcom we all headed home.  Great day for a ride with mild weather and sun shining.

Sunday 1st July

Silverfox, Tinkerbell and Dozer joined me for a ride.  We all trundled up Gruntsbury at a steady pacer.  Not the quickest time up the hill.  We were going to come down Worsley and help Tony and Di move a couple of peices of furniture but as we trundled up we were informed it may be more than a couple.  Anyhow when we got to the top we decided that just for a change we would do all of Old Skool.   Its been a while.  Came on down taking all the off piste route and only stumbling once.  Great ride, then down onto the single track with much joy and fun being had.  From here we zigged, zagged, road rid, path rode all the way to Silvefoxies and had coffee before moving furniture.  Quite pleased we got there early as we moved and humped some big items up the stairs and into various rooms.  Dozer and I then did the trek home.  it was bleedin cold still.

Meanwhile, 45 minutes north of here, MellonPharmer and PictonBlenheim treadled their merry ways on the flanks of Mt Grey