Saturday 25th August

Headed outside early and watched as a rather good posse gathered.  It included Texas, Dozer, Silverfox, Sandals, Tinkerbell, Phatboy, The Cook and Mellonfarmer.  We headed off around the Woolston Cut the down the towpath at a steady clip.  Mellonfarmer and Phatboy got a little ahead and when the rest of us decided to avoid the hassles of last week with lack of egress from the track we took the cut out into Settlers cres only to discover the track was not cut off by diggers but what the heck.  We then took off sweat tops jackets etc before starting the steady  grind up St Andrews.  We took a new route avoiding the road where we could before tackling some single track at the top.  I cleaned this with 1 dab as I tried to chase Mellonfarmer and keep ahead of the pack.  Phatboy caught me near the top but I thought I did bloody well for a change.  It  was warm by now and so enjoyable.  Great views on such a clear day.  The it was through the gate and into greenwood.  Damp in spots and muddy in others but just perfect run down here.  1 regroup before attacking the  track again.  At the road we did a regroup and I a tyre change/patch for the Phatboy amongst his phone calls and a toilet stop.  Decided to miss the Godley Track due to the delay but in the end some ended up doing it while the rest of us flew up the road.  Still had to wait so we may as well of ridden the track.  We  did hear it was really wet and should of been at avoid.  Headed down the Scarborough single track and then all agreed with  mellonfarmer to try a new track.  Unfortunately it did not work out so we clambered back up.  It did give us a couple of giggles though as the slip of caused some mayhem.  We ended up going down the other side and out onto the Taylor's Rd for a short climb up.  Fast Blast down to Sumner only to be held up by  trucks at the final hairpin.  Stopped for coffee at Dot com.  Janine and Grace joined us.
Mellonfarmer took off early before the rest of us did the  grind home in reverse of the trip there. An awesome ride overall.

a note from Sandals

ANY type of material is ok, ink instructions include synthetics, polyester...etc as well as natural fibres.

Preference is for using black ink, so any shirt color except black.

Get your shirt to me please, by/on Fathers Day 2 Sept.

Steve - Please could you add this to the blog.

Could someone get in touch with or give me Waynes & Nelsons # ?   anyone else?

Marie

Tuesday 21st August

Tracks closed and fitness to gain so we met at mine.  There was Bugs, Tinkerbell, Silverfox, Cookie and Sandals.  We headed down Opawa Rd turning right into Port Hills Rd for the little climb over the ridge.  I stayed in one gear, stood and grunted up.  Down the other side and then around to Gruntsbury where we climbed to the top of the road before taking the side roads down the otherside and out onto the flat before heading left up Dyers Rd.  grunted up to the Sign of the Kiwi before coming down Hackthorne and the right into MacMillan and then onto Sandels  place.  We stopped and chatted over a design for a tee shirt before heading home across the flats.  The tee shirt is supply your own with a $10 note and it will be screen printed with a groovy little logo.

Saturday 18th August

We were meant to ride to a planting but the site was under water and the day has been postponed to the 25th so with all the tracks closed on the hills we decided on a road ride with a twist.  Mellonfarmer, Phatboy, Tinkerbell, The Cook, Silverfox and Sandals (on her cruiser bike with 8 gears)all met at mine.  One showing off his new 29er wheel one showing off 2 new wheels and a frame. Tinkerbell has finally got a new bike and it was quite sexy for a bike. We headed around the river getting along the single track of the towpath before heading up St Andrews hill. Nice grunt up here with Mellonfarmer standing to keep the single speed moving and Sandals digging it in due to the lack of gears.  Stopped at the church so people could strip down.  Continued on up steadily then through Longridge settlement (by now we had stopped for a regroup) scoping out another route for later.  We then headed up the last bit of Mt Pleasant rd into the cloud before coming stopping to layer up.  Headed around the road to Evans Pass after getting through the gates saying slips ahead.  Nice cool run down here noting all slips cleaned up.  About halfway down we stopped to look at the corner on Evans pass rd where they have been blowing rock up.  Then we headed down.  I thought all of us were on the road but at Evans Pass itself discovered only mellonfarmer and Sandals shortly joined by the Cook.  The word was something wrong with Phatboys bike.  A phonecall later discoverd he was now walking back to Mt Pleasant road with a broken frame.  (he is kinda happy as he has been talking about an upgrade for a while)  The others caught up before climbing up the road to the track down to Scarbourgh Hill.  This was rutted by water.  Then down to Dot Com for coffee and then the ride back.  Good solid blast across the causeway then the river home  Enjoyed it all very much

Saturday 11th August

So many people away but the riding must go on.  I headed off up the hill picking up The Cook, Silverfox and Sandals along the way.  We parked at Sign of the Kiwi and headed up to the top of Worsley.  Standing at the top you could see the puddle at the gate below us was more like a lake.  We headed down the Bag, not to slippery but needing some caution and from here we headed up the slope to the B line.  Needed to stay on the grass to avoid wheel spin.  The B line was the wettest I have ever ridden it.  Slop everywhere on the top end with some really slippery corners.  Caution was the word of the day.  Continued on down with no major incidents but a few points where you sucked in your breath and thought "Holy Crap Batman".  When we came out on Worsley it was time to head up the hill.  Rivers flowing in some crevasses but not as slippery as I thought.  If you dabbed it was not easy to get started but we continued up.  Silverfox going well.  In the top half I changed my line from the usual and started riding the ditch more where the traction was better due to the water flowing.  This is where I gained on him as it was so much easier.  No one cleaned it all and the body bag was ok until you spun.  We all walked the last bit.  We headed up to the top of marleys thinking the rock berms would be a challenge.  They were fine.  It was all the muddy bits just before or just after them that was the biggest challenge.  it was  the wettest I can remember the track being and I was mud splattered at the Kiwi when we finished.  Felt really good and could of done another loop but things happening for everyone.  The others all rode the road down while I had to drive.

Sunday 5th August

Got picked up by Dozer and then went and collected Bugs before heading out to get the early sailing to Diamond Harbour.  We were surprised to have Phatboy and Mellonfarmer arrive.  Got off the boat and did the grind up from the wharf then down up and down more down to orton bradley with time to spare.  While admiring previous years plantings we discovered some plants with pre dug holes so got those in the ground before heading back to the starting point.  A good turnout of people and the planting went rather quickly.  Tinkerbell showed up to help.  He rode his 2L Mecedes diesel bike but had a good MTB top so he would fit in.  My girls showed up for morning tea.  Then we headed home.  Up up and a little down then more up to Diamond Harbour at a rather good pace, then the cliftop track which is fun in parts and great in others except where you can not ride.  Sat and waited for the ferry back.  A good wee ride.