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.