Tuesday 30th October

Picked up the Cook and headed up to the Kiwi.  Crowded carpoark so parked on the  edge.  Met up with Silverfox, Bugs, Phatboy and Texas.  Up the road to the top of Marleys and then I led off on the first  run.  Good pump and certainly got my  heart pumping.  Back up we went for a second run, Phatboy led, then me, took a couple of new lines.  At regroup we found Texas had punctured so the rest of us went up for another run.  Things to do so this was a full run back to the cars.  Phatboy, Bugs, Me in that order with Silverfox , The Cook.  At half way texas jumped in behind me.  I was chasing Buggs hard.  New work going on in the bottom section caught me by surprise but it looks promising.  Heart was bursting at the bottom.  Should of gone back for Just 1 more run.

Sunday 28th October

Set off from mine with Tinkerbell, Silverfox and Sandals heading around the river towards Ferrymead.  Bugs was waiting at the end of his street which is where Dozer caught us up also.  From here we followed the towpath to the Ferrymead Bridge where we waited for Phatboy and Mellonfarmer.   From here we headed around McCormacks Bay and up the track to Mt Pleasant Rd.  Steep in a few places and then the switchbacks are a killer for some.  Got most of it but failed on 3-4 spots.  From here we meandered up the road turning onto Upper Major Hornbrook before climbing up the sweet single track we now use on the hill. From here Mellonfarmer led us up Broadleaf Lane, then up to the aerials and Trigg on top of the hill.  From here we saw only clouds below us one side and Lyttleton on the other.  We then followed a track which will be brilliant sometime soon down to the top of Greenwood.  Blasted down the hill at great pace, then up the end of Godley.  Sandals continued to on to help a few people working on Anaconda while the rest of us headed down the singletrack to Taylors Rd.  Up and over to Dotcom for food and tea (coffee for some).  From here a steady blast back to ferrymead Bridge.  Richard and I both complaining that we did not have enough gears.  PH and MF then split along linwood while the rest of us flew around the towpath dropping Bugs at his place.  Home by 1.  Good tough ride.

21st October

Dozer, Tinkerbell, Silverfox and I met at mine and then we trundled up Crapaki Track.  Very warm morning and a realistic grinding pace all the way.  At the top we had a little breather before taking on the next grind up.  I followed Silverfox thru here and it was sweet.  No dabs and surprised him how close I was at the end.  Up and over the next section before hitting the Traverse at pace.  Quick blast with a 30 second stop before going into the Pines at the top of Vic and down towards the Rock garden.  Thru the Rock garden and then down thru the gums at pace.  Finally cleaned that steep gnarly corner.  Down Shazzas and into dark old Brents.  new lines at pace before heading down Bridges Flo etc.  Nice run all the way.  We all realised how tough the local tracks are really as they are not all groomed, or smooth like many done on the trip.  A lot more rocks and roots.  We were at the bottom and out by 10.45.  nice blast then a stop for coffees, juices and a wee nibble.  Followed that up with a ride with my girl Grace around the river in the afternoon.

Thursday 18th October.

Trip review.  On a scale of 1-10 the trip was about a 2 for me.  General feedback was the best was the Gondala and Zoots.  I certainly would not rush back here. Now its about what will we do next year.  Will there be a next year??

Wednesday 17th October.

Up and got packed.  Drove to Wanaka to do Sticky Forest.  Started well down and up twice.  The Cook fell and hurt himself so I rode back to the cars with him.  We waited then Bugs and Silverfox came out and we waited for the rest.  Finally into town for lunch.  Then we started to separate for the drive home. Got home about 7 after quite a cruisy drive.

Tuesday 16th October.

I had a crook guts and was feeling low so I did not ride.  The others went and rode Skippers.  Most thought it was ok but not worth the effort of an hours grunt out.  They also did another run of zoots.  Came back for lunch where most were happy not to ride.  A few showers of rain and if Phatboy had not pushed no one would of ridden.  In the end Phatboy, twopot, nelsie and mellonfarmer went out for a short ride.  Amazing veiws on the track by all accounts.  Dinner at Thai Siam.

Monday 15th October.

After a night of no sleep due to nerves I faced my demons and got on the Gondala along with the rest.  Right up til climbing on I was gonna give it a miss.  Ending up going up 7 times and only shitting my pants 7 times.  The tracks were awesome.  Some of us still rode as a group while others headed off to do their own thing.  Some awesome runs down tracks like Hammys, Vertigo and Singletrack sandwich.  Some fast and some hitting jumps and berms.  Even rode a boardwalk at speed.  After lunch we followed Mellonfarmer down and up a track.. Wrong track. Luckily we did not follow blindly and we set off to find the correct track.  This was a grunt with a lotta pushing uphill.  After regrouping we then followed like sheep.  A few big windfalls and once again a group assisting each other through these while the quick bods went their merry way. finally we found a track that was 100% rideable.  Quick descent to look at a jumps area and after this a few bods did the sheep thing while the rest of us went home to shower and get food organised.  great meal, Thanks Bugs for the Venison food donated.  Some drinks before going to watch some footage.  For me this was spoiled by stupid comments.  Bed.

Sunday 14th October

No rain so we loaded up and drove out to the carpark just after the Moke Lake turn off.  A track took us around to the 7 mile bike area.  Track in was ok but a bit mucky in spots.  Some little grunts along the way.  & mile was made up of little downhjills with lotsa little uphills.  Would be quite awesome with a little more drying but very much enjoyed by all.  Took it easy on a couple of runs, pushed some uphills but made sure to ride them all at least once.  This was done by quite a few. You do have the hardcore who rode it all, ups, downs, and all arounds.  If you listen to the stories I am sure some were quicker than their own wind.   Of course I can only speak for rmyself but the general consensus was it was ok.  The ride back along the track was great.  Home for lunch break before heading out to look at Skippers. Snow on the ground so on mellonfarmers advice we decided not to do this (tho Hellmutt and Nelsie decided to do it themselves) and (the rest) had a blast down Zoots track. This track will be held in fond memory by all. Great track so we organised some shuttle runs before heading back to town.  Spag Bol for dinner.

Saturday 13th October.

Wet wet wet and bloody cold.  As a group we decided not to ride.  Mucked around and strolled around Queenstown. Had lunch at a burger bar.  Went home and drunk and took time to laugh.  Out to dinner.  mexican tonite.

Friday 12th October

Up and out to the car early. Drove over and picked up Helmut and sandals.  Had lotsa food to load plus baggage for the trip.  We then drove off and got to the meeting point outside of Cookietime at exactly 7.30am.  Alistair and Nico were already waiting.  Then Bugs, Dozer and The Cook arrived.  They were followed By Tinkerbell, Silverfox and The Goat.  Finally Phatboy arrived with Nelsie, Twopot and Mellonfarmer.  The biggest posse for a trip ever. We drove off in convoy stopping briefly in Geraldine before turning off to Raincliff for a ride.  This track is still knew and was somewhat wet and boggy in places.  May get better one day but not today.  We then headed on.  Most thought we would stop but as the lead car had lotsa food we did not stop until Wanaka Beerworks.  Had a quick tasting, got some beers and over the Crown Range to Queenstown where we had some very good accommadation.  It was wet so no riding.

Wednesday 10th October

I had a chance to get out so I headed up gruntsbury at a steady pace.  my kinda steady!!  Kept it 1 gear higher than normal for extra workout.  Noone passed me all the way.  Kinda nice weather with a coolish wind behind me.  Upto the top then I chased a guy who got a big start on me finally catching him just before going into the trees at the top of Vic.  Down through Rock garden then shot down to Sandals hoping to catch helmut but neither were there.  then a pump back to my place.  bring on Fridays new track

Saturday 6th October

A knock on the door and here was some English guy called nick that mellonfarmer organised to ride with us. mellonfarmer however did not ride.  The rest of the posse arrived including, Dozer, Bugs, Silverfox, Tinkerbell, Phatboy, The cook and Sandals.  We headed off around Hansens Park, checking out the new unfinished path then started the grind to the top of Huntsbury..  Regrouped in the usual spots.  Phatboy had to wait longest as his bike rode fastest.  Finally at the top gate we discovered Texas had headed out alone so we incorporated him into the posse.  At the top we all sorted ourselves into order and headed around the traverse track at good pace, 1 quick regroup and then onwards.  They have fixed the dipper after all the rain.  At the top of Vic park we regrouped only to discover the Cook had gone down the hill.  Phatboy went down and bought him back up as he was waiting at the landing strip.  from here it was down Thompsons and then climbed to the top of marleys.  We had a flyer down the NUN with another gathering by the Kiwi.  Silverfox was proudly wearing battlescars and leaking fluid from a knee dab.  Down the old Dyers track and juddering pace and after gathering we headed up to the skidder site.  Here we went down Shazzas.  nicks inexperience with downhills showed so he went down the 4wd tracks to the bottom of Brents.  Phatboy and i racing down Brents with him getting a slight edge into a corner.  From here bridges and flow were dispensed with.  At the bottom of hidden valley track nick headed out while the rest of us clambered up and the flew down Old school.  great ride with a few tired bods at the end.  bring on the trip.

Tuesday 2nd october.

The big trip is nearly here so last night we needed a meeting.  A posse arrived at mine (Mellonfarmer, Bugs, Dozer, The Cook, Phatboy) and we all set off.  Some on Town bikes some on their steeds for mountains.  By round about routes we did ride until we picked up 3 more posse members. ( Tinkerbell, Silverfoxy and Sandals)  Pumping hard we headed towards Shagley Park.  Along the edge towards the Hospital we found a Lone Goat looking shaggy so we gathered him up and headed around the edge of North Hagley until we got back to the museum.  Really good pump.  Then by highways and byways we made our way to Pomeroys to imbibe good beer while discusing the transport needs for the trip.  After much confusion a plan was laid and more drinks and laughter followed.  By then end of the night we were no longer a posse but a band of merry men.  I was home before midnight still.

Saturday 29th September

Got up, got ready and put sound in my ears before pumping hard into the wind all the way to Phatboys.  met him and Dozer here and the 3 of us rode the river to the planting.  Solid head wind all the way.  We headed around Avonside Drive staying on the South bank all the way.  Through Red Zone after red Zone, just devastation and now with houses coming down makes it quite sobering.  Continued around past Wainoni Rd back along the river staying on the shingle all the way.  Phatboy led until we crossed Wainoni Rd again.  Then me leading as hard as i could. Along behind Tinkerbells old place, then crossing at bridge st for a ride through the old pines that are no longer there.  Continuing until Southshore then Rockinghorse rd until the Southshore Reserve. We then assisted Trees for Canterbury plant 2000 trees.  Tinkerbell and Jenna and Mellonfarmer put in appearances.Phatboy had a meeting and peeled off early.  After the planting and some food Dozer and I rode the track around the reserve before returning along the same route until we ended out on Wainoni Rd again.  He headed up cuffs rd to his place and I continued down Wainoni, Kerrs, Aldwins, Ensors and the Opawa Rd and home.  Total distance for me was 48km.  It was tough with so much wind.  I felt a little buggered for the afternoon.