Saturday 5th October

A planting day was organised at Halswell Quarry so a good chance to get a hill ride in along the way.  Dozer and I set off from my place at a steady pace as Phatboy was running late and had indicated he would catch us on the Rapaki.  Although tempted to push hard and work him hard we did not take that option.  Dozer needed a stop to loose a layer of clothing at the bottom of the road and then we climbed from there.  It was warm but you could see low cloud/fog ahead of us. We ended up riding in quite an unreal world of  fog.  Stopped at the gate on the flat section so Dozer could stretch out and as we could not see if Phatboy was coming we decided a slow ride would be good.  Got started and Phatboy arrived so we all rode on together at a good steady clip.  Up to the top where it was pea soup and still warm.  Then over Mt Vernon and continued around the Traverse.  Good pump along here before dropping down Thompsons and out to Sign of Kiwi. Up the road into the fog and along here trying to find the top of Kennedy's track in the soup.  Quick stop for an extra layer and then off we went.  The first section was rough as guts using all our suspension at speed.  From here on it was wet grass all the way until the last long stretch to the gates.  We had to follow the channel past cows and at speed it was rather scary.  Survived then clambered over the gate and did the single track (Siberia?)  down to the top of Crocodile.  Fast blast down here then into C2 and then into the quarry for the planting.  Job done time to go home.  Long road ride back along Cashmere Rd and then the usual byways.  The other 2 took the Colombo route home while I continued around the river to home.  Good ride.