Sunday 30th August

Another planting day. I went outside to find Silverfox and Bugs ready to go so we then headed towards Phatboys by my normal drink night route.  Got there early and Phatboy ambled out and we headed down the drive to wait for Dozer.  From here it was straight down Kilmore thorugh hagley past Chch girls and hung a right onto the cycleway along the railway line.  Good run down here and we realised that we were way ahead of schedule so we stopped into the Cosy cafe for a drink of tea.  off to the planting down Styx Mill Rd and through the Crematorium down Greywack Rd.  The planting sitre was a further 1.7km along the track so pleased we were on the bikes.  Planted all the plants and then headed back in the reverse direction.  Silverfox peeled off by Chch Girls while the rest of us headed through Hagley and down Armagh and cutting back onto Kilmore.  Phatboy and I stopped for  a beer while the others headed home.  A good ride.

http://www.mapmyride.com/workout/1144328717

Thursday 27th August

Dozer arrived at Bug's place just after 6pm. No one else was riding except for MacGuver & Mellonfarmer who headed out earlier. Plan was to hopefully meet up for a beer later. Headed around the river towards Rapaki. The breeze was getting colder as we headed towards the hill. Started the climb at a easy pace chatting as we climbed. Got to the top just in time to follow a nice view in the moon light. Quick chat with the view at the top then we decided to head left out towards Greenwood. Full moon so we rode without lights for most of the way along the top. All lights on then dropped into the Castle hill track. Bit greasy in places which made the rocks a little slippy. Problem was tears in the eyes due to the cold wind. Arrived at the top of The Bridal Pass then followed the road around below the Gondola. Up the single track towards the aerials at the top. Wind was getting stronger and colder with a dew starting to form on the grass. Jackets on then into the down hill. Bug's lead with Dozer trying to keep up. Track was greasy in places which kept the speed down. Quick phone call to Richard to organize a beer then down into Greenwood. Bug's lead getting a gap on Dozer. Bug's tyres were pinging on all the rocks causing some issues in certain places. At the bottom Bug's let about 20 psi out of each tyre while waiting for Dozer. Into Cpt Thomas which was flowing well. Half way down the middle rocks and Bug's gets a snake bite. Replaced the tube then we continued onwards and downwards. Dozer nearly did a Rubberjaws and almost went over the bars. Down we continued into the fast switch backs and both used the new track near the cabbage tree. The lower tracks were very muddy which was disappointing. Over the gate then down into Sumner. Straight though Sumner, The Causeway and Ferrymead. Time was now getting late so we decided to miss the pub. Home around 9.20pm. 31km

Sunday 23rd August

It was a frosty start to the day but by 9am the sun was already warming us up. Phatboy, Dozer, Silverfox and Tinkerbell met up on the Ferrymead bridge. Started the slog up Mt Pleasant to the bottom of John Britten track. By this stage the weather was warming up nicely with no breeze. A steady pace up John Britten track with Phatboy taking the lead. From the Summit Rd we dropped down to the start of Greenwood track. Tinks took the lead round to the ruins. Tracks were fairly dry, with the odd greasy patch. Phatboy lead off into the next section of Greenwood with a good run down the hill. Steady through Gloomy Gultch as its always a bit slippery through there and saw some other bikers having a rest. The rest of Greenwood flowed fine with the odd slick spot to negotiate - all of us having a good run. We set off to the start of the Goddley Head track when we saw the Westpac Chopper coming in & concerntrating around Gloomy Gultch - the bikers resting must have had an injured biker. We set off around Goddley Head track with most of us a bit rusty getting over the tricky rocky areas. A quick regroup above the Anoconda, then we headed down the snake into Taylors. We refrained from checking out some Holdens on display in the Taylors carpark & instead started the climb over to Sumner. Stop off at Dot Com for refreshments, then back on the bikes for the road ride back to Ferrymead. A good ride had by all on a glorious Sunday! Long may the fine weather last.

Tuesday 18th August

Phatboy arrived at Bug's place and not long after that Dozer arrived in the van. The 3 off us headed off past Bamford School and followed the river upstream arriving at the bottom of Rapaki where Tinkerbell was waiting. After a brief chat we headed up Rapaki. Bug's and Phatboy pulled away as we climbed at a good pace. Passed a couple of others on the way and arrived at the Saddle to a solid but cool wind. Jackets on while we waited for the others. Headed up Mt Vernon with Phatboy leading, followed by Bug's, Tinkerbell then Dozer. Regroup at the start of The Traverse. Headed into the Traverse in the same order finding a few puddles which turned into a few more. Dropped into the dipper finding a large puddle at the bottom which we all managed to ride though. Regroup at the top of Vic Park then down we went. Across the paddock which was soaking wet then into the Rock Garden with nice wet tyres. All managed to get down here in one piece. Regroup at the skidder site then down though the normal way though the trees. Bug's missed the 1st hard left and dropped down into the down hill track. This was wet, muddy and slippy. Got down in one piece to find Phatboy waiting at the junction. Tinkerbell arrived then Dozer made a grand entrance by sliding down the last steep drop off just missing a tree. Headed down though from here with us all finding the switch backs slippy but managing them well enough to stay upright. Down at the 4WD track then headed downhill to Bowenvale Road. Bikes covered in a fresh layer of mud but riders with smiles. Tinkerbell turned off to his place while the others went right. Phatboy turned off closer to his place while Dozer n Bug's went to The Brewery for a pint of ale. Off to Bug's place from here where Dozer put his bike in the van and headed home. Great but muddy ride.  

Sunday 9th August

A cool day with a bit of snow hanging around the summit and most tracks officially closed so a long flat ride was planned.  Outside of mine I met The Cook (1st real ride in over 5 weeks due to his jaunt to Europe), Bugs, Tinkerbell and Silverfox.  We headed down Opawa onto Richardson Tce to Radley St then down here to Linwood Ave and straight ahead into  the Cemetry.  Cut over a fence then took a left into another Cemetry and finally onto Ruru Rd.  At the Itm on Dyers we collected Dozer.  Straight through the ponds and finally around the Bexley Stopbank.  A breif stop where Tinkerbells house once stood before heading over the bridge and finally cutting though Rawhiti Domain.  After this it was an alley way all the way to Pacific road which bought us out just near Broad Park.  Looked back towards the hills which were black and threatening.  Hoped it would not catch us up.  Off we headed down the beach, past the dump fire, along the beach a bit more before hanging a left onto the singletrack.  Turnt right onto a track (finally realised it was one that was known to us from years ago) chasing Bugs who was leading. Had a regroup at the end of this stretch before heading out the final couple of legs to Spencer Park.  Had a rest here and a piss stop.  Bugs put on his jacket (sensible lad in the end) and then we headed off through the camp ground.  Rain starting to fall.  Into the forest where I discovered that somehow I had a leg issue.  Pulled hamstring somehow.  This was slowing me down a tad.  Kept pushing a bit more but stopped to put on jackets and wet weather gear as it began to snow, It was getting cold.  Tinks, Bugs and Dozer had pulled ahead so they waited at the end of the next strectch.  Continued on the lost Bugs and Dozer briefly when we lost the track and they did not.  Onwards to the road near the hq. Here we continued on around the track with me leading and rain or snow falling at times.  Regrouped at the  wee hut on the hill.  We had dropped the Cook somehow and his fitness was starting to tell.  He ended coming up from the complete oppisite direction.  From here we continued out towards the beach and had a cruise back to Broad Park where we washed our bikes while waiting for The Cook.  Weather really closed in with snow, sleet and rain as we pumped along Marine Parade.  We stopped in the shelter of the Working Mens Club.  Dozer and the Cook headed home down Pages Rd while the rest of us followed Marine Parade onto beachh Rd finally turning across the ponds.  Tired bunnies now, head wind, sleet and feeling very numb.  Bugs stopped at his and we final 3 slogged out the last kms to home.  Wet, tired, sore but felt rather good.  Need more long hauls before the trip.

http://www.mapmyride.com/workout/1111523585

Tuesday 4th August.

Dozer meet at Bugs at 5.40pm and they rode though Ferrymead heading to St Andrews Hill. Up we went at a steady pace as we were meeting Rubberjaws at Upper Hornbrook Rd at 6.30pm. Stopped to remove jackets about half way. We got 3/4 of the way up and it was only 6pm so we slowed then stopped in a sheltered stop for 10 minutes. The cold strong cold southerly had arrived. Headed upto the meeting point to find we were still 10 minutes early. Sheltered in the bushes with Dozer before Rubberjaws arrived.

Rubberjaws arrived and we headed up for a couple of loops.  Rubberjaws had to cut short the ride for family reasons.  We headed up the normal route with Dozer pulling out a lead.  Wind was blowing hard all the way.  Did the hairpin and over to the trees where Rubberjaws headed down the hill towards Upper Hornbrook.  Working out a route and taking a route that we had ridden / slashed walked up before.  Got onto the farmtrack which led us back to the start.  From here we headed back up and where Sandals deviation joins the track we headed up the guts.  Not bad way to get to the top but cloud was low and wind was in your face. At the trees Rubberjaws headed down the normal track having trouble with mist covered glasses while Dozer and Bugs headed towards Greenwood.

After we split from Rubberjaws we headed around to Greenwood. The cloud had set in now. The lights were reflecting back off the cloud so we could only see 10 m in front. Bug's lead in with Dozer behind. Bugs got a small lead over Dozer until we had a catch up just before the ruins. Bug's continued leading from here having a great run. Dozer dropped back a little and had a issue with a hole he didn't see. Nearly went over the bars but saved himself in time. Bug's waited half way down to see that Dozer was still coming down before he continued the rest of the way. We then headed down Captain Thomas enjoying the part of the track that had been worked on 2 weeks back. No issues for either coming down here. Dropped into the new track just past the cabbage trees which neither of us had ridden before. Was steep in places but both enjoyed the new challenge. Continues down to the bottom then down the road into Sumner. Straight into the Southerly and across the Causeway to Ferryead. Called in for beer and hot chips. When we left the pub the rain had started and the temperature was freezing. Home for a hot shower then bed. Great ride and the tracks were mint.

Meanwhiles at the other end of the hills, below the clouds, and with no shortage of visibility, MellonPharmer and McGuyver zoomed up and down a few times in the McVicars Block.