Day 4 of the trip October 19th.

Makara Park.

Drive out to Makara minus Junior as he had his bike in getting the brakes fixed.  The plan was to pick him up as soon as the bike was ready.

We started the climb going up Koru.  Some saw the sign Koru Shortcut and attempted to ride/walk this.  I and a couple of others continued on the real track.  We all regrouped at the skills area which did not seem to attract our attention as much this time.  A few jumps by a couple of guys before we started back up the last section of koru.  This spits you straight into Sally Alley which is very similar.  Spin spin spin before regrouping at the start of Missing Link.  This costs you a bit of altitude but it is quite a bit of fun.  Down and then up before starting Aratihi.  A long climbing uphill.  Not steep just long.  It was sheltered and warm.  Near the top we regrouped and hung a left into leaping Lizard.  The first part has a couple of climbs, some fast little grassy down hills with sweet jumps before starting to point down the hill  getting steeper and steeper with lots of techy corners.  I loved it all the way. hands and legs were burning from hanging on by time we reached the bottom.  We then headed up possum Line.  What a shitter of a trrack.  Got to admit I walked some of this and I heard that I was not the only one. Steep and narrow with lots of switch backs.  Not a good line.  At the top Phatboy peeled left back into leaping Lizard as Junior was ready to come riding.  We did not see them again until back at the motel. The main group headed into nikau Gully which was not too bad.  Downhill and then a climb out.  It was warm going.  The track spits you out at the end of Missing Link.  We took this and continued up Aratihi going right instead of left at the intersection. (Left to leaping Lizard, Right to the top)  We waited for Silverfox who had punctured and Dozer who waited with him to arrive before the last sweet climb to the tower at Makara Peak.  We decided to do Peak Flow which locals had been raving about.  I had gear problems at the start which spoilt the run down a bit.  Not a track than anyone of us really raved on about. At the bottom MacGyver gave aid to my gears while the others rode up 701 (a steepish 4wd track) that takes you back to the Peak.  They waited there until first macGyver and then me arrived.  A bit of a break in the sun before heading into A to Z which takes you to North face (or other tracks if you want).  This was it.  An awesome downhill run.  Nothface was fantastic.  It had everything from Rocky drops, switchbacks, technical stuff and fast stretches.  Whooping and hollowing shit eating smile kinda track. This takes you into JFK then Smokin which were both funtastic tracks then they spit you into Ridgeline extension before shooting you into Swigg and Starfish which take you back to the carpark.  Great afternoons riding.  We loaded the bikes into the truck and secured this before driving back to town for showers etc.  meanwhile Phatboy and Junior had gone up the mainn tracks, Koru, Sally Alley, Missing Link and Aratihi before picking their way down Ridgeline.  By all accounts steep and rocky with no speed being gained.  they enjoyed this before coming back to the motels.  A relaxing evening was had.