Sunday 24th April

Phatboy picked up Dozer, The Cook (Robins first real ride on a hill) and me from mine and we drove out to Little River and met Sandals and Jandals. Mellonfarmer arrived and parked up his car for the later shuttle to get the main vehicles. We then drove up to the Hilltop and headed to Pettigrews Road. We then started climbing and then we climbed some more. The Cook was pretty well over cooked on this uphill. Great views to be had all the way. Finally some flat through loads of shit and then down some. Then across some nice techy single track before climbing with some pushing to the next peak. Then down and down and across some paddocks before grunting up another hill. Then down and across before yet another little climb. From here it was down to the top of the Port Levy Little River road. From here a fast shingle road all the way to the bottom. Great track over the top but a pity it looses all its altitude on the road. The cook only splattered himself 3 times and Phatboy met his old mate, "Bush Lawyer". When we got back to the village it was time to eat. Mellonfarmer then shuttled Phatboy and sandals to their cars before he drove back to the Little Akaloa Bach. They came down and we all went home. Good ride in fantastic conditions.

Tuesday 19th April

Silverfox drove Buggs, met the S.S. Mellonfarmer, Phatboy and Dozer at Bottle Lake. They turned right, cos left was closed, and they enjoyed the ride through except for the stink of portaloo juice as they climbed for the Gazebo. Then it was out to beach, most cleaning the sandtraps along there, then along further than usual, and in to the singletracks again where they could, then back round eventually to the start. No one had an off. No one hit a tree. Bugg's hand is recovering well. Some got wet feet. All were home around 8, nice and early. The punters that missed the ride, didnt miss much, but still it was a good ride nonetheless.

Sunday 17th April

After heavy rain and a shake disturbing more rocks we decided to avoid the tracks a do a town ride. Phatboy needed to gets lotsa photos for his Dad so we rode the fenceline of the red zone. Pretty amazing sites in town. There was only Phatboy, Dozer, Silverfox and myself. We not that Airforce stations had luxuries like beds, Tvs etc while the army had camp chairs only. Whos toughest or who is smartest. Stopped for coffee and home by 1 as always. A simple day.

Tuesday 5th April

Was wet all day, nearly all tracks closed and even McLeans would of been pretty soggy so a Road ride was called. I had Bugs, Silverfox, Big Tex, and the Cook arrive and we headed off to Mellonfarmers where we were joined by Tinkerbell and Dozer. We oohed and aahed about Mellon's new road rider and then headed along river road. Our streets of Christchurch are just so broken arsed. It does not show on any news broadcast how bad it is out there. I was riding on the right hand side of the road and the left hand side was at shoulder height. Sewer pumps everywhere with broken and empty homes. As we road down Locksley Ave I counted only 2 inhabited homes out of over 60. The new pathway is a stop bank as the river either is higher or the banks are so much lower. The stench of the river was bad. As we neared the Avondale bridge the tar sealed track was so broken and in some stages it was only the seal left with no earth underneath. Back around Avonside Drive with the same problems. Huge rents in the earth, new and raised stop banks. At the eastern side of Kerr's Reach we saw a house that was on an angle. The structure looked fine but one side of the house was off the ground by a good metre. We continued and as we got further the track were crossed by huge wheel eating cracks. The Cook got a snake bite in one of them. We ended at Pomeroys for a round of drinks before heading home. I can not say the ride was nice because it quite a sight out there.

Sunday 3rd April.

1st ride under Standard Time and lets think who got up early, Tinkerbell and Sandals. N E way. Tinks, Dozer, Phatboy, Silvefox and te Rex met at mine and we headed round and started up Gruntsbuury. Just after the closed section Mellonfarmer finally arrived and at good pace we headed up. it was quite warm and we stopped for a blow at the Aotea bend. Up we went, grinding ever upward, me still not on top of things and finding it a shitter climbing. carried on to off road and continued up. Hooked up with Sandals and Helmut at the top before a brilliant blast around the traverse. Into Thompsons where I went into the 1st hairpin so fast I lost it and had to dab. Funny it was and had to move over so others could pass. Silverfox peeled off at Kiwi while the rest of us headed up to the top of the Nun. Had a wee stop before heading down, MF and Hel going all the way together while the rest stopped at the Carpark and headed back to the top slowly to allow the other 2 to catch. I am sure they went really fast cos they did. Done the Worsley B line. it was fun with good techy lines. Stopping halfway for a good look over the plains. Carried on down and somehow we lost Te Rex. Finally found him and then we carried on down. Nice run down the singletrack beside the road. Then home. Stopped and waited for Sandals and Helmut so we could say Bye but they shot off in a different direction. Great ride.

Tuesday 29th March

A quick ride before attending the trip meeting. Mellonfarmer, Abba, Sandals, Te Rex and Silverfox arrived at mine and we headed up Huntsbury slowly. Amazing damage was seen as we climbed. Phatboy caught us near the top of Aotea Tce. We continued the grind up the hill. I am just so out of sorts climbing at present which annoys me. Up up up. At the top the boys tried some sheep herding. We whizzed around the Summit trail as the light grew dim. Dropped into Vic pines which were dark and no visability, down the Rock garden then on down the road to Sandals. Hooked up with Thumbhook(Buggs), Tinkerbell, Dozer and The Queenstown Goat. Discussed the trip. We are going to go to the coast this year. 5 nights. Time to organise accommodation.

Sunday 27th March

Woke up to a light shower and considered calling it off, but I thought it would be OK. Phatboy, Mellonfarmer, Tinkerbell, Dozer and the Silverfox all arrived. We hummed and haaed about what to do and settled on our plan to head up towards Greenwood. Around the river we went where it got pretty interesting as the bank started to break up a bit. Added to the fun as we rode over some deep renders in the bank. Started up Mt Pleasant after removing jackets and me cursing my knew pack which had a problem. Grind Grind we went as we looked at some of the broken homes. Carried on up and then I hit the wall at the 2/3rd mark. Just felt stuffed. must of been the late night before. Tinks stayed with me as we rode into thickening cloud. At the regroup (top of the road) we all thought that the rocks were gonna be interesting and sketchy. We were right. The first part had lots of slip and I dabbed a few times. Glasses steamed up which did not help. At the ruins we sorted out an order and headed down. Track was in great condition and the rocks were sharper and less slippery. Only one wee boulder on the track in Gloomy Gulch. Stopped and chatted with Nick and track builders. Felt guilty for not joining in. Continued on down past another group and out onto Evans Pass. Good blast down the road into Sumner. Looked at the bottom of Marleys from the road and some big broken trees and boulders where we would normally ride. Coffee at Dot Com. Bugs joined us and showed the pin they removed from his thumb last week. We then blasted home along the causeway and then back along the bank for fun. Good ride all in all.