Sunday 26th June

Well after what seems like months a gaggle met at mine. Mellonfarmer, Dozer, Bugs and Tinkerbell. Due to rain and wet tracks we rode out to Sumner via the south side of Heathcoite River inspecting damage as we went. Quite amazing. Checked out Whitewash Head before going to Cot Dom for the coffee fix. We then returned to my place. Not once did we gewt wet but it seems it rained in town a few times.

Saturday the 4th June

Hopped up to numerous messages telling me who was not riding. Bummed out a bit as it meant when we got to the tree planting i had to work harder and I was already in agony with my back. Mellonfarmer and Texas were the only 2 to show up. We headed up Gruntsbury. Me struggling with pain and it just seemed harder than ever. Finally got to the top and headed around the traverse. Things seeming a bit better but still not as quick as i could. Down Thompson's and then a squeeze through the no go zone on Summit Rd. Started heading up towards Marley's when I stopped and checked my wheels. Found that after putting in new pads the brakes had not been backed off. could not even get 1 complete revolution out of my back wheel. Corrected this and hey presto felt much better already. Damage had been done though and I was stuffed. Got up to the planting and Mellonfarmer stayed to plant 10 trees before heading off. Texas and I stayed on until the end. left about 2.30 and headed down Marley's. had a good flight, nice and loose all the way. Stopped briefly at sign of Kiwi then down below Dyers we went. Loose, slippery and sketchy but oh so much fun. From here we went down the road before riding into the wind. Just what was needed. All in all a success.

Tuesday 31st May

Drove over to Worsley Rd and up to the bottom of the track. Hooking up with Tinkerbell, Texas, Bugs and Dozer. Started the climb. I was riding like shite. Wobbling along but I did not dab until I could blame Dozer for cutting across and taking my line. He of course says it was due to me mucking around. Who can you believe the guy typing or the person who is not on line. The truth is he was just out to get me and had no regard for my safety while aggressively cutting everyones lines. Now we can continue. I continued to wobble up the hill. We were all sucking air like crazy. The lines were just not happening. Wobble dab wobble dab. Not enjoying it at all. Finally made it to the bottom of the bag where we headed off to the b line track. Bugs led off for while I started to get some vision going. Got better and better as we went. No falls although I am sure that Dozer did give himself a fright. Kept going and enjoyed it quite well. In the last section Tinkerbell led us up the gharden path and we lost the track. Finally found it and I threw in the towell. In fact we all did. The plan was to have another loop, but no we headed down for coffee at the Foxes where I was taught to use my manners.

Sunday 29th May

A cool morning but a lot planned. Phatboy picked me up and we headed up to Evans Pass. Waited there for Bugs, Dozer and Texas who were dropped off at the top of Greenwood. They arrived mud splattered and telling us about the horrid conditions. We then headed around the Godley head track. Conditions were awful. A bit of slip but the sun was singing eyeballs and we could not see much. Lots of dabs. Then we stopped for some repairs to Bugs brakes. On we went. Riding better now as the sun kept climbing. Above Breeze Col we told the workers we would be back to join them soon. We continued to godley and then straight back to breeze Col. We were tasked at building a rock ride. We were succesful but absolutely stuffed. We were joined by The Lone Wolf and then Sandals. Fun in the sun, rolling boulders, cutting track and testing. Took longer than we planned but great to finish. Sandals, Phatboy and I headed back along the trail while the Lonewolf stayed on to do more track work and the other 3 dropped down the snake and from there they went to Dot Com where we all had coffee. Sandals, phatboy and I had a good blast back. I took some old tricky lines for fun and just had a blast on the downhill run. Stopped at the 2nd team of workers. They were tidying the lines on the first nasty climb. This will be interesting next time. I then rode down the hill, very quick, and hooked up with everyone at Cot Dom

Tuesday 25th May

Drove and picked up the Silverfox and headed up to Sign of the Kiwi where we hooked up with Bugs, Phatboy and Mellonfarmer. We headed up the road to the top of marleys. As expected I was making a slog of the climb. Will work on the problem. 2 extra bricks on my stomach!! Mellonfarmer led off followed by Phatboy, me and then the other 2. Phatboy pulled off with light issues and I kep on going as I had some sort of off balance flow on. Enjoyed the work they have done is the rocky section. Will look forward to riding it in daylight to really learn the flow of it. Anyhow I pulled out at the halfway carpark followed by Silverfox, Bugs and then Phatboy. Mellonfarmer was like a good girl and went all the way down, before coming back up gasping. He caught us as we rode back up to the top again. 2nd run same order and I still finished in 2nd as Phatboy had light issues again. It was a battery pack falling loose. Grind back to the top and went into the track same order. We were rolling much better by now and were going all the way. Phatboy at least got into the bottom half of the track before moving over with the same issue. I went past and even scared myself a couple of times before pulling out at the Sign of the Kiwi. Not the first time I have pulled out here. We regrouped then chatted with Abba before loading up and heading home. Good ride in nice conditions.

Sunday 22nd May

Phatboy, Mellonfarmer, Silverfox, Dozer and I set off from home and headed round the river along the edge of Ferry Rd where it is really cracked up, behind the industrial area over lots of cracks. We hooked up with Tinkerbell and The Night Nurse as we went. Headed up Mt Pleasant at a quiet pace as the Night Nurse was a newby at this sort of thing! At the T intersection we headed down the McCormick's track. Nice fun run although slippery on the mown grass. At the bridge we regrouped while the Night Nurse dismounted into the flax for a close up view. Carried on down at a good clip and then back around the road. We took the option of the far side of the Heathcote by the Pa and Heritage park before arriving at TFC for gloves to wear while planting many many trees. All in all a good wee ride considering we were planting until 12.

Tuesday 17th May

Phatboy, Dozey and MuthahFarmah spun Bottle Lake. Twas a quicky.