Barts Adventure Photos

[Mark_S]

Man its like riding with my own personal photographer
pity I was riding like such a pansy

was a great day

thanks Bart

[bart-nz]

Posted elsewhere, but I'll put it up here also....

For the last few years I've been organising the annual Round Ruahine Range Ride. The Ruahine's are a mountain range making up part of the back bone of the North Island in New Zealand.

The 2013 installment was held last weekend. The route is fairly loose and changes every year, but the ultimate goal is to complete a lap of the mountain range over 2 days, using the worst possible roads.

We started in my home town of Dannevirke. The first mishap happened within 30 seconds, when 2 bikes took the wrong turn (within sight of the start point). While I was chasing them down, the others continued past the second turn just out of town. Herding cats springs to mind. After a few minutes, we got everyone back on track, and hit a few gravel roads towards the coast.

We rode a long section of beach and everyone let off a little steam.

Gav practicing donuts on his DR





Wheelys





Spills









As you can see we had some amazing weather











We reached the end of the beach and found a bunch of kids blasting around on little puddle jumpers.



The temptation...



Wade on the 530 trying to out drag a girl on a....ummm....is that an 80?



The competition was fierce. The little fellas weren't giving up without a fight.







Number 7 was a particularly tough caracter. The jacket says it all...



After a few laps, we had to give in to the young ones. They were just too quick for us old guys. With that, we left the beach and headed inland (before their parents got pissed off and chased us out of town).

We gassed up and had lunch in Waipawa. Wade then took us around a few farms in the local area. The view was stunning.



Early autumn here and it's been a very dry summer.





Yes, that looks a bit like a motorcross track down there







I'm pretty sure Gav has done this sort of thing before. He was getting progressively faster and faster, to the stage I thought the old DR would shit itself.





Those DR's must be tough



Bags, fuel can...the works



Marty wasn't far behind on the 690



Suspension...who needs it



From there, we continued on to a large feild where for some reason they'd been stripping off the topsoil and mounding it up.



Wade having a play around



Gav practising his berms







Some of the crew went home, only doing the one dayer. The rest of us headed back to civilization for gas and beer. Once sorted, off into the hills again. Deep in the Kaweka ranges.





It was getting late by now so we headed for the campsite at some hot springs. This is a free 'department of conservation' campsite.



Gav with a home made cooker made out of beer cans and some meths. Quite effective once it got hot enough



There's a bit of thermal activity in the area and hot water runs down a small stream out of the hillside. This hot water is channeled though a couple of fibreglass tubs.



It was too freaking hot for me. These guys lasted about 5 minutes before they looked like cooked lobsters.

A tin of beans, a few beers, talked some bullshit to some other bikers that happened to be there, then it was off to bed. It's been a while since I've slept on the ground, so it wasn't my best nights sleep.

More to come.

[bart-nz]

Day 2 started cool. There was fog and light frost on the tents.

Magic spot



Mohaka River



The only sign of civilization, a lone vapour trail.



My beast all loaded up





Yep, the rest of us were all packed...but...at least he had his tent packed up.



We had about a 40 minute ride to a river where we were to meet some others. To save going an extra 50 km loop to get on the Napier Taihape road, we had to cross it.







Robin, showing us how it's really done on the little 200



From here we went over the Gentle Annie. This was quite a notorius piece of road a few years ago, bit a lot of the fun has been lost now the whole length has been sealed. However we explored some side tracks.





then headed along some awesome back roads towards Taihape. Very scenic bridge place.







with ample mud fish, sorry, trout



From there. we lunched in Taihape. A few more riders made there way home. The remainder rode the back roads to Apiti, then took a look up Takapari road. It was a little hazy, but the scenary was stunning as usual.



Wade's bike had suddenly morfed from a KTM to a KLR overnight.





Robin



Ross



Robin, trying to get me on the other side of the lens





From there it was the long haul home. A fantastic couple of days riding with some awesome people. Cheers guys.

Now, to start planning next years RRRR...

picture of the weekend


.

[Night Falcon]

EPIC ride Bart!!

[Padmei]

I've just thrown my camera in the bin

You are a legend with the lens Bart. Great RR & awesome looking ride!!

[Box'a'bits]

Originally Posted by Padmei

I've just thrown my camera in the bin

Oh, oh...don't throw it away, post it up.... It can help me make my crap photos betterer.

And Bart, really good job...Sorry I missed it

[Padmei]

You suck bart

[bart-nz]

Originally Posted by Padmei

You suck bart

Bored huh?

[Mark_S]

Originally Posted by bart-nz

Bored huh?

no

just a very slow reader

[Box'a'bits]

An Auckland reject, now living in Nelson - what could you expect?