Won't work. That's uphill. How about we ask all the campervans in the SI to carry a bucket of water up north and empty it as they pass? You heard it here first.....
Charity event tomorrow at the Riverlands truck stop tomorrow: Mike had the Beatnik business on main street here in Blenheim. Not only did Covid put an end to his business model, but also got cancer in a particularly bad way. One of the nicest blokes you could ever meet, doesn't deserve this shit. So if you're able to come along, look at heaps of bikes and talk shit with other riders and maybe make a donation to a good cause, do it. Pic above stolen from the book of faces, search cruise for Mike if you want actually correct information in this. See you there!
Avid followers of this forum have probably already suffered through my on-the -fly ramblings here: https://advrider.com/f/threads/summer-ride-planning-need-some-help.1474185/ But I shall try and put it in a slightly more coherent form here, as to not thread-jack more of @enduro0627 creation. So, the question was raised whether it was doable to visit Titirangi bay and Port Ligar in one day. Good question, that, why not find out! From my base in Blenheim it's a grand total of 465kms, how hard could it be? Google estimates 11 hours , 39 minutes but that's for a car and we all know how bikes are so much superior. Leave early, back for afternoon tea, piece of piss! So I decided Sunday the 13th was going to be the day I knock the bastard off. Prep the bike the day before, kit ready for an early start, bloody good! So Sunday starts with ideal weather, not too hot, not too cold, no rain, but slightly overcast. At precisely 8:16 me and Big Katie set off! A quick fuel stop in Spring Creek, and of to Picton, into the familiar twisties of the Queen Charlotte Drive to make a drop off at the bosses farm in Linkwater. Now that the formalities are out of the way, we can hit the Keneperu Road proper. After passing some properly scary and unmarked potholes early in the piece (And making a mental note where they where for the way back) I settle in a nice rhythm through the tarmac section. Quick stop for a picture: At Keneperu head the road turns into gravel, which I actually preferred at that stage. Traffic is light and before long I hit the crest overlooking Titirangi bay where I meet a nice chap volunteering to take a photo for (with) me: Down to the beach, where there's actually some light rain keeping the dust down, sweet! Evidential pictures: Head back, don't forget the potholes, turn right in Linkwater, and after just two hours I'm in Havelock enjoying a scone and a cuppa, while Katie has the company of some shinier bikes. After refueling the rider, Katie gets a top-up of some freshly pressed dinosaurs, that's when I notice an oily drip at the RH front: After checking the oil level, much prodding, looking, humming and hah-ing I decided that that is the mess I made when I topped up the oil the night before and it finally made its way to the bottom of the labyrinth that is the Big Katooms engine bay. Joining three quick road bikes I quickly get to the French pass turn off, re-check the oil situation, all seems to be well, press on! The road is actually in quite good nick, so we're making good progress, just one quick photo stop (and check the oil again....) About halfway between Elaine bay and Cissy bay, the turn off to Port Ligar, the road turns to gravel. The Port Ligar road gets progressively worse as you go, and after a few k's in the day is starting to catch up with me and I need to stop for a rest. Finding this nice launching spot I park myself on this tyred () old pier and just enjoy the scenery. Back in the saddle and press on until the view demands another piccy stop: Shortly after that I get to the sign: A friendly beekeeper coming past with a truck and trailer kindly waited for me to take off ahead of him so I set off back to the Cissy bay turn off, only encountering one local who considered this a one way road. You would think a fatality on this road just the day before would make people a little more cautious, but no.... Article: https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/30...tances-in-marlborough-sounds-death-police-say At the fork I decided to visit French Pass, being 'only' ten klicks away, would be rude not to. Good decision, the views where absolutely stunning After a well needed rest I made started my track back to civilization, which went actually quite quick, probably helped by the fact that the road got better and better as I went. After only an hour and a half I was back in Rai Valley where it was time for another rest. Only that the time I thought I had I didn't really have. A couple of passing riders from Nelson reminded me of the impending night closure of the Pelorus bridge which would leave me stranded on the wrong side. So with only about 10 minutes to go, grab yer gear and get the hell out of Dodge. Or Rai. I made across, with about 4 minutes to spare by my clock, while the workers had their obligatory OSH meeting, brilliant! Saved by the health and safety clowns, who'd have thunk it! Back home at 19:38 after 11 and a half hours and 9 and a half hours riding time: In conclusion, @enduro0627 : Yes it's do-able, but probably not quite as enjoyable as a two day ride. I was a tad knackered after that one....
Hi, thanks for the ride report. So pretty much as the G**gle estimate. They are getting rather good with this computing stuff lately. I have the same experience on my rides. As our holiday, we are going only for French Pass to keep it a holiday instead of a cross country rally race.
Should have dropped in for a cuppa! Our boat is normally moored by that ' tyre'd old pier' and that fatality was on the road through our property, too many of them unfortunately.
If I'd known you were there I would have. Those tyre marks where she locked up the rears with the cops spray paint marks was a timely reminder to take it easy.....
Question for the locals. On the way back from the Dusty Butt I will be doing the Molesworth and Mt Patriarch and end up in Havelock for the night. My GPS ( Basecamp ) shows a Loop off the southern end of Northbank Rd, starting on Fabians valley Rd then Bartlett's Rd which becomes Kiwi Rd and then Onamalutu Rd and back onto Northbank road. My question is do these roads all loop up to create a through road. Google maps does not show them and I think that I tried to do this loop about 10 years ago and found locked gates & forestry Rds.
Not a local...but tried that from the other side (Onamalutu Rd) in Nov. 2016 and finished up at a locked gate where the plantation pines started.