Herbertville Trail Ride

 This may take me a little while to type as I'm still sore - actually, my fingers are ok, it's the rest of my body...

Yesterday I attended the annual Herbertville Trail ride so that started early with a drive of around one and a half hours to the site of the ride, just out of Herbertville.

Once there, the yellow bike was unloaded pretty quickly and I started to gear up for the ride while watching all the other riders turn-up.  There were bikes and quads of all sorts, and I was surprised to see a number of big side-by-sides also - I wasn't too keen on getting run over by one of them travelling at pace...

Look at all the ramps...

Might need one of these one day...

While waiting I was joined by a fellow RMX rider who had seen my bike and popped over to say gidday.  Rob had just got his one RMX and had driven down from Napier and during the ride he rode with me and waited if I got delayed for some silly reason or other...

Two Yella Terras!

Clean too

Just before 10 we were given the ride briefing and it was good to see that the side-by-sides were given a decent talking to about keeping an eye out for bikes and everyone else also got warned about riding on the road, cliffs, hairpins etc...Then we were off.

The first bit we tackled was a 3km loop that took us on a decent climb up a hill before dropping back down to the car park.  You can see it as the small loop to the right of the car park on the map.

This got us warmed up and introduced to slippery grass, steepish climbs, farm tracks and a couple of little muddy bits.  Yet again I was happy that I'd bought a torquey 450 rather than a rev-happy 250.  You can get away with murder on the RMX.  A gear too high for that climb?  No problem, we'll just grunt up it without breaking a sweat.  Mint.

Back at the carpark we rode up the road a little before turning off into a paddock and straight up a really steep, grassy hill.  My nerves were for nothing - power!

But, on the other side I made my first boo-boo and discovered how slippery the grass was.  I stalled the bike dropping down the hill and the rear end promptly went out from under me.  No harm done and I was up and at 'em again straight away.

Back down the hill we had to ride through a few muddier sections along with the odd small climb.  It was a little more tricker to pick a line with lots of bikes all trying to find the way.  One small creek crossing and then that was another 5km loop over with.

Next up was the big 35km loop which involved a short bit of a gravel before charging up a steep, rough section and getting right into plenty of steep hill work.  The route took us over a lot of grassy hills and some farm tracks, often with some steep drop off''s if you missed a corner...The views were pretty damn good too.

Looking down on Herbertville

Most of the loop was like this with plenty of hills to climb and then drop down.  In a few of the lower places there were a few boggier bits but nothing the knobblies found too hard to deal with.

Back at the ute it was time for a breather, a sandwich and plenty of water.  The bike even got some fuel - about 3L or so for the 40 odd km...I think it likes gas...

Lunch break over, Rob and I fired the bikes back up and made for a repeat of the morning's loop.  I think by now I'd got my eye in a bit and that first section seemed to be over pretty fast with just one little scare...

Unfortunately there is no video of it as I had forgotten to turn the camera on, but this still from when I did turn the camera on after the event will help tell the tale.

You will observe that I am quite close to a fence whereas there is the spine of a hill to my left.  That spine is where I should be.  While it had been a bit windy in the morning, the wind had really got up as we left for this loop and crossing that spine I get hit my a really decent gust.  The wind and slippery grass meant that I was just blown off the hill.  Luckily I got out of the wind before the fence and I managed to get into some sort of control and stop to wonder what had just happened...

The rest of that loop was uneventful but when we got back to base we discovered that the 2nd section had been shut off - perhaps the muddy bits were getting a bit too churned up after a couple of hundred bikes, quads and side-by-sides had been through.

This meant we were into lap 2 of the bigger loop and it was good to be repeating it as I think that maybe I remembered some of it and kept myself pretty much out of trouble.  We did have one quick breather and I managed to get a few more snaps.

Team Yella

My only whoopsie on this loop was because I was being nice.  As we were dropping off a hill into a muddy section before a quite steep climb up the next rise I noticed a guy stuck in the mud at the bottom.  Rather than do the sensible thing and fire the bike down through the mud and then up the hill, I stopped halfway down to wait and then had a stab at it.

Unfortunately, I just didn't have the momentum I needed and got it all wrong climbing up the hill.  This resulted in me being stuck sideways across the hill on some really slippery stuff.  I eventually got the bike up and out of the way and then tried to get going again.

This wasn't to be as when I took off the rear tyre just couldn't get any grip and the bike went out from under me with me being thrown down the hill and the bike toppling over so it was upside down too...

Well, at least I wasn't on the Tenere or even the WR.  It took me quite a bit of muscle to get the bike upright while trying not to slip over in the slipperiness.  After some deep breathing, I fired up the bike and walked it up out of the slippery stuff and then leapt aboard and fired it up the hill to chase after Rob who was waiting for me a bit further along.

A bit more unadulterated fun and we were back at the carpark where I loaded up while Rob went to see if he could get a ride in a side-by-side.  Another sandwich did a disappearing act along with even more water and then I was outta there.  What a fantastic ride - much better than some of those other slippery enduros - and the views were a great bonus.  if you read this Rob - cheers for keeping an eye on me!

She doesn't look like this now - I did managed to clean it despite my broken body...

Big girls can boogie

 Go the Fat Ninja!

Tyre scrubbing

On Saturday Colin took delivery of his new GSA and naturally it had to get to it's first service as soon as possible.  He had got to know it a little on Saturday but that only whet his appetite so we had to see if it would still start on Sunday, get that new rubber scrubbed in and the bike ready to be dropped in for the service on Monday...it's a tough job but someone has to keep him company and make sure he doesn't get into any trouble...

Colin obviously was pretty keen alright as I got a phone call from him while out on an early Sunday morning dog walk.  He was already at my place and ready to go...

Ten minutes later I was back, he was inhaling a coffee and I was pottering around getting the Connie ready and making sure the vents were open on my riding gear - the day was already warming up.

Our first little leg was across to Marton where we both topped up our tanks in preparation for some magnificent tarmac surfing.

No idea why Col is looking so happy

I still love the old girl

From Marton I led us onto Makuhou Road where I'd taken the FRDC MC a month or so ago.  I'm pleased to report that the road was still in fabulous condition and just as fun.  One interesting obstacle along the way was a peacock who'd had an argument with something bigger and faster than him.  They're quite big...

Next up was the short section of sealed Turakina Valley Road to Mangatipona Road where we turned left towards Fordell.  Along the way we got slowed up by some cyclists and a 4WD and two other bikes caught us.  Once we got past the car the other bikes tagged in behind us for a while but we somehow got away on them as we climbed up through some twisties towards Fordell.

The next bit of excitement involved another peacock.  And this time it had it in for me.  It was close, and I probably didn't want it any closer...As is usual with animals, they are determined to cross (and it wasn't even a chook) the entire road rather than turning for the nearer side for an easy escape.  He obviously saw me and did a pretty good road runner impersonation before concluding that I was still lining him up (I was on the picks and heading left) and lighting his JATO bottles to hurl himself into the air.  Well, it worked and there are no feathers on the Connie or skid marks in me jacks...

Turning just past Fordell to bypass Whanganui we zipped through Okoia and then onto SH4 to line up a trip through the Paraparas.  Many delicious corners and zero run-ins with the local wildlife got us up to the Fields Track turn-off and the sprint up the hill to the usual photo stop.

Back on the bikes we carried on riding the Track and generally having a ball.  Geoff, that 55 section rear really has sharpened up the old girl's turn-in - now that I've got my head around it, she's effortless to turn into those slower, tight corners.  Not sure what's happened to the chicken strips...

Out on 49, we turned left and pottered through to Ohakune before turning for Raetihi and lunch at the busy cafe.

Next up was that moment of Zen I mentioned in my last post.  That bit of seal from Raetihi to Pipiriki was absolutely magnificent.  Endless beautiful corners on a mainly clean track, and only one attempted head-butt from a feathered fiend with a death wish.

Continuing South, the road was still mostly perfect, just the odd bit of loose stuff in places and plenty more superb corners to save the middle section of that rear tyre.

And then we had a really unexpected encounter.  At was probably somewhere between 1:30 and 2pm we came up on a beautiful young stag on the road.  Most unusual to see one on what can be a pretty popular weekend route (bikes, campervans and tourists) and I'm pretty sure he was surprised to see us.  

He took one look at the big silver thing bearing down on him, trotted up the road a bit and then tore off into the scrub.  That's two interesting animal encounters that I didn't get on video due to the camera deciding to miss this ride.

At lunch Colin had suggested we stop at the little cafe at Matahiwi.  "What cafe?",  I replied.  I've ridden the River Road heaps of times and never seen a cafe...Turns out there is one and sometimes it's open for business.  I started keeping an eye out for it at Jerusalem but Colin new where he was going and took over, perhaps needing a coffee and leading by his nose?

When we got there, there were two bikes outside and it turned out that between us we knew both of the riders.  Drinks acquired, we sat outside under an umbrella and shot the breeze with Robin and Steve before we all mounted up for the last stretch of the River Road.

Hidden delight

Old river boat

We got a bit held up by some people trying to wrangle some wayward horses (bikes are far more manageable generally) but soon were making decent progress and ensuring that the GSA's new rubber was well and truly scrubbed in.  Another quick photo stop confirmed that everyone had enjoyed the little squirt and we left the other two to it and snaked back down the hill towards SH4 again.

Another trip through Okoia got us to Fordell where the low fuel warning light came up on the Connie after only a miserable 280km - not sure what the issue was there...

This meant that we had to skip repeating the morning's ride (Colin's preference) and so we main-roaded it into Bulls where we found some fuel, de-constructed the ride and managed to agree that we had indeed failed to have a miserable time.  Apparently the new bike is ok too.

Bring on many more days like this!

My moment of Zen

Yeah, this is a little bit airy-fairy but I had a superb ride on the Connie yesterday - blog to come at some stage...

But, sweeping through some magnificent corners from Raetihi to Pipiriki yesterday with the below coming through the speakers was magical...

Waihi falls with the WAR

 Last Sunday I managed to get invited on a ride with the WAR (Wellington Adventure Riders) crew - oh, hang-on, I just gate-crashed the party after seeing a post on FB...  Their plan was to head out to Waihi Falls for lunch and take in some of the great gravel (that I'd actually only just recently been on) over that way.

Sunday turned out fairly grey and while there wasn't any rain on my way up to meet everyone at AFC motorcycles, it sure looked like there was the chance of some.

Chevvy wants another Yamaha...

While we were waiting the odd spit of rain did start falling and before we left I put on by rain jacket but not my over-trou.  I didn't even close the vent panels in my riding pants - because I forgot they were open from the last ride 🤦

Anyway we eventually saddled up and made our way out to Ashhurst and then over a damp Saddle through to Dannevirke where we had a quick stop for the bikes that needed juice before hitting the Weber Road as far as the turnoff to Waitahora Road.

This started off as plain old wet tarmac before we finally hit our first bit of gravel.  All the rain had made the gravel settle down nicely but there was the odd slippery bit (especially at about the 2:56 mark).

At the end of Waitahora Road we took a quick recce up Makairo Road.  this road appears to peter out at a bit of a clearing but apparently you can ride right through it - just not on big bikes in wet conditions.  One DR rode in a little way before turning around and rejoining us.  I feel that the WR's may need to investigate further...

Doubling back we then took Coonoor Road to Towai Road where I was naughty and charged up the hill to the works first before settling down for the drop back down the hill and ride into the falls.  Going up the hill was a blast as usual but on the Eastern side of the hill there were some nice slippery exposed clay to keep you on your toes.

Out of the clay and the gravel was great again.  I managed to sneak past a couple of KTM's and have a real blast, beating everyone to the Falls.  <== Sounds impressive when you don't know that everyone else missed the big sign saying Waihi Falls eh?

After lunch it was time to retrace our steps back over the hill to the works again and then drop down onto Coonoor Road for more great gravel into Makuri.

Yes, that's a Ducati engined Bimota out getting dirty

The Tenere likes mud but not clay

Chevvy not on a WR or in a helicopter ;)

A damp Makuri Gorge got us to Pori Road where the seal was actually trying it's best to dry out - yes, it was windy...Once back on the gravel the road was great but with the low cloud the views not quite as nice as normal.

Off the gravel and out on 52, we stopped to have a final chat before everyone went their separate ways.  I led Toots and another damn KTM rider back over Pa Valley Road and into Pahiatua before one last squirt over the track into Palmy.

I may have got a tad damp but I like wet gravel and it was a good little ride to give the S10 a little bit of exercise 😈

Trial by clay

This Sunday it was time to tackle another trail ride on the RMX.  It had been a while since the last one and I basically wanted to the first one that came up so when I discovered one down near Johnsonville (Wellington) I was pretty much always going to be there.  Unfortunately they got a bit of rain in the lead up to the ride...

I left home around 7am and tootled down in the ute, following GoogleMaps until I got out on the road to Makara where I spotted other vehicles with dirt bikes heading up the Ohariu Valley.  I figured that they might just be heading my way and tucked in behind the convoy...

Unfortunately, someone upfront took a wrong turn (and we never spotted any signs) and our little convoy of maybe 10 vehicles got led up a road that eventually deteriorated into a track that got a little rougher and occasionally muddy the further up it we went.  Eventually, they twigged to the error and we all ground to a halt.

Now we had ten vehicles stuck on a single track road with not much in the way of turning options.  And some of the vehicles were 2WD or towing trailers...

With no options we started trying to make our way back down.  I'm not sure really what was happening to some of the vehicles up front but someone did need to borrow my tow-rope...

I managed to reverse down a little way and then turn the ute around in a slightly wider spot - 4WD came in handy - but the poor bloke in front of me had to reverse his SUV with trailer a fair old way...

Back out on tarseal we were met by one of the organisers (great bloke) who apologised for the stuff-up and pointed us in the right direction.

I think the ute enjoyed getting a little dirty...

After unloading the bike I got to talking to the guy parked next to me and he warned me that the ride could be quite technical.  He was also a little surprised that I'd driven down from Palmy for it but hey, I'd been counting the days since my last outing on the yellow bike.

While we were getting ready the organiser bloke came around and gave us some great news...apparently it was going to be slippery.  His advice was to air down to 8psi.  I didn't have my gauge with me but did know what pressures I'd left with so knew I needed to drop some.  I let quite a bit of air out of the rear but not as much from the front, gave the tyres a squeeze and decided that they were about right...

Before kick-off there was a really good riders briefing where there was more riding tips, suggestions that the tracks would get better once a few bikes had been round and instructions to look out for each other etc.  Really good stuff.

And then we were off.  Or perhaps, the keen young guns were off while I waited a while to let them blaze the trail.

Finally underway, I followed some bikes up the gravel road and then we turned off onto a grass track where a girl in front immediately fell off.  Bummer.  Slow speed and nothing hurt except pride, she was up straight away and looking for her boy friend to help her pick up the bike.

I carried on past getting a feel for the slipperiness and got through the first little section and back out onto the gravel again before catching up with a bunch of riders trying to work out where we were supposed to be going.  After much umming and arring they disappeared over a bank and plunged into some trees...I was dumb enough to follow...

After a bit of bush bashing we stopped before another descent and waited while other bikes got through what looked sounded like another gnarly section.  We were there a wee while and there was much discussion as to whether we'd taken a wrong turn, got onto an A section or what.  No other bikes had joined us in a while and after a phone call went unanswered we figured we might be on the wrong track or going the wrong way around the circuit.  As it turned out it was the latter and once we had clambered out of the scrub we ran into someone who pointed us in the right direction.

Now the ride started in earnest and it definitely had it's moments.  There was the occasional easy bit where there was a decent track but there was a lot of very slippery clay in amongst the pine trees which was pretty hard going - especially where there were also a lot of tree roots across the track.

Basically, you had to maintain your momentum at all costs.  If you got stuck on a slope with the rear tyre on a root then you were going nowhere.  A number of times this happened to me when I came up on someone else stopped (and no way past them) or when I stuffed up.  This sort of thing generally resulted in having to roll back down the hill (trying to stay on the bike) and attacking it again on a hopefully better line.  Throw in stalling a hot bike and a fat, unfit rider and it was hard work.

Due to the whole fat, unfit thing I needed the odd breather and even managed to get the camera out for a couple of photos at one stage.  You'll note I didn't get off the bike, this was due to not being able to get the stand down on the steep hill - I guess I could have laid the bike over but then I'd have had to lift it up again...

Just after these pictures there was actually a short open section where I even saw third gear and didn't die once!  And then I was back into the slippery stuff again.

If you can be bothered watching the video at the end, (it's terrible helmet cam that I find hard to watch) there is one steep (hard to tell how steep in the video) section where I had a stab at it but was hindered by a stopped rider again and pretty much slid back down the hill again.  I ended up taking to the scrub and gassed the 450 straight up through the trees, over a small log and very nearly made it to the top if it wasn't for shooting out onto the track proper and coming a gutser...Oh well, at least I was having fun...

More slipperiness followed and then I came up on a slightly bigger obstacle:

Helped through that small obstacle by some new friends we now plunged into some serious shrubbery.  Weaving in between trees where some of the gaps were narrower than the bikes bars was a real mongrel (perhaps nicer than clay + roots) and once again I was working fairly hard - although perhaps not as hard as some of the guys who were having to haul bikes back up onto the track after an excursion over the bank...

Eventually I came to a piece where I had to turn a hard left before clambering through some mush and up over a tree stump before another hard right.  This seemed familiar to me and yes, it was the part of the track we'd done earlier after going in the wrong way.  Another charge up a nasty bit and I popped out just below the road where I stalled the bike and toppled off over the downhill side of the bike.  A bloke helped me up - the bike also fell the wrong way down - and I leaned it right-side up against the bank while I had a wee rest in the nice long grass...

Once I'd got my breath back I fired the bike back up, climbed the last little bit and made my back to the ute.  Losing some gear, I wandered off to the BBQ and inhaled a couple of snags while taking on plenty of water.

And that was it for me.  I wasn't keen for another lap and more of the same misery so I loaded up and left the keen guys and girls to it.  Yes, it was hard work for an old fart, but, I still enjoyed it - it's got to be good for working on my offroad skills and is definitely good exercise!

Here's more of that horrible video.  If you watch closely you may even see me binning the bike once...or perhaps twice...