Recently I missed out on a trip through the 42nd Traverse and when I saw a post on Advrider advertising another group ride through the 42, I couldn't miss it.
The ride was being organised for the long Waitangi weekend with most of the riders coming out of Auckland on big bikes. There was much chit-chat about hoping for good weather and dry conditions. As for me, I've been through once on a big bike and aren't silly enough to take the Tenere through there - yes, the bike would have been capable on the day but I have doubts about the rider 😉, so the WR was my pick for the ride.
So, early on Saturday morning, the mouse hauler cruised up to National Park to meet up with the team. We had Eri, Hunia and Dazza on GS's (of varying vintage), a 1090 (Gremlin) and a 790 (Peter), the compulsory DR (NZ Spokes), Bruce on his old XR, Glen on his WR450, Tracey on her DR400 and me of course on the pick of the crop, the Mightiest of Mouses...
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| Dazza |
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| Glen |
After introductions, coffee and some GS prep we took off up SH47 to attack the 42 from the Southern End (a first for me).
Regrouping at the turn-off we saw a large group of 4WD's heading off and I think we all groaned at the prospect of having to somehow get past them. As it turned out, they were really good at pulling over (on a very narrow track) to let us through.
And then, just before the off, the unthinkable happened! The WR decided that it wasn't going to start! Unheard of! There was nothing wrong with the battery, but hitting the button just resulted in a click - damn! After a push from some helpers the little beast fired up and I decided to risk it - surely I could manage the ride without stalling it and rely on all my friends to get me going? Worth a crack...
And so, off we went and the conditions couldn't have been better. It was a perfect day and it was pretty obvious that there hadn't been a lot of rain in recent history so the track was in awesome nick. We pretty shortly caught up to the 4WD's and squeezed past as we headed deeper into the scrub.
Eventually Glen, Dazza and I hit one of the trickier climbs. We scrambled up it easily and pulled up to wait and make sure that everyone else got up ok.
It may not look it in the video but this is a reasonably steep climb and when it is wet it is very slippery. The last time Gremlin rode it was after rain and he says it took an hour to get two bikes up it...
A piece of cake today eh? Bruce thought so:
Our next "tricky" bit was the descent down the rock face followed by the creek crossing. Once again the dry conditions may it all easy - no slipperiness on the rock face and not a massive torrent of water to cross.
Once again, no problem for our brave team...
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| WR's can do it too |
More great riding followed and I really enjoyed chasing Peter on his 790. He rode really well and the bike sounded great - shame you can't hear it over the roar of the mouse...
Eventually we came to a small clearing with another track heading off to the left. This was the main route to Ten Man Hut where we were intending to have lunch. The track in was pretty quick and Glen got away from me (maybe I should have bought the RMX up?) but I wasn't that far behind him when we got to the hut.
Just before the hut there is a bit of a drop into a hole, followed by a right hander and then another good climb out of the hole to the hut. Once again, the weather made it a bit easier and everyone got up ok - even some 4 by 4's that had decided to join us.
Everyone safely up it was time for a munch and a breather.
After lunch it was a little exciting getting the WR started by dropping down into the hole. My first attempt failed when I tried to start it on ground that was a little soft. Luckily I coasted up the first bit of the next climb and with some help got it turned around and started by dropping back down into the hole. I then got to ride back up to the hut, turn around, stall the bike and practice crash starting it in the soft stuff again...
The ride back out to the main track involved just 8 of us as Glen and Bruce decided to explore one of the other more gnarly tracks out - more on that later.
Once again, I tucked in behind Peter as he tried to chase down the disappearing Tracey.
Out at the main track, Peter volunteered to wait for the others and told Tracey and I to go ahead and have some fun and wait for the crew out at the bridge at the Owhango end of the track.
We didn't need to be told twice and lit out enjoying a really fun little ride out. I did manage to stall the WR once when diving into a small water crossing - thankfully I managed to restart before completely running out of momentum...
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| Strategically parked by itself - on a slope... |
From here we made our way to the cafe at Owhango and parked up to have a drink only to find that Colin and Adi were there having their own road ride...
The other less adventurous members of the troupe soon arrived and we then settled in to wait for Glen and Bruce. They seemed to be taking their time...
After a while my phone went off and it was Glen. They had managed to find some cell reception and were calling to let us know how they were going - or perhaps not going?
The track they had taken had turned out to be quite adventurous and they'd need to cross logs and clamber up some really steep climbs. Add in some mud and an XR with a tired clutch and they were having a ball...
And so we waited some more...
Eventually after a few more check-up calls failed to reach them, the others decided to ride back to the bridge to relieve Dazza who was waiting for the guys there and I decided to ride back to National Park to get the ute just in case we needed to recover a dead bike.
I needn't have bothered as I got a text when I was nearly back at Owhango to say that the guys had made it out ok. I carried on in to the bridge to hear the story and get attacked by sandflies before bugging out and making for home.
Anyway, it was a fantastic day out with a good crew and I can't wait to get back up there for another go again once I sort out the starting problem...but, there's another little ride to get done first...
