Barts Adventure Photos

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.

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


.

EPIC ride Bart!!

I've just thrown my camera in the bin

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

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

You suck bart

Bored huh?

no

just a very slow reader

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

I can't remember what the W's mean, but it's something to do with Woodman coming for a royal visit to the Hawkes Bay. A pretty good excuse for a ride really.

It was an early start. I had over 120km just to get to the start line in Havelock North. I hadn't been on the bike for a while, so was looking forward to it.

The air was brisk but not too bad when I left home. Sunrise was stunning. One of those 'good to be alive' moments.



I rode north. The air got colder. By Norsewood there was a light frost on the ground. I figured it was only a local thing, so wasn't too concerned. By Waipuk, I realised it was only getting worse. White everywhere. Luckily I had to stop at Wade's place so warmed up by the fire.

She was a good one...





The dripping tap had created a stalagtite, well the up version anyway...



Looked a bit rude really. I don't know what you put in your water Wade...



We joined the rest of the Hawkes Bay crew in Havelock North. After a quick catch up, it was off to some big hill thing.

Convoy...



The track was amazing. The drop offs were unreal, but luckily we had good traction





The view at the top was unreal...





Napier



The way down...







From their we followed the coast south. Pretty closely in places...



Marks new bike...looks a bit like the old one except shiny..





Marty, our leader..



Wade, bringing a nuke to a knife fight...



Flying down the beach at some stupid speed I hit a bump. I didn't realise until later but my full fuel can came off. It was hanging off the side and took the indicator clean off. :huh



Oh well, teach me to ride like an idiot.

Little jumpy bits on the beach track...







Whoops...





Woodman tribute...yeah he knows how to show off...



...and fall off...





He was complaining about leaky fork seals. I can't understand why...







We went to the pub for lunch



Mark and I split from the group and headed for home.

Wonky tree...



Pic of the day...



Cheers guys. Another great day in the Bay.

Top stuff mate! I'm going to have to get off me arse & make it over for a ride sometime.

Cheers
Clint

Hey Bart ~ terrific pics as always....You could maybe make some extra money taking wedding pics...then you could buy yourself a better chain...and maybe back tyre

Really enjoyed the Beach Riding!!!

Could you imagine me taking wedding photos...I'd turn up in shorts, singlet, and gumboots, drink all the free booze, and swear so much they'd kick me out.

What's wrong with my chain and tyre???

once my friends from the green party get voted in next election that kind of behavior on the beaches will stop.

you are wrecking the home of the sand weevil you miscreants

lucky for us those sand weevile's arn't allowed to vote

Not yet, but apparently some snails on the west coast are getting close.

Love the photos and I need to get out more.

we all need a bit of variety every now and then....

Due to recently loosing my job of 23 years :dog, a few of us decided Monday was as good a day as any to go for a ride.

The weather was variable. Typical spring for this area. We started off in light drizzle, but as we progresed south, it got heavier and heavier until it was fair pissing down.

Gerard on the big beemer



Marty on the 690



and Paul on a DR



We rode to Pori road, then down a slippy Puketio road.

Once we got down out of the hills, the sun started to shine.



Awesome track



You can see the rain higher up in the hills









The Three Kings in the distance. Marty's big yellow head getting in the way.



Spur Road







Akitio





Porangahau. The pub wasn't open so we had some dodgy pies from the shop over the road.



Blackhead Beach





G and I then left the others and headed back towards Dannevirke. There are quite a few awesome gravel roads inland.

Road kill. Bloody hare was running along side then swerved towards me and went under the back wheel.





Thanks for a great day guys. It was good to blow off some steam. I didn't take many photos as I was too busy enjoying the ride.

Pick of the day...

Bart the wabit wooter