Kia Ora. Pete blen & myself did our annual celebratory Molesworth opening day ride from Blenheim via Taylors Dam rd to Hanmer for coffee & cake. The roads were in excellent shape with small pea metal. Here's a few pics - it doesn't change much from year to year but is a stunning place to ride. The steeds The Bridge over the water. The water The other water A ford Getting closer Ok I'm an arsehole - pete was stuck but I just had to get the camera out before helping Any one notice how the ford changed halfway? As pete mentioned over on KB we passed a hippy paint job van & a small silver hatch back over the bank & it was only the 2nd day of the road being open. We passed a DRZ loaded up, Harley with knobs having an egg sandwich on Ward pass- good on that badboy 2 x XRs & on the Rainbow we saw a 950 fully loaded wit the rider in a striking adv stand up pose. Heaps of 4wds, family wagons & hire cars. We both had a few arse puckering moments- mine when I came around a corner & found myself head on with a camper bus:eek1 Although admittedly they are the same width of 4wd but seeing a big white wall in front of me sent me wobbling into the gravel at the side of the road. later I came around a tight corner to see a very fresh skid mark running straight instead of round the corner.
Good stuff. Nice to see you've got your priorities right. Take photo...laugh out loud...then help out. I must get down that way again one day.
LOL..Should have put the sidecar on... don't fall over.. Other thing I noticed the XR compaired to the XT..XR moves around alot more being lighter it seems to react to the road condictions a lot more.. I was getting 26km per litre from the little bugger..I had a 5L fuel container tied to the seat.. I didn't need.. Was a dam good ride..
So what's the water like? Since you're not in your togs, I am guessing it's still pretty cold. It better warm up for the Dusty.
Good news, I have that the Molesworth only turns to crap if the grader is operating and its/has been raining. What about the view from the Dunny looking up the valley from just below where you took the photo of the bridge. Has to one of the best Loo's with a View anywhere I have been. Suppose some riders get Hemorrhoids and have to stand I'm heading down early next week.
Yes, leave Wanganui Wednesday morning to be at the check in the morning. I'm booked into a cabin(loft) for Friday/Sat/Sun at National Park, then a beeline down to Wellington, o/n hopefully get a ferry Tuesday, do the Molesworth/Rainbow, Golden Beach? while waiting for Clint to arrive Saturday morning.
I knew I had a good sleep last night, but how did it get to be December 2013 already:huh Nice pic's though
Don't worry, they must've heard you were coming and the grader is parked on the side of the road at Acheron accom. house At least it was yesterday.
Easily - just as with all bikes take it easy round the tight corners & stay out of the heaped up gravel in the middle & edges. You weren't riding thru nelson today were you? Welcome to adv rider as well.
OK Thanks Will give it a go..looking at the pix here there seems t be some river crossings?.. so they have big boulders.. or are they pretty smooth? No I havent had the bike up to Nelson yet... one day! Cheers and thanks for the welcome
The height of them depends on the rainfall over the previous day or so. There is only 1 ford on the Molesworth iirc on Taylors pass rd which is a piece of cake. The fords at the Nelson end of the Rainbow are ok however they do creep up on you fast - if you see a sign SLOW DOWN. The one Pete fell in was a lil slippery - but he was just unlucky to slide off the front of a rock which spun him round. I went over ok & I think having a heavier bike helps a great deal. I was riding a newish 70/30 front & a half worn E07 on the back. There are some closer to the here's another RR I did a few years ago which has a bit more info. http://advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=537291 It isn't really in the middle of nowhere as there are heaps of cars & mtbs going thru so don't be intimidated by it
OK thanks doesnt sound too bad. Thanks also for the posts with pix on your rides.. interesting and entertaining!
Little bit of info on cost/season dates etc here.... www.adventureguide.co.nz/articles/12/85/rainbow-road.php www.adventureguide.co.nz/articles/12/95/molesworth.php
I rode down the Molesworth yesterday afternoon from Blenheim, via Taylors Pass rd avoids Hwy 1, very pretty. It was absolutly brillant Postcard perfect weather conditions, road in very good condition, little traffic except for 2 bloody BIG lowloaders hauling some big machinary, thought the 1st one was going to take my rh pannier off with the corner of his bullbar:eek1 thats how close we passed each other! Took about 4 1/2hrs including lots of photo stops. Still one of my alltime great roads
rainbow is pretty rough at the mo,well it was last week.Moleworth is ussually very good,number one rule...KEEP WELL LEFT
