Sally and Aaron: January 2013

Jack and Jollies pass ride, Hamner Springs

A 2 hrs gravel road ride Looping around Mt Isobel and crossing 2 passes.
Nice Scenery.
We did the Pylon Descent from Kennet bros book. Thick Slushy Gravel Despite being 2 days of 30+ degree weather. Inconsistent consistency and Water rutted, Not much fun. It would have been better to stick to road I think
1 * but if you like fitness rides more, the veiws were Cool

Jollies pass before the descent mistake

During the descent

By the Clarence river

Dun Mountain Trail/ coppermine trail

Right in Nelson City. Great while visiting rellies.
Grade 3 now, all the steep stuff, and Carrying is out of date.
Old railway so lovely gradient the whole way up! 2 hrs pedal time up hill and flat then descent .
Berms down really Cool! No Pic's too much fun to stop.
I will be doing this ride again...Really cool.. 4* from me!

WARNING detour around logging in valley at the end which means an unexpected hill just when you think it's over!

Rameka track

Graded 3, in Kennet bros, I found it harder 4.
It was 2 hrs pedalling up, I had to stop and push on many of the creek crossings and some of the rockier bits both directions, and the steeper bits on the way up. The marble/ Lime was pretty slippery But there had been rain the day before.
The forest is beautiful on the top half so worth the pedal up to spend time in it. The single track descent on the bottom half: so Awesome smooth and flowing. So much hard work on the Rameka project, pack track and Klics
You can get a shuttle to top from Escape adventures, takaka or shuttle the single track bottom sections Via the Rameka track road.

1st half is farm track on way up Berms on the way down!

2nd half varied forest with birds

Aaron checking out the ferns for Tim

We did the short Canaan loop at top and I was pretty tired By the end of the descent, Probably should have done it another day

Croesus Ride, Blackball

The broken glass in the carpark had us concerned about the security of our car, but local runners assured us that it was old and the Culprits caught.

Generally Technical but OK riding this was the only section I had to push other than one River crossing

Above the Bushline we got awesome veiws!

Technical riding, small rocks all the way like the roughest cobbled path ever. Well graded.

To the hut and back including lunch and Photo's, and a small side trip, but not to the summit, was about 4 hrs in summer heat ( 2hrs 20 to Ces Clarke hut including quick snack stops and lots of photos.)

I would agree with 4* in Kennet bros book on my 4 inch bike but Aaron didn't find it as good on his lighter bike coming down

Summer Holidays

We went up the coast to Nelson/ Golden bay and home via Hamner.

4 new bike rides, 4 days climbing at Paynes , Family, Swam in ocean and river, Caught a salmon, Did tourist stuff. LOVELY
Aaron can climb now too, He really is recovering by the day at the moment... So exciting!

Happy new year everyone may 2013 bring you Joy