Big gap due to trip to Nelson, Picton and Arapawa Island...
Tonight, however, Nelson bailed with a crookguts so it was a solo up and back for me. Out the door 6ish, so sun well and truly set, lights mounted and on low for the climbing. Up my usual Vic Park route, 19th, Skidder, Gruntster, Worm. Into the Thompson's both, then through the Kiwi saddle and up the Slummit Rd. At the first col, dropped over into the Governor's Bay trail, losing my handlebar light within the first 50 m and stopping to readjust. Mounted better, got going again, down and around. Fun techy rocks, and tricky riding under lights again - first time since September. Around the back and into the climbing. A couple of extra steep bits got the better of me (same as last time I think). It was a little greasy from shade and dew. Finally out the top and back onto the road for the trek up to Worsleys and the Flying Nun. Stopped at top for a bit of a stretch before dropping in.
One little slickage on the first big rock corner made me wary, then a hare jumped in front of me and bolted along the track. Couldn't seem to get out of my way and I even hit him at one point. After about 30 m he finally bolted left off the track and I was on my own again. Slightly sketchy ride down, not as fast as in the past cos it's been so long I wasn't remembering it right, and it's become quite a deep rut in places, and bits were slick, and long grass, and night lights, and bony rocks. Handlebar light went out again, so stopped and re-mounted the battery- better again (but still not good enough!).... Crossed the CAP exit and rolled on. Immediately here they've built up a big berm and cut off an extra little bit (I wondered if that was being used elsewise - as an exit from another trail perhaps?). Not a bad bomb down the rest of it. It's certainly wider and more blown-out than ever before. Bony as hell. Pulled up to road at Kiwi and headed back up to the top of Vic.
Dropped in, good blast down into the jumps, second one didn't quite have enough speed, but landed it okay. Then bypassed the see-saw, dropping down the rabbit paddock and into the rockgarden around into gummies and blasting nicely down through very familiar turf. Rail, slide, rail down down and out. Below the road below 19th, rolling down then poaching the Tawhairanui walking track, which looks amazing under lights. Across the dogparkcarpark and straight into 235 for a fast and fun blast down this, jump, jump, ballbearings!, then climb, climb to big tower and faaasstt down behind the houses, bloody battery mounted on frame having rattled loose again. Home.
Good first night ride of the year: 11 and three-quarter kilometres, with 444 m of altitudes.
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