Saturday Good Godley Mistaken Snake Escape

Cruisey ride with Nelson today. Picked him up 2 ish, bikes on back, we headed down, around through Scumner and parked up Evans.  Headed up onto a very-nicely-tidied Godley.  It's so much flowy-er than it was and is now a joy to ride. I reckon even the Stooge would be fun on it now.  Made very good time up to the high point and headed off down with much speed to Livingston.  Next climb has had a slight tickle as well and also rides quite nicely.  Good fang down to Breeze, with me managing to stay on his tail the whole way.  Next up the side above the road, then onto our old sketched sheep-trail, which has obviously not been used by anyone for a long time.  Brief rest at the Lookout bunker, with Nelson jumping off it, and then down, fast, to the carpark, along side and over the road onto the OG singletrack.  Back along here watching incredible murmuration of starlinks and a hawk and some gulls.  Good roll, fun times back to Breeze, then up road a little and onto upper Anaconda for a very fast smooth blast down.  Tail rolled good and then up the Escape, riding it well and cleaning it all. From Livingston decided to ride back up Godley, cleaning it all nicely and enjoying not climbing up the paddock from the road, and enjoying the blast back to the car.  Rollin'!  

Pretty good 15.6 kms, and over 600 m climbed.

Thursday Night Stoogin' 'round Taylor's -- 1500th Post!!

Sweet ride out there with Nelson tonight.  I'd popped out to Josh's for one last tweak (and photos for his insta), cutting another cm or so off the top of the steerer, and to collect my remainders.  Then headed across town to Nelson's and parked there, loading bike on his roofrack and we headed for Taylor's.  

Chilly in carpark, but as soon as we got over the cattlestop to hit the Escape it was balmy warm.  Stooge rode well up here, I love the low gear and the direct application of power through the rigid frame.  I led the way, overcooking it to start with but settling into an only slightly hurried pace, chatting all the way (mostly Nelson talking, me puffing).  Out the top at Livingston, and onto the Godley for a nice techy rock climb and then he led the way down to Breeze, faster than me, both of us still getting used to our new steeds.  

From Breeze Col, out the OG-below-road trail to the end, nice fast ride through here, love the way the big wheels hold onto speed, then climbing up the grassy trail to the concrete where I lit the landing and Nelson jumped off...  Then around Breeze Bay, nice smooth rolling fun-times.  Love it in this direction.  

Up the road from the Col and into the upper Anaconda.  Whooo-eee, rough.  This is where the rigid doesn't sing so much.  It was quite the beat-up, but still fun as hell.  I was no where near as fast as Nelson but not that slow either.  Main problem was the 2 finger braking set up at the moment, not having enough grip on the bars, and also the lower bottom-bracket I was super conscious of not smacking my pedals which made me flow less good.  However, I definitely prefer this trail on the Cotic...  Still, good to know that now, and know what the Speedbomb likes vs not.  The lead-in to the Snake's Tail (above the walking track) was sweet and flowy and rolly, and even the Tail itself was pretty good, none of the rocks as daunting or drops as harsh as higher up.  

We headed back up valley to try out the 'new' Te Onepoto trail down the other edge of the valley.  This was flowy and fun, and ended up in the wee Tagaste/Native forest above/alongside of the carpark.  Nice.

A shard under 12 kms and an ostensibly prevailing 423 m accessioned. 

Saturday Captain God, Snake Escape, God Thomas

Awesome long ride with Nelsie tonight.  Chucked my bike on his roof rack at his place and we headed for Slumnervale, parking around the corner from usual at the cul-de-sac we've been riding out the last couple times.  I'd had a busy day followed by a snoozy hour before leaving home and unfortunately too much sugary chocolate and a bowl of chippies, so was feeling a tad pre-diabetic

Steep up the steep, but into the groove once on the 'level,' clambering around and needing a good rest at the seat where the trail comes up from the valley.  Riding again, usual steps through the rocky stuff, and riding out the top no problem, only meeting one guy on an electric dirtbike (naughty!) on his way down.  

Onto the road around out towards Scarborough top to ride up farmtrack to Godley, for a blast of a blast down towards Livingston.  Smooth and flowy, bike feeling reeeaally good.  Through the col and up around, Nelson bollocksing some rock feature.  I continued on, assuming he wasn't far behind and as I rounded the furthest hairpin realised he wasn't there.  Over pfmtbc rock and down rutsville to the road and waited.  He turned up eventually saying he ended up doing a couple of goes at the same feature.  

Up the road a little ways and dropped into Anaconda from the top.  Excellent blast down this, flowy flowy again, feeling the drift-into-catch on the corners, almost all the way down.  Tidied up once into the Tail and nice blast down and straight into the up-valley climb out on the Escape.  Drawn out affair this, with the gulch in the bottom the hardest most painful part.  Good once further up.   There was a guy ahead on the hairpins at the end of the valley so Nelson started chasing, gapping me completely.  He ended up taking him at the top of the last hairpin over Taylors, and I was juuust about catching him before the final final hairping, but not quite.  

Back up the road from Livingston and then up onto Godley again via the farm track, this tiem turning right to hit back to Evans.  Nice fast blitzy blast all the way back.  Tech rocks.  Bike handling wonderfully.

Finally, into the Captain for a glorious descent.  Primo conditions and feeling really good now, finally on the down.  Speed and flow were our closest companions.  Very good for us.

Couple and a half hours, 20kms and nearly 800m climbed. All good

Thursday Night Taylor-made Breeze

Good ride from Taylor's tonight.  Cruised up the valley, making the big escape.  Bit sloppy and rutted in the head of the valley in the steep shit, once past that just a few dabs and mostly a very good climb.  Spotted a moggy up near the top of the switchbacks.  Cleaned out to Livingston Col and over the fence.  Onto Godley and outwards, then at Breeze we headed above the road further out, taking the little sketchy narrow sheeptrail and finding it much petered out.  Got a little lost and then found where it used to be, and then out to the WW2 bunker and over onto Breeze Bay.  Lovely spin down around this, excellent riding, then up the road a little and dropped into Anaconda top and bottom.  Bombing...  The narrow sheeptrail had stuffed my freewheel with grass seed and so I was experiencing a few chain catch issues, but we were nearly done so I put up with it and will deal with it later.  Back to car.  Good spin.  Nice and warm up on the hills and hardly any wind.  Cold in the valley

Ziggy Zaggy, diggy daggy, only 9.9 kms with just over 400 climbed, but good.

Sunday Sumnervale Captain Godley Snake Escape

Spin out with some new peeps this morning. I was a bit hungover post the TFC Xmas do.  At 10am, I met Jon, Ian and Conor, the latter two for the first time, at Sumnervale and we headed up the hill on what proved to be a hot and cool ride.  Clambered up the valley switchbacks and onto the sidling climb, walked the rockiest bits, and slowly my hangover was replaced with sucking down a lot of fresh air.

Out Godley Head Rd, climbing up the farmtrack to the Godley for a sweet hoon down to Livingston and over to Breeze.  Tonnes of ebikers and the odd regular biker around.  Very busy out there.  Up the road a little and dropped into Anaconda where I set a scorching pace, none of them managing to hold on.  Regrouped at the bottom, then hit the snake and regrouped again.  

Up the Escape, horrid steep bits being horrid, but the rest of it smooth sailing.  From top, up road to decide to stay on the road (we'd already been 2.5 hours by this stage - lots of long languorous breaks), nice coast down to Evans, and into the Captain.  I followed Ian, because it was his 'local' (he lives in Sumner), but I would have ridden most of it faster than him. Due to timing, he bailed off down the zigs, where I led Conor and Jon down the oldskool exit.  A bit too tech for them, methinks.  I rode everything, they got off and walked the odd bit.  I stopped often for them to catch up.  Good wee ride tho, just taking it easy and popping through stuff and enjoying it slower.  

Back to the cars and said our goodbyes.

Around 20 kms, (I didn't start MMR until we were a couple kms up (at 150m), and total of 770 m (620m + 150m) climbed.

Wednesday Night Escaping Godley in the Muck

Mucky greasy mess tonight.  Met Nelson at Evan's Pass (I drove via Lyttelton), very dark night with Lyttelton urban-glow above Greenwood.  We headed along the road chatting and catching up then headed up the climb above Scarborough to the trail...  Hoo-eee, what a doozy of a grease-fest.  Railroaded and slipping, I was very cautious and reactionary, no flow whatsoever - just couldn't seem to get on top of my game.  Pinged and squelched my way down to Livingston and we got into the climb, first rocks up near the top I was just slipping all over the place and dabbing something chronic.  Got to the high point and Nelson suggested we take on the Escape trail downhill, so we turned around and headed back down to Livingston.  Again with the cautious Colin approach.  (perhaps subconsciously nursing my wrist??)  

Over the road and into the descent; more of a sidle really.  Grease fest yet again, one or two 2-wheel steering zones, but mostly under control albeit not fast.  Back and forth and long between then across up valley and into the depths, very mucky down in here.  Minimal control.  Good roll, as if on railroad tracks in the rut down valley, then into the Snake for the climb.  This was better.  I seemed to manage the tech a bit better.  Around and bottom of Anaconda hit the walking track and grannied up up up the to the OG section of Anaconda to Breeze Col.  Hit the road again from here and rode and climbed and cruised up back to top of Scarbro, for the climb back up to Godley.  In fog this time.

Onto the Godley proper heading for Evans.  Pinged and slipped our way back, super dodgy on the rocks, wheels akimbo.  No major issues and made it alive down to the last blip.  Nelson waiting, we set off to finish on the upper walking section dropping down to the exit.  Back to cars, survived.

Convoluted messiness, 14.5 kms with 482 m clambered

Wednesday Night Escaping the Breezy Snake

Waded through the Sumner traffic and over the hill to meet Nelson at Taylor's Mistake.  Got set up, and we headed for the escape.  Remembered my MMR and switched it on (took ages to kick in), then we Escaped up the valley.  Good rolling then steep, and steeper.  I was utterly struggling for oxygen.  Finally made it out of the gully and onto the traversing trail and it was much better.  Thankfully Nelson had stopped for a rest part way along.  Good breather then onwards.  Up around the next switchback and along a bit and into the next when I realised my house keys werent in my pocket.  Brief panic, we turned back down to where we'd been sitting, no sign.  I called home and T found them on the bed.  Phew.  Going again, around all the hairpins and along and up and onwards to Livingston Col.  Across the road, over the fence, out to look at the view, then rolling again, around to Breeze, all non-eventful and nice and fun. 

Over the fence onto Breeze Bay track , around the back which was nice, then blasty fast down to the edn, and over the road again and onto the OG trail heading back along the front to Breeze Col again.  Hit the road up a little and dropped into a sheep-addled snake, full-on Anaconda blaze.  A very close call in the 'conda, where my pedal hit a rock, throwing my weight forward, riding me up onto the front wheel as it was going through a puddle.  I was expecting to lose it, but somehow managed to keep it together.  Lucky the puddle wasnt deeper.  Survived and blitzed down the rest of it laughing and talking around into the 'tail and a nice blast down this...  All good.

Switchbacky progression of 11 kms coupled with 382 m climbed

Thursday Night Captain God- Snake Escape -Ley Thomas

Good spin tonight with Nelsie.  I arrived at Sumnervale to find him already parked up, and having already tickled his drivetrain into submission.  We set straight to it, around Finnsarby Pl and across the redzone, along behind the gabion wall and into the grunt of a climb.  Stopped and ate some blackberries (which were a bit past it, in my mind).  On upwards, and both of us, tho mostly Nelson, muppetting and tweaky pinging all over the place.  It was like his balance was all off and he kept losing it, including having to step off over the bike on a couple of occasions.  Great climb (once you're past the bastard start) and it wasn't long before we were clambering over the slipped out gatefence and hitting the main drag.  Still muppetry ensued, with Nelson walking bits he probably hadn't walked for years.  I wasn't quite so bad, but still not 100%.  Eventually out the top and, given we were aiming to be back down before sunset, we took the road out to above Scarborough and headed up the farmtrack to the Godley.  

I led down over the boardwalks and through the curves, getting some great speed on, but bony trail was pinging all over the place.  No close calls but certainly on the edge a lot of the way, but gapping Nelson (for a change).  Through Livingston and Nelson led the climb over and down to Breeze, both of us getting a little hung up on the ruts after the pfmtbc rock (which it looks like hardly anybody rides anymore).  On the road back up the hill and we parked up at the top of the 'new' Anaconda entrance.

I dove in first, finding a lot of bones and looseness.  A little hairy around a few corners, and I couldn't quite get my flow on in this top section.  It's hardly used, by the feel of it.  Once in the OG snake I was away.  Started off a little slow but once speed was up I maintained it.  Super sketchy around some corners, and a few mega pings, but out onto the 'tail and struggling to keep on the offcamber, overgrown grass.  Then through the cattle grate and the final bits were plenty fun.  Managed to gap Nelson a bit too, which is always a bonus..  Straight into the Taylor's Escape trail, I put him out front again, and of course he slowly increased the gap on me.  Man it gets steep in the gully, but the going certainly improved as we clambered.  One rider coming down towards us, she waited off side for us.  Big corners, then across the top, and on the last hairpin I lost my balance and tipped, hand out to steady, I super-struggled to extract my foot.  Strain.

Onto the road for the climbing, up around the launch pad (lots of these floaty guys around today) and then after taking in the view of the spit and Scarborough beach (pumping!) we headed up the farmtrack again. 

Another break at the top then into the Godley, which I led and caned!  Awesome flow through all the rocky mess, and I finished by taking the walking track bit, coming into the last corner just after Nelson on the main track.

Across Evans, another quick break, both feeling pretty stuffed, I led into the Captain, into what proceeded to be a cruisy fun ride down.  All good, flowy, fun.  On the wee climb after the rocky bits I changed down too low, and spun out, managing to dab my way up it, but Nelson had selected the perfect gear and cleaned it!  first time in a while.  Flow flow flow, over the gatefencehole, and then overgrown techknuckle followed.  Fun, but on your toes, tight, lots of narrow and holes getting bigger, cool rock roll overs, trees to duck, so much fun.  In the pines I got a call from T, (how long?  half an hour??), and then down the finish, back along behind the gabions, gorse stinging salty arms, and then I found a grape vine and we gorged.  As we rode through the red zone 3 paragliders landed over us in that paddock.  Back to the cars and done, 5 minutes before sunset.

Moderately valid effort, 20.64 kms, and 8 m shy of 800 m ascended.

Tuesday night Boulder Gods, Breezily De-scaped

Met Nelson in Taylor's a bit after 6 pm.  We hit the gaspy climb of the Snake's tail, along which I remembered to start the MMR (at 6.30).  Trails were gonna be wet so we were poaching walking tracks, and found pretty much everything to be pretty firm.  

Boulder Bay track out to the end was fun.  I really like the exposure of the cliffs and sea surging and smashing on the rocks below.  Grunty wee climb up from the bay and we hung a left at the Asbestos signs, heading all the way to the gun emplacements, which are all barricaded off.  Snuck over the fence and over the Head onto the zig zag down the other side, a lot of water on the track in places, but nothing soggy.  Up the steps and the buildings are all fenced off (pretty half-arsedly I might add).  We navigated up around them then back on the main track back up to the Godley Head carpark.  

Up the ridge from here to the Breeze Bay track around the back.  Spectacular lights of Lyttelton shining in our eyes on this fun section around and back down to the col.  On the road from here, no cars met, all the way to Livingston Col and onto the Taylor's Escape.  This was in pretty good nick.  Most sections were sweet as, but some very soggy boggy bits wherever gully streams encountered it, and we walked all of these.  One at the top, then a couple of bits down in the bottom gulch.  Sweet sweet riding, tho under lights is not something we've been used to this winter at all...

A laudable 11.something kms with (I assume) just over 400 m climbed. (given I started MMR late).     

Captains Matariki; Thomas, Godley, Taylor

Nice big ride on the gloriously-weathered first ever Matariki holiday. Drove out to Slumner and parked where the buses park.  

Headed back down the road briefly then up the old skool Captain, which proved very greasy...  Very greasy.  Mucky mucky slippy greasy slicky slipsville.  Decided, as I squirrelled my way upwards, that I would not return this way.  Did pretty good and it's fun tech keeping the wheels in motion.  Took a long phone call with dad just after the gully crossing, then got going again nice and fresh.  On upwards, the rocks in the shade a tad greasy but mostly pretty good.  Huffing and chuffing up.  

Stopped at the top for a long consideration as to where I'd go.  Up the road to Greenwood??  Gloomy gulch would be nasty.  Out Godley?  Mostly should be good, so went that way.  Waited for a few descenders to get off it and headed on up, cleaning, bar one dab, the whole first section then a few dabs but mostly cleaning my way out.  Lots of puff.  Stopped in a location I've not stopped before for a breather and a rest, admiring the nice day, then got going again and had a great blast round and down to Livingston, only one short section of spleckiness in the usual spot.  Wicked blast down to the bottom, then climbing up around and over to Breeze, feeling good along the way.  Into the climb and onto the hard-to-find (and follow) narrow 'sheep' trail around to the lookout emplacement.  Watched, from on high, the Quake City Rumblers blasting on their 50s out to the 'head carpark, lots of noise and 2 stroke smoke.  Blasted down the fast to the road, across and onto the OG return to Breeze trail.  Nice flow around here then straight into Anaconda.  

Slow to start then into the rough and blasting down around, lots of flow and weave, pump and pop.  Into the 'tail and flow pop round this rolling straight into the Escape to escape.  Climb climb climb, and climb some more.  Steep grovelly in the valley, then easier going as you peaked.  Hit the road.  Quake City boys(and girl) bombed past as I watched from just before the Liftoff spot, then I rolled back up onto Godley for the fun blast back to Evans.  Excellent rock weave groove all the way.  

Finally, the Captain blast down.  Nearly messed up on the lowest of the gnarly rocks, taking a line (and having to pop it slightly) I've never even considered before, due to the greasiness on the rocks.  Rest of the way nice flow, turning hard right and down the 'newer' version into the valley bottom, cabbage tree section, blasting down and out back to car.

22 kms, 840 m. Not bad!

Saturday a m. El Kapitano Sheepshit Gods Snake Escape

Birthday treat ride I got to share with Nelson and Pete. 

Met Slumnervale and toodled up the Kapitano from the valley bottom (pony school).  Zig and Zag making for gasping, but once up on the level all was good.  Good rate of knots most of the way and then out the top and onto the Godley Road.  Cruised out the road to the entrance to grind up the sheepshitted paddock track climb to Godley track proper.  Turned left, and dived into this for an excellent blast across the wooden bits and down, with looseness in the weaving towards Livingston.  Through the col and onwards, upwards, enjoying the crap out of the techy rocks on the climb, along a bit, then jumped the fence and dropped down to the 'new' entrance to Anaconda.  I dont think Pete had ridden this way in before.  It's a little rough, but good weaving, with me leading the way, keeping a jolly good clip all the way down the snake, big front wheel carrying speed through all the rough.  Into the 'tail and Nelson was finally caught me a little.  

Straight into the Escape climb, taking a wee break just before the worst of the grind at the head of the valley.  Good timing as the guy who'd followed us from Evans to Livingston was coming down.  Above this, once up on the zigs and zags goings improved, resulting in a good climb all up.  Nelson gapped Pete and me as we struggled along.  From Livingston, it was up the road, lots of parasailers around, back to the shitty climb up to Godley proper again, this time the turning right.  Blazed along, humming the rock features for a fun and action packed blast to Evans.  

Across the Pass and into the Kapitano for a superlative blast down.  Met 3 running girls all spread out and then into the 'old' bit, fantastic blast through this.  In the lower sections I was momentarily distracted by some people with a dog, on their way up, peering past Nelson to see them when !WHACK! my vision went black for a split second and stars were seen, vision fading back in I realised I was heading off track - eeee! - reeled it in pretty quick, and was like "woooo, that hurt!"  Curse words were heard, tho I was aware of the young child with the people and dog.  Kept on riding, worrying a bit about concussion, not feeling quite right as we proceeded.  Made it down tho, and as we were cruising back towards the cars, crossing that 'creek' drainage ditch Nelson took it first and slashed his front tire.  I rode it, okay, then Pete came through it and slashed his rear tire.  Walk for them back to cars...  Tree 1, helmet (and my brain) 0.

Until the brain smack, a jolly 18.85 kms, with 90cm shy of 700 m climbed.

Sunday Escaping Taylor's God-Snake

Slightly overhung ride after an awesome gig last night. 

Met Nelson just after 9 am at Taylor's and we headed off up the valley.  An orienteering / rogaine event happening around us (based in the valley), so we saw them running around looking at their maps (and gps's?) pretty much the whole ride.  Climbing proceeded to rinse the toxins from my system with lots of heavy breathing and heavy sweating.  A couple of steeps in the gully but mostly very nice climbing - it's a great addition to the Chch network.  Now, if they'd just build one in Bowenvale or Vic Park that climbs so nicely!  Across the top to Livingston Col, and we climbed straight up the steep, which got the better of me a couple of times, eventually looking for, and not finding, the trail across to the main track.  Onto the main track and climbing, up over the two boardwalk sections and stopped at the summit.  

Good rest here overlooking the ships and sea and grey haze, then we turned around and bombed back down the way we'd just come, staying on the main track for a smooth and fast fang down to Livingston, onwards climbing up over and dropping down to Breeze, long grass whipping our legs and arms.  

Across and up the trail onto the skinny trail super overgrown and surprising us at every pedal stroke.  Across to the lookout bunker, and a bomb down through to the road, and onto the below-the-road OG Godley for heading back to Breeze.  I kept a good pace, tho obvs Nelson was quicker, and when it points downwards a little bit I rounded a corner and there he was on the track.  Nice frontwheel wash crash.  Onwards again and we headed up the road to the top of the Anaconda 'new' entrance.  

Fun blast down the swoopy swoops, around onto the old and bombing, railing a good berm or many, down onto the Tail, for a very hard to see through the grass swoopy pump around to Briden's Bush and a rocky tech finish into the fast blast ending.

Hayfeveredly good (mmr belated start), 12 and a half kms with 480odd climbed.

Wednesday Evening - Captain Godley's Escape Plan

Good ride tonight. Met Nelson at Scumnervale and we treadled off up into the Thomas.  I led the way up, gasping like a mofo but doing okay, getting the wind back on the flatter spots.  Short rest at the seat (top of zigs) then along the way and into the rock sections.  Nelson cleaned ALL of them!  Remarkable to watch.  Whereas I biffed all of them.  With Nelson in the lead from here, we cleaned up the rest of the trail bar a couple of dabs, my suspension or my fatness was making for a LOT of pedal strike which kept putting me off.  Balance was all out of whack.  

A gale was hitting the gums above Evans when we got there, and this proved to be our lot for most of the way out Godley, a godforsaken wind.  Nelson leading the climb, then giving it to me for the nicely wind-pushed blast down towards Livingston.  I caned this, albeit with some super sketchy moments.  Bit of a fiddle with my rebound settings (not sure I've got it right yet) and off around the back from Livingston towards Breeze Col.  Nelson leading the climb again, and me super wary of pedal strike through here with all that exposure ('specially at the start).  I took lead on the descent, my suspension feeling a bit deader than it had been (settings now out of whack), but a good blast, although the cross wind at Breeze Col was scary with all the speed we were carrying.  

Onto Godley track back up, into the howling gale over the top, then down towards Livingston, bailing over the fence at an opportune spot.  On the road heading around to the (known to us) entrance of the Escape and we see more trail below, so turned back and headed up to Livingston Col proper finding a newly marked out zig then zag back towards the rest of the trail.  Nice rolling through here, me in the lead and man what a long downhill.  Minutes and minutes went by as we descended and still we were high up.  Trail nothing to write home about, no tech, but still fun.  On the switchbacks, coming back around into the wind proved pedally, but mostly gravity was sufficient to keep some speed on.  Down into the valley and a nice blasty tailwind down to the carpark.  Fast.  

Finally, up the sodding road, grind grind grind over Scarborough, but wasnt so bad.  Then dropped into Nicholson park dropping down the rooty steep (which really wasnt as bad as I recalled), steppy zig and zag on Flowers, then the access way out to Whitewashhead Rd, bombing back down and cruising up Sumner back streets to the cars.

All told, nearly 17 kms and nearly 600 m climbed.

Thursday Night Taylor's Escape and some Snake

Nelson and me met in Taylor's.  It was not as cold as expected, but the wind had a little bite in it.  

We headed up the new Escape track.  Mostly in very good nick, the new benching really helps, but the deep gully is dank and soggy.  Gonna need a little boardwalk maybe, or a bridge and some re-direction.  Good climb; kept a good pace most of the way, I was feeling better and even breathing better than I'd expect given the lurgy that's sitting in my lungs still.  More switchbacks than we'd remembered.  Stopped at the road and yarned and watched a couple riders heading down towards Livingston Col.  After they'd passed above us (while we rode along the road to the Col) we got on the trail and hung a right, out above the major exposure and along the walking track.  Climbed this surprisingly well too, tho just prior to the first hairpin got the better both of us - Nelson via traction, me via lung capacity.  

Over the stile and into the descent, steps and besides, me not trusting the grease factor, which had the potential for offness.  Good blast tho, and then right across Col, fun tech, to the Breeze Bay track.  We climbed this cruising around, it ending sooner than I expected, over the ladder-stile, and out onto the lookout bunker roof.  Neither of us jumped from it this night.  

I led us into the skinny track, around, very tight, good skillzone, then into the bomb down back to Breeze Col.  Then we decided to climb up Godley to above the new entrance to Anaconda, nice climb still feeling good tho my legs were starting to tire.  Over the fence and dropped down choosing an interesting way down to the Conda and then Nelson led the way, bomb bomb, bomby bomb.  Great run down, tho not the fastest ever, cautiousness getting the better of me on the damp clay surface.  No slop, surprisingly.  

Long break chatting overlooking the sea here, then into the Tail, for a final blast back to the cars. Good tech.  

Felt like further than 9.6 kms, with a reasonable 386 m climbed.

Thursday Night Narrow Tech

Met Nelson in Taylor's and we headed up the Escape... 

Nice cruise up the valley bottom, and stopped a the first rock feature where Nelson proceeded to move and manhandle a bunch of rocks in an attempt at making 'a line' over a nice boulder.  I wasn't game enough to tackle it, the envisaging of a nasty tumble getting the better of me, but he cleaned it a couple times.  From here the climb got steeper and steeper, and quite nasty.  Then up in the head of the valley it strikes out across the slope, and needs some digging, big time.  

Off camberness clipping the uphill pedal something wicked, and grip?  Meh.  Kinda good grip, teeth of the tires digging in on the sides.  Will be good once it's dug, but right now is rather tech-knuckle.  A right, a left around the head then up onto the side, getting easier as you climb a couple zig zags, then a lonnng sidle climb til you're waaay above the car park and settlement, then a bunch of zig zags and another long run back up to the road.

Rode the road to Livingston, then decided on the walk track around the back overlooking the harbour.  Never noticed the exposure along here so much.  hmmm...  but great ride, and climb, I even cleaned to higher than I have in the past.  Up over then over the stile and the fun stepped descent ensued, blasting down to Breeze Col, across the tech slower rocks up to the Breeze Bay track all the while on the harbour side of the fence.  Climbed around Breeze Bay, lovely track this, and stopped at the Observation Battery No 1 for to film some jumps committed by Nelson.  (have footage on my phone).

Around the skinny run back towards Breeze Col above the road, quite fun in this direction, with a good blast to finish, then it was up the road back towards the new Anaconda entrance, bypassing this and bombing down the road to the Taylor's Escape entrance.  

Into the descent, lonnnng sidling, when into the wind I was eyes-full of dust, but back up valley was better with the wind behind.  Nice run in this direction.  The off camber gave me the willies, where I wasn't all-trusting of the grip my tires were actually perfectly capable of providing.  Nelson had no trouble at all, and even cleaned some rather tricky tech in the head of the valley.  I had the willies, but managed to stay aboard and the blast down valley to the rockfeature was damned good.  Nelson cleaned over this, but I held back, and then we blitzed back onwards down to the cars.  Good blast.  

An exuberant 11.2 kms, with 354 m ascended.

Thursday Escaping Taylor's Godley Snake

Arranged to meet Nelson in Taylors around 8.30 am in what turned out to be a pretty hot day... I arrived to find him assembling his bike, then witnessed his discovery of no pedals!  Ugh.  No ride for him then.  We headed up, him on foot, me pedalling, up the new Taylors Escape track.  Pretty rudimentary, a lot of work to be done.  Mostly rideable, but some sections are so off camber your inside pedal strikes every rotation, and grip is tricky.  He soldiered on and we stopped for chats a few times, then he bailed and I continued my merry way.  The riding was definitely better higher up, less slope steepness.  Got to the road, and rode around to Livingston Col, climbing back towards Breeze Col on the trail, fun climbing, cleaning all the techier sections and enjoying the descent to the Col.  Straight into the climb around above the road, hitting the sketchy narrows, doing okay around here then seriously in need of shade, headed for the lookout thing and bombed down to the toilets, finding respite from the sun under the pines.  Big drink, refilled bottle, and half a OneSquare set me right, and off I tootled back around below the road, nice spin around here too.  Started on the road but then spotted relevant sheep tracks below and hit them around climbing to the 'new' Taylors entrance.  Good bomb down here, spotting what looked like road bike tire marks in the dirt.  "Hmmmm?"  Into the original snake, and speed and gall increased til I was railing like a pro.  Into the tail and across, stopping to admire the view at one point, before heading down the last where I met Shay the DOC ranger walking a wee measuring wheel which accounted for what I'd seen prior.  We shared a laugh.  

A meagre 10.10 kms and 419 m climbed