Thursday Loco Local - Nun (much improved) to Short Vics

Hot day, thankfully cooling a bit by the time I got out.  Cooked dinner and headed out the door about 7.20pm. Up usual, road from home, 19th, Skidder, stopped to change into singlet on gutser, up top and into Thompson's #1, road, Thomson's #2, across below Kiwi and up the road for a slog to top of Nun.  

Dived in and, "whoooah! Huh!?"  Stopped, pushed back up and dived in again, this time taking the new left rock armoured section.  Into the rest of the old, it's all betidied very nicely with more-flowing jumps and better armour.  Somebody's been busy.  Once lower down, just above the CAP exit it reverted pretty much to the old boney I remembered.  Bombed all the way down back to Kiwi, onto the road again and climbing up to top of Vic.  

Down around the two jumps, hard right into Worm climbing back up to Traverse to dive down into Upper Fenceline, swoopdeswoop, around and across to climb back up the short amount to then hang a right into Razza's, dropping down, plompteplomp, nicely nicely, then dived into and over the Rad^Sick jump, peeling out to climb back up to try out the new extension to Shazza's.  Smooth as, not tech, and the berms aren't quite high enough to rail big speed through them...  Peeled right again to climb past 40fter and back up the steeps to skidder, over 19th again, dropping down road and into 235 for a nice hoon, riding good, climbing out, up road, dogpark dropping behind houses, fast, home.

Worthwhile 11.5 kms, with a smidge under 400m climbed.

Saturday Trolling Ada

Quick spin up and back on an empty stomach.  Fueled by coffee (and a banana just before I left), I chugged the Troll up through Vic, walked a bit above skidder, then up onto Thompson's #1 and a bomb down Summit to Kiwi.  Across and onwards up the road, catching a guy below Worsley's on a well packed 'packing rig heading out for a hundred kms or so.  We chatted as we cruised around and at Kennedy's I peeled left up the quad track to the top of Mt Ada.  Been planning this ride for ages so was good to finally grab it.  Made me think maybe I'll aim to peak all the tops along here on the Troll...  Mt Cass next!  Apparently Ada was Cass's wife.  Anyway, brief carry up the rocks, two asian women were up top, and left not long after I arrived, leaving it for me on my own.  Took a couple of good pics 

and brief chat to Doug.  Then hit the down.  Tight single long grass track to start with, then fast bombing quad to road...  then, road road road aero, pedalling keeping speed then aero speed down to kiwi, across Dyers and up up to Vic, straight in, down the 4wd, speeeeed through skidder and road home.

Nice and warm, 14.25 kms, 472 m climbed.

Sunday Mounting Greyness

Picked up Nelsie, headed north to meet up with Pete and Alistair at Stalker Park, Woodend, to convoy to "Lake" Janet.  

Hot day, 28 or so.  Nelson's brilliant idea was to ride the walking track.  Scorched earth policy had been through, no trees lower down now, we clambered in up the steepest shitface of the trail and zigged our way up. Hot and hot, tho the breeze was coolish once we were higher up.  Met various walkers and runners and dogs various spots on the way up.  Stopped for a breather in the shade of the look out tower, then hit the singletrack from here.  Much better riding, less steep, but techy and balance-requiring, spectacularly clear views all out everywhere every direction.  Took it all in from the top and then it was time to head down. 

Glorious descending, glorious single-track. Rutty near the top, and man the pigs have rooted the shit out of the open land before we headed into the forest.  Techy switchback city in the trees, nice and cool.  What a blast.  So much fun.  Mucky section not so bad, much drier than last time.  Heaps of tree carnage lower down too, tho the biiig one of a couple times back is fully cleared.  

 Followed by the grunty wee gravel thrash back up to the cars, noticed one area where the trees have been hammered by the big winds of a few weeks back. 

All up 676 m clambered and 11.74 kms. Steep!

Wednesday Night Lava Skool

Picked up Nelson (only a couple of weeks out from having Covid) and his bike from bottom end of Bowenvale Ave, leaving his car there, and we drove up to mine and hit the hill. Up the usuals, Vic Park Rd, 19th, Skidder, and gruntsville (I walked a snip), all the way to the top.  Regroup and down around, popping the two jumps nicely then straight into Worm, climbing smoothly to the Traverse.  Around here, pulling up multiple times letting (assumedly, the 'Slow Riders) lots of riders through all the way to the saddle, then mostly we got the track to ourselves after that.  Stopped at the top of Lavaflow, climbing up to the fenceline.  Good chat, rest, hang-out up here in the wind, taking shelter behind a couple of matagouri, and then due to cold, got moving.  

Down the Lavaflow.  What a blast.  Loved it.  Tech rock, tricky lines.  I dabbed a couple of spots, took smoother less steep lines when Nelson took big drops.  Only didn't ride one feature on my route.  Below the open section, into the Kanuka, lovely swoopy back and forth.  A couple of rocks I dabbed through, but will ride next time, then after the lowest one, tiiight rooty steep to the Hidden Valley 'bonus.'  Climbed up through the steep pines onto Old Skool, around to the high point and then dropped in.  Excellent blast down here.  My weight to my advantage, rolling, coasting, pumping, no pedalling and catching Nelson all the way while he was pedalling to keep the speed.  Bony as hell, lots of it, with some blown out bits lower down that could catch us off guard (but didnt).  Finally the last few corners, drifting out onto the gravel and out down, coasting rolling to the car. He dropped me home. 

Good hoon. 9 kms with 260 m climbed (plus an extra 220 descended) - very similar to the last time we hit Lavaflow (20 months ago!)

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.

Sunday Tops Again but Mountained

Good leg stretch hoon along the tops similar and back similar to yesterday but on the single track on the mountainbike.  Up the usuals, 19th, skidder, gutser (brief breather half way up), to top of Vic, down around the jumpies and hard right into Worm back up to Traverse.  Into the long slog around here, going well, then over Vernon, bomb to Rapaki-top, into Witch, decently negotiated.  Along road up to Castle and bomb in behind a couple of other guys (dad and son) I'd crossed paths with a couple of times, after giving them a good gap.  I popped out the very end closer to them than I'd been to start with and straight into the climb back up the road.  

Up onto the Tors for a good waft down this.  Very overgrown.  Onto road again and good blat around to Witch, up and over again, then up the road around Vernon, catching and overtaking another rider.  Into Traverse, nice bomb, then through the jumpies, rabbit paddock, rocks, gums, road, 235 out and up and down behind houses home.  

Similar but different, 20kms, 740 m climbed

Saturday Ease Along the Top and Back

With T, on our Ebikes we shot up on top and out past the Bridle Path and back.  Her first ride for a long time, good to get her stretching out.  We stopped just beyond the Bridle Path and I sat down on the grass and lay back.  On our way back after Castle Rock it felt like something was biting me on my elbow and on my back...  ended up with allergic looking bites, spider?  ant??  no idea.  Beautiful day but windy in places.  Used 60 % of my battery.  as did she.

Easy hoon, 21 kms, 790m escalated.

Show Day Hill Troll

Quick spin down the hill to meet T and Ben for an Ernle Clarke walk then off up the hill via more interesting routes, just for a good leg stretch.  I love riding this bike.

Grand total of 7.6 kms, 212 m clambered.

Saturday Quick Trolling

Little spin into a storm.  What looked to be a wall of weather out on the plains was making its way towards the hills and I knew everything was packing in for Sunday so I jumped on the Troll and headed out and up.  (after first attaching my Fidlock attachment to the frame for bottle).  Stood and ground my way up, good pace and man that bike feels fast and light, so smooth.  Up over 19th, to the skidder and onto my feet for the steepest.  Just up from the Sesame wallride I took off my bushshirt, tying it onto the handlebars, and got pedalling again.  Up to Brakefreezone and across the rabbit paddock to my sunset-seat.  Watched the weather, took the photo, rain started to spit, so headed across Rabbit and into Rocks, down around through the Gums, slick-tech on the Troll, out to Skidder and them bombed down the road, rain spattering heavier, into Dogparkcarpark - 235, slick bomb down here, not as dry as it was the other day, all the way down to the bottom of Harry Ell, and carried bike up shortcut to VicParkDrive and bomb to home.

25 minutes riding-time, a smidge less than 5 kms, 154 m climbed.

Thursday Night Solo, Hunts and back

Up from home to the top top of Vic, half dying on the steep climbing.  Quick blat down round the jumpies and and hard right into Coffee Break climbing gently up to the Traverse.  Misty fog lingering in spots around here, with various views diminished, vanished or there.  Stopped up top of Huntsbury and had a quick snack and break.  Then dropped into top of Four Pause for a nice blat down this bony rutty trail.  Yumpity bump, missing the 2nd jump, and then whoah..., dude slowing me just before the bottom gap jump, bypassing it cos there's a guy lying on the ground on the landing pad. Not in a good way.  His mate was on the phone to the emergency services, describing where they were.  Raspy sounding breathing, so maybe his lung was punctured?  Nasty rasping sound... I couldn't help, wasn't carrying my space blanket (which I'd have given if I was), his mates had it in hand, so I took off, continuing down the 'easy' tussock route, through the cattlestop, part way down the singletrack then peeled left through tussocks and clambered over Rocky, nearly crashing, then down all the way, bypassing or taking various of the jumps, all the way to the bottom of the Huntsbury Track. 

Back up the gravel road expecting an ambulance up behind me or chopper flying over any minute, but none.  Eventually back up to the guys, dude still on his back, still sounding dreadful, - he'd cased the jump.  They said they were sending a chopper...  Ground  up the gravel grovel and up onto the Traverse again, bomb bomb, lots of runners and walkers, chatted with a girl in an Montana State Uni top, "MSU!  I lived in Bozeman in the early 90s. - started mountainbiking there, 30 years ago!"  On around Traverse, big group of walkers hustling out of the way, and then bomba domb down over the jumps, straight through the cattlestop and down the rabbit paddock into the rocks, and gums, wend wend, out to skidder, over 19th, then into 235 all the way through out onto H'Ell and down the road back up around to home.... 

Home about 10 minutes when I finally heard and saw the chopper past, weaving its route to avoid the foggy mist... that was a long wait for the poor injured dude. 

Vitally statistical 13.8 kms with 481 m climbed

Saturday E-Planting Travis

Took the Ebike to Travis Planting. It was good for a bit of an explore of our old hood and a stop at the library on the way home.  Meandered a very seat-of-the-pants (but mapwise very direct) route there, enjoying our old sections of river and seeing how it's all changed/grown/developed.  Planted lots of plants and threw my back out on the last couple of plants I put in, scoffed a couple of sossies, and then got riding again.  Back around and dropped into Shirley Library to grab a couple of books from my list, then down past our old house and my old commute route into town before riding my current commute route home (nice and familiar).  Traffic is insane all the time now.

30something kms, again used most of the battery (from fully full to just under 30%)

Labour Monday Vic OldSkool Labouring

Labour Day Monday, Nelsie got to mine just after 4 and we hit up the hill. To the very top.  Down around the yumpies, across the fenceline and dropped down Upper Fenceline.  Stayed high, across above Cool Runnings, Shroom etc, and dropped into Razza's.  Climbed up a little to drop down the lower reaches of Pedalfine, out of the forest into Flow and NuBridges, all tidied and smooth now, then quick bomb down valley and into the climb up Hidden-connector, me gasping, around to Old Skool. Whilst having our wee rest at the high point, we spotted some blue flagging tapes on the hill above and walked up off piste to check them out and work out what it might be for.  Looks like someone's planning a new skool line above the Oldskool.  Back down to the bikes and we continued our bomb down, the bony-bony old skool. 

Valley bottom hit, we headed up, ground up the grindings, above Texaco we checked out the big rock above, then back on track and back on up. Checked out the new Shazzas extension and pushed up the K2 to Skidder. 

Then over 19th and down 235 all the way out to the lower section. 

A fun wee 10.7 kms with some painful 441 m climbed.

Sunday Norwester Local Loner, Pinch-flats and Pump Problems.

Up, round the top, gail nor'westers blowing from behind then across, then down the ridgeline, first jump, not second, third, and missed the final due to waaay too much cross wind.  Hung a left on the older route and proceeded to get a flat.  Sat down to fix.  Double whammy snakebite, so two patches needed.  Did it, tube back in, pump pump pump ftttwwwssshhhhhh.  Damnit.  Tube out, re-glued the offender, held tight made sure it was done, then back in, pumped up and got riding. Down the old bypass trails, walking the steepest bit and dabbing a couple others, into Old Skool, bombing down into valley, and into the climb when the rear end started getting softer and softer, again!   Walked up to a seat at the walking track intersection and tore the offending patch off and re-did it, and then my pump fucked out. Tried to fix. No go. Ebike dude hoves into view, "do you have a pump?" "Yep", "Thanks!" to the rescue. His pump worked well and I got a tonne of air in my tire. 

Finally got riding again, up valley, chatting with him for a bit, then chainsaw Ranger on UBCO.  I pushed the worst bit of K2 yuck, feeling really shit, clambered around under texaco then on up the bastard steeps.  Found the Ubco guy's chainsaw blade-cover and carried it up to the 40fter, jamming it on a broom plant in good view of the track for him to find at a later date.  Last bit, stopped to let some fitter buggers ride past and then got going, through Skidder over 19th, into the dogparkcarpark and bombadiered down the left hander, lots of scrap from the trees and a few branches, then brief stint on H.Ell and climbed up to road, up and around down behind houses and home.

Frustrating 11.43 kms with 515 m escalated.

Saturday Sunday Paparoa, again

Higgs and me headed over Friday night to Taylorville, staying at Brunnerton Lodge before heading up thru Blackball to Smoke-Ho carpark.  Only a week or so off 2 years since I's last here... Weather was clearing, indeed, clear down in the Grey valley, but seemed to be lingering on the hills ahead of us and around us, so as we set up at the carpark there was a rainbow and a light drizzle.  Got rolling and on the first rocky descent a stone got caught in my mudguard.  I thought the front roll bag had messed with my rear brake hose and that the brake was on, but once I straightened it up I realised it was a stone...  removed, and on we headed.  The grunt of the climb began and Hugo did really good, plodding away.  He didn't walk much.  Took us about 2hr45 to Ces Clarke.  A little slower than last time but pretty good considering our lack of training.  

After a feed, off we headed along the tops.  More climbing, the odd walk.  My dropper started to play up (again, I was blaming my front-roll) but then a minor tweak of the barrel adjuster and I was happy.  One basin after another we trudged around.  On some of the final descent I stopped to wait and Hugo didn't show, and I had images of his teeth through his lips for some reason... :( So I started heading back and he appeared around a corner carrying his bike.  Derailleur well and truly stuck fast in his spokes...  oh dear.  Realisation occurred at my lack of 'safety' gear - no first aid kit (whoops), no duct tape (yikes).  Undid derailleur, removed wheel, managed to wrench the derailleur clear and then found that, reattached, he still had gears! - just didnt want to risk 1st or 2nd, so 3rd was his go to.  

Final blast to Moonlight was a joy.

Day two dawned, and we were the last to leave the hut.  Tho the 3 girls were not far gone with Georgia's troubles, so we passed them and continued on.  Nice descent, then up and down (quite a bit of up) in the goblin forest, then out onto the tops, views I never saw last time due to the weather.  

Awesome. 

This section is so good down to Pororari Hut.  Magic.  Still quite a long slog from Pororari, especially for Hugo, but man it was still good.  

YMMV, but Day One and Day Two on the MMR announces 17.7 kms and 34 kms respectively.  with 1124 m and 821 m climbed on each.  Them's some big climbings.

Welly Sunday Makara on Rentals

In Wellington for WoW.  Sunday afternoon, first nice day they'd seen for a while, Higgs and me made our way to Mud Cycles and rented an Ebike and an acoustic bike (only had the one e bike available) and went for a strop. Got to main entrance and realised didnt know the way in, given Koru was closed, so asked some folk and they led us around and up to the St Albans St entrance.  Climbed up Rimu and Miro, Sally Alley, Upswing, Aratihi.  Good climbs.  I was chuffing.  at the top of Aratihi I took the ebike to the top, it was fast...  Then we swapped back and jumped into North Face.  Good strop, then at the bottom of that we hit the bottom of Pohatu then SWIGG the rest of the way down.  Pohatu was the grade I would have prefered...

9.25 kms with 270 odd climbed.

Thursday Night, Last of the Season?

Good one out tonight with Nelson. Lots of poaching as it was probably our last chance and the trails were nice and dry.  Up from mine, over 19th, and up the gutser, then up to top of Vic, wondering where we'd head.  I suggested across the road here, and so we went up to the shelter then up to the Sugarloaf carpark and onto Cedric's Track, which proved to be quite fun.  Over the stile and dropped over the edge, continuing through tech to below the carpark and around this and over the next mound, finding fire engines and vehicles all doing what looked to be a training exercise.  Over the road and fence and onto the Traverse next to the pond here, we skadoodled up from here around all the way to the end (top of Huntsbury).  

Onto Scott's Knob section of Crater Rim here through the macracarpas and dropping funstyles down to the road, then up the steppy bits and steps, cleaning the top hairpin and climbing onwards up to the next steps where I really needed a rest.  Bit of a breather and we got going again, and I'd forgotten how nuggetty it follows from there.  Whoop.  Back to the fire-os and back over the road and fence to pond and this time the other direction on the Summit Traverse.  Cruising into the nor'wester from here and I was eating dust the whole way, whipped up by Nelson and held up for me to breath by the wind.  

Down over the cattlestop to Pedalfine, dropping down here, I took the same line as the Sunday and dropped through over the skinny rickety bridge and down onto the 4wd track (which has been severely scraped).  Along here again, dropping into Razzas down and through, excellent fun, then climbing back up around to the skidder.  Followed the road to below 19th, then below road, and usual lines through to Tawhairanui, lovely flow through here then a good railing bomb down 235 including the final jumps, all dry now, and climbing up to DogParkLowerCarPark for the final monster-bomb down behind the houses and home.

A congenial 10.3 kms with 395 m scrambled.

Sunday Norwest Hayfeversville, Exhausting Local Hoonage

As the title says, exposure to pollen and wind, heat and dry. Clambered up to the top of Vic, struggling in the hayfever.  Over the jumpies and down through the cattlestop, hanging a right up fenceline to top of Pedalfine.  Biff boff down this, finding it slick, peeling left on the slightly lower exit to that wee narrow bridge, then across the 4wd track to the entry above Razza's.  Nice drop down this, relishing the roots and gnar.  Hung a right and climbed up to the junction, dropping into the rest of Pedalfine, down into the guts, and out of the forest onto Flow and peeling around into NuBridges, drip drop drap.  

Bomb down and into the Hidden Valley link track, struggling up this, having to stop in the pines on the steepest bit, but cleaning the hairpings.  Up onto Old Skool for a very fun blast, wind blasting, dropping down.  Straight into the valley climb - climbing up valley on the neverending steeps, K2, a couple of walks, riding, then walking in the Rad^Sick zone. Over 19th and down thru 235, meeting the jump/trail building groms. Up then last being houses...

Perspicacious 10 kms with 470 m extricated from gravity.

Poachy Thursday Night Solo

A solo night's exploratory ride, riding some new stuff, and some old poaches poached before...  

Up from home, good pace, struggling up the usual bits and into the Thompsons down to Kiwi.  Up Summit Rd from here, with a roadie on my tail the whole way until the corner before Worsley's when he pulled up alongside and we chatted.  He said where are you headed? and i said not sure yet...  He peeled off up Worsleys and I continued to the next carpark and over the stile and up the hill from here, walking track no bikes signs ignored.  Nice sunset happening out to the right, and the descent was through flaxes, thwacking my face all the way down.  Onto the road at the next bit because there was a ute parked and I figured they might be on the walking track.  

At the saddle (old top of Kennedys) I took the section of Crater Rim I'd had a look into a few rides ago (on the Troll), but hung a right up through the gorse climbing around above the road - pretty sure Nelson and me had ridden this before).  Got pretty steep towards the top and, unable to clip out in time, I fell over.  Then sidling along above the road (skirting above Kennedy's Bush), some nice rocks and flow, down to the saddle.  Here I hung a left and hit down the trail I'd set out to explore - completely new to me.  Mostly pretty good, but with a few chunky unrideable rock sections, including, within a mahoe forested tallus field, a U shaped section of steps down and up.  Around out of the forest and plenty of exposure (a black void to the right) with one or two more small rocky sections, then final flow out where I'd walked that time leaving the Troll.  

Down across the saddle and onwards along the walking track.  Lots of interesting rock features, clambering and cruising over through bush back to the next saddle.  Decided against going back up through all the flax so headed along the road.  Onto the Crater Rim at Worsleys and down this, many years since last time.  Then, at the Nun-meets-Rd I crossed and headed up onto the walkway above road for a nice bomb down, then down steps, then onto the final bit that squirrels out behind the Kiwi on the Dyers Pass Rd side.  Fun!  

Up the Summit Rd to top of Vic, down round the jumps for smooth air then down to Rock garden, bombing through gums, over 19th, down road, into 235 taking the left line down through, then out the "To Harry Ell" track to Vic Park Rd and bomb to home.

Poachy 14 kms with 535 m escalated.

Sunday, Uplifted Park and Kennedy's Victorious

With Higgs again, in training for the Paparoa in a month's time.  Up from home, through towards skidder and hung the right down the swoop-de-swoop, down road, across and into the 'new' entrance to the Park.  Plop blop down there and H was keen on Askins again, so in we bombed.  Pulled over a couple of times to either have a breather or let some grom past, then out down the bottom.  Onto the lift and whooshed to the top.  Down Summit Connector, and we pulled out onto the Summit Rd, riding up around and over to the top of Kennedy's.  

Fast bumpy run down this, H was glad we hadn't climbed it, which was my original plan.  Down through the croc zone, staying on the C2 side, we dived into Mish Mash, which had a few surprises - fun for me, less so for him.  Out the quarry park and onto the road, climbing, descending, climbing and descending the small humps around.  

Along the straight of Cashmere Rd H decided he didnt want to race into the park to beat the 4 oclock closing so he bailed with my bus card for the bus and I hauled arse up through into the Park again (took 10 minutes) and uplifted to the top again.  Summit Connector, down onto the lower Nun, bombing through this, a bit drier than it was last week, then at Kiwi climbed up the road and into top of Vic.  Nice jumpies then down rabbit into rockgarden, gums, over 19th, down road, into 235, fucky as muck in the usual spots, and then climbed back up to bottom of Dog Park and bombed down behind the houses, home.

Blustery 28.9 kms with 1223 m ascended. (two uplifts = ~800m, meaning just over 420 climbed myself).

Thursday Night Eastern Wild Side

Nelsie and me met at Scumnervale relatively early and rode down via the crazy-parasailers' (we saw them later) landingstrip, to, then up, the Captain.  It was tough, overgrown and steep, greasy af and tricksy too all the way up through the forested bit.  Once above that it was drier, but ffs people have obvs been riding the crap out of it whilst it's been wet in winter so the ruts are deep - same as Godley...  

From Evans headed along the Godley Rd, encountering car after car (of mostly 2 girls - tho one mentally deficient moron in an Evo) parked, watching the sunsets...  Headed up the farm track to the main Godley, cloying grass and heaps of new lambs abounding.  Bombed, then, down to Livingston, ruts and mums with lambs making it rather interesting, and lo the fences / cattlestops have all been re-arranged.  Climbed up towards Breeze to the high point like back on the longest night (tho that time we dropped into Taylors). 

Back down to Livingston and Nelson turned up the face, steep! Bit of walking for me, where he cleaned the whole damned thing!  Over the fence and we followed the walkway sidling ever up and around til nearly able to see into Lyttleton, basically we were just over the fence from the quarry, where we headed up skirting along the fenceline around the top of the quarry to the highest point then down through the gate and back down the long ridge (through mums and lambs) to the main track again.  Took this back to Evans, pinging and flowing through the bony rocks.  

Back at Evans, we headed into Rapanui Bush, sweet wee section of singletrack seeming longer than usual, then around it's tight corners and steps and out onto the Scarborough Bluffs track.  Super techy tricksy fun, meandering along above the road, challenges thrown at you constantly and lots of exposure.  Eventually crossed the road, dropping down to bottom of the Captain, and back to the cars..

A abundance of up, 13.7 km with 560 m climbed