Paul and me drove out to View Hill Rd carpark. The ford wasn't too bad and the road in was a little rough for the i40 but we made it up to the end of the road no problem to find a pretty chocka carpark. New experience for him opening gates I think... and a LOT of wasps around (tho not as many as the fateful time with Tom).
We got riding and there was a bit of water (read: mud) on the track in places so it wasn't long and we were pretty splecky. Nice to get in here again, 5 years since last time (and 2 before that!). Trail is in very good condition, with many of the old double round parallel post drains removed entirely, and only one tree across it (the bulky chunk of which I removed (a tricky shin height sapling was unyeilding)). The cooler shady zones were all but wasp free, but the sunny dry faces were busy (and buzzy). Chch under fog, we were in a beautiful crystal clear day.
One of the creeks we crossed had a hell of a slip through it too. All the way almost entirely rideable now, all the creeks etc... much better. Paul crashed on one droppy in and out creek. The rocky bluffy section around 2/3rds of the way out has been majorly worked on, entirely rideable up (used to be a very tech drop coming back, pushing from this direction) until around the corner it got a bit steep with loose exposure making it 'scarier'. The creek crossing just past it was majorly shifted further up too, due to slipping. Passed a couple of sets of walkers, one near the saddle. The zig zags near the saddle, section used to be super rutty and big rooty holes, now fully rideable, smooth. Seemed like no time and we were at the saddle, finding 3 quite young women (high school age) with music playing. Very respectful, they turned it right down when we arrived. Chatted a bit, we ate our sandwiches, the last couple we'd passed turned up. The girls left. We were visited by a nice wee tomtit. Then we headed off.
Good rolling, nice riding. On the fast stretch down just before the first hairpin I felt a wasp between my lips. I blew hard quickly, but not quick enough, bugger stung me on the lower lip. Ouch! I pulled up and stopped, and stuffed a couple of antihistamines in me. Paul turned up. We got riding again. Joyful riding, but my lip started swelling and was getting quite uncomfortable as we went along. Good riding tho! I'd stop every now and then and let Paul catch up then get rolling and caning all the tech sections, floating and wafting over stuff. Passed a mum and kids at low point before the final climb. Climb climb climb easy as, then through the gate and bombing again, mouth closed (and swollen) avoiding unwanted guests. Big group of youthful walkers not far from the carpark. They turned up while we were dismantling the mud and mounting the bikes.
Got driving and they ended up catching up and training through our gate openings.
A swollen lip of 17.5 kms, with 670 m climbed
No comments:
Post a Comment