Thursday Night Thomas Godley to Livingston presumed

Good ride tonight with Nelson. Drove to his, took his car to Slumnervale and hit up Captain Thomas, stopping a few times to scoff some blackberries.  At the second stop the old 29er crew we'd ridden with a couple times over the years turned up.  They were moving so we got in behind and followed, variously attempting (not me) to sketch up some techknuckle rock sections, with various success or failment.  Some were on eeebs.  Up above one of the walky dropdowns one of them had a derailleur mechanical and they all stopped and Nelson caught up with his old buddy, then we got going and they were ready go to too, so variously passed, or didn't, us on the rest of the way up.  I was 4th to the top, nearly fucking dying of asthma - gasping.  We split our separate ways at Evans, with them heading down the Scarborough Bluffs track to venture all the way along and over to Taylors Rd, while we headed up Godley. 

The tech was good - I walked or dabbed a few sections.  Nelson cleaned 99%.  On the ridge we headed into the descent.  Railing down towards Livingston my back end was making some weird noises.  Stopped, couldn't find anything wrong, continued, and we triple checked it over at the Col.  Found the rear left dropout pivot bolt loose!  That's the second bolt to loosen on this bike.  Not enough loctite?  .... Tighened it up, checked all the rest, and headed up the road.  Up the usual farm track, light starting to diminish, some nice sunset action out on the plains, and into the descent(ish) back to Evans.  Good railing.  Lots of near muppetry, including one adrenalin-raising near-off that I just managed to dab through.  Then into the Captain.  Oh yes.  Very nice.  Flowy, techy speed fun.  Nice through the OG, tho Nelson mysteriously offed and ended up inside his bike and not on the ground.  Lower down it was DARK in the trees.  Was a bit of a shock.  Slowed a bit then it wasn't quite so dark.  Nice finish down and out, then across to the car and she was getting pretty dusky.

Well-nigh 13 km, with a luxuriant 727 541 m climbed (previously 20km, 727m, but that's cos I didn't turn off MMR until Nelson's place...  now deleted)

Sunday Pleasantly Green Thomas McCormack

Parked up Nelson's and we hauled up Mt Pleasant Rd into the Upper Major entrance to Britten.  

Chuffed up around VTwin and then around the front (hard to find) and around onto the road.  Over the fence and overgrown climb to the singletrack up the side of Mt Pleasant where we dropped on into upper Greenwood, technicalia ensued then lower down it was railing-fast in the tussocks.  

Into Greenwood proper and rocks were the name of the game.  Very rumpty but we carried our speed the whole way, smooth(enough) riding and I was on Nelson's tail the whole way, pretty much.  Good rest after the lung-burning sequence of Gloomy then got moving before a runner caught us.  Great rail the rest of the way down to Evans.  Both of us seemingly on fire.  

Across the road and into Thomas, lots of walkers for a change, on their way up.  Cleaned everything that needed cleaning, into the OG section and rock and roll.  Heaps of flow and groove.  

Off down the road to Dot Com for a coffee and slice, and then around the bikeways, lots of people about, and headed into and up the McCormack's Bay / Drayton Reserve trail (over 3 years since last up here!), steeeeeeep and lung-burny.  I dont remember it being that steep...  Hung a right after the bridges for a nice groove across to the last couple switchbacks (which required walking) before popping out on Drayton Rd.  Then we finished on road, down through Assisi etc to Nelsie's. 

Superlative 20kms with nearly 700 m climbed

Satur-heated Greenwood Godley Taylor's Godley Captain

Scorcher today. Parked in McCormack's as Nelson pulled up, and we took his car to top of Mt Pleasant Road.  Into the OG Greenwood entrance, diverting into Sheepshit Alley for a weird descent, then climbed around up to the ruins.  Into the bony-arse Greenwood. Heesh it was bony.   Pinging descent, ruts catching me weirdly.  My whole game was off, because I's in my new(ish) Ride Concepts shoes, and I've installed the cleats too far back, so my whole centre of gravity was off.  Kept catching my toes too.  Then into the rocky Godley start from Evans, not something we've done for ages, and quite hard work for the first few hundred metres, but gradually better as you go. Ruts were particularly problematic today.  Good blast once in the descent for Livingston - weaving okay, but never quite letting it all go.  Over to Breeze was a breeze. 

Then up the road a little to hit Anaconda in full, tentative and sketchy in the upper reaches, finally letting it go a bit lower down.  I seemed to keep ending up on Nelson's tail for a while, but he got away on the Snake's Tail.  Down into the Taylor's Carpark, loaded up some water, considered queuing for an ice cream, but I got water instead.  Incredibly busy down here.  Next, we toodled around the carpark seeing if there was a new entrance for the new trail up, but it was just the old exit for the entrance, so hit up the new MT1 and MT2, which were very good.  At the top we headed up the old walking track we used to ride regularly (last time was 5 years ago) to the paraglider launch site - it's getting some development so hopefully they'll chuck in a few more zigs and zags, cos fuck is it steep at the top.  

Along the road a little, and back up into Godley.  My brain was starting to fry and weakness was setting in hard.  Muppetted back to Evans, not terrible flow, but exhausting, then dropped into The Captain for the win. So exhausting but good riding. Finally around the flat back to the car. Chucked my bike in the back, Nelson's on the back and up the hill we went to drop him back to his car at the top.
 

Unmitigated 25 kms, 770 climbed -with bonus total 1170 descended

Wednesday Night's Captain Greenwood, I Presume

Up into the fog and back down into the darkness... 

Parked at about 7pm at Slumnervale and headed into the OG Thomas climb.  Walked the usual bits, and dabbed a few others.  Pretty mild down here, and overcast and foggy on top so quite humid.  Good enough climb, struggling with my weight and feeling every inch of belly fat.  Onto the road, decisions to be made - up into the fog? or out Godley...?  Upwards.  Locked out the squish and pushed a good pace up the road.  Into the clouds just up and around a little.  The big Richmond Pines were making their own rain, and I climbed over the stile and went up Knapsack/sheepshit alley.  This was nice.  

At the top of this I was debating heading around the road and up Broadleaf for the full run, but it was 8pm so I checked sunset on Met which said 8.20, so decided against the top of Pleasant - instead, hung a left and rode the OG Greenwood 'entry' and then proceeded to enjoy, thoroughly, the descent of Greenwood.  Bony. As. Fuck. But Jeht responding and performing laudably.  A couple of short rests and in the lowest gulch (before the last blast to Evans) it was 8.15.  Hoo-boy, 5 minutes to sunset...  Blitzed out the rest, down to the road (with audience in the boy-racer carpark) and straight up onto Captain Thomas, the overcast sky getting dimmer as I descended.  Stopped a couple of times to get blood flow back into hands, otherwise cleaning all of the trail, loving the tech.  Light was still good even once into the bushy sections, but man, visibility was hard once into the piney section in the lower reaches.  Feck'n'ell.  Managed to cleane out the nether reaches and then back along behind the gabbion wall and through the park to the car for around 8.30...  Nicely nicely.  

As close to 14 km as you can shake a stick at, and deliciously, 575 m climbed.

Saturday Captain Godley into the Breeze and back again

Good wee ride on the Jeht today that was hard work. I'm so unfit! Climbing was tough, conditions good or sketchy. Lambs galore.

Parked on Wakefield and headed into the OG Captain T.  Muckiest I've ever seen it along behind the gabian wall, then up on the trail a lot of wetspots to negotiate.  Once out on the open section was a bit dryer, bar a few damp spots higher up.  I was muppetty, really struggling on the climbing, balance seemed all wonky, so dabbed way more than usual.  Out the top and onto the road, following a gravel couple, never quite catching them but slowly winding them in, until I peeled right up the ridge, lots of lambs and ewes.  Onto Godley and it was in pretty good nick.  Damp in shadier side, and very rutty, especially leading into the descent towards Livingston.  Good blast through this and then up the next over, dabbing once or twice, but making it through other tech.  Surprisingly good down to Breeze, only very slightly soggy on the last rutsville.  I've never seen so many people at Breeze Col.  It was insane the numbers walking up from Taylors.

Turning back up the road, cruised around to Livingston and had to don my vest as there was a nasty chill in the wind.  Para-sailers hovering smoothly at their launchsite, passed them and left up the ridge track again, passing a very sad looking ewe with a bunch of ropey stuff hanging out her rear end.  Needed some help but I didn't know what to do...  :(  Onto Godley heading for Evans, very wet in places, but once on the downward slope just the rock tech to deal with.  onto the road, and through the pass back onto the Captain, for a good cruise down.  Cleaned all the tech, but carefully.  Nice going once in the bushy section, navigating the wet sections carefully too.  Flow resulted and out to the car for a good finish.

Strugglesome 15.43 kms and 640 m climbed.

Sunday, Kinda Like the Old Days - Rapaki to Sumner loop

Good ride today, catching up with some of the old crew.  Met Wazza, Nelsie, Andy and Jenna at bottom of Rapaki, and off we went up.  Jenna was meeting a walking friend and rode with her while us 4 boyz headed off up Elevator for the grind.  Was doing okay for a start but slightly stupidly I followed Nelson and Wazza into the 'extra' loop bit, while Andy took the short cut, putting him miles ahead.  Then the chase was on and I found I didn't really have it in me, so much.  Struggled away as they pulled away from me but we all slowly caught Andy.  Wazz had no problem given he was on his ebike, but it took quite a while us other two, in particular, me, who didn't get there til the start of the Montgomery.  Bit of a breather here and I followed Andy into the 'hard' line, catching me off guard given I had no idea there was that tech section.  I dabbed, Nelson had to choose a different line behind me, but we all survived.  Above the track for a bit then onto the main drag up the hill, passing Jenna and her friend again.  

Breather at Rapaki-top then off into the Witch.  Nice churn through here, chuffing a fair bit I was tho.  Then up the road to Castle and Nelson and me led the way, at great speed.  Pinging all over the place and I felt like it was slow, but I think we carried pretty good speed in the long run.  

Then it was along the road below the gondola and up through the cutting into Britten for the hoon around the outside - sheepshit-fling, it was.  Andy led, Nelson, Wazz and me.  Down into OG Greenwood entrance and I was in the lead, and ended up having to have a breather at the worst of the rocky tech bits and the others all ploughed past.  Down to the ruins, breather, and Nelson and me led the way, flowing and enjoying.  Chain off on the sidle before gloomy gulch, and lots of wet spots.  Cleaned all the techy troublesomeness in Gloomy too.  Breather break at the usual spot and then it was off down again, carrying speed with finesse, flying and grooving.  I was catching and cruising, catching and cruising with Nelson almost all the way.  Out the bottom and around up onto the Summit Rd to the Captain's entrance.

Waited here for a bit, and well earned breather, for rider we'd spotted climbing.  Then it was on again, hauling and balling, railing and wailing.  A couple of haul ups by Nelson in a couple of weird spots, but was all good.  Into the old school section and funtimes.  I had one very close call on the bridge bit, there was some grass or horseshit on the left hand entrance to it, not to mention slick rocks, and my front wheel squirrelled alarmingly.  Survived.  Excellent weavy ride the rest of the way, pumping through sections, railing corners.  Loved it.

Finaly, down the road to DotCom, coffee and brownie, eventually Jenna arrived and we headed off around the coastal pathway, losing Nelson at McCormacks and Wazza at Ferrymead Bridge.  We went around the back of Settlers Cres, under the motorway bridge, and Sheldon etc and I left them at Opawa bridge to head around the park to the car in Hillsborough Tce.

Started it late, beyond the highest point on Elevator, so adding a couple kms and 250 m climbing, I guess, call it 30 kms and 880 m climbed...

Scorched Sunday Thomas the God Botherer's Captaincy

Took myself out to Slumner with the Jeht on board and parked up in some shade before Scumnervale. Headed up the OG Captain and it was hot. Really fucking hot. Many times I thought, "it's too much" but each time I continued. Scorching, bit of walking right at the start then not so bad from there on out with the usual rocks needing the foot-use.  Sumner Triathlon was on and there were cones and signage and people all over Evans Pass, with Godley Head Rd closed to traffic, I headed out there with the knowledge there'd be no cars.  Climbed up the grass onto the trail - utterly surrounded by a kaliedoscope of butterflies (or was it a whisper of moths?).  Breather at the top here and chatted to a bloke on a Santa Cruz here (that I'd seen from below the wondering whether he'd been through or not by the time I got up there).  He asked about the trail, it'd been a while since he'd been on it, and then I gave him the lead off and waited a bit longer.  Off down after him and had a nice blast. Then at Livingston he was waiting at the big gate, opening it for me but (to him) I'd disappeared behind the rock, and was at the small gate (where the old cattlestop roll-over used to be).   

I felt better from here up and over, cleaning all the rocky tech on the up, nice flow down around, over pfmtbc rock to Breeze, then took the Breeze Bay walking track around the back, with literally a good breeze coming up off the sea round here. VERY Needed. Caught some walkers before the stile - giving the guy a heck of a fright. Over the stile ahead of them and bombed down to the carpark where I filled up my water. Then, around the front on the OG Godley section, enjoying, and crossing paths with the Santa Cruz dude again.  At Breeze I intended to head back on the road, started out that way but where the top Anaconda entrance is I climbed up the paddock to the Godley trail again.  Nice from here back in this direction over the techy rock and missing the wasted descent on the road to Livingston (which would have been a nice rest, I guess).  

From Livingston stayed on the trail and climbed it. My figuring was, it's the same altitude gain as if I'd ridden the road and up track. Hell of a lot more effort tho. Oh well. Received a compliment from an American-accented woman who'd stopped to let me tackle the wee bridge thing at the head of the gully up here. Impressed with my body-English manoeuvrings methinks... I didn't know what to say I was so toasted. I said, "no worries" like she'd thanked me! Then realised my error and said, "thanks, heaps" and continued on my merry way, then wondered if I should have stopped to chat...build some community, like??  Looking back a little further up I could see someone following me, way back, who'd pulled over to let her by.  He was present in my mind, chasing, for the rest of my ride (but didn't catch up til I was on the road next to my car). Blasted the tech rock all the way back to Evans, tho one sticky situation near the end that resulted in a nice lump on my shin/ankle.  My right foot was violent smacked out of my pedal by a rock at almost exactly the same time as my left foot hit a bigger rock, all-but stopping me in my tracks.  At the second foot-strike the pedal from the first intersected with my ankle...  ouch.

Through the pass and straight into Captain Thomas for a rip snorting descent. Had an audience in a couple of the crucial moments, a trio of walkers and dogs above the two rock dropdowns, and a runner who leaned out of the way with a big grin on her face as I dropped down the second of those. Cleaned all of everything except the short climb after the rocky techs, but made it higher on that than I have in a while.  Down in the OG section I stopped to have a single chat with Doug at the bridge and T rang wondering where I was.  Cleaned all the rocky roll-overs lower down here, and had a lovely lively jaunt down the trail.  Dusty finish, and across the road to the car. 

An efficacious 18.4 kms and 765 m climbed, unanticipatedly.

Resolute to ride more as this climbing lark was hurting me...  My playing-up knee survived nicely too.

Fri Day-after-Waitangi, Wood of the Captain Green.

Took the Jeht to Scumnervale and headed up Das Kapitan. 2 weeks since covid and as a result of this I struggled pretty much the whole way. Especially up the road above and then even worse up to the top of Pleasant.  Climb was uneventful, apart from a horse between the gates on the OG Captain.  I gave him a wee fright rolling over the beside-the-stile fence rock roll.  Luckily, he turned around and had his head at the trail (rather than the kicking machines), and I talked nicely and let him sniff me to know me as I passed.  Up from here was nice.  Up the rest was alright, but struggling began in earnest higher up.  Then, up the road, and by the time I made Jollies Bush I was a bit toasted, then up Sheep Shit Alley, and back onto the road and around Britten, the longer way, then up over the fence from the cutting and it looks like no one rides there anymore.  Grass all overgrown to buggery.  Onto main trail and it looks like a trainload of bikes has been through (- an event?).  Clambered and had a rest at some rocks, ate something, then moseyed on, struggling away.  Utterly spent by the top, thankful it was downhill(ish) the rest of the way.

Trails really look like some event has been through recently, do they still hold the Crater Rim enduro??  Top section, rocks, more rocks, and then some rocks thrown in for good measure.  Down through the tussocks was alright.  Lots of new fencing, and through Downhill got better and better as I descended to the point where I was very much enjoying myself.  Good roll down all the usual techs, and into the OG zone, very nicely indeed.  Horsey McHorseface had gone when I came back through.

An undiminutive 16.78 kms and wondrously 663 m upwardly mobile

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

Wednesday Night Thomas short Godley Captain

Sweet wee bomb with Nelsie tonight while America slides into fascism. 

Picked him up and we trafficked around to park at Sumnervale and headed downstream a little then around and up the old skool Captain.  Once up on the 'level' it was good going, and I felt pretty good.  Quite mild considering the beasterly blowing at home and elsewhere.  I even cleaned the upper section before the gate (where I often end up too knackered).  At Evans the view was amazing, with the low grey cloud cap over us, and bright sunshine beaming in to the otherside of the harbour.  It was here I realised I'd forgotten to turn on MMR...  Oh well.

Along the road, always a little further than you think, and lots of biggish lambs around, headed up the farmtrack to the Godley and I led the way back, keeping a pretty good pace, and enjoying the way the bike handled, actually getting some of the famed 'feel' I was looking for in this machine.  (even more so lower down).  Across the road and we dropped into the Captain, and as mentioned, the feel came in droves.  The bike kinda dimensionally warps around certain corners.  Tis sweet!  Into the old skool section and so much fun.  I kept on Nelson's tail for the first bit but a little further in I was struggling to reel him back in.  Managed a couple of times, but then something would slow me.  The rock roll-over gave me a bit of a fright, in that I really thought my left side bar was gonna slam the rock.  Survived tho, and it was a good descent.  

Rolled around back to the car and (then forgot to turn off MMR and ended up turning it off in Monck's Bay, but have editted that bit out.) headed home.  For what it's worth, from Evans to Sumnervale via some trail, 7.5 kms, but in reality based on previous rides, 11.something kms and 420 or so climbed.

Saturday Captain Thom Godley

Blustery hoof up The Captain and out the Godley Rd to climb up and ride back into a gale on the rocks and back down hauling.  

Drove to Nelson's, bike barely fits in the Toyota.  Bikes on his roof and we headed around to Sumnervale, knuckling straight into the climb.  Very warm.  Good climb, once past the nasty start it's a great cruise until further up on the rocks.  Clambered and climbed and gasped for air, finally out the top and the wind was blustery as hell, watched a crazy whipperwhirl of dust rise up from the hairpin bend on the road while we sat at the gate along there.  

Cruised along Godley Head Rd out to where we climb up onto the trail proper, then headed back towards Evans.  Jeht behaved beautifully, felt really good over the rocks, and I reckon I could feel the extra 10mm of travel in the rear.  The wind was hard work tho.  Took the highline end down and then it was time for the Captain.  Excellent blast down here - tail wind pushing us along to rocket speeds. All the lovely tech down below, and we were done.

A glorious 11.something K, and a sound 418 m clambered

Thursday Smokin' Hot Green Pleasantry Captains

Excellent recalibration ride with Nelson tonight.  Parked up in Scumnervale and set off around the foot of the hill, briefly stopping to feast on blackberries before skedoodling up the old skool Captain Thomas and the rest.  Next it was the long slog up the road to the pines, onto the Shit Track for a short climb to the road, around to and up, slogging on the gravel on Broadleaf to the top of Pleasant for a good view back up the harbour to the Port Hills Fire 2.0. 

Into the descent and fark it was bony! Nelson pinged off every single rock there was. I had some good flow on, weaving and twisting - all the while being careful not to crash given the wounds I'm nursing after my commuting crash last Friday in the wet. Meandering around the new fence infrastruction, and through the ruins, and into some hard work descending, majorly fatigued by halfway and we needed a break.  Out of practice obviously.  Into the lower reaches and the weed-eaten grass was fairly off putting, and, thinking it would be slippery - neither of us wanted to push it too hard, but otherwise I dont think we were any slower than usual. Nice flow otherwise. 

Finally, the Captain. Whooee. Great blast down here, cleaning all the usual cleany stuff and blazing away.  Into the lower reaches, loving the pop and twist, weaving through the tech, very awesome. 

Grand total of16kms(!) and somehow 638 climbing points

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.

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

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.

Wednesday Night Bony Captain Greenwood

Mint ride tonight with Nelson. We met at Slumnervale and headed back down Finnsarby Place (never knew it was called that) and across the redzone to hit the up on the old Captain Thomas exit.  Nelson cleaned his way to the steepest steps bit, whereas I lost it on below the first corner and struggled my way upwards.  Very muggy and sheltered down in here.  Once on the level tho it was good rolling, albeit extremely overgrown for a good portion of it, which we didn't really notice until on the return.  Mostly good climbing; Nelson cleaning more than me, I was just feeling wiped from the week.  The trail was really crunchy, sheep having wrecked it in the recent wetness.  Heading into a sugar crash, we had a break before the final climb.  I felt better once moving again and the hard bit before the last gate got the better of us both.  Final climb out to the road was okay.  

Long schlep up the road to Jollie's Bush where we avoided stinging nettle, walked and rode our way to the top of the bush, over the stile and then up the new walking route to the 4wd track which was much closer than we ever realised.  Up this and hung a right to blaze out the, also crunchy, old Greenwood entrance, out to the road, and up here to Broadleaf and up.  Cool dead stick insect on the road, probably 10 cm long and 7mm thick...  Hup up up to the top and a well earned rest.  Then we tootled to the highest point and took in the view before our descent.

Down through the annoying gate, and around to the stile, Nelson getting his sideways-action on on the rocks just beforehand.  Over the stile and the bombing began.  He led, I stayed on his tail until the tussocks where I kinda gained and lost and gained til losing more towards the end of this upper section.  Down the 4WD bit, and into the Greenwood proper.  Tight on his tail for a bit, even catching him a bit before the sidle, where he always loses me and then eventually he stopped after Gloomy and I caught up and we had another rest.  I led from here, keeping the pace up and fast and a good blast down, all the way, losing my speed in the first rocky up with the wrong gear.  On out to the bottom, overall a good blast.  

Through Evans and up a little for another bit of a rest before dropping into The Captain, him in the lead.  Big gap to start but I'm pretty sure I was slowly gaining to the gate, then we held pretty tight the rest of the way down.  It's SO bony, rocks poking up where they never were, trail embedded in itself by the sheep traffic.  Eventually, over the fence into the old-skool section, discovering just how overgrown the bastard was.  Quite low speed compared to the usual rush, never quite knowing where the holes were, or rocks, hidden under the grass.  We both survived our nemeses, my tree and his rock, and got out to the bottom and back to the cars in one piece each.

A surprising 631 m climbed, over a rather bony 15.4 kms 

Tuesday Night MacPleasant GreenThomas

Good spin tonight with Nelson.  We met about 6pm at McCormacks Bay.  

Headed up the Drayton Reserve valley (first since January - which coincidentally followed the same course).  It was steeper than I remembered. Lots of super extra chuff on the climb.  Onto the road, up around and up through the wee 'park' bit to Clearview, over the fence where the bath used to be and up thru Britten.  Cold easterly blasting across the heath, pushing us around a bit.  I was finally getting my breath back as we proceeded up the singletrack, not letting Nelson get away from me by this stage.  At the top headed around the front, tail wind pushing, and around to the cutting.  Over the fence and climbing again, Nelson getting his speed on and me breathing hard again.  Usual excuses, hayfever, asthma and bad sleep night before.  Parked up on top of Pleasant for a bit, and I chucked my jacket on.  

Climbed to the trig and took in the view, then dropped in.  Down to the gate, down to the stile, down through the rocks then tussocks, all hussing.  Cold-ass easterly howling across, lower down the tussocks Nelson took the old jumpy line to the left, and we found it sheepshit-raddled and grassy - no one seems to know it's there anymore.  Jumped down into the start of Greenwood proper, blasting across the ruins and into the rocks.  Around, and through the first rocky-af section, I focused on riding with right-foot-back after noticing my left leg getting sorer.  So hard to do, but I persevered 'til the corner, tight on Nelson's tail having to commit to the sketchy lines he was choosing.  Good blast, tail wind across the level bit before Gloomy, then Nelson got all snarled up (too tall a gear) through this and the rocks after the boardwalk stalled us both.  We had a rest here.

Then dropped into the next traverse and drop down, great blast the rest of the way.    and all the way down from there.  Audience in the carpark below for the final switchbacks.  Climbed up to Captain entrance and paused, seeing some riders below navigating the gate and the next section and through.  "Wanna lead?"  "Yeah, why not!? Let's see if we can catch them" so off I went first.  Good stretch across the start.  Good blast through all of it, tho that rock I nearly crashed on a while back, I clipped a pedal juust as I was about to go over the drop, which could have ended badly but I held it together.  As we rounded a lower corner I could see one of the other riders carrying down the rocky drops, so got pushing and dropped through them and caught them, the last one just navigating the drop into the wee climb.  Both of us sketched this, and then we were chasing them down the traversy bit around to the old skook section, meeting them at the gate (which has had a massive slip right under it).  They thought we were the ebikers of their group.  We weren't.  Apparently they set off 15 minutes ahead of them and they still hadn't caught up (Scarborough, Taylors, Boulder Bay, Godley, Captain...).  They let us go ahead and we fanged off dropping them instantly.  I was in the lead again, good fun times.  Lots of little surprise slips and dodgy narrows, quite overgrown lower down.  I ducked the branch that wrecked my last helmet, and Nelson clipped his foot on the same rock that threw him another time.  Final stretch down was sketchy narrow overgrown.  Nice tho, and then the winter's erosion has laid a nice smooth solid mud surface behind the gabions (which will be hell in the wet).

Final legs, blasting around the road back to the cars.  Some lovely tail wind around the narrow corner at Shag pile, and then a pretty good blast along through Redcliffs...

A splendid 17.21 kms with (apparently) 672 m climbed.

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 Thomas Green Thomas

Good ride in the heat today (summer returned for a day).  Bit of a late start, met Nelson in Scumnervale at about 11.30.  We treadled off down the street, and took a cul-de-sac through to the redzone to get to the bottom of Capt Thomas.  Around the fence and along back of the gabion wall, stopped to eat some blackberries and Andy and Wayno turned up for a chat, just finishing.  Pete was nearby too.  

Into the climb and a wee walk, with more blackberries as we passed, then riding, climbing, good pace, good times and nice in the shade for the while.  Around the head of the valley and out onto the open ground, sun pounding down on our backs.  Clamber clamber, up the hill we went.  I was nearly to the point of puking by the time we got to the gate.  Took it easy to the road and we headed up it to the Richmond Pines.

Over the stile and into Sheepshit Alley (new name on the sign, cant remember what).  Up this, nice cruise and onto the road, around up to Broadleaf, and up this.  Road wet under the pines up here due to overnight cloud flow (I'm imagining).  Up the gravel and there were a few people around up top.  

Into the descent, soon overtaking a couple, the woman of which was obviously in over her head - really struggling with the rocky tech.  I led the way, and was fanging, bombing down through the weave of tussocks.  Easy across the flatter bits.  Then down into the Greenwood proper.  Nelson leading this but I stuck to his tail the whole way, until Gloomy Gulch where I was finally getting tired.  Stopped for a bit of a break usual spot before bombing off down through the rocks.  Again, tight on his tail, great run down.  All the way gaining on a dude who'd gone past while we were resting.

Last blast, into Captain Thomas, both on top of the speed all the way down.  Good tech, good vibes.  Into the old exit, around the valley head, lovely singletrack, lots of very nice flow.  Blasting down the last bits just as the trail splits (walking down, bikes to the left) there was a couple picking blackberries here, and at the junction Nelson clipped a rock and went full summersault over, ending up off the track, on his back, still attached to one pedal.  Incredibly he was unscathed.  On from here good last blitz down the steps and back around to the cars.

A parching 15 and a half kms, with surprisingly 637 m climbed. (considering our peak was 500 m, where'd the extra 137 come from? just the lower end of the Captain??)

Went and visited David.