Nev’s Eat My Dust Mystery Bike Ride
Fourteen keen bike riders turn up for this ride which was a good trip to have since we were back in level 2 lock down. The weather was great for this day out, with no wind which helped us non e bikers out. All up we had 8 riders on e bikes & 6 on conventional bikes.
We started off by heading down to the historical part of town, down Harbour St & then back along the Coast over the Oamaru Creek swing bridge and out to the bike track that follows the coast out to the Waitaki Boys High School. From there it was around a few side streets till we came to our biggest challenge for the day – Buckley’s Hill. This is where e bikes are e bikes, men are men and boys were boys. E bikes made it look easy but most of the rest of the party did make it up on their bikes, with a few of us flagging it away and pushed our bikes up till we all met up at the corner of Redcastle Rd & Reservoir Rd to catch our breath. From here it was along to Eden Rd with its big downhill section on to Oamaru Creek Rd to Turfus Camp Rd on to Airedale Rd to Teaneraki Rd on to Coal Pit Rd and then down Slaughter Yard Rd to all meet up for lunch at the Enfield Rugby Grounds. We covered about 26 km in just over two hours over some great rural roads with views over Oamaru and the Coast, to the Kakanui Mountains and some great rural country. Lunch was enjoyed by all in the sun talking about different bikes and everyone was looking forward to the 12km ride back to town on the A2O track, but I had other plans for them. Here we were with a rugby ground beside us so why not use it. I set up some bike challenges for them to do with a slow race for e bikes and then conventional bikes and then a final slow race with the winning of the e bike race and the conventional bike race with the conventional winning this. Then it was time to stretch the legs with a sprint race and in the final the e bike won this but the conventional bike was not far behind. The final race of the day was a slalom race and in the final the conventional bike won with the e bike knocking over a cone. After all this it was back on the bikes again along the A2O track back to Oamaru with some of us stopping off at Cafe Gray’s at Weston. All up we covered about 37km for the day with some great views, good weather and great company. Thanks to Bev, Ross F, Phyllis, Maurice, Bill B, Jane, Graham, Bill F, Ross M, Bron, Robbie, Colin and John.
Neville
Mt Studholme
8th August 2020
After fears that the weather could cancel this trip – we had a marvellous clear, crisp, no gales day, with grand views in all directions.
Only 4 bods set off from Oamaru, with previous arrangements made to meet up with Helen and Rodney at a cafe in Waimate. However their precious car would not open/lock. To cut a long story short -they did manage to catch us, by driving up to the Woolshed a couple of kms up the road about 9.30.
It definitely was a steep-ish long slog of 6 ½ km up on the access road to service the transmitters. The 2km trip along the top ridge was chilly due to the light, but bitter, SW breeze. However the superb views and hunger pains got us along pretty quickly to the trig and massive tower, at 1086m, having climbed about 840 vertical meters.
Once all rugged up, during our lunch break – we were entertained by ice sheets and ice spears flying off the tower. Fortunately none of us was hit, as some landed pretty close.
After photos taken in all directions, we headed back the same route. Thinking the downhill would be rather pleasant, I think we were all surprised at how steep it was, and how demanding on our legs.
So a good 4hr workout with a total of 1049m elevation gain, of about 17kms.
Jodie knew that the recently renovated Waimate Hotel was a worthwhile refreshment stop, for a great crew, with tired bodies, but revived souls.
Thanks to Jodie, Julian, Mike, Helen and Rodney – from Jane filling in for Anna.
Club Night August 2020
Trip Reports:
7 members enjoyed a walk around the Mt. Nimrod Reserve, with views from Banks Peninsula to the Waitaki River Mouth.
There was a 17k return walk up the Mt. Studholme access road was on another fine day, also with great views. Sitting in the lee of the transmission tower for lunch resulted in the odd shower of icicles being blown on them.
The Wednesday Walkers had day trips to Snake Gully near Hampden, the Three Peaks and 2 Tunnels circuit at Tapui, the Maerewhenua gold diggings, and a new walk up Mt. Tara in South Cantebury.
The Wanderers had walks near the Moeraki Lighthouse and Kelseys and Gunns Bush.
Coming trips are
a local bike ride and a tramp up Swampy with several possible return options.
Trip Planning for the October to December period took up the bulk of the evening. These tramps will shortly be available on the NOTMC website.
Takahe on Heaphy Track
The evening concluded with Maurice Gray telling us of a couple of trips he did. The first was riding the Heaphy Track from the Collingwood end while his 2 companions walked it. A highlight was seeing what seemed to be a very tame takahe on the track.
The other trip was to Ben Dhu in the Rhoboro Hills beside Lake Pukaki. This was a round trip which included negotiating almost impenetrable wilding pines and rosehip bushes by walking up a creek bed and ascending above the snowline for some fantastic views of Mt. Cook and over Lake Pukaki. A kind couple in a Juicy van gave him a ride back down the road to his car to complete the round trip and saved him riding his bike in the dark.
On Ben Dhu
Mt Nimrod Scenic Reserve
26th July 2020
A good frost heralded the start of a glorious day as seven club members headed of to the Mount Nimrod scenic reserve.
Starting the walk at around 9.30am a steep climb up through a remnant podocarp forest soon warmed everyone up.
After a series of climbs and descents we arrived at a lookout point which gave us great coastal views from Banks Peninsula south to roughly Glenavy. Following a short break where many layers of warm clothing was removed owing to what was turning out to be an unseasonably hot day, we veered off the loop track and headed into the Mount Nimrod access easement.
We walked for the best part of an hour on this track until we reached a rocky Knoll where we rested for lunch and enjoyed the views.
Heading back the same way we rejoined the loop track and descended until we reached the Nimrod stream, a short walk upstream brought us to a nice little waterfall.
From the stream a steep climb ensued which tested the mettle of a few. However good progress was made overall. A nice descent from the top back down through native bush saw us reach the carpark in time for us to travel back for refreshments at Nosh café on the Waimate turnoff.
Thankyou to Jane, John, Vicky, Mike, Kim, and Mark for coming along and enjoying the day.
Julian
Club Night & Annual Meeting July 2020
The Annual Meeting, having been delayed for 2 Months by the pandemic, took place at our July meeting with a full SAR room of Club members.
President Robbie Verhoef, in his Annual Report summarised the Clubs activities over the past year, with 17 day trips and 2 weekend trips. There were quite a number of trips cancelled because of unsuitable weather. A lot of work was also done in the Port Blakley Herbert Forest on track maintenance and pest control.
He commented of his wish for a more balanced way of life which is more in keeping with nature, where his grand daughter can enjoy the privileges we have had and that our special places and creatures will remain for her grand-children to enjoy.
The Treasurer reported a small surplus for the year. It was agreed to increase the amount we contribute to the Federated Mountain Clubs in recognition of the crucial advocacy work they do on our behalf.
Julian Hardy was elected the new Club President. The photo competition results were announced with Ross Milmine winning and Bronwyn McCone a close second.
Trip Reports:With the lockdown restrictions lifted, 18 trampers spent a winter wonderland weekend at Mt Cook with snow and sun producing some fantastic photos. There was also a day trip to the Tavora Reserve near Goodwood, with a beach walk and a climb around Bobby’s Head. Puketapu was climbed on the way home.
Coming trips are to Mt. Nimrod Reserve, a weekend trip to Liverpool
Hut, Mt. Studholme and a local mystery bike ride.
The Wednesday Walkers had day trips around Oamaru and Cape Wanbrow during level 2. With the more relaxed level 1 rules there were trips to Hampden – Moeraki, Elephant Hill, Durden Hill and Mt. Baldie, a Ngapara farms walk and the Timaru walkway to Centennial Park.