We did our last day of technical riding in remote terrain crossing the Dunstan mountains twice, the first time on Thompson’s Gorge track starting near Bendigo and ending near Oturahua on the Otago rail trail. Lovely way to start the day which was slightly complicated by navigation issues due to some development obliterating the start of the track. A ride across a paddock and we found the start and were on our way. I didn’t like some hesitation on how my bike started at one gate though.
From there through historic St Bathans and then towards the Omarama saddle via the west branch of the Manurehika River. This was our last technical challenge section, due to crossing the river(or stream if you are Kiwi) 25 times as you make your way up the valley before the track pushes up to the saddle. We stopped to take a photo of Dave doing the first crossing, and this time my bike was distinctly reluctant to start. Obviously I don’t worry about things much so this set a distinct tone of unease for me with my solution being not to switch my bike off ever again. Oh, and don’t stall.
Dave was riding beautifully but with this wisp of cloud drifting across my happy place I started unravelling. Each crossing I got worse, flailing with legs and bouncing around on the saddle when I should have been up on the pegs. One very close shave where I almost dropped the bike in the river and I realised I needed to reset. But I didn’t want to switch if my motor as we were now a long way from anywhere. It was a long stressful ride and I was very glad to ascend away from any water. Dave behaved like a real prick by just getting better and better until he was riding like some 2 wheeled god, doing wheel stands through the crossings and suchlike. Prat.
We eventually got to Omarama and civilisation. Obviously at some point I had to switch off the bike and having had some restorative coffee and food we set off again. The bike started first time, no worries. It too is a prick. Not my finest few hours.
Anyway, we made our way north past Pukaki and Tekapo, with their astonishing chalk blue colours in the sun. Tekapo looked like it was having a camper van convention. The ride to Fairlie was stunning with the mountains showing off their beauty and now looking quite benign.
I’ve done that road many times in a car, never on a bike. It’s better on the bike.
The 690 was originally designed as a rally race bike, and although I rarely ride it like that the excuse to overtake opens the door to an exhilarating hit of acceleration. Lots of fun in a mildly naughty way against a stunning backdrop.
The photos are from Thompson’s Gorge in the morning, Dave showing how you should cross a river, the descent towards Omarama and civilisation.
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