For some reason Glitch posted this in the Oz/NZ section of the forum and didn't cross post here so I will.

If you want to see one of the most spectacular ride reports with fantastic photos of one on the absolute best ADV riding locations planet earth has to offer then follow this link to Glitch's story and photos.

This is the link.

Thanks for passisng it along

Oops, just tripped over this.

There's a Mega-Thread at the above address with loads and loads of extra material, comments and posts by the other members of the crew.

Beware though....there isn't a single Strom in sight!!, not even a fallen-over one.


Here's a sample-day.

__________________
Cheers
Pete

Something just got me worried when looking at this pic.

I think it’s Bernards devious grin…and there’s always something up when Rob folds his hands like that…

Had me tossing and turning since long before daybreak…or was that the thought of the coming day, imaginery images of what the Rainbow Road might bring mixed with all those impressions of the Acheron/ Molesworth??….I don’t know.





Another brilliant local brew!





Finally, it’s a sparkler of a morning…and pretty nippy, too. A typical Indian Summer morning, the way into town is framed by autumn colours.








Obviously, we’re on the early side, just check bustling downtown Hanmer Main Street.





Rob proudly shows off his new joint (he wishes!)





Picking up Bernard from the Med. Center after he got bitten by the camp-moggy the night before and needs a tetanus-shot, better safe than sorry.





The turn-off to Jacks Pass is just a short stretch down the road and it sure is an easy climb…but COLD!





Above Hanmer

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Cheers
Pete

Back in the High Valleys towards Lake Tennyson and the road is quite a bit rougher and slower than yesterday.

























Around 120k’s of gravel before “the Rainbow” will spit us out at the northern end near St. Arnaud.

__________________
Cheers
Pete

More BIG SKY country up here, oh yeah!!


Similar to yesterday, and just as insolated.
If it wouldn’t be for the powerlines in the distance you might as well be on the moon. The lack of trees and shrubs is eerie; the sharp-folded mountains feel austere and intimidating.
What an incredible place!











About 50k’s in, the Lake Tennyson turnoff











The tall clumps of grass make Bernard and the 250 just seem to float across the landscape.

__________________
Cheers
Pete

Many of the hills and mountains are just rubble-heaps, loose stuff continuously flowing down…
Perpetual movement brought by wind, rain and snow….and the occasional earthquake, I guess.

__________________
Cheers
Pete

Another of Bernards Pano's!! Just click the bar to enlarge.









Hey, is that one of us out there? Looks a bit funny…








In the search for some “better shots”, Dave sank in the DR….oh shyte!












Going no-where, this thing is just stuck in a huge bog, every step squelches around the boots, the black muck is like quick-sand.







The way it always goes ….the lightest gets the easy end and the twistgrip, while the ones at the rear get sprayed head-to-toe with sticky black shit while trying to tear the bastard out of the mud.
Finally the DR is moving ever so slowly….go go go go go!!!







Christ, that’ll look after the morning’s exercises.

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Cheers
Pete

Back on the main track…and the northern end turns out another total GEM!!
It’s a gobsmacker… the riding getting trickier, the track bumpier and narrower, the scenery closer and steeper.






Click the bar to enlarge.
































Fresh and juicy is best…

__________________
Cheers
Pete

One of the “every-10km-stops” to make sure all are there and ok.






And further north we go….the hills are getting closer, the valleys steeper.






















From here it’s a toll road….and more than worth every penny.
Apart from that….who’d turn around after ~80k’s?

__________________
Cheers
Pete