Trip Leader: Alistair (Lurch) Giddens & Flag

Trip Report by: Nigel Barker for DAY 1

Photos here

After arriving in Westport on Friday night to the sweet sweet smell of a melted rear wheel bearing I decided to take the opportunity to ride with Harald in his Jeep on Saturday morning.
It was pure luxury sitting in there. That was after the fi rst of a couple of long nights at Mc-Manus’s of course.

Flag arrived bright and early and after our briefi ng and the obligatory safety check we headed up the coast, across the Mokihinui river and into a farm. The road through to Karamea was closed due to all the recent rain, but it wasn’t that bad a day on the Saturday, overcast but no drizzle.

There were about 20 trucks in the group including quite a few Jeeps. It’s amazing the things you notice when you’re not driving yourself.
The track turned out to be about as hard as it was last time, with the front vehicles either driving or winching sections and then a lot of stropping the vehicles behind. We had a tyre pop of its bead in some ruts which made it difficult to jack up to fix and Rowan’s Wrangler also blew a frost plug halfway. He managed to limp back to the start of the track by filling up the radiator a few times. I think a few winches were up for a service by the end of the day.

The whole group managed to get past the point we made it to on this track in 2006, about 3km or so, before turning around and making it out in a couple of hours, arriving back in Westport about 6pm.

Back to the pub that night, which was chocka. The 1st test was on against France and it was standing room only. After a reasonable wait for our meals we took them out the back to eat in the hotel dining room. It was here I helped our friendly bar maid find her cell phone which she had thrown into the recycling bin and earned a free jug for my efforts. And we also got to watch a full Louis Vitton cup race, to give you an idea of how long the night was…

Trip Report by: Richard Exton for DAY 2

I knew it the second Lurch poked his snorer through the passenger door. Trip report was required.

Anyway here goes, up with the sparrows on Sunday morning, a bit cloudy but looked like the day could improve which it did. It was off down to the tyre repair shop to get a tyre repaired damaged on Saturday’s trip.
At 9am, 18 Nelson vehicles met outside the swimming pool in Westport. About 8 of the Westport 4WDers joined us on this trip which was a good opportunity to meet them. They all drove HiLuxes on big tyres.
After briefing on the day we all set sail for a farm out Carters Beach way five minutes out of Westport. Drove in a driveway past a few buildings and up on to a terrace where there is a large area of parki type land with rough tracks running through it - this was our play area for the morning. Off we went around some of these tracks. It wasn’t long before a couple of vehicles were getting tow ropes out which everyone was well trained at from the day before. Even saw one chap go clean over top of gum boot in some very cold muddy water while reaching for the tow rope.

We drove around these tracks for about three hours during which one had to keep ones wits about them to keep that forward movement happening.
Andrew and Scotty put on a good demonstration on how to get through one large walla hole that no one else was keen on tackling.

Midday everyone parked up, tucker boxes out, there was even bacon being cooked believe-it or-not.
After lunch we headed back out to the main road and headed for Greymouth for a few kms until we got to Totara River, turned left there, a quick vehicle wash in the river and headed on up an old logging track which ran parallel to the Tailings Creek for a while. This track started off easy going but soon had the odd gnarly part to keep you on the ball. There was a very interesting creek crossing which had a steep descent and large boulders in the creek crossing which tested the skills. Everyone seemed to manage it quite well.
Come 3 pm it was turn around time and it was back out the same way we came in.
Half way out another flat tyre I was certainly having my fair share of flat tyres this weekend! I believe there were a few minor repairs needed to a few vehicles, nothing major though.
Another quick wash in the river on the way out and I chugged back to Westport for a hot shower and cold beer.
Thanks Lurch and Flag for a great day.

Trip Report by: Dave (Mountain Man) Haycock for DAY 3

After spending two days with friends in Northern Buller, Faye and I joined with the club for the trip home through the Mackley. After a 9:45 meeting at Waimangaroa, we travelled to Denniston, some opting to go “cross country” while others stayed with the road. We called at the upper end of the Denniston incline, along with a couple of others, the low cloud cleared to patchy for a final look down on the coast before leaving it. Information boards with photos and text tell us how it was. DoC or someone else is relaying the rails in the Aerial Ropeway - Incline wagon yard. Not enough time though, hurry to the regrouping at the museum.

Heading east across the plateau with Graeme our leader and Lurch, tail end Charlie, we pass various building foundations and a lot of named house sites in the Burnetts Face area. A brief stop at the burning mine (100 years plus) for a looksee and photos.
While Lurch puts the Surf back together, Tracey checks my equipment and relieves me of my contribution, others suck tea or coffee. Next stop is an abandoned coalmine on the left, behind the gorse, one of the few DoC has not boarded up or fenced off. It is here I spot a black T-shirt with “The Mountain Man One Finger Salute” printed on it, in one of the Jeeps. The “Buccaneer Captain” of the “F.V. Waka” and his first mate “Herr Harald” have pirated it and copied it, despite being told it is subject to copyright. Bet he trys to tell me “I thought you said customary right”. Never mind, royalties will be paid, he’ll be laughing on the other side of his face, the Sheriff does not forget.

We continue along the State Hydro Pylon Track, over Mt. Stevenson (there are coal seams everywhere) down to the Mt. Willie Gorge, all bounce through, then it is up and over and down to the Mackley River, about 2/3 of the way thru. Darin’s monster is a bit short on brakes by now. We stop for lunch among the boulders on the beach to let the vehicles mechanicals cool before the cold dunking and also let our leader and ‘DentaDon’ survey the crossing. It has rained over the weekend and the river is discoloured amd deeper than last time I was here.
Lunch over, ‘NTN’ cautiously leads off, hard up the left side, cross on the diagonal then climb out square on, missing the larger boulders, then right downstream, bounce thru Blue Duck Stream, stop, and watch the rest.

Well, if the Poojero can do it, we all can, and did with no problems. A steepish climb up the ridge and round the other side, low cloud in the valleys really makes the contour stand out providing some great scenery. After passing the New Creek Coal Mine, we eventually reach the locked gate and trip conclusion. The key is in its hiding place as arranged and a bottle of firewater is left for the gatekeeper. Hubs are dis-engaged and tyres repressured (which reminds me: the Orangemen inflate tyres, the IRA just blow them up). and exit at the iron bridge, just below the Lyell. Hell we’ll be home in no time.

Thanks Graeme, Lurch, and all for a most enjoyable trip, even the wife didn’t say it was too rough.