An unexpected invite came from Brent to ride up Mt Erin with a group. So after a good morning MTB ride in the Waipunga Block, a quick lunch and picking up Brent – we were meeting at the foot of the hill. Southwest of Te Mata Peak, where I ride often, Mt Erin is a little taller and on private land – so not usually accessible, except in the notorious long-running, and long running, Triple Peaks event.
There are no trails as such, but a lot of stock tracks, pasture and a gravel access road to the transmitter tower at the summit. Eleven of us met just off the public road and after a bit of organisation set off up the hill. From the cars, I pulled away and looked upward – the summit was not visible. Across a paddock, climbing steeply – it was just rideable with a lot ofeffort and fair amount of line picking. I resolved to buy a smaller, 32 tooth, chainring. We joined the access road and the surface became more manageable than stock trodden ground.
What had been a pearler of a day, clouded over and became rather overcast – but never so much as threatening to rain. We climbed steadily, averaging close to a ten percent gradient – not the easiest on the assorted surfaces. From a distance, Mt Erin looks to have a satin smoothness about it compared to the jagged ridge line of Te Mata Peak. However when you’re on the hill, this is definitely not the case – large, exposed valleys and gullies had me wondering how we would get to the summit without repeatedly losing altitude.
Looking south, the hill has a few cabbage trees dotted on the exposed slopes.
Pausing for a breather across one of the valleys seemingly cut in the hill.
Great clefts cut in the landscape.
Still, we climbed; stopping to open and close various gates was ample opportunity to regroup.
Lovely folds to appreciate in the landscape. Looking out towards Napier in the weakening light.
Making a sheep-line out of the valley as our approach was noted.
Most of us took a slight detour from the access road to ride fast grass ridge lines, flying over the pasture, before pausing to consider how to get down to the valley floor.
Down that slope, deep into that gully.
Yip, down there.
It was steep, slightly slippery under tyre and with plenty of contour changes to keep one on the ball. Just when you though you had things under control, hard nubs would appear and send one back to the very edge of composure.
Quite bumpy in the middle.
But the fun descent was handled by all and we were left to climb back to the gravel – which required a fine line and some power just before the road.
As we neared the apex of our planned route, I hurried off to the summit – I couldn’t go up there for the first time and not go to the peak. What is it there for, after all?
Te Mata Peak looking a little shorter, and quite different from this perspective, at the left of shot.
Looking south up the Tukituki River.
From the summit it was all downhill; well, except from the traversing and small bits of climbing. This was all done off the road. So much fun blasting down the hillside, just back from the edge of losing it. One had to be careful with all the flat spots worn into the ground by animals walking back and forth. Sometimes things would get a little loose and you’d be sure you could not ride it, or surf it – just wresting back control in time.
With plenty of this fun over, we were at the bottom of one of the valleys, that was suddenly covered in bush. Staying out of the deep stream course, we followed many animal tracks down the ravine; over roots, around rocks, avoiding dung and the onga onga (stinging nettle-esque shrubbery). Mostly rideable and all enjoyable. After almost a mile we emerged suddenly onto the grass again for more fast descending, a final little climb and a steep hill down to the cars. And beer.
What a great little Sunday afternoon outing. Not so little as far as the climbing went and the steep riding, but short in time. So much fun to see the surrounding countryside from a different perspective while having acres of enjoyment on bikes. I hope I get invited back soon.
South Dunedin a couple of days later was even less inviting – but Dad, Mum & I had a nice lunch – inside.
Wet weather is good for museum visiting – this time the Otago Settlers Museum, which is worth the visit and has this impressive art deco entrance way to the old bus station. 
We went home via Port Chalmers to check out the largest cruise ship to visit NZ – I can confirm it was in fact, large.
Things started to clear a little.
On the way I stopped to visit friends on their lifestyle block at Goodwood. It was unbelievably windy and cold up there.
I looked out across some of the many hills I was rather missing not to be riding around and between.
The drive over the Pigroot was lovely – until I discovered fresh snow around Naseby. Snow, in the first week of January!
Back in East Otago, we took a family outing for lunch and a walk. Here looking over Karitane to Waikouaiti Beach – it was nice not to bike up that rather steep hill from Karitane.
Behind Waitati, the view is down to Blueskin Bay.
The clouds at Carey’s Bay could most charitably be labelled atmospheric – but only when they weren’t dumping rain.
We had a wonderful family lunch at the historic Carey’s Bay Hotel.
Driving towards the mouth of Otago Harbour, it was my first visit to the sleepy seaside settlement of Aramoana. Infamous for the 1990 massacre, it would form one of my earliest memories/impressions of big NZ national news. We went for a nice walk on the beach and promptly got caught in a downpour. Funny times (the latter, not the former).
But gosh I was glad to be back in Hawke’s Bay, where it had really dried out and was actual, proper summer!
Apparently Ranfurly is an art deco town. I found this building to support that claim.
And perhaps this building. Not overly impressed, I may be a little spoilt by living in Napier.
We parked at this little bridge, it was a pleasant day – but not so warm I need take more than a bottle of water.
But my, it looked rocky and completely different to most of the riding I’ve done in NZ.
Still some fresh snow around.
Those rocks up there are where the first downhill section started.
We climbed again from the road, more steeply this time.
There are two riders in there somewhere.
The Naseby Royal for dinner? Why not – it was sure to be better than the previous night. We all ordered lamb shanks, they were excellent – when they arrived over an hour later. Strangely busy day in normally sleepy Naseby it would seem.
Driving north up the highway on Christmas Eve.
Dad testing the heat from the brazier – a fine way to be able to tolerate cool Oamaru evenings outside.
Christmas brunch.
Don’t mind if I do.
Suddenly, Don invited me out on a Christmas Day MTB ride. Wow! This is fantastic. We went up to the reservoir, where there is a great little loop.
We made sure to be back for Christmas dinner…
and dessert – which may have been just as large as the main course.
After all that, there was a couple of spare hours for a big walk around South Hill and down to the harbour. It had clouded over, but my past complaining of poor Oamaru Christmas weather was non-existent as there was too much else going on – and I’d been mountain-biking!
There’s a cool playground down at the harbour – this slide is extremely steep, I managed to hold on to my dinner.
And the swings are bike-themed!
We stopped at the quaint Dansey’s Pass pub for a pint in the sun before carrying on.
Arriving at the section, there was much delight as Don had surreptitiously had the long driveway gravelled – it was far smoother. 
Work has begun on James & Adele’s own mountain-bike track on their eight hectares. James showed it to me; while only in the first stage, it’s a great ride with some cool features.
I look forward to seeing how it develops and hopefully helping a bit too.
Picnic lunch was devoured before we headed up to the swimming dam. 
The lupins were out in force – after finishing the MTBing, I took Dad on a leisurely ride alongside the water race and came across this patch.
After a fantastic day hanging out in Naseby, we headed back over the pass.
Where we promptly sat around the brazier again, eating and drinking with family and friends.