Mountain Biking Log

2022 Mountain Bike Log.

Mountain Bike Personal:

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27/08/2022.

Otago AOK Social Riders – Dunedin.

Dunedin – Sunnyvale to Brighton, Allanton, Mosgiel, back to Sunnyvale.

Steffan Rolfe, Darryl, and 3 other riders.

Fine.

Grade 1 Tracks and Road riding.

Saturday Social MTB Ride. (4 hours).

I went for a ride with a group of four riders from the Otago Social Riders group. We started at Sunnyvale, and rode out to Brighton. From there we rode up McIntosh Road and down the dry weather track to Allanton. We then rode into Mosgiel, before heading back through Sunnyvale.

AOK Social Riders Sunnyvale to 
Brighton and Mosgiel - 27th of August 2022.
Steep Drop on the Road.

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27/08/2022.

Otago AOK Social Riders – Dunedin.

Dunedin – Sunnyvale to Brighton, Allanton, Mosgiel, back to Sunnyvale.

Steffan Rolfe, Darryl, and 3 other riders.

Fine.

Grade 1 Tracks and Road riding.

Saturday Social MTB Ride. (4 hours).

I went for a ride with a group of four riders from the Otago Social Riders group. We started at Sunnyvale, and rode out to Brighton. From there we rode up McIntosh Road and down the dry weather track to Allanton. We then rode into Mosgiel, before heading back through Sunnyvale.

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14/08/2022.

Mountain Biking Otago.

Signal Hill Mountain Bike Park – Butts Track – Dunedin.

Steffan Rolfe, Hamish Seaton, Bernard, and 1 other volunteers.

Fine.

Mountain Bike Otago Work Party – Butts Track, Signal Hill Mountain Bike Area. (4 hours).

I attended a Mountain Biking Otago Work Day at Signal Hill. We worked on the Butts Track to continue reconstructing the track after a slip. We working on reconstructing a dirt retaining wall, and a rock wall around a corner.

MTBO Signal Hill Working Party Butts Track.
14th of August 2022.
Hamish constructing the wall on the side of the track.

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30/07/2022.

Otago AOK Social Riders – Dunedin.

Dunedin – Kaikorai Valley to Whare Flat, over to Flagstaff and back to Kaikorai Valley.

Steffan Rolfe and 7 other riders.

Overcast.

Grade 1 and 2 Tracks.

Saturday Social MTB Ride. (3 hours).

I went for a ride with a small group of riders from the Otago Social Riders group. We started at Cableways, and rode down Kaikorai Valley, through Sunnyvale to Mosgiel. From Mosgiel we rode to Whare Flat and then up Longridge Road over to Flagstaff. We then rode down Taieri Road back to Cableways.

AOK Social Riders Kaikorai to Whare Flat.
30th of July 2022.
View across Mosgiel from Longridge Road.

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06/06/2022.

Jubilee Park MTB Tracks – Dunedin.

Steffan Rolfe.

Fine.

Grade 2 Tracks.

Short MTB Ride around the tracks at Jubilee Park. (1 hour).

I went for a bike ride around the short Mountain Bike Tracks around Jubilee Park in Dunedin. I found a challenge on the Loop Track, which involved some small steps leading down to a sharp right-angle turn. I spend about an hour riding around the tracks.

Jubilee Park MTB Tracks.
6th of June 2022.
Steps on the Loop Track at Jubilee Park.

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04/06/2022.

AOK Social Riders – Dunedin.

Dunedin – Mosgiel to Outram via Saddle Hill.

Steffan Rolfe, and 3 other riders.

Fine.

Saturday Social MTB Ride. (3 hours).

I went for a ride with a small group of riders from the AOK Social Riding Group. We biked from Mosgiel up Saddle Hill, down to Allanton, over to Outram, and back to Mosgiel. I had some drama with my bike on the way back to Mosgiel – my chain come off, and got wedged between the Gear Cog set and the frame. I got offered a ride back to Mosgiel with a couple of Outram locals, and once back in Mosgiel managed to free the chain back at the start of the ride. I rode approximately 25km.

AOK Social Riders - Mosgiel to Outram.
4th of June 2022.
Allanton Scroggs Hill Road.

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07/05/2022.

AOK Social Riders – Dunedin.

Dunedin – Evansdale to Karitane and Hawksbury Village.

Steffan Rolfe, Snow, Grant and one other rider.

Fine.

Saturday Social MTB Ride. (3 hours).

I went for a ride from Evansdale to Karitane, and around to Hawksbury Village with the Otago AOK Social Riders group. We returned the same way with a Stop Off at the Truby King Reserve. We rode 30km over 3 hours, with a bit of exploring along the way.

AOK Social Riders Evansdale to Karitane.

7th of May 2022.

Looking down on Karitane from the Lookout.

AOK Social Riders Evansdale to Karitane.

7th of May 2022.

Walls and Foundations at Truby King Reserve.

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01/05/2022.

Mountain Bike Otago.

Wakari Creek Forest and Whare Flat Forest MTB.

Steffan Rolfe, plus 50 other Volunteer Track Workers, and staff from Cycle World Dunedin.

Fine.

Mountain Bike Otago Specialized Soil Searching Dig Day. (4 hours).

I attended a Mountain Bike Otago Specialized Soil Searching Dig Day at Whare Flat Forest. We met at Wakari Creek Forest, and reorganized into vehicles for the carpool to Whare Flat Forest. Once there we spent ~4 hours digging tracks and clearing scrub to create the basis of another track in the Whare Flat Forest MTB Area. This was followed up by a sponsored BBQ back at Wakari Creek Forest.

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23/04/2022.

AOK Social Riders – Dunedin.

Dunedin – Fairfield to Brighton via Big Stone Road, returning to Fairfield via Waldronville.

Steffan Rolfe, Jude, plus 12 other riders.

Fine.

Saturday Social MTB Ride. (4 hours).

48km - mostly Grade 1, with a little bit of Grade 2 on the Forestry Tracks

I did my first bike ride with the AOK Social Riders in Dunedin. We started at the Sunnyvale Sports ground, and rode through Fairfield and up Saddle Hill Road. From there we descended toward and through Bush Reserve Road, and through Forestry Tracks to Big Stone Road. We followed Big Stone Road out past Brighton, and descended down to Taieri Mouth Road. Then we rode along the Road back to Brighton, and through Waldronville and Green Island, back to Sunnyvale.

AOK Social Riders Fairfield to Brighton.
23rd of April 2022.
Riding on Bush Reserve Road.

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03/04/2022.

Mountain Biking Otago.

Nichols Creek Track – Dunedin.

Steffan Rolfe, Jude, Wilson, Bernard, and 2 other volunteers.

Fine.

Mountain Bike Otago Nichols Creek Track. (4 hours).

I attended a Mountain Biking Otago Work Day at Nichols Creek. We drove up to the Access Track on Andersons Farm, and spent the morning clearing two sections of the Access Track of gorse and over-grown scrub. I mostly used loppers, and cleared the slash off the track from the team working ahead with a scrub-bar and chainsaws.

MTBO Nichols Creek Access Track Working Party.
3rd of April 2022.
Bernard & Jules clearing the Track.

MTBO Nichols Creek Access Track Working Party.
3rd of April 2022.
Looking back toward Swampy Ridge.

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12/03/2022.

Middlemarch to Hyde – Central Otago Rail Trail.

Steffan Rolfe.

Fine.

Grade 1 Cycle Trail.

Middlemarch to Hyde, and Return. Central Otago Rail Trail. (4 hours).

I went for a ride on the Central Otago Rail Trail, from Middlemarch to Hyde and back. I started after lunch, had a snack at Hyde, and rode back to Middlemarch for the night. I stayed at the Middlemarch Holiday Park. 48km ride in total on a Grade one trail.

Central Otago Rail Trail 
(Middlemarch to Hyde).
12th of March 2022.
Rail Trail running underneath the 
Rock and Pillar Range.

Central Otago Rail Trail 
(Middlemarch to Hyde).
12th of March 2022.
Rock and Pillar Station.

Central Otago Rail Trail 
(Middlemarch to Hyde).
12th of March 2022.
Strath Taieri Gangers Shed.

Central Otago Rail Trail 
(Middlemarch to Hyde).
12th of March 2022.
Hyde Info Panel.

Central Otago Rail Trail 
(Middlemarch to Hyde).
12th of March 2022.
Otago Central Hotel at Hyde.

Central Otago Rail Trail 
(Middlemarch to Hyde).
12th of March 2022.
Hyde Railway Accident
Memorial Cairn.

Central Otago Rail Trail 
(Middlemarch to Hyde).
12th of March 2022.
Otago Rail Trail.

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05/03/2022.

Port to Port Cycle Trail – Dunedin.

Steffan Rolfe.

Fine.

Grade 1 Cycle Trail.

Harbour Molars to Port Chalmers. Ferry across to Portobello. Portobello back to Harbour Molars. (3 hours).

I did a half-day ride on the Port to Port Cycle trail. I started at the harbour molars, and rode around to Port Chalmer to meet the Port to Port Ferry. I got the Ferry from Port Chalmers to Portobello, and then rode back into town from there.

Port to Port Cycle Trail.
5th of March 2022.
Looking across Sawyers Bay to Roseneath.

Port to Port Cycle Trail.
5th of March 2022.
Cycle Trail heading into Portobello.

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26/02/2022.

Wakari Creek, Forester Park, and Signal Hill – Dunedin.

Steffan Rolfe.

Cloudy.

Grade 2 and Grade 3 Tracks.

Wakari Creek – Redwood Loop and Slytherin Tracks; Forester Park – K9 and Spooky Forest Tracks; and Signal Hill – the Big Easy and Easy Down Tracks. (4 hours).

I spent an afternoon Mountain Biking at several area around Dunedin. I started at Wakari Creek, and rode around the Redwood Loop (Grade 2), and Slytherin (Grade 3). I then drove to Forester Park and rode the K9 Track and Spooky Forest Track (Grade 2). Lastly I drove to Signal Hill and rode up the Big Easy and down the Easy Down (Grade 2).

Dunedin MTB Rides (Wakari Creek).
26th of February 2022.
Redwood Loop Sign.

Dunedin MTB Rides (Forester Park).
26th of February 2022.
Corner in the Spooky Forest.

Dunedin MTB Rides (Signal Hill).
26th of February 2022.
Easy Down Track.

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05/02/2022.

Cowans Hill MTB Track – Lake Tekapo.

Steffan Rolfe

Overcast.

Grade 2 Tracks.

Cowans Hill MTB Track – Lake Tekapo over Cowans Hill, to Lake Tekapo Regional Park, and return to Lake Tekapo (1 hour).

I went for a morning Mountain Bike Ride on the Cowans Hill Track in Tekapo. I started in Tekapo and biked over the track to the highway. I then crossed the highway into the Lake Tekapo Regional Park and followed this back into Tekapo. I rented a bike from Outside Sports in Tekapo.

Cowans Hill Tekapo MTB Track.
5th of February 2022.
Cloud pouring over the Two Thumbs Range.

Cowans Hill Tekapo MTB Track.
5th of February 2022.
Lake Tekapo.

2021 Mountain Bike Log.

Mountain Bike Personal:

03/07/2021.

Bottlelake Forest Park MTB Tracks – Christchurch.

Steffan Rolfe

Fine.

Grade 2 Tracks.

Bottlelake Forest Park – The Family Route, Southern Pegasus Bay Track and Outer Track. (2 hours).

I went for a Mountain Bike Ride in the afternoon at Bottlelake Forest Park (Waitakiri). I started at the main carpark by the Visitor Centre, and headed through the middle of the forest through to Spencer Park. I then took the turnoff on to the Southern Pegasus Bay Track and followed this down along the coast, before turning off to head back to the Carpark again.

Bottlelake Forest MTB - 3rd of July 2021.
The Beach off the Pegasus Coastal Track.

Bottlelake Forest MTB - 3rd of July 2021.
Coastal Track along the Sand Dunes.

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15/05/2021.

Bottlelake Forest Park MTB Tracks – Christchurch.

Steffan Rolfe, and Peter Sexton.

Fine.

Grade 2 Tracks.

Bottlelake Forest Park – The Family Route and Outer Track. (2 hours).

I went for a Mountain Bike Ride through Bottle Lake Forest with a friend. We left his house in North New Brighton, and biked to the start of the Outer Track. We followed this through to the start of the Family Route, out to Spencer Bike, and then rode back along the Outer Track to Waimairi Beach. Then we followed the track back out to the road, and back to his place.

Bottle Lake Forest MTB Tracks.
15th of May 2021.
Pete Riding the Track.

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19/03/2021.

Signal Hill MTB Tracks – Dunedin.

Steffan Rolfe.

Overcast.

Grade 2 Tracks.

Signal Hill – the Big Easy, and Easy Down. (1 hour).

I went for a Mountain Bike Ride at Signal Hill. I started off heading up-hill on the Big Easy. From the top I headed down a new track called the Easy Down – a flowing Grade 2 single track leading down to the Plateau. From the Plateau I headed back down to the carpark by riding down the Big Easy.

Signal Hill MTB - 19th of March 2021.
    The Big Easy.

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14/03/2021.

Port to Port Cycle Trail – Dunedin.

Steffan Rolfe.

Fine.

Grade 1 Trail.

Port to Port Cycle Trail, from the Harbour Molars to Portobello and back. (3 hours).

I went for a ride on the Port to Port Cycle Trail. Started out at the Harbour Molars and biked along the Trail out to Portobello. Rode into a head wind on the way out, and had a tail wind on the way back. 34km ride.

Port to Port Cycle Trail - 14th of March 2021.
Little Pudding Island.

Port to Port Cycle Trail - 14th of March 2021.
Boat Houses on Portobello Road.

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08/03/2021.

Signal Hill MTB Tracks – Dunedin.

Steffan Rolfe.

Overcast, clearing during the day.

Grade 2 Tracks.

Signal Hill – the Big Easy, and Easy Down. (1 hour).

I went for a Mountain Bike Ride at Signal Hill. I started off heading up-hill on the Big Easy. From the top I headed down a new track called the Easy Down – a flowing Grade 2 single track leading down to the Plateau. From the Plateau I headed back down to the carpark by riding down the Big Easy.

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01/03/2021.

Signal Hill MTB Tracks – Dunedin.

Steffan Rolfe.

Overcast, clearing during the day.

Grade 2 Tracks.

Signal Hill – the Big Easy, and Easy Down. (1 hour).

I went for a Mountain Bike Ride at Signal Hill. I started off heading up-hill on the Big Easy. From the top I headed down a new track called the Easy Down – a flowing Grade 2 single track leading down to the Plateau. From the Plateau I headed back down to the carpark by riding down the Big Easy.

 

 

Signal Hill MTB Tracks.
1st of March 2021.
Bermed Corners on the Easy Down Track.

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22/02/2021.

Forester Park MTB Tracks – Dunedin.

Steffan Rolfe.

Fine, Light Wind.

Grade 2, and Grade 3 Tracks.

Forester Park MTB Tracks – Forester Loop (Grade 1); K9 Tracks, Spooky Forest Tracks (Grade 3); BMX Track. (1 hour).

I went for a Mountain Bike Ride around Forester Park for an hour. I did a couple of laps on the Forester Loop – Grade 2, and then a couple of laps on the K9 Track and through Spooky Forest – Grade 3. I then did a couple of laps on the BMX Tracks.

Forester Park MTB Tracks.
22nd of February 2021.
Switchback on the K9 Track.

Forester Park MTB Tracks.
22nd of February 2021.
Bermed Track.

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11/01/2021.

Port to Port Cycle Trail – Dunedin.

Steffan Rolfe, Gunilla Jensen.

Fine.

Grade 1.

Port to Port Cycle Trail from Portobello to Port Chalmers. (4 hours).

I did a cycle trip with a friend from Wellington. We started at Port Chalmers and took the Port to Port Ferry across to Portobello. We had lunch there, and then started biking back into town along the Port to Port Cycle Trail. We then carried on down along the West Harbour Trail, and then on to the Road back to Port Chalmers.

 

Port to Port Cycle Trail - 11th of January 2021.
Wharf at Quarantine Island.

Port to Port Cycle Trail - 11th of January 2021.
The Port to Port Ferry.

Port to Port Cycle Trail - 11th of January 2021.
Biking the Cycle Trail alongside the Harbour.

Port to Port Cycle Trail - 11th of January 2021.
Gunilla on the Cycle Trail

Port to Port Cycle Trail - 11th of January 2021.
Gunilla at the Harbour Molars.

Port to Port Cycle Trail - 11th of January 2021.
Bridge over the Leith.

Port to Port Cycle Trail - 11th of January 2021.
Biking past the little bay at Maia.

2020 Mountain Bike Log

Mountain Bike Personal:

05/10/2020.

Signal Hill MTB Tracks – Dunedin.

Steffan Rolfe.

Fine.

Grade 2.

MTB Ride on the Big Easy Track on Signal Hill. (2 hours).

I went for an afternoon Mountain Bike ride on the Big Easy Track on the side of Signal Hill. I started at the Carpark at Logan Park, biked uphill to the Signal Hill Pioneer Memorial, and then rode back down-hill to the carpark at Logan Park.

Signal Hill MTB - 5th of October 2020.
Biking up the Big Easy.

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21/06/2020.

Wakari Creek Forest MTB Tracks – Dunedin.

Steffan Rolfe, Seb Thomas.

Fine.

Grade 2 and 3.

MTB Training Session on the Redwoods Loop and Slytherin. (3 hours).

I did a few hours of training with a friend working on cornering training at Wakari Forest on the Redwood Loop and Slytherin. We did a few laps on Redwoods, then worked on entering/exiting corners and braking. We then did a couple of laps on Slytherin (Grade 3).

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14/06/2020.

Signal Hill MTB Tracks – Dunedin.

Steffan Rolfe.

Fine.

Grade 2.

MTB Ride on the Big Easy Track on Signal Hill. (3 hours).

I went for an afternoon mountain bike ride on the Big Easy Track on the side of Signal Hill. I started at Logan Park and biked up-hill to the Signal Hill Pioneer Memorial, then rode back down-hill. I did two laps of the Big Easy Track.

Signal Hill MTB - 14th of June 2020.
Biking up the Big Easy.

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 07/06/2020.

Signal Hill MTB Tracks – Dunedin.

Steffan Rolfe.

Cloudy.

Grade 2.

MTB Ride on the Big Easy Track on Signal Hill. (1 hour).

I went for an afternoon Mountain Bike ride on the Big Easy Track on the side of Signal Hill. I started at the Carpark at Logan Park, biked uphill to the Signal Hill Pioneer Memorial, and then rode back down-hill to the carpark at Logan Park.

Signal Hill MTB - 7th of June 2020.
Top of the Big Easy.

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01/04/2020.

Wakari Forest MTB Park – Dunedin.

Steffan Rolfe.

Fine.

Grade 2 and 3.

MTB Ride in the Wakari Forest MTB Park. (2 hours).

I did a couple of laps around a few tracks in the Wakari Forest. I started on the Redwood Loop, before riding McGouns, and down the Skid Track. I then rode down Slytherin down and up, before heading back down, and up the Weir Two Track and back over to the Top Hub.

 

MTB Wakari Forest - 1st of April 2020.
Water trickling over the Concrete Dam.

MTB Wakari Forest - 1st of April 2020.
Slytherin Up Track Sign.

MTB Wakari Forest.
1st of April 2020.
Slytherin Track.

2019 Mountain Bike Log

Mountain Bike Personal:

03/10/19.

Wakari Forest MTB Park – Dunedin.

Steffan Rolfe.

Fine.

Grade 2 and 3.

MTB Ride in the Wakari Forest MTB Park. (3 hours).

I did a couple of loops in the Wakari Forest. I started on the Redwood Loop for a couple of laps. I then did a ride on the McGouns Extension, up Rooty Ridge Top, and over McGouns Road to come down the Skid Track. Mostly Grade 2 Single Track, with a little bit of Grade 3 thrown in.

MTB Wakari Forest - October 2019.
Redwood Loop Track.

MTB Wakari Forest - October 2019.
Eastern Rosellas.

MTB Wakari Forest - October 2019.
Wakari Forest Top Hub.

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28/08/19.

Queenstown Trail – Lower Shotover to Lake Hayes – Queenstown.

Steffan Rolfe.

Fine.

Grade 1.

Bike Ride on the Lower Shotover to Lake Hayes on the Queenstown Trail. (3 hours).

I went for a Bike Ride on the Lower Shotover to Lake Hayes section of the Queenstown Trail. I started in Shotover Country through to the Shotover Bridge on to the Country Side Trail. I then made my way over to Lake Hayes through to Lake Hayes Estate to Shotover Country. I found out the hard way that my front derailleur wasn’t working properly. I managed to fix it once I got home.

Queenstown Trail - Shotover Trail to Lake Hayes.
August 2019.
Shotover River.

Queenstown Trail - Shotover Trail to Lake Hayes.
August 2019.
Lake Hayes Trail Sign.

Queenstown Trail - Shotover Trail to Lake Hayes.
August 2019.
Shotover Kawarau Junction.

Mountain Bike Training (Adventure South):

25/10/19.

Little River Rail Trail – Banks Peninsula.

Steffan Rolfe and ~ 14 other Adventure South Guides.

Fine, with a slight Headwind.

Grade 1.

Adventure South Guide Training Ride. (3 hours).

On the last day of our 4 day guide training week with Adventure South we rode on the Rail Trail, starting at Banks Peninsula and ending in Motukarara. We started off with a slight headwind around the Lake Forsyth and Ellesmere Sections, with a tail wind after we left the lakes behind. Nice day out.

Adventure South Guide Training - October 2019.
Biking the Rail Trail along the Lake.

Mountain Bike Training (Wild Earth Adventures):

01/10/19.

Otago Peninsula, Papanui Inlet and Okia Reserve – Dunedin.

Steffan Rolfe, Thomas, Emma, and 8 Guests.

Overcast, with Rain developing.

Grade 1.

Half Day Training trip with Wild Earth Adventures as a Trainee Bike Guide. (5 hours).

I did a half day observer trip with Wild Earth Adventures as a trainee bike guide. We had a group of 7 Mexicans and one American who we picked up from their cruise ship in Port Chalmers. We drove them out to Papanui Inlet, and got them setup on their Bikes. We then biked around the inlet road to Okia Reserve. From there we walked to past the Pyramids, and down to Victory Beach for a drink and snack. Then we drove them around the harbor road, and dropped them off at the Octagon.

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14/09/19.

Otago Peninsula, Papanui Inlet and Okia Reserve - Dunedin.

Steffan Rolfe, Murray, Brian, Charlotte, Tom, Simon, and Emma.

Fine.

Grade 1.

Half Day Training trip with Wild Earth Adventures as a Trainee Bike Guide. (3 hours).

I did a half day training trip with Wild Earth Adventures as a trainee bike guide. We drove out to Papanui Inlet and then to Okia Reserve. From there we walked to past the Pyramids, and down to Victory Beach.

Wild Earth Adventures Hike-Bike Training Trip
14th of September 2019.
Victory Beach.

2018 Mountain Bike Log

  Mountain Bike Training (Wild Earth Adventures):

 07/12/18.

Otago Peninsula, Papanui Inlet and Okia Reserve - Dunedin.

Steffan Rolfe, Tegan, Leigh, plus 4 guests.

Fine.

Grade 1.

Half Day Observer trip with Wild Earth Adventures as a Trainee Bike Guide. (5 hours).

I did a half day observer trip with Wild Earth Adventures as a trainee bike guide. We had a group of 4 Americans who we picked up from their cruise ship in Port Chalmers. We drove them out to Papanui Inlet, and got them setup on their Bikes. We then biked around the inlet road to Okia Reserve. From there we walked to past the Pyramids, and down to Victory Beach for a drink and snack. Then we drove them around the harbor road, and dropped them off at the Octagon.

WEA Bike Trip - December 2018.
Biking alongside Papanui Inlet

WEA Bike Trip - December 2018.
Victory Beach