This text was read by OCR from a scanned newsletter and has not been proofread yet, so expect odd characters and mistakes.
OS 17 APRIL 1993 Having attempted to call together a large group of members with mountain bikes on a weekend that the club was hosting a first aid course, seemed to be similar to that of a pursuit for a chicken with lips. Despite those left grizzling in Wellington begging for me to organise another trip later in the year, (perhaps around uni exam time in November), the happy little number of riders converged on my parents holiday home in Turangt: Myself having previously ridden along this track which is rapidly increasing with popularity, rode with a group of about 40 riders a month before. One person had to be helicoptered to Taupo having dislocated a shoulder on this same ride. Similarly, an article in the local Turangi rag highlighted an incident over Easter weekend where a family attempted this ride, leaving at midday, failing to complete it before darkness set upon them. Despite this, all in the party were not thwarted by the perils that lay ahead. We were prepared and organised and the weather forecast was in our favour.
On Saturday we awoke to a blue and cloudless sky. After the logistics with vehicles were made, ie, a van at the Owhango Pub car park, our intrepid journey began. Only once did we become geographically disoriented, however my recollection proved to place us on the = way, despite Lindsay's confusion at this juncture. We arrived to our lunch spot at the Waione River and feasted for a short while when some ‘show of mountain bike guns’, accompanied by a four wheel drive motor bike, stole the moment. They had just learnt at this time that they had a party member who had dislocated a shoulder some place back and returned to collect their casualty for an agonising return journey. Just before leaving and after our lunch, the distant sound of a helicopter could be heard. None of us knew what lay ahead at this time.
We continued up from the Waione River which was to this time, our first climb. Magnificent views could be had of Egmont, Ruapehu, Tongariro, Ngaruhoe and for as far as the eye can see. Views that were to be taken in could only be appreciated when a stop could be made. Most of the time, riders were concentrating on the fast down hills and dodging the occasional over hanging branch.
Closer to the rides end, we came across a scene where an accident was-had involving a motorbike and a farm trike The rider of the motor bike had a compound fracture to his leg, and had to be winched out by helicopter from the scene. Of course, this was when we heard the helicopter earlier on at lunch time. As we arrived on the scene, all the action was over and the hunters were pulling the trike out of the creek, being its final resting place after the accident Miraculously, no one else was injured.
Before hitting the metropolis town of Owhango, an excellent down hill ride was had finishing at the Wanganui River A little further on was a cold beer waiting at the pub after our 45 kilometre ride. The evening finished with a soothing hot pool swim, topped of with a scummy pot luck dinner.
So as you can see from the injuries had along this trail, this ride although enjoyable, can be deceiving. If you wish to take this journey on, I would suggest reading the Classic NZ Mountain Bike Rides book
Riders included Steve Patience (correspondent), Eric and Debbie Evans, Alan and Sue Higgins and Lindsay (it's this way) Fletcher. Non riders were Austin, Geoff, Alan, Bill. Damien and Roger.
As the ride is classified as one of the best legal mountain bike rides in the north island (as per the book), I can tell you that the club is looking to combine the Mid Year Social at the Club Lodge with this ride on the weekend 18 - 20 June. Numbers will be strictly limited to 20 riders only. To ensure your placing, telephone Steve or Damien.