For a while now I've been wanting to trace the Southern coast of the Rimutakas back to Wellington. I've read that randonneuring events around the area had to get permission for thoroughfare. but my touring buddy Achim, who is also an avid tramper, figured it was accessible. I've also been itching for gravel rides, so Easter weekend gave us the opportunity to give it a go.
So I put the knobby CX tyres back on the tourer, which I had used on my South Island tour but they'd never really seen any proper gravel action. As it was a (relatively) short ride, I didn't want to hook up the panniers, and opted for the Carradice saddle bag instead. I've been wanting to try a proper frame bag, but local shops were out of stock and I ran out of time. I ended up strapping bulky sleeping gear directly to the bike, which worked out well enough.
We were planning to take the train up to Upper Hutt and ride up the Rimutaka rail trail from there, but as it turns out bus replacements were scheduled for Easter, so we drove to Lower Hutt and parked by the Hutt River trail instead, where we started the ride.
I definitely got my fill of singletrack and more, including a rocky rolling coastal ride with sheer cliff drops at night making our way to Mukamuka Stream where we camped, fording several streams and the Wainuiomata River, and a good amount of walking on sandy beach tracks when it became too much for my CycloXKing tyres, which otherwise really impressed me on this ride. Maybe an excuse to try a fatbike sometime. Water wasn't an issue as there were plenty of mountain streams for resupply (after careful checks for droppings from stray livestock and dead animals). I wish I could have snuck a proper camera in with my light touring rig too, to capture the amazing crisp night sky and the moon rising over the Aorangi Range to the East.
In any case we accomplished what we set out to do. It's a ridiculously sweet ride, ideal for a weekend, and I'd highly recommend it (though maybe skip the rivers and sandy walks for a bit less crazy). I'll definitely be back again.
Day 2 (Strava)
