Dusty Butt 2008[img width=512 height=384]http://lh5.google.com/RideNZ/R4LAAEMavuI/AAAAAAAAAb0/3epTevBQMu8/P1060307.JPG?imgmax=512[/img]So here I was on the eve of the Dusty butt, with good intentions to get to bed early and to get a good nights sleep, so I had plenty of energy in the tank to tackle what could be up to 24 hours in the saddle of the trusty GS.So we packed the bikes and double and triple checked everything, so they were ready to go in the morning.Then we proceeded to the Dusty Butt BBQ (thanks Warewolf), where I met for the first time many of the South Island KB’ers that I had talked to numerous times, but had never actually met.It was a good social evening, with adventure bikes scattered in Warewolfs driveway and spilling onto the road, the talk of course evolved around Bikes and adventures and the Dusty Butt!We left there and headed home for a bit of R&R, as the start time was 5.30am!So I had swallowed a cold ale, and then went to bed, but do you think I could sleep!The nerves were outta control, have I got everything? Will I get up Maungatapu ok? Etc my mind was doing 100 miles an hour!!I managed to get a few hours sleep, before my alarm was blaring in my ear at 4.30amIt was time for Dusty Butt, something I had spent so much time preparing for, it had consumed me for the last few months, but as I would discover later in the day, it was time and preparation well spent!Breakfast, toilet, smoke and we were off into the darknessWe met at the I site carpark and were the first to arrive.Our riding team for the day was the first to arrive, followed closely by Cooneyr.We decided to head off into the dark for Maungatapu ahead of the faster riders as we didn’t want to hold them up if we fell over, so we got a 15 minute head start.We entered the track in the dark and proceeded up the Maungatapu track (which is in good condition), with lights blazing and the 3 riders of Jim, Kyle and I riding in formation.We didn’t have any trouble and made good progress up the track and down the other side.As we headed down it was remarkably light, and we had good views towards the Marlborough Sounds.[img width=512 height=384]http://lh3.google.com/RideNZ/R4K-UkMaveI/AAAAAAAAAZ0/dv7P3RXArf0/P1040289.JPG?imgmax=512[/img]There was a little mist in the air, which kept us cool, but acted as a magnet for the dust as I was at the back, so by the time I had arrived at Pelorus, I was already covered in dust!!We were at the Pelorus bridge when we could hear this big thumper howling down the road, sure enough it was Ian on his fire breathing monster, he can sure ride well, he would of left 15- 20 minutes after us and arrived soon after we did.Then it was a quick tarseal ride through Havelock and onto Onamalutu, and a great gravel road/track through the forest.It was here that we wondered if the rabbits and hares had somehow been mating with sheep, because they were suicidal! As soon as you got close to them they would run towards your front wheels.We made good time through here and then back across the road to follow the Wairau river to Tuamarina and then back to Blenheim for our first stop for fuel and liquids, it was already hot and we knew Molesworth was going to be hot and dusty.While we were stopped in Blenheim this is where we saw the other riders for the first time.We were off again this time for Taylor’s pass and onto the Awatere Valley, where our next part of the ride would take us to the top of Mt Altimarloch, riding to a height of 1696m!It was a good ride up, but in the back of my mind I was thinking about the problems they had last year with punctures on this track, so I was cautious, scanning for sharp rocks that were laying, waiting for their chance to inflict serious damage to my tyres.As we neared the top, we passed MattsDakar and Ian coming down, these guys were on a mission, and were obviously way superior riders compared to me.We made the top and stopped for a 5 minute breather, when the 3 riders of Warewolf, Transalper and Cooneyr arrived shortly afterwards. We took the obligatory photos and then it was time to head back down the mountain and onto Molesworth.[img width=512 height=384]http://lh6.google.com/RideNZ/R4K-mUMavhI/AAAAAAAAAaM/9Y1vpTYNu7A/P1050294.JPG?imgmax=512[/img]The road into Molesworth was like a super highway, with 4wds every few hundred meters apart, which created quite the dust storm.Most of them were courteous and would pull over as we approached them.By the time we reached the Rangers Cabin at Molesworth we were well and truly Dusty.A quick stop here for the 6 riders that managed to stay within view of one another, it was here that we decided to ride together to open the many gates on route to Hanmer Springs.The dust in here was something else, the grader has recently been in there and had pushed the edge of the road into the middle, and all that was left was a very fine powder on the side of the road, right where we were riding. It was unbelievable; you honestly couldn’t see anything else! So we spread out here for a while.It was then over Jollies Pass to Hanmer, where the temperature had soared to over 32 degrees, it was 12.30pm when we arrived at the fuel stop to fill up both the bikes and ourselves, before heading through Rainbow and Porika.We said farewell to the 3 faster riders, and headed off from Hanmer not long after.The road into Rainbow was in the best condition I have ever seen it in, we didn’t have to dodge the thousands of potholes that are often scattered across the road, and this made up some time.It was still hot but not as hot as Molesworth.Following the river meant we also managed to have a cool breeze which certainly helped.[img width=512 height=384]http://lh4.google.com/RideNZ/R4K-_0MavkI/AAAAAAAAAak/S__QWch7h84/P1050297.JPG?imgmax=512[/img][img width=512 height=384]http://lh3.google.com/RideNZ/R4K_SkMavmI/AAAAAAAAAa0/1G6V4qfgvpE/P1050299.JPG?imgmax=512[/img]As we got closer to Rainbow station the more bees and wasps appeared, so it meant riding with the visors down, which I didn’t really like too much.But it was either a nice cool breeze on the face or a sting and a swollen face.It was at the Northern end that I noticed we had been riding for 10 hours and had covered 500km, so that was about ½ way.But the second half to me didn’t seem as longWe rode through St Arnaud and onto Porika, which was a good little track that I normally enjoyed, but boy was I in for a shock!The first section was great, normal, but when we started the descent into Rotoroa things changed quickly to a very rough and loose descent. I was completely locked up and even the blips on the throttle to get the back wheel back didn’t seem to help, so I resorted to just letting the bike go and riding it out. I stalled it twice but without incident, and I was sure glad to see those hairpin corners as I knew these were easy.We had all stopped at the bottom to take on a drink as I was sweating coming down there!Then it was off to Murchison via the Braeburn which was in good condition, I was actually starting to enjoy the ride now, except that my gloves were biting into my hands and creating a blister which was starting to get uncomfortable.We arrived in Murchison at approx 6.30pm and took on some food and liquid and refuelled the bikes.Our team had out very own support rider (MagicFairy) who was there to meet us as we rolled in.She gave me some plaster to put on my hand and I used some duct tape to give it some comfort, it worked it didn’t give me any further grief.Then it was farewell to MagicFairy and we would not see her until the wee hours of the morning, then onto Maruia Saddle, which was in great condition, I really enjoyed the next few hours of riding.We were in the saddle when we passed Ian and MattsDakar, I gave them a big thumbs up and I received the same back, these guys were on a mission, they were about 2 hours ahead of us at that point!Then it was South to Palmers road and a very dusty Blackadder Road!!We made Springs Junction and proceeded to Palmers Road, another road I have never been down, this is where we saw the 3 riders of Warewolf, Transalper and Cooneyr heading back.Palmers road was…..WOWFast, fun and with the odd ford that would just appear from nowhere to keep the concentration levels up.We made it to the end and then turned around and headed back, I must say the trip back was faster than it was on the way down, we arrived back at Murchison at 9.30pm and light was fading very fast!!The last fuel for the trip and the last food and we were off on the last section.By the time we arrived in Braeburn, it was black!! Lights a blaze and the speed reduced somewhat.Somehow I ended up on Navigation duties, which was good that I didn’t have to follow the dust at night.When we reached the bottom of Porika it was late and we decided as a team not to attempt Porika at 11.00pm in the dark, we knew we would have trouble with traction on the way up, so the only way would be too physically man handle the bikes up, but time would then probably be against us.So we ended up riding out the road.From here the roads were all new to me, and I had no idea where we going or where we where.This was real adventure stuffPitch Black, no idea where we were, totally reliant on our navigational experience.It worked!! We didn’t get lost, no wrong turns where we had to back track, it was great.The best part was the time seemed to fly past!The ride up Mt Arthur was steep, but in the dark I don’t think I realised just how steep it got, but when we reached the top the view of the night sky was incredible, a fitting tribute to the ride, there were many stars ahead of us, and then here we were also managing to stay with reach of the other stars.[img width=512 height=384]http://lh4.google.com/RideNZ/R4K_c0MavoI/AAAAAAAAAbE/zLK4n_fP9_s/P1060301.JPG?imgmax=512[/img][img width=512 height=384]http://lh6.google.com/RideNZ/R4K_jUMavpI/AAAAAAAAAbM/nVo-8W2rgSg/P1060302.JPG?imgmax=512[/img]It was onto the last section, it was foggy in places and made riding that little bit harder, but we weren’t in a race, all we had to do was finish!It was 2.30am when we rolled into Nelson, tired, exhausted, and sore and with very Dusty Butts.It was an experience I will not forget in a hurry, and although almost 22 hours in the saddle is a very long time, I don’t regret it, and am looking forward to the next chapter![img width=512 height=384]http://lh3.google.com/RideNZ/R4LBKkMav5I/AAAAAAAAAdo/JpgsFp2gHrE/P1060318.JPG?imgmax=512[/img]I commend the other riders, I am no where near the same league as them, I am not physically fit like them, but mentally I was prepared and that is what got me through.zeRax, what a machine, he completed the Dusty Butt on an XR250, not built for comfort or speed, he did incredibly well, and I think his decision to ride with us was a good one as we could keep and eye on him and likewise he could keep an eye on us.After it was all finished, I realised just how big this accomplishment was!It is a story that we can tell our grandchildren one day[img width=512 height=384]http://lh4.google.com/RideNZ/R4LAg0MavzI/AAAAAAAAAcc/xHIAGUWC2Bs/P1060312.JPG?imgmax=512[/img]To all the 2 day riders, your ride was a HUGE accomplishment too, many riders I know would not attempt that ride in 2 days, congrats on finishing and to Nordie for keeping them all in check!As a One day rider, the only difference between between us and you is the fact that we were a little more insane (or stupid)Some useless infoWe took 21 ½ hoursOur actual riding time was 16.50 hoursOur moving average speed was 58.2kmhThere were 8 bikes on the Dusty Butt 1000k ride that did it in One dayThey all finishedThere was3 & a ¼ BMW’s (Ian’s Honda had a BMW headlight)2 Honda’s2 Suzuki’s1 KTMCheers Scott