We hung around the pub for a bit, but lacking numbers and remembering promises made the day before (during warm sunny weather) - Rob rang Carl for a hurry up.   Carl “It's too cold” was still in bed and promised that he would actually turn up and be about 10-15 minutes  late.

Although we all wanted to stand round in the wet and the cold, we gave Carl 10 minutes grace, then started for Lake Sumner - Leaving him to  catch up with us under his own steam.

Once we all got through Weka pass and to Waikari, we stopped to evaluate the weather and it was just like: Wow, Sun! Let’s all enjoy this cracker of a Sunny day!

We then drove out to Lake Taylor.  The only problem getting out to Lake Sumner, is the very, very long gravel road to get to the place - it just seems never ending. It would be so much better it was sealed, somehow I don’t think it will ever be.

Doc Campsite at the start of the track

We all geared up at the car park by the DOC Campsite and started to bike past Lake  Taylor,  out towards Lake Sumner and the 1st hut (near the swing bridge).

This is was the 1st time on this ride for 4 people.  Jeremy and Lisa were having a fun time negotiating the rocks - Lisa was the first to fall of and draw blood.
Rob and Mike were almost old hands on this ride...  It was Mikes second ride and he still had a pretty good memory of the last club ride here (about 2 years ago) , was able to flesh out what was coming up and point out the best photo spots (It's all photo spots -ed.)

The grassy last third before the bridge,

As for Rob, it was his 1st club ride out on his brand new full suspension bike, and wow it was nice. Apparently (according to the huge smile on his face),  he really enjoyed the ride.  Though he did need a slight adjustment to his rear shock with Mike’s handy tire/shock pump.

After riding about 18km’s from the car, we reached the half way mark, at the end of the  four wheel drive track. We stopped and sat down in the soft long grass,  beside the river thats feeds into Lake Sumner. We had lunch, a great talk, enjoyed the “Cracker of a sunny day” and the clear blue sky.

At this end of track we noticed Campers, 4wd vehicles, a family on motor bikes, two  other mountain bikers and few hunters that been up river and into the hills.  The hunters had reported that there wasn’t much out there, and didn’t seem to have the happiest of faces. (Unlike us Mountain Bike riders who enjoyed the day to the fullest).  

Here, Mike said that there are natural hot pools up the river further, and another hut that would be great for a weekend out. Once we had finished eating lunch, the sand flies had  found us for their lunch break, so we all decided to start biking back to the cars, asap.

Powering back along the track

Once we got back to the cars, we were joined at the car park by the 2 female mountain bikers, that we had come across earlier. Rob had a great chat with them, which the rest of our group had listened to.

The girls had biked in the previous night and stayed at the hut and visited a natural hot pool for  a dip. The hot pool is a thirty minute bike and a 15 minute walk from the first hut, and is feed by a hot waterfall.  It seats four comfortably. The girls has chosen this as an easy ride to do, as one of them was noticeable pregnant.

A soak in the hot pools sounds like just like the thing to do at the end of a MTB ride through beautiful countryside.

Mike.