Show weekend, 11-12th

[MATT4U]

I have sorted a key to get up to where the townshend hut was. $10 per 4wd.
People, bring a tent or stay in your 4wd.
Meet at belfast Shell at 12:30 on friday
We will have a bit of an explore round the area as well.
Friday nite, make shure you have enough "liquid"

On saturday we head out after panadol, have a bit more of an explore, and meet at the ashley george camping ground at round 10:30
I dont know how long it will take to get there.
Then all the way down the ashley river


So far there is

Overnighters
Me
Hayden
Craig
hugh
Spudzie

Sat
Mike

[hiriklux]

ashley river is a bit soft in places mat i got stuck in the middle of it last friday on my way home from work had to winch out never saw any fish though have fun dudes no playing for me this weekend need to fix a few bits on ute
rik

[hosehustler]

Sorta thinking about heading along for the night, are you guys staying in the camp or the river
river is cheaper and can have a good camp fire (if conditions are right)
can't do that in the camp ground
anyway think about it but my plans are very sketchy at the mo due to a bit of stuff happening

[MATT4U]

Was planning on staying up where the hut was, its has been removed,

[redneck]

hey is anyone going to meet guys at ashley gorge on sat

[mikeey1]

those that are not staying the night to awake with a head ache and wish to leave chch on saturday morning around 9 to 10am departure pm me.

[albundy]

Hi guys,
sorry won't be entertaining you this weekend. Townsend hut is definitely gone as DOC removed it on the quiet. You should all do Ashley river from the gorge down. Tim, Rob and I did this in winter and it was great. It can get difficult in places especially when you have to get out of the river bed because of the nesting birds. The track winds through some pretty tight tress and if you #### up = panel damage. Some really good umud holes for trucks with difflocks, even some of them get stuck don't they Tim.. Tim would be good to lead the trip as he knows the track. Wish I could come but got other things to do, and going away 4wding next weekend. Just my thoughts guys, and I am there in spirit!

[4wdnuts]

you guys could also go from marshmans road down the kowhai river for starters to the beach, then past the amberly golf course the up the waipara river. lots of different 4wding in those tracks.

[MATT4U]

If tim is available for saturday it would be awesome if he could come out with us.
Hint Hint

[IcedJohnno]

Hi Matt
Al mentions the issue over birds in the Ashley river.


In case you are not aware, between DOC, Canterbury Regional Council, the Combined 4wd Clubs and Taggart Earthmoving the decision was made a couple of years back to ban vehicles, dogs and people from the braided part of the Ashley between the months of August and February.

This is because of a couple of rare (less than 5000) species, namely the Wrybill and the Black-fronted Tern that nest in the river during this time. There are other rare birds on this and other rivers as well. Even people can scare the parent birds off the nests and then they won't go back so the chicks die.

Because of this the CRC and the Combined 4wd Clubs have built a 4wd track, the one that Al mentions, which is between the confluence of the Okuku and Ashley Rivers and Rossiters road on the north side of the Ashley River. This is good fun.

I have one of the pamphlets about this stuff and it says it is ok to drive on the two sides of the river, i.e. the grass/tree-ed edges (in their words "vegetated margins") of the rivers but not anywhere in the riverbed itself.

I'm not sure exactly how much of the Ashley this applies to but I know it is definately between the outlet of the Okuku river and at least a cople of miles below the rail bridge nr Rangiora.

Others may be able to write about this more.
Tread lightly and have a great couple of days.
Sorry I can't be with you guys.
Cheers Johnno

[hosehustler]

Hi guys,
still trying to decide whether to come
If I do I will be able to show you where the Ashley track starts (which is just downstream fom the Okuku)
Have seen maps of NO GO ares and upstream from Okuku isn't included so what we intend doing is within the agreed paramiters
I will give you a ring Matt and let you know my intentions, could be a day trip with the family tomorrow, or come up later this evening and head up to the old hut site, I have been up there before a couple of times so know where to go.
Anyway, Matt I'll ring you soon...........

[padero]

hey boy's mite be heading up tonight to join ya in a few drinks where abouts you camping ??

ad

[MATT4U]

the townshend hut site, we will be on 19 on the prs, we should be easy enough to find, some of the guys have intruck radio so we will listen out for you. cause there is a locked gate up there we will need to let you in if we are up there when you get up, you can try to txt or call me and give me a estimate of time you will be up there if you want. Hope to see you all there. I gotta go pack the truck up.

[redneck]

need to know were to meet in chch to go up to ashly gorge don't know were to meet and what time so can some one give me a call to fill me in 027-318-1230 or 382-9753 asap thanks

[mikeey1]

For those who want to go up to the Ashley tomorrow (Saturday) I'll be at the pig (last pub on the left hand side as you leave town and just before you hit the 100kmph motor way) be here as we will be leaving by 09:45am sharp! 021 735 841 cheers Andrew.

[hosehustler]

For those heading up today who aren't meeting at the peg, I was chatting with Matt on the phone yesterday and we are also meeting up in the Ashley gorge picnic area at about 1030, sould be a good day but there will be very little water in the river,
maybe we should head up the gorge for o look you can get up there about 8 km but it does get very good, these were taken by Mike H a couple of years back, maybe worth going up there today

[mikeey1]

Matt,
Again many thanks for another great trip.
Seeing parts of the country that very few get to see!
It's the first time I've had water over the bonnet of the beast..... but dam that was fun!
thnx again guys.

[MATT4U]

Well I had fun, I even got a chance to clean my truck outside and in
http://www.offroadexpress.co.nz/modules.php?set_albumName=album71&op=modload&name=Gallery&file=index&include=view_album.php&page=3

[hosehustler]

We had a great day out with you guys, the kids really enjoyed themslves swimming in the river (not in the truck )
You guys sure know how to get into some predicaments though giving my winch a good workout
would have been better if the Ashley track had a bit more mud but them's the breaks,
catch you all next time
Tim