Kaitorete Spit to Birdlings Flat (Sunday 21st May 2006)

Leithfield · Post by **Leithfield** » Wed May 17, 2006 5:06 pm

"Kaitorete Spit separates Lake Ellesmere from the South Pacific Ocean. It is a regionally significant natural landscape, containing the largest unmodified dune system in Canterbury. The mixed sand and gravel beach is rare world-wide. Kaitorete Spit was formed by the deposition of the Rakaia River gravels 6000 years ago and sand deposition later 1000 years ago. It is 28km long, 3.2 km at its widest east end and only 100m in the west. The Air Force and Army used the spit up until the 1950s for such things as an airfield, bombing practice, and general manoeuvres. There are also the remains of a rocket launching site (concrete pad and earth block) formerly used by the Physics Department at Canterbury University as part of research into the ionosphere".

We will be stopping @ Kaitorete Spit for a picnic lunch (plenty of time for kids to play), and travelling to Birdlings Flat on an outgoing tide. The beach between Kaitorete Spit and Birdlings Flat can be treacherously soft, and will expose any overheating problems. Intending vehicles must have rated tow hooks/recovery ropes, and be safely capable of dropping tyre pressure to 18 PSI.

Anyone deciding to play on the dunes will be left to the tide :twisted:

!!!

If interested, please PM for details.

Leithfield

albundy · Post by **albundy** » Wed May 17, 2006 5:33 pm

Yep, just pm'ed Kev, I'm in. Great sunday arvo drive, good place to learn sand driving. And I echo Kev's point about playing in the dunes-I will personally cut your nuts off if you do. This place is a very sensitive area.
Al

krawlr · Post by **krawlr** » Thu May 18, 2006 6:27 am

hope you guys have ground anchors...

and you dudes must be really starting to get hardup for some tracks,come on birdings flat :lol:

of all places

Leithfield · Post by **Leithfield** » Thu May 18, 2006 7:05 am

OK, tongue in cheek accepted, but where exactly is the trip you've offered to lead this coming weekend :bubble: ?

Dont knock it - Kaitorete Spit to Birdlings Flat is a bloody good trip; big country, spectacular costal scenery, steeped in history, a great place to practice driving in the loose stuff, and family friendly. Moreover, due to it being an area of both cultural and environmental significance/sensitivity, may not be accessible to 4wders in the not too distant future.

I have driven it before on an incoming tide, and if a mates Diahatsu Rocky (Petrol) can cope on 31's, supported only by an unmodded, 80 series LandCrusier on 33's, I think ground anchors may be a tad unnecessary :shock:

.

SupraLux · Post by **SupraLux** » Thu May 18, 2006 8:20 am

Will check with 'er indoors, but would be a good trip for the afternoon... will also see about some sort of recovery points (don't panic, if I don't get em done I won't come... not worth risking the truck in that porridge

)... been working on those for a while now :oops:

And a good PR exercise as to how 4WDers can behave in a sensitive area... I will throw my 2c in... anyone who comes along and acts the goat in the dunes (or anywhere in that area) will have whatever is left of them after Kev and Al have a go run over, torn into strips and fed to the sharks by myself. There are enough idiots out there making life hard for us, and as Kev said, its an area we may not have access to for too much longer.

Steve

krawlr · Post by **krawlr** » Thu May 18, 2006 8:36 am

well sorry if my comment took offence just trying to have a bit of humour..

and my old man owns 2500 acres near little river so i know the area very well thats why i made the comment cos i know the land well and unless youve got a trail bike its never amused me for 4wding..

happy

SupraLux · Post by **SupraLux** » Thu May 18, 2006 9:13 am

settle down :lol:

sensitive new-age 4wders getting their knickers in a twist over nothing

2500 acres? sounds like a playground worth investigating... any 4wd tracks on the property?

Steve

krawlr · Post by **krawlr** » Thu May 18, 2006 11:17 am

sorry steve but i think youre mate leithfeild has blown that oppertunity with his comments...

some do some dont :wink:

Leithfield · Post by **Leithfield** » Thu May 18, 2006 12:46 pm

"sorry steve but i think youre mate leithfeild has blown that oppertunity with his comments..."

Hmmmm ... might pay to read back over your contribution Krawler. I rest my case; were you looking for the Adolescent forum :!:

SupraLux · Post by **SupraLux** » Thu May 18, 2006 2:46 pm

Woooo! Fight!

Got me a good seat and supplies

hosehustler · Post by **hosehustler** » Thu May 18, 2006 3:21 pm

we're hoping to come along Kev, going fishing at Motnau on Saturday followed (hopefully

) by homemade fish & chips at the station, then the rugby's on the big screen there, and the beer's will be cold :cheers:
don't know when I'll get time to wash the boat tho as Sunday now looks busy :scratch:

SupraSurf · Post by **SupraSurf** » Thu May 18, 2006 4:06 pm

SMOKEY · Post by **SMOKEY** » Thu May 18, 2006 4:41 pm

Hi all, very sensitive area to go through. The time I did this trip we went on to the beach at Mike Bailys boundry about eight k's down Baily's Rd and drove down the beach to exit just south of Taumutu (keeps you away from all the people at Birdlings Flat) . Then you can come back to the Selwyn River, go in at Chamberlins Ford and drive down to Coes Ford (Wash all the SALT off) and back to CHCH . Have a great trip and watch your TEMP; Gauges
GET DIRTY, FITZY.

padero · Post by **padero** » Thu May 18, 2006 8:02 pm

SMOKEY Then you can come back to the Selwyn River, go in at Chamberlins Ford and drive down to Coes Ford (Wash all the SALT off)

haha i can aready see the pcitures now, you mite want to wait till you get home Al. we all know what your like, when washing things down in rivers ! :lol:

albundy · Post by **albundy** » Fri May 19, 2006 8:11 pm

Heard a rumour today Kev, that we might need a akey to get through a gate. Are there any access issues? And adam, Oh ye of little faith :lol:

Al

Leithfield · Post by **Leithfield** » Fri May 19, 2006 10:22 pm

Hope not Al - been at least three years since I last ran that stretch and no access probs back then (no locked gates). Am heading out to a mates place who lives in that direction tomorrow (nah, not Krawlr :wink:

), so will do a quick recce and post a heads-up. If shit happens will have to come up with a cunning plan.

Leithfield · Post by **Leithfield** » Sat May 20, 2006 4:08 pm

Good news

; Bad News

Did a full recce by myself today - got as far South as what I believe was the mouth of the Rakia (way, way, past Kaitorete). As per usual, very soft, but temp never got over three quarter (returned to normal with heater going). Majority of run could be managed in 4th gear, 4WD high.

Good news: No probs with locked gates. DOC have provided access approx 5-6k down Bailys Rd. Nice little sign saying 'beach access - 1 minute' ... follow this and there's even a friendly pictorial to 4wders and unimpeded access South.

Bad News: had a play in the Ashley on the way home to wash the salt off, and noticed the diff seal is leaking like the Exon Valdez.

End result is I'm screwed for tomorrow .

Al, can you please ring Tim later tonight (know he's away today and want to be sure he's up to speed). Will PM others.

Cheers,
Kevin

hiriklux · Post by **hiriklux** » Sat May 20, 2006 11:07 pm

so where should i meet you lot in morn and what time !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

hosehustler · Post by **hosehustler** » Sun May 21, 2006 6:36 am

Ah-well, Kev, will have to just carry on and do a few jobs round the home today

cheers

Leithfield · Post by **Leithfield** » Sun May 21, 2006 8:19 am

Yeah me too - pulling a front diff to repair the seal :roll:

. The tight-fit Longfields make it an especially fun job :thumbdown:

SupraSurf · Post by **SupraSurf** » Sun May 21, 2006 8:49 am

Leithfield · Post by **Leithfield** » Sun May 21, 2006 4:00 pm

Thanks Mike - running solid spacers; pinion seal fine; diff seal furbared & leaking from below bottom two studs (tightening only stems the flow)

.

SupraSurf · Post by **SupraSurf** » Sun May 21, 2006 4:22 pm

Leithfield · Post by **Leithfield** » Sun May 21, 2006 4:47 pm

Cool, thanks. Got seconded to domestic duties today (Mrs expecting number two early next year and has started nesting again :roll:

) so will give your suggestion a whirl this week. Keep in touch re the Winter Retreat :wink:

!