It never rains but it pours

Looks like the weather gods have not favoured us this year. River levels remain high so we will be diverting to the flood option on Leg 3 Omarama to St. Bathans.

Please use the East Manuherikia Branch, approached from Little Omarama Saddle at the end of Broken Hut Road.

The track is labelled GSB21_L3a_Flood in your GPX file (see Route 2021 tab to download if your do not have it).

The great wet of 2021

Looks like the great wet of 2021 is having a wide impact. See below from Brendan (and Central Otago District Council). You may have to seek out these water tanks to get safe drinking water.

 

From: Brendan Pheasant
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 2021 at 14:34
Subject: Re: Water! - Boil water notices in Ranfurly and Naseby
To: Great Southern Brevet

Hi,

Further to that below, my sister (lives in Naseby) informs me that both Ranfurly and Naseby still have boil water notices after the excessive post-Christmas rainfall. She expects they'll still be in place next week. There are two water tanks in each town, each town having one on the route. In Ranfurly at the school on Northland St, in Naseby outside the camping ground.

More details here: https://www.codc.govt.nz/your-council/alerts?item=id%3A2cl4u2ldr17q9stjnsbn That seems a bit more optimistic for Ranfurly, but definitely worth sharing at briefing - apparently signage is not great, unless one comes in on the highway. 

See you tonight/tomorrow,

Brendan

Boil Water Notices - Naseby and Ranfurly

Date:

21 Jan 2021, 5:00 pm

Category:

Water Services

BOIL WATER NOTICES - NASEBY and RANFURLY - 21 January 2021

Ranfurly: Currently the Ranfurly raw water pipe repairs have been completed, gravel is still being cleaned out of the inlet weir. At earliest we are hoping to get clean water into the plant on Sunday. We anticipate that by middle to end of next week the boil water notice should be able to be removed.

Naseby: Naseby Water Supply is still having issues with the sand filter clogging up the filters, the race is looking cleaner but until we can get the sand filter operational again we will likely continue to have issues through to the end of next week. The boil water notice will need to remain in place until at least the following week, an update will be provided next week.

BOIL WATER NOTICES - NASEBY and RANFURLY - 15 January 2021

A reminder that the boil water notice is still in place for Ranfurly and Naseby. We are continuing to monitor the situation.

We acknowledge this is an inconvenience, so as soon as Council can meet its legal requirements to ensure safe drinking water we will lift the notice. It is envisaged the boil water notices will be lifted late next week following three days of compliant test results.

Residents and visitors to town should continue to source drinking water from the tankers located below.

Naseby locations:

• Camping ground
• Derwent Street at the public toilets

Ranfurly locations:

• Ranfurly Area School on Northland Street
• Hospital on Tyrone Street.

BOIL WATER NOTICES - NASEBY and RANFURLY - 14 January 2021

Residents and visitors to Naseby and Ranfurly are advised that Boil Water Notices have been issued for both these water supplies.

Because of the high amount of sediment in the water due to the recent heavy rain we are currently unable to treat the water.

Please boil all water used for drinking, food preparation and cooking, and cleaning your teeth until further notice. Bring water to a rolling boil and boil for at least a minute, then allow it to cool naturally.

We will advise when water conditions improve and the boil water notice can be removed.

Please let your neighbours and friends know that you think may not see this online or via app and radio advisories.

Water Tanker Locations:

Naseby
- Camping ground
- Derwent Street at the public toilets

Ranfurly

- Maniototo Area School

- Hospital on Tyrone Street

Crossing the waters

If you are looking at how to get across Lake Wakatipu, without carry a pack raft 🚣, then have arranged with Real Journeys for the following sailings and pricing. Please quote the GSB when making your booking.

In 2014 we had 28 riders on one 10:30am sailing so if we do get a large number on Tuesday or Wednesday a special sailing would be possible. They need 24 hours notice.

Website: Real Journeys to Walter Peak

0800 656501 Freephone (within New Zealand)

 

Phone: +64 3 249 6000

contact@realjourneys.co.nz

Queenstown – Walter Peak daily from Sunday

 

 Time     Vessel              Notes                                       Rate (including bike)

9am      Explorer            Spaces are limited                                 $35

12pm    TSS Earnslaw   Bike numbers limited                             $55

 

They could put on a 10.30am Explorer Transfer but need a minimum of 10 and could also add a 10am TSS Earnslaw departure but would need a minimum of about 40 to cover costs.

Water Again

An important subject in many ways to a bikepacker!

Course Change possible

We are carefully monitoring the water levels in the Manuherikia but this week's cold front has bumped them back up again. Check out Water, Water Everywhere on the website for more details.

Please ensure you have the flood alternate track loaded on your GPS, it can be found on the Route 2021 page. Announcement to come.

Drinking Water

If temperatures climb back to normal for the season then you will need plenty of water out there.  Many of the sections are dry, or through farmland, with few options for drinking water. Below is a quick summary of my rides and where I accessed water (and survived relatively bug free):

Leg 1 - Tekapo, but nothing else till Twizel really. If you are desperate there is water in the information centre on the lakefront as you cross the control structure.

Leg 2 - Twizel, then next good drinking water would be Darts Bush Stream as you approach the higher part of Flanagan Pass, and Dorcy Stream on the other side (higher up is better). Then possibly Lake Middleton Campground, though this could be a boil order. Then Lake Ohau Lodge. There are a few creeks crossing the ride up to Tarnbrae Saddle which should be OK. At the Historic Woolshed but again may be boil. Then it is Omarama.

Leg 3 - Omarama. On the way up to the saddle is a small stream (at the switchbacks) and several small drips on the road from higher up. Rainwater water at the huts. St. Bathans next. If we do the alternate route then nothing till over Little Omarama Saddle, but on the way down on the switchbacks there is a stream on the final turn which is good and your last chance till St. Bathans.

Leg 4 - St Bathans, then Thomsons Gorge. Careful here as there is plenty of stock, but some of the creeks from the south side of the road could be used if you are desperate. Then Tarras, Hawea, Albert Town and finally Wanaka.

Leg 5 - Wanaka, the Cardrona Pub, but they may only serve beer or whiskey? Arrowtown, Frankton and then Queenstown.

Leg 6 - Queenstown, Walter Peak and then mostly farmland till Mossburn, so pretty dry. 

Leg 7 - Mossburn, then Fiver Rivers, if the cafe is open. Athol, and finally Garsten (the pub!).

Leg 8 - Garsten, after you drop into the Upper Nevis (away from farmland on the Garsten side) some of the small side creeks off the Remarkables should be good. Make sure you have water before heading up Duffers Saddle as it can be scarce on Hawkburn Road. Then Clyde (but it is off course) and finally Alexandra

Leg 9 - Alexandra, nothing on Knobby Range, then Roxburgh (slightly off track). 

Leg 10 - Roxburgh, then pretty scarce until Ranfurly! Up around Lake Onslow you may find some creeks running clear from the North side of the road, but again check for stock.

Leg 11 - Ranfurly, Naseby, Danseys Pass Pub, and finally Kurow

Leg 12 - Kurow, creeks at/near the top of Hakataramea Pass and then nothing till the finish in Tekapo. Again a pretty dry leg till your final beer at the pub in Tekapo.

Satellites 

And what does that have to do with water you ask? The human body contains a lot of water and unfortunately water is the bane of satellite signals. Please check where you mount your SPOT tracker. Along your top tube doesn't work so well when your body sits over it for most of the time. Blocks satellite signals very well! Try somewhere out the back or further front or on top of your helmet or securely attached to your small pack if you wear one.

Does beer count as water intake?

I'll leave that one for you to decide 

Water, Water Everywhere!

2021 had a very wet start to the year down south (Central Otago). Good for farmers, bad for orchardists (all those split cherries ⛈), and now looking dodgy for bike packers!

River levels around the region were up in January to many times normal for that time of year.

12 times normal just after New Years!

Things had started to settle down as the weather turned for the better but they were still high. I rode the Omarama Saddle and West Manuherikia (GSB2021 Leg 3 Omarama to St. Bathans) on Saturday and water levels were still high (probably running at 4/5 or so). Coming back up the East Manuherikia and over Little Omarama Saddle was better as there are only 3 river crossings. 

River levels would have returned to normal (2) by the start of the GSB with good weather. Unfortunately more fronts have come through this week:

The course GPX file has the alternate (Flood) routes already included. Please check you have the track 'GSB21_L3a_Flood' on your GPS.

Will make an announcement on the route soon but be prepared for the extra climb ⛰ up Little Omarama Saddle. You will still have one large river crossing so please ensure you have others around to assist or as backup. A completely dry route is possible but a substantial change in course (still a very nice ride) but we should be OK using the alternate you have on your GPS if levels continue to drop.

Forecast for the week was positive: "This brings fine weather to most places by the end of the week, and allows temperatures to rebound to near normal," See: Weather News 18 January, 2021

GSB2021 Emails

Seems we have a few going incognito as their emails bounce back. Reproducing the email here is case you visit the website 😉

Email 1

GSB2021 - Are you ready?

Hello All,

Hope you are looking forward to getting social and distanced! That is social with your bike, and covering some long distances ;-)

The Great Southern Brevet 2021 is upon us and with the push to explore our own backyard this is a top opportunity to see some remote parts of the South Island. You will need to fuel your ride so hopefully some of the local businesses will notice your efforts as well.

Have avoided emailing as you are probably inundated these days but a few basics things need to be covered:

First, let us know if you are still coming! Register your details for tracking with Maprogress. You should have received a link from Shane. If not get in touch with us now. And get in touch if you have decided to not ride (medical certificate required!).

Second, start time in Tekapo on Saturday the 23rd of January. Please be down at the Church of the Good Shepherd on the waterfront in Lake Tekapo by 10:00AM. We will have a safety briefing and check you in. We need to know who is out on course as we notify landowners when their land is clear of all riders. It can impact farm operations if they have to spend time looking for someone or time waiting to avoid a clash with riders. Once the formalities are out of the way we should get off around 10:30AM. The first couple of kms are neutralised as we cross State Highway 8. Please be cautious and respect other road users till we head up Godley Peaks Road.

Third, the course GPS files are now final. And yes, Grandview Ridge Track has gone! No excuses for not completing :-) Fingers crossed the river levels have continued to drop in the Manuherikia and it should be smooth riding.

Any questions please feel free to ask. Trouble with loading GPS files, need a lift to Tekapo or accommodation? Sorry can't help if you are not feeling fit enough but can guarantee you will feel fit after the first couple of days riding :-)

PS Cue Sheets will be updated and a link added tomorrow on the Route 2021 tab on the website.

Cheers,

The Great Southern Brevet Team

Email: greatsouthernbrevet@gmail.com

Website: www.greatsouthernbrevet.blogspot.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/southernbrevet

Twitter: @southernbrevet

Email 2

 

Cue Sheets and GPX updated

 Hello All,

Thanks to those that have got in touch to confirm (or deny) they are coming. Sorry to see a few miss out but the weather forecast is looking good for the weekend. 

Again, please let us know if you are not coming as this helps to ensure we can inform landowners when the last rider is clear of their land.

Cue Sheets

The Cue Sheets are up on the 'Route 2021' tab at greatsouthernbrevet.blogspot.com. Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets format both available. Where we follow marked cycle trails it is expected you continue on till an instruction to turn off.

Cue Sheets have the Services added and the Text Check-in locations. Regarding Text Check-ins, please just send us a text anytime you reach civilisation if you don't want to remember specific locations. The more the merrier, tell us the good, and the bad, about your ride

GPX Files Updated

So this time, thanks to an obscure Garmin feature (bug?), the GPX files have had to be updated. Turns out Garmin does not use the complete name, just the first few characters. Thus some of you discovered that after 10 tracks things started over again!

Best thing is to delete all the tracks beginning with 'GSB2021' or 'GSB2021F' and reload the file(s) and then check your new tracks begin with 'GSB21'.

Sorry again, but first time coming across this bug (feature?).

Garmin Courses

Many with Garmin devices will use the 'Follow Course' or 'Ride Course' Feature. One thing to note is that the GPX track is not ultra-precise (would be well over 10,000 points). The result is you will get plenty of 'Off Course' messages! and your battery consumption will be about 20% worse. This is due to the frequent re-calculating of the route.

Best solution to this, and is much better for battery consumption, is to just use the track as a visual guideline. It will display anytime you view the map. You will have to set up by selecting 'Settings' for each track to turn it on to 'Always Display'. I usually select the bright green colour as it shows up well against the topo map. See screenshots below.

Note, this does not affect you recording your track. Just press 'Start' as normal and it will record no problem. It just avoids the workout the unit gets re-calculating all the time.

SPOT Tracking

Please check your SPOT tracking is set up, any questions get back to us or Shane at Maprogress.

Cheers,

The Great Southern Brevet Team

Email: greatsouthernbrevet@gmail.com

Website: www.greatsouthernbrevet.blogspot.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/southernbrevet

Twitter: @southernbrevet

Updated Elevation Profiles for the Final Leg 4 and Leg 5 Routes

 The updated elevation profiles for the two changed legs of the GSB2021 edition are below. The first is Leg 4 St. Bathans to Wanaka and the second, Leg 5 Wanaka to Queenstown.

 Remember, you click on the image to enlarge it and then right click on your mouse to "Save Image As" to download it to your computer for printing or sending to your phone.

 

Tis the season for Revolution!

It appears a revolution is afoot. The sight of this apparently makes even the hardiest of cyclists shudder:

Yes, the infamous DOC Grandview Ridge Track.

Not wanting to risk having the GSB Twitter and Facebook accounts shutdown by insisting the original course was developed through a fair selection process (vote rigging aside), work is progressing on revising the course and shaving off some 700m of climb. Might have to throw in some extra gravel grinding and a river crossing to make up for the loss though.

Details will be posted as soon as final arrangements are made in the next day or so.

This could be the easiest GSB yet 😱

Elevation Profiles

If you are the sort that just wants to ride and let the trail unfold in front of you then look away now!

These are the elevation profiles for each leg of the GSB 2021. Some like having these to plan their day and measure progress.

You can click on the image to enlarge it and then Right Click and Select "Save Image As" if you want to print them larger from your own computer.

The time draws nigh!*

Saturday 23rd of January, 2021 - 10:00AM

Please be down at the Church of the Good Shepherd on the shore of Lake Tekapo for 10:00AM on Saturday the 23rd of January for the Grand Depart.

We will have a rider check in so we know who is out there on course and also the mandatory safety briefing. You will be traveling where few others go so it is important you have the latest information.

Once the formalities are done we will have a neutralised start. We have two crossings of State Highway 8 before you are free to set your own pace. It can be busy on a Saturday morning in Tekapo, we do not want any traffic mishaps so please respect the neutral section till we turn into Godley Peaks Road.

Lake Tekapo last week, The Great Southern Brevet Start awaits

* Some may feel the same foreboding as Walt Whitman in his poem when thinking of riding the GSB, rest assured it is about a life well lived and what lies ahead, get out and ride!

Welcome to 2021!

Well if you thought 2021 couldn't get worse than 2020 then you must be living in New Zealand! 

Elsewhere pandemic spikes and revolutions (that's what Trump supporters call it?) have made the challenges of 2020 seem a foggy memory. 

Meanwhile, I could complain about the torrential rain over New Years and early January but it would really pale into comparison. Flooded rivers and closed roads are fleeting.

So if Doom-scrolling is getting you down then get away from it all and bring your bike! The Great Southern Brevet 2021 edition kicks off in under two weeks and the sun of the Mackenzie and Central Otago will burn away the doom.

 Flooded rivers? a New Zealand first world problem in 2021

Ride details are getting there and those registered should have received their SPOT Tracker details via email and the route GPS files are now up on the "Route 2021" tab on the website. More details will come in the next day or so but looking forward to Saturday morning in Lake Tekapo.

 

Ride into 2021 like 2020 never happened!

 Unfortunately 2020 did happen and will live in a much smaller world thanks to COVID-19.

If you are still having flashbacks to lockdown and being confined to small spaces then we have the remedy for you, the wide open expanses of the South Island's high country!

Join us for a ride where social distancing is easy!

The Great Southern Brevet 2021 is on and you are invited to Tekapo on the 23rd of January, 2021 to start your adventure.