Opening day...
 

The 28th Dec every year the Molesworth & Rainbow Rds
are opened for 3 months.. We do our annual ride on the first day
"2nd day this time.. was wet the first day"
Both roads are a 320km ride though the south island high country
valleys.. Which are snowed in dueing the winter months..
the molesworth section is smooth fast gravel . Rainbow hydro rd
is the fun section 110kms rougher gravel/shingle slides/river crossings.
I had a slight issue with one river crossing..front wheel must have hit a rock & took off side ways..dumping me in the water with the bike on my leg... I usely take the XT660R.. I noticed with the lighter XR250 it
reacts to the road condictions far more than the heavyer XT...

Here's Craigs write up/pics of the day on ADV rider
Only 2 of us made the ride this year...
http://advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=851776

Great pics! Typical buddy who takes a pic of you in the drink before helping you. :lol: I recognize that bridge; did you do a write-up of the same spot last year?

Thanks for posting the ride report, Pete. :) The photographs are beautiful.

Spud :)