Date:- 31 August 2010
Distance:- 41.40 Km
Distance to Date:- 10081.0 Km
Start:- Kirup Caravan Park
Finish:- Bridgetown Caravan Park
Comment:- Cooked tea in my tent last night, then into bed about 7.30 pm and listened to the radio for a while before falling asleep. I awoke a number of times through the night to the sound of rain on my tent. I am hoping it clears by morning.
At 6 am when I got up, the sun was beginning to rise in a partly overcast sky. I was on the road by 7.15 am travelling through some rather hilly country with patches of fog in the valleys. Through the town of Mullalyup and onto Balingup where I stopped for a coffee and toasted raison bread.
Quite a few hills now that need “special” treatment. A sign on the side of the road informs me I have crossed over the highest part of the Darling Escarpment. I knew there had to be a reason.
A lot of tree farming (pine plantations) and grazing country I have travelled through in the latter part of the day.
Arrived in Bridgetown and went to the Visitor Centre in an endeavour to find out what lies ahead of me. I was told that Manjimup is only 35 km away but there are two rather large hills to negotiate and it looks like a few showers are forecast for the afternoon. I decided to stay in Bridgetown.
Booked into the local caravan park, put my tent up and down came the rain. The caravan park has a good camp kitchen so as soon as the rain cleared I went into town and got a couple of items for tea.
Back to camp and had a shower, washed a couple of things out then did my diary. Had a most welcome phone call from Tony and Pam who are somewhere near Penong at the east end of the Nullarbor.
Tomorrow, provided the weather is fine I will head for Manjimup
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Day 169
Date:- 30 August 2010
Distance:- 55.03 Km
Distance to Date:- 10039 Km
Start:- Koombana Bay Caravan Park - Bunbury
Finish:- Kirup Caravan Park
Comment:- In bed by 8.30 pm last night and awoke, at one stage, to the sound of rain on the tent. Back to sleep hoping it would clear by the morning. Awoke again and thought it was time to get up. No, it was only 3.30 am. I had a restless night. Finally I got up at 6.30 am.
Gathered my breakfast gear and went to the camp kitchen. Still raining lightly. After I had breakfast I slowly packed up everything except the tent. I had decided to stay here if the rain had set in.
It looked like it was clearing so packed up the tent and set off up the broad about 9.15 am. I worked my way over to the South Western Highway and on my way to Albany.
I turned over 10,000 km today on the bike about 16 km out of Bunbury about 10.30 am.
I rode through the little town of Boyanup, 20 km out from Bunbury, then on to Donnybrook where I had a lunch. Stopped at the Info. Centre for some information of towns ahead and had a cup of tea there.
Riding through an orchard area at one stage and there were road side stalls and cheap fruit. There are also wineries and a couple of marron (fish) farms.
The road has been fairly good but there have been a number of hills which slowed my progress. Decided to stop at Kirup for the night. A couple of showers have passed through since I have been here.
Hope to get to Bridgetown or further tomorrow.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Day 168
Date:- 29 August 2010
Distance:- 0 Km
Distance to Date:- 9984.80 Km
Start:- Garry & Cheryl - Perth
Finish:- Koombana Bay Caravan Park - Bunbury
Comment:- Had another wonderful sleep last night. Arising about 9 am and Cheryl cooked another nice breakfast. Then we discussed the days plan. The BBQ we were going to attend was cancelled because the host was called away on an emergency breakdown. Garry and Cheryl suggested they were happy to drive me to Bunbury this afternoon to which I happily agreed.
I then set about gathering all my gear together and getting organised. Loaded everything into the boot of the car and departed about 1.30 pm I think. Had a good trip down although we ran into a couple of showers of rain. Arrived in Bunbury and had lunch at a Turkish café and coffee in another café. Then it was time to find a caravan park. I settled for a park we saw on the way into Bunbury.
Booked into the park unloaded my gear, said our farewells and Garry and Cheryl were on their way home.
I am deeply indebted to Garry and Cheryl for the sincere hospitality and friendship. I look forward to maintaining the friendship and for them to visit us in Geelong in the not too distant future.
Put my tent up and got myself organised. Do my diary and plan out my next few days heading towards Albany.
Distance:- 0 Km
Distance to Date:- 9984.80 Km
Start:- Garry & Cheryl - Perth
Finish:- Koombana Bay Caravan Park - Bunbury
Comment:- Had another wonderful sleep last night. Arising about 9 am and Cheryl cooked another nice breakfast. Then we discussed the days plan. The BBQ we were going to attend was cancelled because the host was called away on an emergency breakdown. Garry and Cheryl suggested they were happy to drive me to Bunbury this afternoon to which I happily agreed.
I then set about gathering all my gear together and getting organised. Loaded everything into the boot of the car and departed about 1.30 pm I think. Had a good trip down although we ran into a couple of showers of rain. Arrived in Bunbury and had lunch at a Turkish café and coffee in another café. Then it was time to find a caravan park. I settled for a park we saw on the way into Bunbury.
Booked into the park unloaded my gear, said our farewells and Garry and Cheryl were on their way home.
I am deeply indebted to Garry and Cheryl for the sincere hospitality and friendship. I look forward to maintaining the friendship and for them to visit us in Geelong in the not too distant future.
Put my tent up and got myself organised. Do my diary and plan out my next few days heading towards Albany.
Day 167
Date:- 28 August 2010
Distance:- Km
Distance to Date:- 9984.8 Km
Start:- Garry & Cheryl - Perth
Finish:- Garry & Cheryl - Perth
Comment:- Met up with Cheryl last night. She was out with the girls celebrating one of the girls 50th birthdays. I am not sure what time we went to bed but it wasn’t all that late.
Had a very good nights sleep, being able to stretch out in a real comfy bed. I was up about 9 am and Cheryl cooked up a really nice breakfast. I then sorted my washing out Cheryl then put it into the machine and then onto the line.
I then checked the bike and trailer over and stripped the front tyre down as for some reason it had lost pressure. Couldn’t find the problem which is a bit of a worry I then changed the front and back tyres around as the back tyre was wearing down rather noticeably.
Garry and Cheryl then drove me to the Anaconda Store were I got some more freeze dried meals, a couple of tubes for the bike and trailer and a couple of other things. We then headed home stopping at the supermarket on the way home.
A quiet afternoon what was left of it before we went out for tea. Watched a bit of telly,had a glass of red before retiring for the night.
Distance:- Km
Distance to Date:- 9984.8 Km
Start:- Garry & Cheryl - Perth
Finish:- Garry & Cheryl - Perth
Comment:- Met up with Cheryl last night. She was out with the girls celebrating one of the girls 50th birthdays. I am not sure what time we went to bed but it wasn’t all that late.
Had a very good nights sleep, being able to stretch out in a real comfy bed. I was up about 9 am and Cheryl cooked up a really nice breakfast. I then sorted my washing out Cheryl then put it into the machine and then onto the line.
I then checked the bike and trailer over and stripped the front tyre down as for some reason it had lost pressure. Couldn’t find the problem which is a bit of a worry I then changed the front and back tyres around as the back tyre was wearing down rather noticeably.
Garry and Cheryl then drove me to the Anaconda Store were I got some more freeze dried meals, a couple of tubes for the bike and trailer and a couple of other things. We then headed home stopping at the supermarket on the way home.
A quiet afternoon what was left of it before we went out for tea. Watched a bit of telly,had a glass of red before retiring for the night.
Friday, August 27, 2010
Day 166
Date:- 27 August 2010
Distance:- 102.63 Km
Distance to Date:- 9984.8 Km (Nearly There)
Start:- Lancelin Caravan Park
Finish:- Garry & Cheryl - Perth
Comment:- Up at 6.45 am and on the road by 8.30 am. Rode the 7.5 km back to the Indian Ocean Drive.
Heard planes exercising around the area and realised that Pearce Air Force Base is close by.
Sunny, cloudless sky with an easterly wind of 5 - 10 kt gusting to 15 kts. I felt reasonable comfortable with that.
There are clumps of wild flowers here and there but you have to look to find them. As I said before I am about 2 - 3 weeks too early. I am 80% of the trip. The road is undulating but not too bad.
At 40 km out was the turn off for Guilderson or Moore River Estuary where there is a caravan park and a road house. Stopped at the Moore River Rest Area where there are new toilets, a dump point for motor homes and a few table and chair setups. There was an Info board and a number of walking tracks.
I was then confronted with a 2 km stretch of roadworks and I was directed to ride up the work lane.
Stopped for my break at the Wilbinga Rest Area. No toilets, just seating and rubbish bins. This was 53 km out at 1 pm. While at the rest area I was approached by a gentleman who enquired about what I was up to. Promised to go on line and make a donation. He gave me a small bag of fruit.
Another 2 km stretch of roadworks again rode down the works lane so no real disadvantage. They are widening the road.
Around Yanchep there were pine plantations. It looks like a number of tree have been marked for harvesting.
I now have a north west wind (tailwind) but was only temporary. I enjoyed the ride through the Yanchep State Forest then into suburbia. The traffic has increased somewhat as I approach the northern suburbs of Perth. Gave Garry a ring as I was about 10 km out from Wannaroo and organised a meeting spot.
Met Garry at the nominated spot and loaded the bike and gear into his car for the drive back to their home in Huntingdale. There was traffic chaos in Perth as the train drivers had called a snap strike and the footy is in Subiaco.
Unloaded my gear at Garry and Cheryl’s house, had a very nice hot shower and a good feed of fish and chips and the odd glass of wine.
Hope to do all my washing tomorrow, visit the supermarket and maybe Anaconda and enjoy another day off.
Distance:- 102.63 Km
Distance to Date:- 9984.8 Km (Nearly There)
Start:- Lancelin Caravan Park
Finish:- Garry & Cheryl - Perth
Comment:- Up at 6.45 am and on the road by 8.30 am. Rode the 7.5 km back to the Indian Ocean Drive.
Heard planes exercising around the area and realised that Pearce Air Force Base is close by.
Sunny, cloudless sky with an easterly wind of 5 - 10 kt gusting to 15 kts. I felt reasonable comfortable with that.
There are clumps of wild flowers here and there but you have to look to find them. As I said before I am about 2 - 3 weeks too early. I am 80% of the trip. The road is undulating but not too bad.
At 40 km out was the turn off for Guilderson or Moore River Estuary where there is a caravan park and a road house. Stopped at the Moore River Rest Area where there are new toilets, a dump point for motor homes and a few table and chair setups. There was an Info board and a number of walking tracks.
I was then confronted with a 2 km stretch of roadworks and I was directed to ride up the work lane.
Stopped for my break at the Wilbinga Rest Area. No toilets, just seating and rubbish bins. This was 53 km out at 1 pm. While at the rest area I was approached by a gentleman who enquired about what I was up to. Promised to go on line and make a donation. He gave me a small bag of fruit.
Another 2 km stretch of roadworks again rode down the works lane so no real disadvantage. They are widening the road.
Around Yanchep there were pine plantations. It looks like a number of tree have been marked for harvesting.
I now have a north west wind (tailwind) but was only temporary. I enjoyed the ride through the Yanchep State Forest then into suburbia. The traffic has increased somewhat as I approach the northern suburbs of Perth. Gave Garry a ring as I was about 10 km out from Wannaroo and organised a meeting spot.
Met Garry at the nominated spot and loaded the bike and gear into his car for the drive back to their home in Huntingdale. There was traffic chaos in Perth as the train drivers had called a snap strike and the footy is in Subiaco.
Unloaded my gear at Garry and Cheryl’s house, had a very nice hot shower and a good feed of fish and chips and the odd glass of wine.
Hope to do all my washing tomorrow, visit the supermarket and maybe Anaconda and enjoy another day off.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Day 165
Date:- 26 August 2010
Distance:- 86.81 Km
Distance to Date:- 9882.1 Km
Start:- Cervantes Caravan Park
Finish:- Lancelin Caravan Park
Comment:- Last night after I finished my diary I joined Coral in her motor home and had a delightful meal and the odd glass of white. It was very nice, thankyou Coral it was much appreciated.
After I left Coral I had a shave and shower then into bed about 10.30 pm. Had a good nights sleep and found it quite difficult getting out of bed this morning. Its cold.
I was up at 6.45 am, had breakfast in the camp kitchen, packed and on the road by 8.45 am. Rode about one kilometre back to the Indian Ocean Drive and onto the Pinnacles which are 18 km from Cervantes.
I had heard the road between Cervantes and Lancelin (Extenstion of Indian Ocean Drive) has now been fully sealed but closed to the public. Official opening mid September. There was a Security Officer on duty and stopped me. After a phone call or two and several discussions I was granted permission. What a relief and off I went as fast as my little legs could go.
Not much to report on my travel down the road. The day is overcast and windy East South East , the same as I have had the last few days.
Stopped for my break 45 km out at about 1.15 pm. A turn off to Wedge Point on my right then the road swung a wide arc around a “Restricted Area” Apparently it’s a military firing range. It wasn’t long before the turn off to Lancelin appeared. Rode the 6 km in and found the caravan park and set my self up. Fairly basic park.
Unhitched the trailer and rode into town were I enjoyed a nice counter meal at one of the two pubs there. Back to the park to do my diary and I gave Garry and Cheryl a ring to tell them I was in the area. Garry has offered to pick me up when I arrive in Wanneroo tomorrow night.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Day 164
Date:- 25 August 2010
Distance:- 72.44 Km
Distance to Date:- 9795.3 Km
Start:- Leeman Caravan Park
Finish:- Cervantes Pinnacles Caravan Park
Comment:- Made myself a cuppa then off to bed about 8.30 pm. Too cold to sit outside. Had a very good nights sleep. So much so I slept in and didn’t get up till 6.45 am. It was icy cold. East South Easterly wind of 5 -10 kt gusting to 15 with a current temp of 5.4 degrees but feels like 1.4 degrees was the forecast on my phone and I am sure it is right. I have finally tried using Big pond - local weather and it’s a free service.
On the road by 8.45 am, sunny but still cold. About 10 km out was the turn off for Green Head. The wind is 5 - 10 kts gusting to 15 is on my left face most of the day. Weather seems to be more hostile the further south I travel. Traffic is light - 1 car every 10 minutes either direction.
Passed Grigson Lookout about 25 km out.
Nearly got hit by a car. Saw him coming in my mirror and I was within two feet of the edge of the road. I could reach out and touch him as he passed and swerved into the middle of the road. He was on his mobile phone. I could see his right hand up against his head as he drove away. It certainly gave me a scare.
Had my break on the side of the road about 35 km out at 11.30 am. The frequency of cars has increased. Arrived in Jurian Bay about 12.30 pm and I needed a prescription filled. Found a Chemist and picked up my prescription as well as a very nice donation of a $100 cheque for the Asthma Foundation. I thank you very much.
Rang the Publicity Officer of Main Roads to get permission to ride the new road from Cervantes to Lancelin. She was going to ring me back. I am still waiting for her call.
Set off for Cervantes about 2.30 pm into a stiff head wind. Arrived in Cervantes about 4.30 pm and finally found the caravan park. Set myself up, found the camp kitchen, made a coffee for myself and am doing my diary.
A familiar face popped into the kitchen and it was Coral who has invited me to tea.
Tomorrow I will head for Lancelin on the new road
Distance:- 72.44 Km
Distance to Date:- 9795.3 Km
Start:- Leeman Caravan Park
Finish:- Cervantes Pinnacles Caravan Park
Comment:- Made myself a cuppa then off to bed about 8.30 pm. Too cold to sit outside. Had a very good nights sleep. So much so I slept in and didn’t get up till 6.45 am. It was icy cold. East South Easterly wind of 5 -10 kt gusting to 15 with a current temp of 5.4 degrees but feels like 1.4 degrees was the forecast on my phone and I am sure it is right. I have finally tried using Big pond - local weather and it’s a free service.
On the road by 8.45 am, sunny but still cold. About 10 km out was the turn off for Green Head. The wind is 5 - 10 kts gusting to 15 is on my left face most of the day. Weather seems to be more hostile the further south I travel. Traffic is light - 1 car every 10 minutes either direction.
Passed Grigson Lookout about 25 km out.
Nearly got hit by a car. Saw him coming in my mirror and I was within two feet of the edge of the road. I could reach out and touch him as he passed and swerved into the middle of the road. He was on his mobile phone. I could see his right hand up against his head as he drove away. It certainly gave me a scare.
Had my break on the side of the road about 35 km out at 11.30 am. The frequency of cars has increased. Arrived in Jurian Bay about 12.30 pm and I needed a prescription filled. Found a Chemist and picked up my prescription as well as a very nice donation of a $100 cheque for the Asthma Foundation. I thank you very much.
Rang the Publicity Officer of Main Roads to get permission to ride the new road from Cervantes to Lancelin. She was going to ring me back. I am still waiting for her call.
Set off for Cervantes about 2.30 pm into a stiff head wind. Arrived in Cervantes about 4.30 pm and finally found the caravan park. Set myself up, found the camp kitchen, made a coffee for myself and am doing my diary.
A familiar face popped into the kitchen and it was Coral who has invited me to tea.
Tomorrow I will head for Lancelin on the new road
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