Clarkson to Two Rocks 2010

Clarkson to Two Rocks, day 1, Monday 25 October 2010. I left Clarkson rail station at 11 am, odometer reading 62, and went westward along Ocean Keys Boulevard until I reached the T-junction with Marmion Avenue, which has since 1990 been extended all the way to Two Rocks. Turning into Marmion Avenue I welcomed the south-westerly tailwind that would help me all the way to Lancelin.

Two Rocks

I reached Yanchep in less than an hour and stopped for a rest at 84. I reached Two Rocks at 91, before 1 pm, a bit early to check into my guest house which was on Sovereign Drive opposite the shopping centre. I felt relaxed and under no pressure so I had lunch at the snack shop and read my magazine.

I took the opportunity to ring the Guilderton Caravan Park to try to book a chalet, but they only let them for a minimum of two nights. I tried Moore River Cottage but was told to ring someone else on their mobile. I didn’t have a pen to write down the number, so would have to try again later.

A vehicle arrived at the guest-house, which was a private home with some conversions and add-ons to make it into a small guest-house. I went over there with my bike and they said I was a bit early, they hadn’t been expecting me until 2 pm. They were a Scottish couple and the lady, Pat, did all the talking. I got a lecture on how to close the side gate to stop it banging in the wind. The only key was one to the outer door. I had to have this explained to me twice.

My actual room had no key and had been fixed so that it couldn’t be locked from the outside. A long story about a client who had locked himself out of the room was offered in explanation. I was told it could still be locked from the inside, but this wasn’t true because it was jammed. So when I went to bed I put the other bedside table against the door. Just a sensible precaution.

Having said that, the cost was only $65 which included a full cooked breakfast, and it was a really nice room, with a spacious ensuite containing all manner of gels, creams, shampoos and so on. I was shown the guest lounge, which had a giant TV with a digital box. The operation of this using two remotes was explained to me at length. I was shown the breakfast table and the guest kitchen where I could store stuff in the fridge and make tea or coffee and use the microwave. Pat told me breakfast was from seven-thairrty.

I felt free and relaxed and lay down for a snooze. Then I got up and went to the IGA over the road to buy a six-pack of boxed 250 ml drinks, some strawberry cream and Kingston biscuits and a frozen cooked meal (pork spare ribs) for the microwave. I saw the statue of King Neptune up on the hill, from the days when there was a big Sea World where you could inspect all manner of marine life and sit by a pool and watch dolphins dance. That is all gone now, only for King Neptune on the hill surrounded by a fence that I couldn’t find any way through when I walked down with my bags of shopping. I decided to come back later.

I went back, stored the food and sat down to try the Guilderton number again. This time I wrote down the mobile number I was to ring. A chatty lady answered it and arranged for me to have the house for one night. She took down my credit card details and told me the key would be in a locked box with a keypad, and that the code 1983 would unlock it.

With that done, I set off to look for a beach to swim. This was a problem. Two Rocks is fronted by an extensive enclosed boat harbour, with no swimming beach. There was possibly a beach way to the south of the marina, but it looked more promising to the north. I walked along the road but there were rough dunes and a cliff and a fence between the road and the sea.

I walked all the way back to the marina entrance and down the slope, and found a road blocked by rocks that led to a path, that led to a steep sandy slope with footprints on it leading down to the beach. The beach was very rocky. I picked out an area that looked to offer relatively clear water. I was leery of the sandy slope, remembering the huge dune on Moreton Island off Brisbane that had nearly killed me getting up.

Anyway I shuffled down the slope, walked up to the spot I had seen and entered the water. It was rather murky and full of seaweed, and there were rocks under water but I managed to have a refreshing swim, not diving too much.

I got back up the sandy slope and found my way back to the guest-house. I had a nice shower and washed my clothes. I hung them outside in the setting sun, on a couple of funny-looking pictures made of wood that had been nailed to the wall.

After that I used the remaining daylight to try again to reach King Neptune. I walked right down along the fence. There was a lawn with other concrete sculptures salvaged from the Sea World days, and a stretch of fence with not only a huge hole ripped in it, but also an open gate! I walked in and climbed the winding path I remembered from 20 years ago, and climbed onto Neptune’s giant hand and enjoyed the view. I found a discarded cigarette lighter that worked better than any I had with me and lasted until after I got home.

I explored more of the paths around the hill, then turned back to the guest house. I cooked my dinner – it was a bit bland but sufficient – and settled down to watch ABC News, Mythbusters and other things while doing nothing much.

Reading at Two Rocks: 92km. Day’s ride: 30km.
Cumulative distance: 30km. Average km/day: 30.

Clarkson to Two Rocks 2010

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