Kelmscott to Rocky Gully 1996

Kelmscott to Rocky Gully Tour 1996 – 13 days, 827 km cumulative distance. The aim of this trip was to follow the route of the 1991 ride as far as a resort on the Muirs Highway, then, instead of turning back west as in 1991, to continue east as far as Rocky Gully, then return by some of the route followed in 1987, but this time going all the way back to Cottesloe.

There is nothing special about Rocky Gully except that, before I successfully rode to the Stirlings from Albany in 1993, I had a plan to stay at Rocky Gully on the way from Manjimup to Cranbrook as a way of getting into the Stirlings from the west, by a series of achievable day’s rides.  ... Read more

Kelmscott to Pinjarra, day 1, Tuesday 15 October 1996. I left Kelmscott at 7.12 on a cool morning with very light southerly winds. The odometer read 864.7. This was to be the first ride using the new ‘cyclocomputer’ that works through magnetic pulses from sensors on the fork and spoke of the front wheel – no contact, nothing to get worn or broken, only a battery to go flat eventually.

I rested and took a drink at 882. At 892 I stopped at a shop to buy a bottle of the new, rich chocolate milk, that I hadn’t seen before. I was to have many of these during the ride. I stopped again and drank this at 898.

A headwind was developing but I and the bike were in fine form and this first day seemed very easy.  ... Read more

Pinjarra to Harvey, day 2, Wednesday 16 October 1996. Left Pinjarra at 7:43. Winds were almost calm, becoming light SE-SW during the ride. I rested at 944, then at Waroona (956), finally at 971 before reaching Harvey at 985.6, 10:51. This was the easiest day of the trip.

When I had booked the Harvey Hotel on the telephone they had told me that it would be $35, and I was expecting one of the refurbished upstairs units that I had had in 1991. Instead they charged me $40 and put me in one of three new cabins at the back of the building. It was cramped compared with the Pinjarra unit, but still more spacious than the upstairs rooms and better ventilated.  ... Read more

Harvey to Donnybrook, day 3, Thursday 17 October 1996. As in 1991 I had decided to bypass Bunbury and go straight to Donnybrook via a short-cut through Waterloo and Dardanup. Left Harvey at 7.52. Stopped at 1007, at Brunswick, at 8.49, having done 22 km in 57 minutes – the best hour of the trip. Winds were calm with a light westerly drift developing later in the day to help me slightly into Donnybrook.

It was here that I had the only accident of the trip. I had finished my drink and rest and was walking the bike over the grass towards the gravel path that led back to the main road. There was a little hump just where the grass met the gravel.  ... Read more

Donnybrook to Bridgetown, day 4, Friday 18 October 1996. I left Donnybrook at 7:42 on a fine calm morning. This was the fourth day of riding south and I had been lucky so far with the winds. The climbing stretch from Donnybrook developed the low point of the trip in 1991, but this time I was determined to take it easy and not let it get me down. There would be greater difficulties further along the way.

I rested at 1072, before Kirup, then rode through Kirup without stopping. I found the downhill runs tiring in a different way from the uphill climbs – the bike was doing over 50 and I felt tense, but didn’t brake or stop pedalling. Downhill runs don’t usually worry me and I didn’t want to give in to this.  ... Read more

Bridgetown to Nyamup, day 5, Saturday 19 October 1996. I went down to breakfast in the Freemasons’ dining room shortly after six. There was no-one else there, but a man came in puffing a cigarette, said something I didn’t quite catch and went out again. I turned on the urn and got stuck into the cereals, of which there were several varieties and no shortage. Milk, butter and jam were in the fridge and there was plenty of bread. I pigged out, bearing in mind what I had ahead of me. There was a jar of chamomile tea-bags, and I took a couple of these, thinking that they would help me sleep at Nyamup. I would need a good night’s sleep before attempting Rocky Gully.  … Read more

Nyamup to Rocky Gully, day 6, Sunday 20 October 1996. I awoke on a frosty, sunny morning a little after six. The sun shone brightly on the back of the house. I had more biscuits, sultanas and hot chocolate, washed the pots and dishes, tidied the house and left a little sadly at 8:08. I should have made the effort to get going earlier. I rode up the hill, then down to the Muirs Highway.

The road was hilly at first, gradually becoming more gently undulating. The regional radio station I had been listening to faded and I couldn’t get the Great Southern regional until later in the day.

Winds were mostly calm during the day, with spells of light NE, N, NW.  ... Read more

Rocky Gully to Kojonup, day 7, Monday 21 October 1996. When I awoke, not long after six, the sky was overcast and steady light rain had been falling for some time. I hoped it would clear before I got going, and I didn’t want to wait too long. The maps hadn’t been consistent about the exact distance I was facing – it could be well over 80 km, and I didn’t want to take it too fast.

The family were not yet astir. I crept around into the dining area and loaded up on cereal and toast, jams and butter and coffee while reading my magazine. I showered, dressed and packed up without seeing anyone and left Rocky Gully at 7:56.  ... Read more

Kojonup to Boscabel, day 8, Tuesday 22 October 1996. The day was clear but rain still threatened and the wind was still fresh, from the NW. I had no need to get up early or make an early start, so I had a late breakfast and lay in bed reading and listening to the radio, then I cleaned and oiled the bike and checked out of the motel right on 10 o’clock. Then I rode down the hill and made yet another visit to Foodland for some supplies I thought I might need. Then I rode to see the old barracks that were built in 1845. I could not see inside because they are only open for inspection for two hours each Sunday.  … Read more

Proandra Farm stay, Boscabel to Darkan, day 9, Wednesday 23 November 1996. During the night the wind strengthened from the north-west. I discovered this when I needed to get up in the night and find the toilet, which was some way from the house, out the back and off to the right down a path. It was hard to find my way in the dark. The wind swished the trees around and banged the toilet door. The signs weren’t good for the coming day. But there were some hours before I had to start riding so I hoped that conditions might improve.

When I awoke later in daylight the wind was still up. I had a good breakfast and cleaned and tidied the house, moving any furniture back that I had shifted and washing the dishes.  ... Read more