Donnybrook to Bunbury 2002

Donnybrook to Bunbury, day 8, Wednesday 23 October 2002. I left Donnybrook with some relief at 8:57, vowing to book the motel as many days as possible ahead of need the next time. There was a fresh WNW wind, directly against me. I decided to turn off at Boyanup, to make a different way than usual, go along a new road, avoid the heavy traffic and turn the headwind into a side or tail wind for the last run into Bunbury. I needed this to give me heart for the Mandurah challenge. It was quite contrary to my usual quest for short cuts, but the day’s ride would still be very short and five consecutive days of headwinds had sapped my confidence.

Bunbury main street

I rested at the turn-off to Trigwell Road just south of Boyanup. After a couple of kilometres I reached the fork in the road and took the right to Stratham, crossing the railway line, rather than the left to Capel. The headwind was strong but no more difficult than it would have been had I continued up the main road. The country was pleasant and the road peaceful.

I reached the Bussell Highway and stopped for a rest at Stratham roadhouse at 1421, then continued, finding that the wind was now either helping me a bit or at least not opposing me. I turned left onto Centenary Road at 1432, then left into Washington and into Ocean Drive. I reached the Ocean Drive motel, Bunbury, at 1440, 12:06. I checked into Unit 15.

After a rest I had a swim. The sea was very rough and the wind strong and the clouds out to sea looked threatening, but it was an enjoyable and refreshing tumble in the surf. Then I showered and dressed and set off on the bike for shopping and sightseeing. The cold front coming in across Geographe Bay fulfilled its promise as I reached the shop and toilets about a kilometre up Ocean Drive, so I had to shelter there for a while. The rain was intense but brief and the weather cleared completely as I resumed my ride into town.

I went to the huge shopping centre, got drinks and pies for dinner and something for breakfast, then rode around Bunbury, but I was unable to ride up the steep hill past the old hospital and between the two cathedrals. I always used to be able to manage that hill. Things didn’t look promising for the next day.

I got back to the motel and some of my washing was already dry due to the strong wind, but I left the backpack for a while. I tried to book the Mandurah Gates Resort but the boy on the `phone was having some unexplained technical problem and told me that someone else would have to ring me back, which they eventually did.

I made some other `phone calls, then went out to enjoy the evening view over the sea. Some surfers were still out there on their boards and I watched one catch a couple of waves and ride them all the way in. He was the patient one who went further out to catch the occasional big ones.

I heated my pies in the microwave oven and watched a program on Rose Hancock for a while. The lady in the motel office discussed this with me at length when I went to pay the `phone bill. I eventually rendered her speechless with my observations on the suggestive nature of Rose’s husbands’ names. First Lang Hancock, then Willie Porteous. Who’s next, I asked, Dick Smith?

I went back and watched the movie `Pleasantville’ referred to previously.

Reading at Bunbury, end of day: 1447 km. day’s ride: 54 km. Aggregate: 440 km. Km/day: 55. Kph to Bunbury: 14.9.

Donnybrook to Bunbury 2002

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