Greenbushes to Manjimup 1998

Greenbushes to Manjimup, day 2, Tuesday 13 October 1998. The morning was cold with strong NW-SW winds. Rain had fallen during the night and early morning and would continue to come through during the day, with clear spells.

Manjimup welcome

The sky was blue as I went in to breakfast at 5:40. I had been told that the kitchen was open with breakfast available from 5 am, since this is not a tourist hotel but is geared to workers who travel from town to town, and ideal for cyclists, who often want an early start, as well. I had a lot of cereal, bacon and eggs and toast. When I came out, rain was falling again. I went back to bed for a while and didn’t finally get rolling on my day’s ride until 8:49.

The bike got up to 63 kph going down the last hill before Hester’s, and I was climbing Hester’s with no need to get off and walk when a rain squall came rolling across the meadows. I was anxious to save the newly-reconditioned bike from getting wet this early in the trip, and I stopped riding, to shelter in a clump of trees on the western side of the road. It was quite a while before I got going again.

I reached Bridgetown, 6310, just before a prolonged rainy spell and sat gratefully on a seat under cover in Steere Street having a drink and watching the water flow down the hill and pour out of the gutters. I was to sit on that seat again five days later when I stayed in Bridgetown on the way back, in a different mood. On this wet morning I felt pessimistic about the venture.

Eventually the rain stopped for a while and I began the 37 km run into Manjimup. I remembered this road from previous rides as being quite an easy ride, more moderate in its hills than the stretch between Donnybrook and Bridgetown, but on this day it seemed hard – the wind was either against me or buffeting from the side and the hills seemed steeper and more difficult than I remembered.

I took another rest at 6328 and took three more stops for rain, including one 3 km outside Manjimup in a convenient shed beside the road. I was to use that shed again for the same purpose on the way out of Manjimup five days later. I had strong headwinds on the last 15 km into Manjimup, when the road turns more SW. I arrived at last at the Manjimup hotel, 6346, where I had booked, at 1:48, having taken just under 5 hours to do a trip that should take a lot less than 4 under better conditions.

I knew there were better places to stay some way out of town at each end but I didn’t know there was also a good one just over the tracks, almost as convenient to the centre of town as the old hotel, which is run down. The blue carpets that seemed so luxurious in 1971 are worn now and the place is in disrepair, but my room, Unit 21, $38, was pleasant enough, only for the lack of a TV. The only TV is in the guest lounge and I had to get the wire off my bike to enable any reception, since the antenna is disabled. That bit of wire has served that purpose before.

The hotel is apparently run by only three people so I had to wait until 2 to check in. I went to do the usual shopping to fill in the time and allow for them to be late.

Rest, shower, wash clothes, look around the town. I rang a number that I had been given of people to contact, but it had been disconnected. I rang the Northcliffe hotel and booked the next two nights. In view of what was to happen later I should have bought and fitted new pedals here, while I had plenty of time. Half chicken and chips for dinner. The trip was going according to plan and there was no apparent need to worry about anything.

Reading at Manjimup: 6346. Day: 54 km. Cumulative 132 km, 66 km/day. Speed Greenbushes to Manjimup: 10.8 kph.

Greenbushes to Manjimup 1998

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