Lancelin to Neergabby 2010

Lancelin to Neergabby, day 4, Thursday 28 October 2010. I heated the shepherd’s pie and had it and a cake for breakfast. I rolled away from Lancelin motel at 9:57. The wind was fresh from the SW as expected, and I was braced for it. I just took it easy on the winding uphill road out of town.

Neergabby bushland

At one point an adult emu and ten chicks suddenly burst from the scrub and raced along the side of the road beside me. When they came to another gap in the scrub they rushed through it and disappeared. I suppose they were alarmed by me. I had no opportunity to take a picture.

I got to the top of the hill and through the big new junction and found the going manageable. There was no hurry and the day was cool and the wind was keeping the flies off. I rested at 205 and again at 220. At 222 a shower of rain approached and swept across the road. I found a stout tree to shelter against and didn’t get very wet. The sky brightened up and everything dried off quickly as I went on my way.

I reached the Guilderton Road turn-off at 234 and rested at the wall that says MOORE RIVER. I inspected the ‘town’ opposite, but it seemed to be just a new development, much of it still for sale. I had been hoping for a shop where I could hang around for a while before going on to Brookside. There were hours to go yet.

After my rest the road turned more south-east and the wind helped me. I reached Gingin Brook Road at 240 and now I really had a strong tailwind. I reached the top of a hill and had a steep downhill run during which I reached my top speed for this trip, 56 kph. I would have gone faster if I had used the pedals, but I was just free-wheeling because I was looking for a turn on the right for Brookside lodge.

I reached it at 243. It was only 2 pm. I turned into the driveway and surveyed the place. It was actually a farm where the owners supplemented their unpredictable income by taking in paying guests. There were a large building open at the far end but with sliding doors at the front, several chalets, two houses and a large shed.

I walked around to the main house and saw a note stuck on the door: ‘Hi Kathy! I have left the shed door unlocked. Have fun!’ So I walked around to the big shed and yes, the sliding door was unlocked. I was most thankful for this piece of luck. I quickly got myself and the bike in without admitting too many flies. It was not too hot and there was a chair to sit on, as well as lots of other stuff. The shed creaked in the strong wind and bits fell on the roof from the surrounding trees.

Later ‘Kathy’ came in with what looked like a casserole. I explained my presence and she left. After a while I lay down on a rug with my back-pack for a pillow and dozed a little. It was not long after 3 pm when the proprietors came into the shed. They were surprised, said I should have gone in and made a cup of tea.

Later when I went to my room ($30 for just the room) I saw what they meant. I could have walked into the big building with the sliding doors at one end and made tea in the kitchen and sat on a couch in a big open roofed area with bedrooms down one side and the kitchen, dining area and toilets down the other. My room was number 7. It was really a backpacker place where you were expected to bring your own food, soap and towels.

I got soap and a towel from the office, and one guest who was just leaving left a lot of food on the table and told me that he didn’t want to take it with him and anyone could have it. There was a litre of milk which I could use, some coffee and a kilo of sugar that I had some of, and a lot of tinned stuff which I didn?t fancy except for a small tin of tuna that I made a late lunch of.

When I had checked in they had told me that I could come over for breakfast and have it in the house, and they would cook dinner for me and bring it over. I had also borrowed their Yellow Pages to check for accommodation in the Bindoon-Bullsbrook area. I had some idea of going around from Gingin to Bullsbrook on the Saturday and then having a short run back to Midland or Guildford on Sunday morning. I had omitted to print accommodation information and maps for the Bullsbrook – Muchea area, along with all the other information I had got off the net before starting this ride. There was nothing in the Yellow Pages.

I had a rest in my room, then got up to shower and wash clothes and change. There was a rotary hoist for laundry, with pegs. Then I took a walk around the area. Gingin Brook flows into the Moore River just here and I walked down to the water and looked at the plants and the birds. There is a little park with seats and footbridges. Then I went back to the road and down to the bridge. After that I explored the native bush just over the road from Brookside lodge. The wildflowers were past their best but there were still some good ones for the camera.

When I got back to the lodge as the sun went down, the Chinese tourists had already commandeered the TV, and loud advertisements yammered and blammered through the building. There would be no chance of getting news and weather this night. My dinner was brought and I took it into my room, rather than into the dining area, which was under the blast of the TV. It was very nice, though there was too much – honey chicken, cheese and potato bake, coleslaw and fresh salad and bread and butter. I took the tray back to the house when I had finished, and borrowed their paper for a short time.

I partly read a couple of the numerous books that were on shelves in the courtyard area. They looked like they had been donated or lost or thrown away by passing guests. The Chinese tourists were still partying at a table near the open back of the building, smoking, drinking beer and talking and laughing loudly till well after ten. I went to bed and put stuff in my ears and didn’t hear them. I slept well on this cold night.

Reading at Neergabby, end of day: 243km. Day’s ride: 51km.
Cumulative distance: 181km. Average km/day: 45.

Lancelin to Neergabby 2010

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