Mount Barker to Cranbrook 1987

Mount Barker to Cranbrook, day 8, Monday 12 October. The morning was overcast and the wind blew gale-force, spitting rain, from the north-east. I had thought the previous night that it would be good to turn right off the Albany Highway at Kendenup and take a detour through the western edge of the Stirlings. This would have nearly doubled the day’s ride and most of the addition would have been gravel with presumably many steep hills and sandbogs.

When I got to the Kendenup turnoff I felt the force of the opposing wind and saw the Stirlings becoming shrouded in rain or low cloud. I decided to save the Stirlings for a separate ride in the future. So my day’s ride was only 42km but it seemed hard enough.

The Cranbrook Hotel was a real old-fashioned pub very like the Harvey Hotel before the fire. I was surprised – Cranbrook being the closest substantial town to the Stirlings, I expected to see a tourist motel. Perhaps our little mountains bore the Japanese.

Usual routine, found the town very neat and clean and new-looking, laid out on flat land in a spacious grid pattern with large gums as street trees. A big wooden arch over Salt River Road proclaimed “Gateway to the Stirlings”. I walked under the arch and back again. Till next time.

The hotel was full of Main Roads Department men on a local job. I had a salami and salad roll and a round of brie for tea.

Reading at Cranbrook: 11586km. Corrected day’s ride: 42km.

Cumulative distance: 499km. Average km/day: 62.

Charles A. Pierce

Other Days on this Tour:

1. Perth to Albany - The Great Ride 1987
2. Perth to Balingup 1987
3. Balingup to Manijimup 1987
4. Manjimup to Northcliffe 1987
5. Northcliffe to Walpole and the Chesapeake Road 1987
6. Walpole to Denmark 1987
7. Denmark to Albany 1987
8. Albany to Mount Barker 1987
9. Mount Barker to Cranbrook 1987 (This post)
10. Cranbrook to Kojonup 1987
11. Kojonup to Darkan 1987
12. Darkan to Collie 1987
13. Collie to Perth 1987

Places Mentioned in this Post:

Related posts:

1. Albany to Mount Barker 1987
2. Cranbrook to Kojonup 1987
3. Cranbrook
4. Tenterden to Mt Barker 2002
5. Perth to Albany – The Great Ride 1987

Tags: Cranbrook, Kendenup, Mount Barker