Nannup to Donnybrook 1992

Nannup to Donnybrook, day 5, Friday 30 October 1992. I decided to go ahead with the plan that I had changed in 1991 – to go from Nannup to Donnybrook the short way, via Cundinup, White, Claymore and Upper Capel roads, a distance which I estimated at 50km., rather than the long way by road via Balingup, Kirup etcetera, about 76km.

I left Nannup at 9.14, having slept in a bit because I thought it would be a short day’s work. Winds were SSE, not the E that had been threatened. I started up the Vasse Highway towards Busselton, but 3km out I turned right to get onto the Old Cundinup Road, a rough gravel track. I knew it would be and I have ridden gravel before, but this was mostly unridable because it contained a lot of sand and the weather had been dry. It went up and down steeply which meant I had to walk much of it.

However there was a pleasant surprise at 24974, after 6km gravel, because the Cundinup Road, which the map showed to be gravel, was in fact bitumen for the next 10km. I took a rest at 24977, then came to a junction (24984) at which the sealed road went off to join the South Western highway, and the short way I had chosen turned into gravel again.

It was just as bad as before, with a lot of plodding through sand and slippery stones, and one fall (24791) when what seemed to be a firm surface crumbled and I skidded over onto my right side, twisting the handle-bars, burying my face in the sand and bruising my right hip and pulling a few muscles.

I moved along White Road and Claymore Road, took a rest at 24789, again at 24796. This was the point at which the map showed the bitumen starting again,but in fact it took another 2km of plodding skidding uncertainty before it cut in. After that it should have been easy traveling but I was stiff and sore from the fall and seemed not to have much strength or wind. There were some steep hills. I passed an emu farm with emus walking about the paddock instead of sheep or cattle.

I took another rest at 25008 and in due course came to a sign saying ‘steep descent’. I was bowling down this at 70 kph and saw something in the middle of the road. It turned out to be a large goanna, a proper one, not the bobtail lizard. I just avoided it and it flicked its tongue at me.

I passed the famous Donnybrook Stone quarry 4km from the town, entered the town, passed a children’s sports day in full scream and reached the motel at 1.56pm. I could hardly walk, but had a couple of hours’ sleep and felt much better.

Had a swim in the motel pool, then after an easier walk and the ‘phone calls I got a large pizza for tea. There was enough left over for breakfast.

Reading at Donnybrook: 25018. Day’s ride: 53km. Aggregate:340. km/day: 68. Speed to Donnybrook: 11.3 km/hour. This pathetic speed was caused by having to walk much of the way, taking four drink stops, three lost stops and the fall.

Charles A. Pierce

Other Days on this Tour:

1. Bunbury to Cape Leeuwin Tour 1992
2. Bunbury to Dunsborough 1992
3. Dunsborough to Margaret River 1992
4. Margaret River to Augusta and Cape Leeuwin 1992
5. Augusta to Nannup 1992
6. Nannup to Donnybrook 1992 (This post)
7. Donnybrook to Harvey 1992
8. Harvey to Lake Clifton 1992
9. Lake Clifton to Cottesloe 1992

Places Mentioned in this Post:

Related posts:

1. Donnybrook to Harvey 1992
2. Augusta to Nannup 1992
3. Donnybrook to Nannup 2005
4. Donnybrook to Nannup 1981
5. Donnybrook

Tags: Donnybrook, Nannup