Perth to Dunsborough 1984

Perth to Dunsborough, day 1, Monday 26 November 1984. As in 1979, 1980, 1981 and 1983, I decided to take the morning Australind train from Perth and start my ride from Bunbury. My plan required me to arrive in Bunbury at about 1pm, as the train did in those days, and try to reach Dunsborough before the day got too late. This was going to be a hard slog of some 77 km into a headwind but I had done it in 1980.

I got the 9:30 am train from Perth. It took about 3 and a half hours to get to Bunbury in those days and I arrived there at about 1 pm. As before I had had ‘brunch’ on the train, sandwiches I had prepared myself.

I got the bike out of the luggage compartment, stowed the bag, donned the backpack, left the station and rode back up Blair Street to find the junction with the Bussell Highway. This was to be the last time that I would be leaving the old Bunbury train station to start a ride. A new rail terminal was built 4km back up the line, the track leading to the centre of Bunbury was torn up and the new terminal was open for business by the time I next used it for the 1985 ride.

I do not remember whether I stopped before Colroy’s at Capel, or in the Ludlow forest towards Busselton. I do not remember what the winds were like that day. I do remember that the new bike I had bought in 1983, and had equipped with a proper wide range of gears long before starting this 1984 ride, made the whole trip easier

I arrived at the junction of Queen Street, Busselton, with the main road, and stopped at a service station to have a rest and a drink and walk around before starting the last 24 km to Dunsborough. I had booked the Dunsborough motel and at last, from some distance away, I could see the bright silver corrugated-iron roof of the motel. The Dunsborough motel, though greatly expanded, still has a highly visible roof that can be seen well down the track and has served as a beacon over the years. This time I got there in a reasonable time without suffering too much.

I got into the motel. It was still cheap, for bed and breakfast with the ensuite. I had a shower and changed my clothes. I had a meal in the motel bar where the TV news was all about the politics of the day, Bob Hawke, John Howard, Andrew Peacock. The Labor government elected only the year before had called an early election and victory was not assured. Andrew Peacock was doing well.

Charles A. Pierce

Other Days on this Tour:

1. Perth to Cape Leeuwin Tour via Dunsborough 1984
2. Perth to Dunsborough 1984 (This post)
3. Dunsborough to Margaret River 1984
4. Margaret River to Augusta and Cape Leeuwin 1984
5. Augusta to Margaret River 1984
6. Margaret River to Busselton 1984
7. Busselton to Cottesloe 1984

Places Mentioned in this Post:

Related posts:

1. Perth to Cape Leeuwin Tour via Dunsborough 1984
2. Perth to Dunsborough 1988
3. Perth to Dunsborough 1980
4. Dunsborough to Margaret River 1984
5. Perth to Cape Leeuwin Tour via Dunsborough 1980

Tags: Bunbury, Busselton, Capel, Dunsborough, Perth