Donnybrook

Donnybrook is a town situated between Boyanup and Kirup on the South Western Highway, 210 kilometres (130.49 miles) south of Perth, Western Australia. The town is the centre of apple production in Western Australia. In 1900, the first Granny Smith apple tree was planted, and the apple orchard industry grew after World War I. Apples are harvested between March and May, with apple blossoms prominent in October.

This is the eighth of a series of retrospective bike stories, of rides taken before 1987. 1987 was the first ride to be fully documented in the current format, with distances, speeds, rest stops and so on, moreover written as soon after the event as possible.

This was the year in which I got away from the Monday to Saturday 5-night, six-day format. I broke through limits and went further than before, into a lot of unknown territory for me, taking 8 nights and nine riding days. I started on a Friday instead of the traditional Monday.

Charles A. Pierce

Other Days on this Tour:

Daily Locations for this Tour:

Perth to Donnybrook, day 1, Friday 15 November 1985. As in some other years, I decided to take the morning Australind train and start my ride from Bunbury. I was going to stop at Donnybrook for the first night so there was no hurry. For the first time the old Australind stopped at the new rail terminal which made it easier for me because it was closer to the start of the south-western highway.

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. I had had ‘brunch’ on the train, pies and cakes from a deli.

I got the bike out of the luggage compartment, stowed the bag, donned the backpack, left the station and rode along Picton Road to find the T-junction.  ... Read more

Donnybrook to Bridgetown, day 2, Saturday 16 November 1985. I had breakfast in bed and got going as early as I could. This time I was prepared for the climbs that lay ahead, both mentally and with a well-prepared bike with the proper range of gears. The going was still hard but I think I managed to get up the hill after Balingup, and Hester’s hill before Bridgetown, without getting off to trudge. I remember definitely at some time having got up both those hills without having to get off and walk. I took some rest stops along the way, at Kirup and Balingup and after Greenbushes.

I had booked into a motel some way down Hampton Street (which was just the South Western Highway re-named for its passage through Bridgetown) from the centre of Bridgetown where all the old hotels were.  ... Read more

Greenbushes to Donnybrook, day 8, Friday 22 November 1985. I had a good breakfast in the dining room and eventually was ready to leave. My plan was just to go straight to Bunbury. I thought, it’s 77 km but much of it is downhill and then level, and I should be able to do it in time for the train. I didn’t get far before I realised that I had no strength, every turn of the pedals was an effort. I was going to have to stop another night, in Donnybrook. I laboured on, had a few rest stops and walked up a few hills until a run down the scarp into the town.

I was able to get booked into a unit in the motel, then had a rest before riding down into the town to shop.  ... Read more

Donnybrook to Cottesloe, day 9, Saturday 23 November 1985.

I decided to sleep in a bit and generally take it easy on this last morning. There were only 39 km to Bunbury and the train didn’t leave till 3 pm in those days. I had my arrowroot for breakfast, then waited for a while before getting ready to leave.

I had a rest stop at Boyanup, then reached the Bunbury rail terminal at Picton and bought my ticket and relaxed. The new terminal was not so close to the beach and I can’t remember whether I took the trouble to ride to the beach and back on this occasion. I know I did in some other years. I certainly would have wanted to on this occasion, if there had been time.  ... Read more

Perth to Greenbushes, day 1, Monday 21 November 1983. As in 1979 – 1981, I decided to take the morning Australind train and start my ride from Bunbury. My plan required me to ride from Bunbury to Greenbushes as my first night’s stop. I was still brooding over the hardships and shortcomings of the 1981 ride and wanted to do a similar thing better. This was the ride that taught me what I should already have known, that a relatively new bike, though already used successfully, has to be fixed up, tested and proved before taking it on a long country trip with hills steeper and longer than those around home.

On this ride I started wearing proper cycling shorts with a crotch-pad, and sensible shoes.  ... Read more

Perth to Cape Leeuwin via Nannup, 6 day bicycle tour, 1981. This is the fifth of a series of retrospective bike stories, of rides taken before 1987. 1987 was the first ride to be fully documented in the current format, with distances, speeds, rest stops and so on, moreover written as soon after the event as possible.

The 1981 ride was the last of the five ‘classic’ rides, during which I learnt much, changed a lot and suffered a bit. There was at least one major trial in each of these first five rides. There was no ride in 1982 because I went on an overseas trip. After that I tried to extend and explore and improve. But there was more hardship ahead.  ... Read more

Perth to Donnybrook, day 1, Monday 23 November 1981. As in 1979 and 1980, I decided to take the morning Australind train and start my ride from Bunbury. My plan required me to ride from Bunbury to Donnybrook as my first night’s stop. This was a distance of only 39 km.

The North Boyanup Road shortcut was not so well known or used in those days and I just followed the south-western highway as it showed on my map, through Dardanup and Boyanup. Now, of course, the former North Boyanup Road has become the main south-western highway. The distance to Donnybrook this way is only 36 km.

The reason for going such a short distance on the first day was that there was no-where to stop between Donnybrook and Greenbushes.  ... Read more

Donnybrook to Nannup, day 2, Tuesday 24 November 1981. I had breakfast in the old hotel dining-room, then got ready to leave. I had been on new road, for me on a bike, ever since leaving Bunbury and turning down the old South-Western Highway instead of the Bussell Highway. This was to continue today. I had decided to head for Balingup, then turn right and go to Nannup.

About 1 km south of Donnybrook the road takes a left and begins a steep climb towards Kirup, then it’s up and down all the way. I don’t remember much of a struggle with that first hill and subsequent hills. Only 2 years later, in 1983, when I encountered that first climb, it was a shock and very hard for me, as though I had never ridden up it before.  … Read more