Greenbushes

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:

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

Manjimup to Greenbushes, day 7, Thursday 21 November 1985. I felt a bit better than I had the previous morning, but still had my problem after breakfast. I started on the road to Bridgetown, hoping that things would improve.

I stopped at Yornup to use the public phone and try to ring my parents. I usually rang them every couple of days on these rides because they worried. I hadn’t been able to get them for a few days – the phone was either engaged or they weren’t answering. I had only just got my answering machine, but few people did in those days and there was no 101 service. I couldn’t get them at Yornup so I pressed on.

When I reached Bridgetown after between two and three hours, with stops to rest, it was clear that another Episode was coming.  ... 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

Perth To Yallingup via Nannup, 6 day bicycle tour, 1983. This is the sixth 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.

Up to 1983 these rides had not got further south than Balingup, along the SW highway. In 1983 I had recently bought a new light alloy racing bike, had made a record (for me) time on it in the Cycle Touring Association’s 40 km time trial, and was determined to push the limits of my riding southward and eastward.

This was the first ride since my accident in January 1982, referred to in the 1981 ride story, Perth to Augusta Tour via Nannup 1981, (being a retrospective story, I could refer to events that hadn’t happened yet in 1981).  ... 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

Greenbushes to Nannup, day 2, Tuesday 22 November 1983. I had breakfast in the dining room, then got ready to leave. I had decided to head for Bridgetown, then turn right and go to Nannup along the Brockman Highway.

I found the going hard because of the effort of the previous day, and not having a sufficient range of gears. There were some good downhill runs but some steep climbs, the one before Bridgetown, Hester’s Hill, being the most challenging, well-known to local bike tourists. After that there is a good downhill run into the town.

I stopped at the corner of Hampton street and Steere Street, bought some drinks at the shop and sat down to rest. I had only done 17 km but it felt like a full day’s riding already.  ... Read more

Greenbushes is a timber and mining town located in the South West region of Western Australia. Greenbushes was named after the bright green bushes that contrasted against the grey eucalyptus trees. The mining industry around Greenbushes produces tantalite concentrates, lithium minerals, tin metal and kaolin. Timber milling, agriculture, viticulture, tourism and art galleries are also part of Greenbushes’ industry.

Cottesloe to Valley of the Giants 2002 – 10 days, 610 km cumulative distance.

The aim of this trip was to visit the Valley of the Giants again, and to see the tree-top walk built since my last visit in 1987. This time I would go by a reverse route and with some motorised assistance, but none from the Australind train.

Other days on this Tour:

Daily Locations for this Tour:

Manjimup to Greenbushes, day 6, Monday 21 October 2002. I left Manjimup at 9:17. The wind was still a northwesterly headwind, moderate but freshening. The road from Manjimup to Bridgetown is quite moderate in its hills and I got along all right. I rested at 1315, passed Mersea Road, where I had sheltered from that hailstorm in 1998, and got to Bridgetown at 11:24, 1333. As often before I sat on the wooden seat in Steere Street, had a drink from the nearby shop and thought about where I had been and where I was going, and how I felt about going on. I took a picture of the spot.

I got going again at 12:02, climbed Hester’s Hill for a while then just got off and walked to the summit.  ... Read more