Manjimup

Manjimup is a town in Western Australia, 307 kilometres (191 mi) south of the state capital, Perth. Manjimup was named for the Noongar Aboriginal words “Manjin” (a broad-leafed edible reed) and “up” (meeting place, or place of). Manjimup tourist attractions include the Diamond Tree fire lookout; the Four Aces, which are four 75 metre-tall karri trees over 400 years old; One Tree Bridge, a bridge made of a single karri tree; Fonty’s Pool; a timber museum called Manjimup Timber Park; and timber sawmills including Deanmill. During wildflower season from October to December, the King Jarrah Heritage Trail is home to various native flowers.

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:

Bridgetown to Pemberton, day 3, Sunday 17 November 1985. I had breakfast of snacks bought the previous afternoon. I set off down Hampton Street, crossed the river and this time turned left for the South Western Highway, not right for the Brockman Highway as in 1983.

I had only travelled this road by car and bus and not taken much notice of its topography, so I was pleased to discover that the road between Bridgetown and Manjimup is not too hilly. Just moderate, manageable ups and downs. I did the 35 km in reasonable time, passing Yornup where the radio station 6BY was located. It is now part of the GWN network. I took a drink break at about half-way.

In Manjimup I took the opportunity for a rest and refreshment break and telephoned to book a room in a riverside resort, the Forest Lodge, about 4 km east of Pemberton.  ... Read more

Northcliffe to Manjimup, day 6, Wednesday 20 November 1985. This was to be one of the hardest days on these rides. The plan was to make the next overnight stop at Manjimup. I had my full breakfast, then an Episode, then I started to labour towards Pemberton.

I had a couple of drink stops and eventually made it without any other kind of stop, but as I turned right to go down Brockman Street into the town I could sense trouble coming. I struggled up the steep hill to the park at the north-eastern end of town and was relieved to find a public facility. After that I got more drinks and some food from the shop over the road and sat for a while getting the will to go on.  … 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

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:

Walpole to Manjimup, day 5, Sunday 20 October 2002.

THE MIRACLE (OR WIMP-OUT) OF THE WILDERNESS

I left the motel at 7:45 am on a cool sunny morning, with winds almost calm, developing to a light north-westerly headwind. The day became warmer as I went on. There was a short descent out of Walpole, then a long climb, then a long descent. I reached the turn into the South Western Highway at Crystal Springs at 1251 in reasonable shape and greeted the South Western Highway that I would be on until Boyanup. I rested at 1258, again at 1278. There was a hill to climb every km or so and it was all getting too hard. Hills take it out of you and you don’t get it back.  ... Read more

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

Cottesloe to Windy Harbour Tour 1998 – 10 days, 627 km cumulative distance.

The aim of this trip was to return to Windy Harbour, only this time to do it better, faster, with less hardship and fewer mishaps than in 1985, drawing on the experience gained over the years.

Charles A. Pierce

Other Days on this Tour:

Daily Locations for this Tour:

Manjimup to Northcliffe, day 3, Wednesday 14 October 1998. The morning was cold but clear with a moderate SW wind. I left the Manjimup hotel at 8:43 after breakfast of biscuits and cheese in my room.

I proceeded the way I should have gone in 1987, not via Pemberton but straight down the South Western Highway , then right into Wheatley Coast Road and straight on into Northcliffe. Wheatley Coast Road starts at Muirs Highway, SE of Manjimup, and goes straight through Northcliffe down to Windy Harbour, though at some point it changes its name to Windy Harbour Road. This way is about 8 km shorter than the way via Pemberton. In 1987 I didn’t even have a proper map until I bought one in Northcliffe and discovered the Chesapeake Road, the road that made the 1987 ride possible.  ... Read more