Margaret River

Margaret River is a town in the South West of Western Australia, located in the valley of the eponymous Margaret River, 277 kilometres (172 mi) south of Perth, the state capital. Its Local Government Area is the Shire of Augusta-Margaret River. The surrounding area is the Margaret River Wine Region and has become known for its wine production and tourism, attracting an estimated 500,000 visitors annually. In earlier days the area was better known for hardwood timber and agricultural production.

Perth To Cape Leeuwin, 6 day bicycle tour, 1984. This is the seventh 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.

In 1984 I had only visited Augusta twice, and on both occasions, in 1980 and 1981, I had had a hard time getting there. For 1984 I wanted to get there in good time without more than average effort.

Charles A. Pierce

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Daily Locations for this Tour:

Dunsborough to Margaret River, day 2, Tuesday 27 November 1984. I enjoyed a breakfast of things from the bakery and got going as early as I could. I planned to leave Meelup Beach for another ride and go straight to Margaret River by going uphill to Yallingup, then turning south to find Carters Road, turning left to join the main highway and proceeding to the town.

I got a bit weary as the day’s journey went on, and Caves Road went up and down. The ups take energy away and the downs give you nothing but a brief rest.

Eventually I reached Margaret River. I was used to the climb into the town from the river by now. I got into the old hotel again but this time got into one of the new ensuite units out the back.  ... Read more

Margaret River to Augusta, day 3, Wednesday 28 November 1984. I had food bought at local shops for breakfast in bed. Then I got ready and set off, taking the direct route to Augusta because I had had two tours of Mammoth and Lake caves and wanted to get to Augusta in time to get around to Cape Leeuwin and the Flinders Bay beach on that same day.

There are only 43 km from Margaret river to Augusta. I can’t remember what the weather was like, but I don’t remember any difficulty. The new bike would have made it an easy run of not much more than two hours.

I arrived at Augusta in the middle of the day but there was no problem about checking in early.  ... Read more

Augusta to Margaret River, day 4, Thursday 29 November 1984. I decided to have another look at Jewel Cave, not having been there for four years, so I set off up the Bussell Highway then turned left into Caves Road.

After that enjoyable tour of Jewel Cave I went back to the Bussell Highway via Bushby Road and headed for Margaret River. I had booked a different place to stay for a change, there being more to choose from now. I found a motel on the other side of the highway, off Wallcliffe Road. This was quite fancy with its furnishings and linen and the rooms, besides opening onto the outside, had a back door opening to an internal passage where each room had a little table where guests could sit to eat a meal ordered from the motel’s restaurant.  ... Read more

Margaret River to Busselton, day 5, Friday 30 November 1984. I decided to go back to Busselton via a different route and see new roads and new places. 4 kilometres north of Margaret River I turned right into Keenan Road, which becomes Osmington Road. Then I turned left, north into Jindong-Treeton Road and got a good downhill run onto the coastal plain.

I came to a T-junction and turned right into Payne Road, which led me past the Jindong Hall. I stopped to rest and have a drink and examine this example of a country hall. It was deserted, as they are most of the time.

The country was flat and low-lying and there were signs of occasional waterlogging. I kept going east until I reached the grandly named Queen Elizabeth Avenue, just another country road.  ... 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

Augusta to Cape Leeuwin and Margaret River, day 4, Thursday 26 November 1981. As in 1980, I needed to visit Cape Leeuwin and have a swim at Flinders Bay, where two oceans meet.

I had an early breakfast so that I could leave most of the stuff in my room and get to the Cape, have a swim, come back and get ready and check out by 10 am. It was a nice sunny morning with a south-westerly which would help me up the Bussell Highway later. I assumed that the previous day could be put behind me and that things would go well from now on. I think I had some food in the room with me and ate it in bed before getting up.  … Read more

Margaret River to Busselton, day 5, Friday 27 November 1981. I had a good breakfast in the dining room and packed up and set off, straight up the Bussell Highway.

I don’t remember the conditions and don’t remember taking any detours or visiting any caves or wineries. I do remember that I still felt weary, my ankle was still stiff and clunky and I probably just went straight to Busselton. I wasn’t as quick as in 1980 but it is only 48 km with a nice downhill run as you come off the Whicher Range.

This was a tradition, the last night of the ride in Busselton. I had plenty of time to rest and launder and swim and walk around the town.  ... Read more

Perth to Cape Leeuwin via Dunsborough, 6 day bicycle tour, 1980.

This is the fourth 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.

Charles A. Pierce

Other Days on this Tour:

Daily Locations for this Tour:

Incoming search terms:

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