Serpentine

Cottesloe to Pinjarra, day 1, Monday 10 October 2005. I took the train to Armadale and rode away from there at 10.24, 401. The morning was cold with a fresh south-westerly headwind. The odometer read 404 when I passed the PJ 55 peg.

I rested at Serpentine, 419, at Keysbrook, 434, and at the PJ 10 peg, 449.

I reached the Pinjarra motel at 2.22, 460. I had a sleep and a swim and washed the riding clothes, then went to shop, make telephone calls and look around. I got chicken and chips and had an early dinner in the motel unit (Room 3, $60, microwave oven, the best value for money of the trip).

I had travelled rather slowly from Armadale and felt really tired and sore – I was not in full fitness and at 60 years old, I suppose everything is past its best.  ... Read more

Cottesloe to Pinjarra, day 1, Monday 13 October 2003. I rode down to Cottesloe station to get the train, only to have a thought when I got there: Did I pack the pump? A swift check revealed that in fact the pump was not there. Amazing that I should have thought of so much else but forgotten to put the pump in the bag! So I had to go back for it and get the later train. So the ride was to start 15 minutes later than planned.

The ride began at 10:58, 831 as I left Armadale station and headed up William Street to the South-western Highway. There was a strong south-westerly headwind and some showers, but the road is not too hilly and there were hundreds of big trucks going my way.  ... Read more

Dwellingup to Perth, Day 8, Tuesday 31 October 1989. I left Dwellingup at 7:45 on a lovely morning and headed up Del Park Road, which joins the Southwestern Highway at North Dandalup and is the quickest way to Perth. The jarrah forest was splendid and full of birdsong. The trend was downhill but there were still some steep climbs.

Stopped after one hour’s riding at 17478. Came to the edge of the scarp and saw the view of the coastal plain before rushing downhill towards North Dandalup. (17486). I didn’t stop there but waited until 17495, reached after the second hour’s riding. When I resumed I found that I had stopped 1km short of a shop.

After Serpentine the road headed back into the foothills and there was climbing to do.  ... Read more

Serpentine is a town located 55 kilometres (34 mi) south-southeast of Perth, the capital of Western Australia, and 7 km south of Mundijong. Serpentine is located on the South Western Railway between Perth and Bunbury. The townsite derives its name from the nearby Serpentine River. The name is descriptive, derived from the “serpentine” nature of the river in its lower reaches