Wagin

Wagin is a town and shire in the Great Southern region of Western Australia, approximately 225 km south-east of Perth on the Great Southern Highway between Narrogin and Katanning. The name is Aboriginal, and is a variation of ‘wedge-an’ an Aboriginal word for ‘emu’. Wagin annually hosts the Woolorama, one of Western Australia’s largest Agricultural Shows.

Perth to Dumbleyung 2007, 9 days, cumulative distance 455 km. The aim of this trip, the first since 2005, was to take an opportunity which probably won’t come again; to start deep in the Great Southern and ride home via Dumbleyung and see Dumbleyung lake, which was more full than for some years due to a reasonable season in the area. I had this plan some years ago, during the Stirlings ride of 1993, but didn’t feel able to go there on that occasion.

Again I took my digital camera on this trip. I took pictures of orchids again, reflecting my particular interest, and of the towns and countryside and of bodies of water that were in better shape than usual.  ... Read more

Dumbleyung to Wagin day 4, Sunday 21 October 2007. The wind had indeed turned around to the SSE during the night. I had only 40 km to go to Wagin but wanted to take a diversion or two to get as close to the lake as I could. I had studied the map in the Information Bay and knew that I would have to make a left turn down Lake Road at about 6 km out of Dumbleyung. After a good breakfast I left my hotel at 9:40, 426. I rode back over the railway line to get onto the main street of town, which would lead to the Wagin Road.

The morning was sunny with some cloud. It was cool to start but warm in the sun.  ... Read more

Wagin to Narrogin day 5, Monday 22 October 2007. I left the hotel at 9:45 am on a cool sunny morning, with winds SSE, helpful again, a tailwind. I found the Great Southern Highway without any trouble. There was a long climb out of Wagin, and when I stopped at the top of it and looked back there was a great view of the country behind. I passed through Piesseville – there were a hall and a few buildings – and rested after that, at 490.

I reached Highbury at 507. There was a shop, established 1945. I went in and bought a drink. The lady was dressed in a thick cardigan and asked how I could go around in just a shirt when it was so cold.  ... Read more

Perth to the Stirling Range, 9 days, 1993. Cumulative distance 596km. This was to be the fulfilment of a dream that started in 1987, when I rode by the western edge of the Stirling Range and was prevented by weather and tiredness from taking a detour into it.

The idea was to get to Bluff Knoll, climb it, and ride back to Perth. Instead of starting the ride at Bunbury, as I had so many others, I decided to start this one at Albany, using the new flexibility offered by the discovery that, for $25, Niteroad will take your bike to Albany or Bunbury in less than 24 hours, or to any other point at which it is desired that a ride should start.  … Read more

Katanning to Wagin, day 5, Sunday 24 October 1993. The wind had strengthened from the west and there was to be rain. I left Katanning at 9:35 and headed due west for 12 km. Rain started soon after my day’s ride began and kept falling. It doesn’t take long to get soaked under these circumstances.

The right toe-clip fell off at 27588. The nuts had shaken loose after only a few hundred km and the thing was dangling by a strap. I tied it on with wire and it was perfect. rested at 27595, after which the road turned north for a while. This was better because the wind was mainly a cross-wind, turning a bit southerly after squalls. Later the road resumed its NNW alignment and the wind was either against me or not helping.  ... Read more

Wagin to Narrogin, day 6, Monday 25 October 1993. The day was fine with a light westerly, sometimes going WSW, not helpful but not too opposing. I cleaned and oiled the bike and left Wagin at 9:40. I had slept in after a Panquil but still felt a bit challenged by the mere 50km to Narrogin.

I got a bit lost on my way out of Wagin, because the main highway resumes after going along a street to the northwest of the town. I rested 27653, passed Piesseville without stopping at 27656, rested again at 27668 and 27678. I arrived at the Hordern Hotel, Narrogin at 12:55, 27688. This is a big dark old-fashioned country pub which like many of them is past its best.  ... Read more