Wandering

Mandurah to Wandering Tour 2011, nine days, cumulative distance: 357km.

I had planned to ride from Mandurah to Dwellingup on the first day, Monday 24th October, then to Boddington on the second and Wandering on the third.

On the Friday before starting the ride, I tried to book the first 3 nights’ accommodation. Dwellingup was all right for the Monday, but Boddington was fully booked for the Tuesday. So after fruitlessly searching Google and other sources for accommodation near Boddington, I decided to try to do the nearly 90 km from Dwellingup to Boddington in one day on the Tuesday.

The Wandering tavern does not supply accommodation, so I tried to book the Millfarm Bed and Breakfast. They were fully booked but were able to give me the number for the Wandering Brook Estate.  ... Read more

Boddington to Wandering day 4, Thursday 27 October 2011.

I had the toast and cereal and a hot pie for breakfast. I set off at 8:30, 269. Here it was, Day 4 and I hadn’t yet done 100 km. In the old days I would have done over 100km in the first 2 days. There was a light westerly wind. The road was less up-and-down now that I was getting away from the coast and the going was all right with pleasant scenery.

At Crossman, 281, I rested, and light drizzle began to fall. I say at Crossman, not in Crossman, because there is nothing there but the derelict remnants of a roadhouse. I don’t know if I remember ever visiting that roadhouse when it was alive.  ... Read more

Wandering to Pingelly day 5, Friday 28 October 2011.

I warmed up the other steak sandwich. It wasn’t so nice as the first one eaten fresh the night before, and the chips were soggy, but I stuffed it all down so I shouldn’t be found wanting on the long ride across empty country to Pingelly. While I was eating, a vehicle passed close by the chalet, slowed, then kept going. Again it didn’t occur to me that the absence of a motor vehicle near the chalet would have suggested that there was no-one there.

I got ready to leave then walked up the hill again, getting to the house at about 8:30 with the money. Two cars were parked in front of the house.  ... Read more

Wandering is a town located in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, approximately 120 kilometres (75 mi) from the state capital, Perth. The area’s name, although an English word, appears to owe its name to a local Aboriginal word, “wandooin”, after the wandoo or white gum tree that is prevalent in the area.