Forget Floreat see the real Australia
Posted: Mon 01 Apr, 2013 5:05 pm
Instead of travelling north of the River to Floreat Beach with its challenging navigation and high calorific intake I headed South.
The rare forecast of two fine days in a row at Walpole-Albany was sufficient motivation to do a run from Perth through Bridgetown, Walpole and Denmark to the Rainbow Coast. The area had had a little rain and was in magnificent nick. Donnybrook had an apple festival, Balingup was crowded, Bridgetown had Easter Tennis and Walpole had a growers market yet the traffic was reasonable. The temperature was perfect for bike riding only varying from 20 to 24 degrees over the 9 hour ride. The Valley of the Giants had a tail back as people tried to find parking. Albany was also buzzing with mountain bike events and horse racing although the most popular spot at 6:00pm was the IGA at the foot of York Street.
The ride back was stunning with a small challenge. The 100% humidity and temperature variations from 10 degrees to 15 degrees as you rode on Chester Pass Road in and out of the hollows was fogging up my glasses and rear view mirrors in every dip. The same climatic conditions made the Stirling Ranges look like a ruined castle surrounded by a moat of mist. The ride through the Porongurups with the sun at your back and a clear blue sky was memorable. I stopped at Bolganup Dam and there were wrens everywhere (and no people). Passing through Mount Barker past the wineries and forest to Rocky Gully. A short flick north was Frankland and then on to Boyup Brook through Perup on a great motor cycle road. A steak sandwich at the Bluestone Cafe in Boyup Brook was breakfast before heading towards Arthur River and deviating through Duranillin and Darkan. From Darkan I took the Darkan -Williams Road before hitting the rat race on the Albany Highway. 300km and only sighting 10 cars on excellent winding roads.
A 20 person queue in the servo at Williams reminded me it was Easter when the people from Albany go to Perth and the People in Perth go to Albany. Williams to Perth was a forgettable commute in a 3km slinky with a Police Car in the middle travelling at 80-110 kms. An accident half way back to Perth did not help the traffic congestion. It looked like a 4WD had rolled or clipped another car but it seemed no one was badly injured. Home in time for a real coffee South of the River (Atomic at Mends Street).
1,100 kms of Australia's natural scenery south of the river. Much better than being forced to observe most of Australia's expensive architectural mistakes at City Beach.
The rare forecast of two fine days in a row at Walpole-Albany was sufficient motivation to do a run from Perth through Bridgetown, Walpole and Denmark to the Rainbow Coast. The area had had a little rain and was in magnificent nick. Donnybrook had an apple festival, Balingup was crowded, Bridgetown had Easter Tennis and Walpole had a growers market yet the traffic was reasonable. The temperature was perfect for bike riding only varying from 20 to 24 degrees over the 9 hour ride. The Valley of the Giants had a tail back as people tried to find parking. Albany was also buzzing with mountain bike events and horse racing although the most popular spot at 6:00pm was the IGA at the foot of York Street.
The ride back was stunning with a small challenge. The 100% humidity and temperature variations from 10 degrees to 15 degrees as you rode on Chester Pass Road in and out of the hollows was fogging up my glasses and rear view mirrors in every dip. The same climatic conditions made the Stirling Ranges look like a ruined castle surrounded by a moat of mist. The ride through the Porongurups with the sun at your back and a clear blue sky was memorable. I stopped at Bolganup Dam and there were wrens everywhere (and no people). Passing through Mount Barker past the wineries and forest to Rocky Gully. A short flick north was Frankland and then on to Boyup Brook through Perup on a great motor cycle road. A steak sandwich at the Bluestone Cafe in Boyup Brook was breakfast before heading towards Arthur River and deviating through Duranillin and Darkan. From Darkan I took the Darkan -Williams Road before hitting the rat race on the Albany Highway. 300km and only sighting 10 cars on excellent winding roads.
A 20 person queue in the servo at Williams reminded me it was Easter when the people from Albany go to Perth and the People in Perth go to Albany. Williams to Perth was a forgettable commute in a 3km slinky with a Police Car in the middle travelling at 80-110 kms. An accident half way back to Perth did not help the traffic congestion. It looked like a 4WD had rolled or clipped another car but it seemed no one was badly injured. Home in time for a real coffee South of the River (Atomic at Mends Street).
1,100 kms of Australia's natural scenery south of the river. Much better than being forced to observe most of Australia's expensive architectural mistakes at City Beach.
.....Koos get yourself on one of these rides with Cookie!
