Dwellingup Ground Hog Day

[Bozo]

It was a larger than usual gathering at Cats this morning.

Great to see Tom's new LC GSA, Kenny's PD, Kim and Andrea's new puppy and Wes with a new hip.

15 riders and a pillion headed up the Lesmurdie Hill and down Canning Road hoping the shaded roads would be cooler. Albany Highway was reached via Canning Dam and it was here that PB took his Laverda Jota on a different route to the rest of the group who headed down the Bedfordale Hill to Byford. Only a few lycra clad lads were out and about and did not cause too much grief.

At Byford we had a Royal Enfield in military colours invade the group....could have been part of His Royal Griceness' body guard. An emu free run up Nettleton Road was followed by a stop at Serpentine Dam.

Al, K1 Dave, Jens, David, Bozo and German Paul had ridden the same route to Dwellingup only six weeks before. This ride was slightly different as K1 Dave was on his K1 and not a Harley, Al was on his GS LC and not on a brand new Honda and German Paul swapped his K1300 bike with Herman for part of the ride.

We almost left Jens behind as he had decided to tighten up the bolts on his windscreen and had his bike partially dismantled when Bozo was about to leave.

Ed, Bozo and Al at Serpentine Dam


The group at Serpentine Dam

Photos courtesy of Ed

An enjoyable descent down Kingsbury Drive and a quick ascent up Del Park Road had us in Dwellingup for a drinks break. PB and his Jota had got to town ahead of us.

The group decided to return home via Nanga Road and K1 Dave showed us that his 26 year old bike was still performing well.

After regrouping at Waroona the group started to split up on the way to Pinjarra. It also got hotter with the temperature breaking through 100 degrees Fahrenheit at Coolup. The main group took Patterson Road, Corio Road, Hopelands Road and Rapids Road to get to Kargotich Road. A kilometre of loose limestone further split the group so that by the time we hit Armadale Road we were down to four riders.

The temperature peaked at 42 degrees C ... a bit hotter than forecast.

Thanks to Jens and His Royal Griceness for carrying out tail end duties.

Warm but good to be part of a big group prepared to head out on a Sunday ride.

Good to see a few new faces getting out.

Bozo

[2volts]

The breakaway orange group of one went on up past Canning Dam, then down Albany Hwy and cut across to Jarrahdale.

Stopped to admire this old Chev in Jarrahdale.

Then out to Serpentine Dam and down Kingsbury Drive, then along Scarp Rd and some gravel and some not gravel, eventually passing across North Dandalup Dam, where there isn't much water at all.
Some more gravel, then out onto Del Park Rd, arriving in Dwellingup 5 mins before the main group.

Then onto Boddington, North Bannister, Wandering, Brookton inc. some more dirt, Beverley, York and onwards to Perth. Damned hot down in Midland, seemed cooler inland, found it was still 38C when I got home at 3.20pm.



Heres an interesting restoration project, still in good nick, all complete, need a tall shed though.

Anyway, I suggest rides use the cornerman system, rather than Bozo or whoever is leading having to stop and wait all the time.
The person immediately behind the ride leader stops wherever there is a junction etc, and directs everyone in the right direction and waits until the tail end charlie arrives, then rides on. The ride leader makes sure they leave someone at each junction. The group can keep moving quite briskly with minimal stops.

thanks

pete

ps Brookton Old Timers Motor Show next Saturday (19th March) at Brookton Oval.

pps saw another nice Chev later on, an El Camino ute. Nice.