BMWMCCWA

B/5 has kindly offered to lead us to Darkan and a new lunch stop. So top up those tanks for a longer ride. Leaving Ascot Gloria Jeans at 7:30am to glide down to DOME KELMSCOTT for a 9:15am ish departure.

See you at GJs

Hi Guys,
Are you going to the Great Awakening Cafe in Darkan?
I am in Busselton at the moment. Thinking that I might be able to ride across from here and join you guys for lunch if I can get away.
Cheers,
Ralph.

oky doky - looks interesting. i need a long day in the saddle. see ya @ GJ's

Yes Ralph - hoping for lunch at the Great Awakening Cafe in Darkan.
Expecting to get there shortly after 12:00 depending on stops.

There may be no fuel in Darkan, with return trip through Collie.
So distances are Dwellingup 108, Collie 285km, Pinjarra 405km
Overall round trip expect 505km GJ - GJ
B/5

Been trying to find out what route the ride is going. Anybody from Mandurah want to go

Just got the ride itinerary from Lefty I’ll meet at the servo on Del Park Rd Nth Dandalup around 9.45/10 am

Nine riders left from GJ to meetup with three more at Kelmscott Dome. After the usual discussions the majority left for the usual outward leg south following the railway line, staying off the highway.

The Tonkin Hwy extension has meant that Hopkinson Rd southwards does not join Thomas Rd, so we went via Wungong St before turning into Plaistowe Blvd. Confusion who was continuing with group and a missing corner marker meant the group got split going through Byford. We carried on via a few doglegs giving a view of the new Byford railway station and shopping complex. The second group entered Byford further west. A short wait in Mundijong resulted in reuniting the two groups. We carried on to pick Goldie who was waiting at the Del Parl Servo.

Dwellingup was a less crowded than last time we stopped during the school holidays. After a comfort stop we headed east before turning south down the Lower Hotham Rd. Encountering a short section of road works to cater for a mining cross-over, with large sections of the hills that have been gouged out

Then it was carrying south down Quindanning Darkan Road. Shortly after crossing the Collie-Williams Road we discovered an error in my planning. The maps show this road as unsealed but a check at either end and a spot check in the middle on google maps showed it being sealed. 18km short of Darkan we stopped looking at a gravel road. The majority decided to carry on with the others loop back to enter Darkan via the William-Darkan road which added about 70kms. As it turned out the gravel only lasted for about 2kms before returning to being sealed.

At The Great Awakening Café in Darkan we were greeted by several others who had arrived earlier from different locations. The separation of the groups had the advantage that there was a staggering in the groups ordering lunch. Another great location for our ride destination. The Café had a wide selection of great food and friendly staff.

The ride home for the majority was via Collie with some stopping to refuel, then down Mornington, across to Government, doglegging up to Coolup. Here we said our farewells to head for home. Some taking the direct route via the highway and other via Hopelands.

Another great day riding and with good supportive companions.
Thanks, PeterBee for bringing the group back together and continuing as TEC.
B/5