It started with an inauspicious failure of a side stand sensor and a need to switch bikes but an impressive 12 riders left Catalanos in perfect riding weather to head for the forests of Nanga Brook.
Evidence of infrastructure spending was everywhere with the flow of the ride being interrupted by power line works, bridge construction and road works.
Wes, Dinga and Wightman peeled off after Canning Dam whilst nine riders continued on to Nettleton Road, Jarrahdale Road, Del Park Road and Dwellingup.
It seemed that anyone who had a bike was out on the road with a group of Harley riders being intermixed with the group on the way to Dwellingup.
A stray rider impersonating Swampy joined the group in Dwellingup and after confirming the correct group numbers Bozo headed off to Lane-Poole Reserve when the real Swampy (the one with the name badge) was still to arrive.
A brilliant ride through Lane Poole was followed by the sweeping bends of Nanga Brook Road. Whilst the others headed to the Bakery at Waroona, Bozo went back to track down Baby Blue's pilot. Happily, Swampy rejoined the group and after an adjournment for a pie all headed out of Waroona (minor deviation when Bozo missed the turn) down Coronation Road to the Old Coast Road. Then Old Bunbury Road to Southern Estuary Road before heading along the western edge of the estuary through Dawesville.
Around Falcon the traffic got very heavy and Bozo thought that a deviation through Mandurah by the Old Mandurah Bridge would be a good strategy. Arriving at the Old Mandurah Bridge the group (other than Bolton who had sensibly continued straight across the new bridge) found it barricaded off for an Ironman competition and it took many minutes to get back to the Old Coast Road.
Good planning would have seen the ride avoid Mandurah and its traffic congestion. Even the Freeway was a pain with heavy traffic.
Great riding until we got to Mandurah with perfect weather and lush green scenery.
Time to look at the 1200 RT side stand switch.
Bozo