Oz part 1

DAY 1 Fri 16/11/12
46 miles
Landed in perth at around two aclock in the morning. It was the time of truth. Had the bike survived. I sat at the carasel waiting at the over size baggage point until everyone had collected there lugguge and left. Nerves started to go but at that moment i spotted a box the other side of the room. There was a little damage to the box but all was fine. Built my bike and had a small nap on the bench till about 5am. Heading out the sky was an incredible shade of orange anbd t shirt and short weather at 5 was a bonus. I headed straight into perth loving the cycle routes already. Had no map so just headed for the group of sky scrapers in the distance. First call was mcdonalds for coffee and for the free wifi. Which was awful dident really manage anything on that but later discovered the city centre had free wifi. Met a lady in town center called Maxine offered a free bed and any essistance that i needed. Which was a nice welcome to the country. After collecting some maps I headed out of the city to midland on the train lane to the swan valley tourist info. Got a leaflet on the heritage rail trail. This little track was gravelly and had that aweful slight uphill grade that seemed to take for ages. Started to feel drained as soon as i hit it but as id been up for what seemed like 3 days wasent unexpected. Upon reaching mundering and the begining of the munda biddi i enquired about a YHA. There was one about 7km down the road in a place called mundering weir. I had picked up the maps at mundering and thank god it seemed to be a downhill run all the way there. Upon reaching it it was a funny little place but it had a bed. The lady in charge gave us a lowdown on kangaroos which seem to like to hang out outside the front door and spook me. I hit the sack at around 6pm after riding 46miles.

Day two Sat 17/11/12
36 miles
Back to mundering then on to carinyah camp site
Today started well with a little climb back to the village to stock up on supplies and top up my feul bottle which a kind old man dident even charge me for. The headed back down the trail past the hostel from last night then onto new trails. Stopped at a little creek for a bit of food perfect little place in the bottom of a gully no noise ecept nature and a perfectly formed tree that acted as a bench. From there on the track got evil. Pea gravel and washed out climbs all the way. Spent most the day walking or having swearing fits. This stuff is like course sand and makes it unridable. Covered a mear 36.43 miles in 4 hours. It felt like days. Got to the little campsite hut which was quite smart i thought but apparently is not the best one. Sortly after arriving a father and son team arrived. They had left the UK about ten years ago and we chated and set up a small fire which was cool. The evening was pleasently warm after a day of super heat topping my temp gauge at 104f. Got to use my mat and liner for the first time. The mat was nice but the liner was freezeing cant remember the nights being so cold. Pretty much hit bed with every item of clothing i own on.

Day 3 Sun 18/11/12
Carinyah to wungong campsite
Done 50 miles includeing a little jaugnt into town and back.
Was a really nice ride resonable flat with only a few sand pea gravel sections. Failing this first thing i did get caught out by the peagravel and had a slow motion crash again. Unfortunately i broke one of the anything cages i was warned its there weakness but will have to find somewhere with some large zip ties and be a little more carefull with them. As i said todays ride was good until about one O’Clock. Which i think is about the time my body still thinks the day should be over and the suns at peak height. Was tempted for a hotel tonight but couldent find it in town. Guna head for another hut tomorrow night and then treat myself to most of a day off and a hotel in dwellingup. This ride is a lot harder than i thought it would be. The trail towns i have come across really are small one local shop towns nothing else and this is after a days ride where all you see is trees havent seen another person rideing yet. Its so different out here compared to the UK where everythings on our doorstep or within a few miles. The downside to these local shops is that they’re so dam expensive. Food out here always has been but with the exchange rate as it is. Its rediculous. For example bought an ice cream, a can of coke and three litres of water yesterday and it cost a tenner. I could do that down lidl for under three quid. Water is another hard point. wereas back home five litres would last a day or two here its only a mornings supply. Thats fine but i only pass a town a day. Really need some water purifying tablets. I got given 7 last night but as one does a litre ive only got two left to last the two days to the nearest town that may be usefull. Il have a little trial in town tomorrow but dont think im guna have any luck. I may just have to chance it. The last time we were here we drank from water tanks all the time in the campsites. Hopefully tonight wont be as cold as last night. Was hopeing jarrendale would have a coles so i could buy a set of trackies to sleep in. Also phone signal is crap out here.

Day 4 Mon 19th Nov 2012
32 miles
Wungong campsite to Dandalup campsite.
A nice short day again even shorter than yesterday but with more breaks. First stop was jaaradale again. Picked up some food for the day and over night tonight. Also treated myself to breakfast and a coffee at jarradale cafe. It was an awesome start. Six slices of bacon, three eggs and three slices of toast yum much needed. The start of the trail today sucked a load of pea gravel again. I can only descibe this stuff as riding on a surface of marbles. The trail dropped into serpantine valley and out of the other side was a killer a lot of hiking and not much biking. Once on the top the trail continued quite well. Took a touring diversion today as the last one i missed almost killed me. A nice ride in general today may of been the breakfast or just a short day. The only downside is i seemed to have a team of a thousand flies following me all day. Almost ate one as it flew start in my mouth. The highlight of the day came at the end at Dandalup picnic area which has a small lake pool that you can swim in. Was the first bath for 3 days. Then just a quick climb out to the Dandalup campsite at the top of the hill. The views from up here are amazing but its a bit breezier. Hope tonights not as cold as last night. It dropped to 8C It was bloody freezing. Apparently the next town has a camp shop so its an early start tomorrow and hopefully a hotel for the night. mmmmmm bed.
32 miles covered (this isent a race)
P.s this campsites got full telstra signal 🙂

Day 5 Tue 20/11/12
Dandalup campsite to dwellingup
32 miles
A nice short day. Wanted to head to town early and stay here. So i could get a few things done. Couldent really do much of it as again theres not much here think il have to wait for collie in about three days to get most stuff sorted. The day started early about half five. It was nice and cool then so packed up quick so i could head for the shower. Resonably easy riding today a lot of it was on dirt roads rather than pea gravel tracks which was a nice change there was also a long nice downhill which was much appreciated. The breakage of the day again was the anything cage which completely shook itself to bits and pretty much dropped off. Luckily i put some velcro straps on it yesterday so it dident completely disapear. As all the brackets had sheared i turned then around and used them to pin the cage to the fork instead unfortunately my new paintwork is now knackerd but atleast its held. Noticed aswell that the trail seems to heading into more forest which is good as it gives a good shelter it just seems greener aswell which makes it that bit more pleasent. Droped down to oakly dam aswell on the route which had a nice pool to swim in and awesome views out onto the plains. As soon as i arrived into dwellingup i popped straight to the campsite to enquire about a place to stay. Turns out they have backpacker shacks for only 30aus basically a room with two bunks and a desk. Positive luxury compared to the last few days. Met a couple here who arrived just before me who are also riding the trail (jim and jen). They invited me other for a BBQ later which is awesome because it will include meat yum. The BBQ was amazing steak has never tasted so good. Was good to have an evening with people. Should be heading to the same hut tomorrow night so the company will be good. Managed to speak to lindz aswell for almost an hour. Puts a massive smile on my face hearing her voice. Cant wait for melbourne in three weeks.

Day 6
Wed 21/11/12
Got a bit of a lyein today dident wake till half six. Guna be a really short day only about 30km today. Gotta head to the village first to grab some breakfast and try and get a bit of petrol for the stove and a new lighter as mine miraculasly lost all its gas yesterday. Managed to get petrol for free again today a lady filling her jerry can wouldent except payment. Then headed to the cafe for a nice bacon and egg breakfast as it was the last town for a couple of days. Had an awesome ride today. All along the river murray hard tracks with no pea gravel up to the Bidjar hut. Todays rid eonly totaled 20 mile but lots of breaks. I caught jeff and jen at about half 11 and excepted there offer of lunch. Rode with them the rest of the way to the hut. Stopped for a paddle then a swim in the river bout half hour later. Reached the hut about 3 theres a little stream and a small waterfalljust off the site so had a shower in there. Perfect! Tomorrow is guna be a little longer hopeing to stay at a dam in the campsite or maybe the free one just before. So two days out off the next town collie which seems to be the biggest so far so may take a day of there rest up and get some firm plans for the rest of this section of the ride before i get to fly over to meet lindsay. Cant wait for that.
Day 7
Thur 22/11/12
Bidjar ngoulin campsite to lake brockman tourist park
About 25 miles
Wasent to cold again last night only needed to wearhalf of my clothes supply. Seen the biggest spider of the trip last night was getting something from my bike and next to my head was a giant huntsman spider easyily the biggest ive ever seen outside of a zoo. Was a relitively easy day again i rode with Jeff and Jen again to lodgue brook dam. Got lost a couple times the signs dident seem to great in this section but ended up on some nice dirt roads. Nice breeze aswell for most the day keeping us cool but still went through a good amout of water. Been without signal for a couple days now it seems. Weve got a chalet between us at the site which was almost half price as there is a discount to the trail riders. Going to grab a nice dinner aswell from the cafe tonight. Just had a dip in the lake aswell so refreshing. Beards coming along pretty well now to. It seems to be quite handy as dont notice half of the flies that decide to land on my face. Chalet was awesome shared with jeff and jen and my god you should of seem the size of dinner it was amazing felt so full afterwards.

Day 8
Fri 23/11/12
Lake brockman tourist park to Yarri campsite
32 miles
Was a nice cool day today its been over caste since the start. Hopefully the cloud cover will keep some heat in so i dont freeze tonight. Was a plain ride no swims or exiting bits. The trail did have some good flowing downhill which seemed to last for miles. In general the trails were on a good service the only gripe was in some places it was a bit overgrown and there was a lot of fallen trees to carry the bikes over. Had a go towing jens extra wheel trailer today which was cool took a bit of load of her to as it was a long day for them. It tracked brilliantly the only real times you noticed it was when climbing and you could feel the pull against the back wheel. the only main gripe i have is when you have to stop to climb over a fallen tree. The trailer often gets you stuck or drops of completly then you have to hold the bike and attach the trailer. Quite hard with only two hands and a bike balanced on you. I would definately recommend one as an alternative to panniers but dont think its quite as good as the bike packing setup that im running at the mo though probally woulda worked out a bit cheaper to tow a trailer. Off into civilisation in the morning and hopefully a day off as i have a few bits to sort out. Unfortunaely that means leaving Jeff and Jen but think i will catch them up again on this journey at some point. Also seen a wild emu with a baby which was pretty cool.
Day 9 24/11/12
Yarri campsite to collie
30 miles
Was a nice quick ride this morning seemed to fly along there was a new bit of track not on the map that followed some pilons it was a bit of a killer glad it was early when i hit that if it would of been mid day the heat would of been torture. In my new found speed a think i musta overshot a sign post and got a bit lost. After spoting a local to ask directions i was back on the track to finding my route into town. Stopped at the tourist info to see about accomadation the cheap ones were full and the campsite looked a complete dive. Treated myself to a nice place to stay in the end. Got a little motel room with everYthing in it. Got a load of shopping maybe a bit to much but planning some long rides for the next sections so will need a lot of food. Also grabbed some leg warmers from the local bike shop crank n cycles. This place was amazing so much stuff. Got to ride a surly moonlander aswell which was amazing definately want one in my life. Picked up water purifying tablets for the long sections from the chemist so ready to hit the trail.

Day 10 sun 25/11/12
Collie to Ngalang Boodja campsite
26 miles
Short ride again today only about 25 miles out from collie to nglang booja campsite. On to map 4 now not actually to long left on the trail now probally the end of the week before i head for the coast and start my circle back to perth. Spoke to Maxine who i meet in Perth today and she said she’d look after my bike while Im away with lindsay on the east coast which is awesome. Makes it all a lot easier. Shame i wont be riding across but il save that for a trip in the future i think. The ride today wasent to bad. Very technical switchback downhill sections a few which werent even ridable on my bike. They were so violently bumpy that they caused the second anything cage to shit itself and explode. These arnt really all that well made ive decided. I will be looking for an alternative when i get home or have somthing made. Stopped for lunch at a place called honey moon pool was expecting an idilic setting but as it was the weekend there were fat drunk party animals and a couple screaming at each other so loudly they could be heard the other end of the valley. Just back up river there was a perfect spot though. Caught up with Jeff and Jen again at the campsite which is cool just had some curry lentils with them. Get to try out my new leg warmers tonight hopefully they will keep me warmer at night its not the most comfortable sleeping in waterproofs. Off to a place called Donnybrook tomorrow think il be staying at a backpackers or poss a bike shop with a campsite. May also see about getting a dongle so i can get my blog up to date.

Day 11 Mon 26/11/12
Nagalang Boodja campsite to donnybrook
30 miles
Pretty nice ride today seemed to mostly be downhill with a lot of gravel roads and tarmac thrown in to speed things up. The riding was nice again with Jeff and Jen today think we will ride together for the next few days may ahng on in donnybrook for a little bit tomorrow morning as i forgot to get an internet dongle sorted. Got a pizza for dinner though cannot wait for that with a tub of icecream for desert yum. Reckon ive got four days left on the trail now before i head for the coast dident think there was much point rushing but def need the net to sort out some warmshowers hosts for the trip back towards perth. Going to try and get there a day in advance so i can sort out a pack to fly with. Staying in what they call a bunkhouse tonight its just a large mis mashed house with rooms dotted all over mines a bit of a suana but its got a bed and got laundry done think i was starting to smell bad. Managed to speak to linz again earlier which always turns a good day into an awesome one.