Weather forecast was for a mild stinker with the mercury just nearing the 40 degree mark. It had been arranged that I would go to Warnbro to get Guzzil-Gal for the run and then double back to Kelmscott to be at the meet point for 9 - 9:30am. Simon, doubting my ability to rise early, had me down at Warnbro for 8am. Susan and myself were at the Kelmscott BP around eight thrity, quickly deciding we'd go back up the hill to gate crash Simon's pad, but he must of heard us ride past. Just as we left the BP, Simon came the other way, a double head check of four lanes and one big u-turn, Susan and I went back. We'd only made it about 100m up the road when we spotted him. DOH!
Refueled and backed up against the fence, we waited for the others to roll up and do the same. The coffee from the BP will make hair grow on the souls of your feet and the tea tastes like wet cardboard. Seeing as rotten ronnies was just behind the servo, we headed there for the morning caffine fix. Well, it didn't get much better. At the BP you've got coffee so strong and cheap it's poison and at Maccas, you've got a shop so tight it puts just enough coffee in the peculator to give the aroma; you could still see the bottom of the cup when it was full. $2.50 for a cup of slighly flavoured hot water.
We spent a while chatting and getting to know the new faces. When it was clear all had arrived and it was getting closer to 10am, we headed for Dwellingup. It was a nice, easy run down the South West Hwy, the wind was cool and fresh, typical of an early summer morning. A few over taking manouvers required to stay ahead of the Sunday drivers. This kept the concerntration levels up where the Maccas coffee failed to deliver, if at all. It didn't take long for the Del Park Rd turn off to come up and we soon found ourselves resisting the urges to play. Del Park Rd has received a lot of negative press in the last few years with sportsbike riders easily doubling the posted speed limit. It was of course no surprise to see the posted speed limit reduced from 100 to 90 and in one of the most enjoyable sections, roadworks with no roadworkers and a further reduced speed limit of 40 or 60. It didn't take long and we were in Dwellingup, parked up out the front of the only servo in Dwellingup. Those of us with smaller tanks siezed the opportunity to refueled while the rest of grabbed a drink and joined the circle for a bit more socialising. Refreshed, we took off in search of lunch at Quindanning... a pub in the middle of nowhere.
Pinjarra-Williams road is unique in its despressing qualities. The main stretch leaving Dwellingup was mighty fine, it was the final leg to Quindanning and beyond that was a bit ordinary. Its one of these roads where the state budget must of been tight because they couldn't affort the extra lane of asphalt, so they just made it a two way road and if you're a car/truck, you hang half your wheels in the gravel if a vehicle is coming in the other direction. Smart hey? We all made it to the Pub in one peice and parked out the front of the establishment. Later I learned we had beaten the Ulysseans to it... haha! Peeling off the gear, we piled into the pub. It was dark inside, typical early 20th century solid jarrah timber decor. I went to move a stool to sit with the crew, but the darn thing was that bloody solid and heavy that I just about had to drag it to the table. Flyer was brave enough to order up first, so I sat back and waited to see how big the meal would be; to which the answer is sensible, both in meal size and price. Tasty too!
After lunch we wondered outside for a bit more socialising. Discussing with Griff the pronounciation of Norge. In keeping with Aussie tradition to bastardise it somehow, it be Norg-ee. Or if you're for correctness, Norge as in George. Guzzi with an 'ah' for the u or Gootzi to be correct. Tony will back me on this when I say its the latter. Although, you say it like that to an Aussie and he'll either laugh and correct you to the former or give you that vacant expression where you know they're thinking 'what's this guy been smoking'.
It was time to get a rollin' again. The bikes had been in direct sunlight and being black, the seats were hot hot hot! You couldn't tell I was keen to get going, roaring off while my pillion was just in the motion of throwing a leg over the seat. Hang on, where's Susan!
Back on the road, heading for Collie. Plenty of undulations, bad road surface, sweeping corners, gravel and very hot air. Tony's Griso wasn't playing nice, using its 180 back wheel to pick up pebbles and firing them off at the person unlucky enough to be within range. For all of that road, I left my little 850 in top gear and rolled the throttle on for the inclines staying at 2,500 to 3,000rpm. The exhaust note from the conti's changes on the rises, getting an angry bark to it. Griff was shaving bits off the Norge on the road with left handers catching the centre stand. A fun stretch of road none the less. Upon arriving at Collie, it was hot and somewhere between even managed to gain another rider to the group. Some of us took the opportunity to top up our tanks and parked up to pour down a cold drink or two.
The day was drawing to a close, it was well into the afternoon and time to head back to Perth. Next stop would be Harvey. The Coalfields Rd was great fun too and the 850T loved it. As before, nothing seemed to phase it when in top gear, it quite happily over took and accellerated, the torque seemed to be endless. Susan even managed to take photos of the group from behind her back with a broken collar bone! Back onto the South West Hwy again, heading North to Harvey. It didn't take long to get there and it was drinks again. It was really warm by that stage and the wind wasn't helping. At least the Harvey Service Station had great outdoor rest stop, complete with a bench, trees and a shaded grassed area. This made all the difference.
It was here that Brian, Hodgy and Tony parted ways with us and took the South West Hwy back to the City. It was getting late in the afternoon and Myself, Susan, Flyer, Griff and Simon headed for Warnbro via the Old Coast Rd. By the time we reached the T-junction, you could feel the cool, sea breeze coming in. It was about this time it felt like hacksaw's had been used up and down the tendons of my right wrist. Sadly, we went past an accident scene where a Falcon had gone bush in Lake Clifton. Ambulance and Police in attendance. I hope all involved walked away from that. A little further up, we lost Griff to an amber light. It didn't take long for Griff to catch up with us again and luckily enough our turn was further up, so plenty of time to make it up.
Then the Adam and Susan show took over. Simon made the left turn off and flagged me to go out front. I was wondering what was going on. We needed to go further up to go to the Safety Bay Rd if we were going to Warnbro, right? Tap Tap on the shoulder and I could see the hand out the corner of my right eye... was that straight or turn right here? A slap over the helmet, nope, it wasn't straight ahead! quick u-ee! From Dampier Dve, up Warnbro Sound Ave. We struck an irascible driver in a black Toyota that tailgated Griff, at the time I was oblivious to all of this, focussing my attention to what the next cue might be, which I got right (WOO HOO)... left on to Grand Ocean Bvd. Missed the next one though, another slap on the helmet and another u-ee (getting pretty good at these u-turns). And then we made it. Water, coffee and a bit more socialising.
After seeing Susan home safe, we all took off to see Mick on the way home. The sea breeze was in and the cool air was a much appreciated relief as we travelled up the Kwinana Fwy. I ran out in front, I couldn't help myself. I hadn't seen that many tight corners and since the round-a-bouts were there, I had to play a little bit. When we arrived at Mick's, we parked up where we could find a spot and settled to brag about the days events. At around 8pm we all split ways to go home.
A great day out was had by all & thank you to Simon, Adam, Guzzi-Gal, Griff, Hodgy, Tony, Brian and, Flyer & Twitch for helping make this a great day out.
