Alan's Munda Biddi Ride - Sep 06
Submitted by Alan M
Previous - Part One
Thurs 7/9/06
Left Johnno's place and rode to Sculpture Park, took a photo of the "rig", left there at 9.50 am. It was a freezing morning, 10.2 degrees with a strong wind. Rode toward the Weir. Had trouble with the front panniers and repaired them. Coming out of Helena valley nearly killed me, had to push a bit of the way, took the touring route and was pleased I did, had lunch at Bib track junction.
Really enjoyed the single track section after Mundaring Weir Rd. Found some of the hills hard work. Enjoyed some of the areas up to Pickering Brook. Didn't like the slog after P. Brook, Wind was v strong and v cold. A hut around P. Brook would have been nice, I found the last 10 or so Km too much, especially the last 2K's. Ate like a horse on arrival. Temp is dropping, 11.4 degrees. 8:08 Pm and bed time. Hut is great but catches the wind.
Stats
Moving time 4hr 35m
Moving average 9.3
Stop time 2hr 39m
Overall average 5.9
Max speed 54.5
Odometer 42.76
Day 2 Friday
Slept very well last night despite the cold. Thank goodness for Johnno's Bivi bag & Sue's silk liner. Left at 9:50 am. Bit hard to get moving cause of the cold !!!. There were some beautiful sections thru to the Canning valley, it is a huge downhill into the valley, coming out the other side was hard work because of the pea gravel and gradient. The trailer can make it hard work.
About 500 m from the Albany Hwy my front pannier broke so I got onto road and then peddled down to Gleneagle crossing came into the hut, that was very pretty and v easy. Hut is in a lovely location, sheltered and lots of bird life. Made running repairs to pannier, will see how it holds up. All in all a good day, the gluets (buttocks ) are feeling it!!! Was v cold and drizzly this am. Wind is v cold.
Stats
Moving time 3hrs 25min
Moving Ave 10.2Km
Stopped time 1hr 37min
Overall average 6.9Km
Max speed 34Km (Albany hwy)
Odometer 34.79Km
Day 3 Saturday
Slept well in Wungong hut. Was by myself again. The ride from Wungong to Jarradale was very, nice, more of what I expected from the trail. It followed an old logging railway for the majority of the time. Arrived in Jarradale at 12:15 and had lunch at the cafe as you come into town. Went and had a look at the campsite, looked abandoned and was eerily quiet, didn't like it. Left town at 3pm and continued towards Dandalup dam. Some of the hills were huge particularly coming out of the Serpentine Valley, it was harder than the weir hill, got a flat on the front tire just to add insult to injury, tube valve stem failed as I was pushing up the hill. Kept pushing the bloody thing till I got to the top then changed the tube.
Stats
Moving time 4hr 24
Moving average 10.9
Stopped time 3.59
Overall average 5.7
Total time 8hrs 24
Odometer 47.87 km
Day 4 Sunday 10/9/06
Left at 9.40ish with the intention of getting to Dandalup hut, about 20Km by map. Some of the track is torn up by motor bikes and makes for hard work as it is loose pea gravel and sand. There were some very steep sections today not to mention the last hill before the hut which I seemed to go straight over and not around. The erosion on the hill down to the hut is bad. My panniers finally bit the bullet today. Thinking I may quit tomorrow, ride back to Perth and try and fix them. Weather is still cold.
Stats
Moving time 1hr 46 min
Moving average 10kph
Stopped time 56min
Overall average 6.5 kph
Total time 2hrs 45min
Max speed 40.3
Odo 17.75 Km
Monday
Spent the day at the hut. It poured down with rain last night and it was freezing this am. I swear these huts are built on a turntable with a weather vane to face them into the breeze. Rained a lot this morning but cheered up towards the end of the day. Barometer started to pickup, looking hopeful for tomorrow. It's freezing cold with the wind chill and when I go and pickup the car in Perth I'm going to buy a better sleeping bag. Don't life's priorities change when one is on the "trail"?
Tuesday
Left nice and early, 8.30ish, Still cold but a lot clearer. Had some nice sections today but also had some criminal uphill slogs, I suspect the blokes who put this trail can't spell "contour" 'cause they sure as hell can't follow one. In one section I was following a perfectly good well graded track beside a creek when, for no explicable reason the track turned, went up a hill to a saddle, followed the contour around the hill, promptly went halfway down said hill, followed contour, then went back up to a position about 300M from the initial position - I hit the saddle, don't you think I wasn't spewin. Arrived In Dwellingup knackered.
Wednesday
Left early, "its all downhill to Pinjarra" they said, "they" drive cars... and don't see the uphill sections, but the final run down to Pinjarra was great. Tires were great, could only put in 80 psi as the compressor was at max capacity. (Fitted the Fat Boys, road tyres.) Tried to get train but can't get bike on in Pinjarra.? Flat nearly all the way to Armadale, 8 Ks of up and down just out of Bicton. Hit Armadale at 1410hrs.
Stats
Moving time 4:37
Moving Ave 18.2Km.
Stop time 1:42
Overall ave 13.3
Total time 6:20
Odo 84.38
Max speed 62.2
Upon arrival at Dwellingup I had to ride back to Perth as my car was being repaired and due to pickup. I bought the sleeping bag, as threatened (got a -5 +5) and slept like a toasty log for the remainder of the trip - worth every cent! I had other business to take care of and finally got dropped off on Thursday 21/9 at 6pm in the evening by my fiance, Kathleen.
