The cycling trip commences! I collected my bike a few days ago from Grace Removals near Perth Airport (when I finally found it). When I realized where I had to collect it from, I moved to a caravan park nearby because I wasn’t sure what state everything would be in when it arrived: would they let me unpack it onsite or would I have to hire a taxi van? etc.
A picture of Naomi at Woodmans Point so you don’t get bored of all the text
To get to the depot, I had to ask a friendly looking gentleman with an enormous … well, I think it was a dog of some kind. I asked for directions and he ummed and aaaahd and then said: “Ah, yes! You need to go over the Merry Go Round…”
I take it from where he was pointing he was referring to the Roundabout. I have to admit that I didn’t have high hopes for the rest of the conversation.
“… and”. Then he stopped and drew my attention to his “dog”. It had me in its sights. It was focused on me like a laser beam, not moving at all. Staring. Ready to pounce. Drooling from the mouth, it’s left top lip occasionally twitching.
The gentleman said: “He’s hungry.”
I see.
He then gave me the rest of the directions and I was about to leave when his “dog” lurched forward towards me. The owner pulled it back and said to it in a stern voice: “No No No. Not him!… (chuckle)”.
I see.
You scary, scary man.
Glad to be going in the opposite direction to that thing he had on a lead, I eventually arrived at the depot. The bike box was in mint condition: it looked like it did when it left Englandistan a few months ago. No scuffs, no broken edges, no holes, no tears: nothing. They even wheeled the box out the right way up. Contrast that with the UK postal companies: unsure of which is the right way up, they endeavour to try all orientations during transit! Anyhow, I’ve nothing but praise for Excess Baggage International and Grace Removals for sorting this out and getting it to the right place in one piece in immaculate condition. Also, thanks to Simon, an old colleague (or should that be ex-colleague?! Or should that be ex-old-colleague?! hehe) for letting me use his address to satisfy all paperwork issues. Really: exceptional service from Excess Baggage International. To add icing to the cake, they even let me empty the box at the depot and they discarded all packaging. Can’t say fairer than that!
Another pretty picture from Woodmans Point
Right up until the last moment I didn’t know which way to start my trip: half of the people I talk to say “go down the coast” and the other half say “go through the country”. When I arrived at the junction to Tonkin Highway the traffic lights were on green so I turned right and went towards Freemantle on the coast. The first few hours were on highways but it’s clear from the signs that cyclists are allowed to use the shoulder when there is one. Highways you can cycle on over here: Freeways you can’t. It’s clear they are making an effort to put cycle shoulders and crossing points for all cyclists on the Highways: this is good news!
I managed to get to a place called Bull Creek from where a cycle route runs from Perth right the way down to Rockingham parallel to the Freeway. Although Perth sprawls, they have cycling routes all over the place (try finding a map with them all on though: good luck with that) and are building more: where they don’t, many of the paths are “dual-use” where you can amuse yourself by whizzing past very old ladies at high speed without any warning (joke). After asking for confirmation that I was going in the right direction to Cockburn Road – which, as I was corrected after asking directions, is pronounced Co-Burn Road – it was a very pleasant two hours down to the caravan park at Woodmans Point on Cockburn Road.
Cycling with all that weight was easier than I thought: fair do’s, there’s not a lot of hills in Perth, but I was expecting it to be much harder than it was. Or perhaps it’s just the bike handles like a dream. I just hope it stays that way because as soon as I have to adjust a gear cable, a brake or some other part of the bike: it’ll never be the same again!
I spent the first ten days in Perth being ill so I didn’t get to see much. Yesterday, instead of continuing the trip, I spent the day cycling near Woodmans Point and around Coogee Beach. Rather pleasant!
Various pictures around Woodmans Point and Coogee Beach. And a lizard sunning itself on the cycle track (it turned at the exact moment I took the shot).
Right up until departure time, I lived in a delusional place, convinced that somehow I would be able to take my hiking poles and Berghaus Bioflex along with me on the cycling trip. As artistic as I could get with my packing, I couldn’t manage it. So I gave them to a couple of Scots at the campsite. To be honest – after hiking in Europe for three months, I think it will be a VERY LONG TIME before I do any more self-supported trekking anyhow!!!
Fully loaded, this is what Naomi looks like:
Appalling picture taken with the sun behind me this morning.
Although it looks a lot I am assured it’s not: in theory, it can carry over 50 kilos of luggage on the back (and I’m nowhere near that). I am not a hefty guy either and the wheels normally carry much heavier people and much heavier loads over appalling roads. I hope the the spokes agree! That’s about the only part of any bike I”ve owned that I haven’t had to repair: the benefit of having owned a GT Aggressor from Halfords in the UK in the past is that everything breaks and you get reet good at fixing stuff!
That said, the loaded bike is fekin’ heavy and it’s hernia-inducing to lift it back up.
After reading the Thorn Users Manual that came with the bike, I figured it would be prudent to have the bike checked over and a few things tightened up / checked before I committed to the isolated routes. So today, in Rockingham, I visited KD Cycles. I really wanted feedback on the threadless headset: how tight should it be? The allen key was well loose when it arrived. Is that normal? I tightened it anyway figuring (perhaps incorrectly) I wouldn’t damage anything unless I made it silly-tight. The book goes to great lengths to tell you not to overtighten it but doesn’t actually give you a torque value!
Anyhow, the mechanic at the shop reset it, convinced me nothing was damaged, and sent me on my way.
He did the work for free (!) so I thought it would be polite to spend some money at his shop: I did. I bought a wireless Cycling Computer so now I’ll know how far I am from a Roadhouse when I run out of water and die of thirst.
Cycling here is an absolute pleasure. The weather is perfect, the roads are wide and the coastal scenery is spectacular. There is nothing I would rather be doing in my life right now than this!
Next (shorter!) update in a few days.
L8r!
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