I should stick to the highlights then… umm, let me
see.
Well, Margaret River of course. Food, wine, food,
wine, chocolate, food and more wine. Margaret
River produces some of the best wine in the world –
so I’m told. I don’t drink wine so I’ll just stick with
the boutique cheese, smoked meats, canapes and
chocolate producers. The Ten Thousand Calories
tour left me struggling to do up my motorcycle
jacket. And poor Mo, my long-suffering little Postie
bike which had already carried me 25,000kms
around Australia, already overloaded and unwieldy,
had the good grace not to mention my spare tyre.
boardwalk and a game of beach cricket.
The Barracks hostel accommodation was warm and
inviting with interaction amongst the guests. On the
last day of our stay we were treated to an off-road
Segway tour to visit the old WWII bunkers. What a
superb piece of machinery taking us up sand hills
and down rocky paths with the grin factor ever
present. I did feel like I was cheating on Mo but as
the old saying goes, what happens on the island,
stays on the island.
The south coast is another highlight. From
Esperance where I went on a peacock spider hunt on
Middle Island, along the dirt roads of the stunning
Stirling Ranges down to Albany where John taught
me to jetski; the coastline was stealing my heart. At
Hopetoun I found sanctuary from a storm and at
Denmark the spectacular William Bay and Elephant
Rocks. In contrast to the north of WA, the tall trees
of the South West held a majestic charm. The Valley
of the Giants tree tops walk had me in awe although
the Gloucester Tree at Pemberton did not entice me
to scale its heights.
Each small town vies for the almighty tourist dollar
with elaborate attractions to tempt you off your
chosen path. My convoluted route took me to
Bridgetown to see the jigsaw museum, Cowanrup to
see the Golden Cow (rump on a stump) and
Meckering to visit the Big Camera and photographic
museum.
So after rushing around the South West, some down
time was on the cards. What better spot than
Rottnest Island. I had met up with Linda
Bootherstone, an author and fellow motorcyclist,
and we spent a glorious week on the island
exchanging engine power for pedal power. The
island reeks in history having gone thro ugh many
transitions from convict settlement to indigenous
penal colony to WWII gun battery and finally
playground for the rich. It is trying to reinvent itself
as ‘affordable island holiday for the average family’
and it caters well for the many groups who visit,
however “affordable” could be contested.
Relaxing island holiday it certainly was. The pace of
the entire island slows to a crawl… in fact it
transports you straight back to 1950 and the beach
holidays we enjoyed as children. The simple
pleasures of reading a real book, ice cream on the
To wrap up my time in the west, Linda and I attended
the Horizons Unlimited Travellers meeting where we
were each giving a presentation on our travels.
Three days of inspiring talks, incredible films, hands-
on demonstrations, introductions to new riding gear
and a hundred enthused participants left us
exhilarated and exhausted.
So there you go Mr Editor, under a thousand words
yet so much more to say. I would have dearly loved
to stay another month, especially to experience
Albany’s Anzac celebrations but cross the Nullarbor I
must – while it’s still cool enough to be a pleasure
and not a chore. I am already planning my return.
ENDS