Busselton-8923kms

Dearest Intrepid Reader,

Hello to all of our United Triker family gathering at Bejelke-Petersen Dam this weekend for the August Assembly. We will miss being with you all, but we are making the best of it over here in the west! Have fun.

Very excited to head further south today. Amazing to go where you have never gone before.

There has been high winds in Perth overnight, we had been woken by a loud noise which we found out this morning was tin panels being blown off the fence of our building. John studied the BOM and we left a bit later at 0830, when a lull in the weather was expected.

We went out on the Stirling Highway past Fremantle and onto the South Highway to Mandurah. We had a smooth run out of the city. We are very good at riding together and staying together even in traffic. The MOTH had the Krakkatinnie today. All worked perfectly, the fuse under his seat on the Harley was changed in the service and the indicator lights on the trailer were now working. The trailer lights had been working when I towed, with the Lovliness but not behind the Harley. Anyway, problem solved.

If we do get separated which is rare, we just revert to corner markering as we do in any group ride.

Mandurah

Madurah is a city on the South West Coast. It is known for the Peel-Harvey Estuary, with its abundant wildlife and migratory birds. Jenny and I were on a shopping mission in Mandurah, to try and find a shop, Jenny had been to in March. Despite our best efforts and many steps, we could not find it. We got very wet in the process with the rain moving across. When we found John and the MOTH again. They advised we would wait a bit longer before leaving as the BOM had been consulted and there was nothing behind this rain cell, so we would have clear skies again soon. They were right of course.

We still have not used our wet weather gear….. yet.

We visited one of the Mandurah Giants !

Mandurah MOTH

Busselton

We then headed down the road again, through Bunbury and onto Busselton. The Harley fuel economy, has improved today, even with towing, the MOTH reports he was getting 6.5litres/100kms. The service has really helped, and now with 15500kms up on the Harley the motor is starting to be run in.

It was well and truly lunch time at just after 2pm. We headed straight down to the iconic Busselton Jetty and called in at the “Goose” for lunch. We were very cold, the top had only been at 15 degrees all day and it was about 12 degrees now.

My plan was to have a hot drink. However, we recognised that it was our duty to start researching (action research mind you) the Margaret River wines. As we are now so close, and we are actually going there tomorrow.

So Jenny and I had, a Flying Fish Cove Rose, Margaret River 2021.

Maybe, because it was unexpected, or it tastes better when you can’t feel the rest of your body, I am not certain. I am here to report, that it is the best Rose, I have ever tasted. Jenny, was also a fan.

We only had the one. We also had far too much straight carbohydrate. A bowl each of triple cooked potatoes, with truffle Aoli.

It was beautiful to sit there and gaze out at Geographe Bay.

Then, we had a train to catch. We had to get out on that jetty.

The Train is solar powered with the panels secured on the top of the carriages. It has 15 lithium batteries.

I am running 5 lithium batteries myself now. My gloves, have one each, my heated vest, my watch and my phone. Hope the MOTH does not make me get a solar panel!

Our driver was Daryl. He was fun and passionate about the Jetty. He has driven the train for six years. His position, is actually a paid position but many that were out helping to make our train journey happen, were volunteers. Including Verna.

Verna, would have been at least 85, she was so tiny and so rugged up against the cold. She took our tickets and was the one waving most enthusiastically as we pulled out on our ride. The contribution of people like Verna, keep these amazing experiences open and functioning and I am very grateful to them. The Jetty has only survived because many people volanteer and raise money for its repair and maintenance. The Jetty’s Management committee are all volanteers.

Here is our driver Daryl, I am so sorry I did not get a photo, of the beautiful Verna.

We were able to go to the end of the Jetty. Then we ran down the ramp and looked under the jetty on the fishing platform. All in the eight minutes it took for Daryl to turn the engine around.

We returned on the train, it takes about 45 minutes, to find John and the MOTH waiting, holding our helmets. It was time to go to Dunsborough. Only about 25 kms down the road.

We are staying at the Wyndham for the next two Nights. We just scraped in, in time for happy hour!

The MOTH has the Krakkatinnie posing as some type of hybrid electric trailer, charging the battery box, in the Tesla charging bay. It’s only little and a car could fit there as well.