Cycle touring Australia: Shannon to Walpole, WA, 64-65kms
October 7th 2006 01:58
The road to Walpole was my Waterloo. It is the closest I have come to chucking in cycling altogether - despite the relatively easy terrain.
Rain poured on us intermittently as we wound up the hills through the Mount Frankland National Park. The birds were going crazy; chirruping and fluffing their feathers in it.
After the first section the trend of the road was mostly downhill though there were lots of little hills to pop over too. The bush gave way to coastal scrub. We were miserable this day as the lower vegetation meant that the head/sidewind could get at us and slow us down.
There is nowhere along the way to take a break and buy a drink. We huddled on the side of the road in our dripping wet weather gear munching on walnuts and the ubiquitous cheese sandwiches.
The whole day, I was expecting this killer climb at the end of the route into Walpole. I built it up in my mind to be bigger than Mt Olympus. In actual fact, though it started very steeply, it was not the most difficult 4-4.5kms of climbing.
It was so easy, I didnt bother stopping to look at the views from the lookouts on top as I was convinced that there must be more climbing ahead and didnt want to lose momentum. By the time I realised the climb was over, I was hooning down a very quick winding rollercoaster descent.
To get into Walpole, there is a steep bit at the very last moment. Take heart, Walpole has a bakery and two supermarkets. We stayed at the Coalmine Beach Caravan Park who fitted us in despite the fact that we arrived during their busiest period. The campsite is right by the inlet. Check out the views (pictured).
This campsite had the cleanest BBQ and camp kitchen I have ever seen. I watched the muscle that the caretaker/owner put in each morning to get it looking spotless!! During peak holiday season it cost $21AUS/2pax/night.
To get there travel one kilometre along the road to Denmark then take a right down a side track (two kilometres return).
Rain poured on us intermittently as we wound up the hills through the Mount Frankland National Park. The birds were going crazy; chirruping and fluffing their feathers in it.
After the first section the trend of the road was mostly downhill though there were lots of little hills to pop over too. The bush gave way to coastal scrub. We were miserable this day as the lower vegetation meant that the head/sidewind could get at us and slow us down.
There is nowhere along the way to take a break and buy a drink. We huddled on the side of the road in our dripping wet weather gear munching on walnuts and the ubiquitous cheese sandwiches.
The whole day, I was expecting this killer climb at the end of the route into Walpole. I built it up in my mind to be bigger than Mt Olympus. In actual fact, though it started very steeply, it was not the most difficult 4-4.5kms of climbing.
It was so easy, I didnt bother stopping to look at the views from the lookouts on top as I was convinced that there must be more climbing ahead and didnt want to lose momentum. By the time I realised the climb was over, I was hooning down a very quick winding rollercoaster descent.
To get into Walpole, there is a steep bit at the very last moment. Take heart, Walpole has a bakery and two supermarkets. We stayed at the Coalmine Beach Caravan Park who fitted us in despite the fact that we arrived during their busiest period. The campsite is right by the inlet. Check out the views (pictured).
Fresh air and fabulous views from Coalmine Beach Caravan Park, Walpole
This campsite had the cleanest BBQ and camp kitchen I have ever seen. I watched the muscle that the caretaker/owner put in each morning to get it looking spotless!! During peak holiday season it cost $21AUS/2pax/night.
To get there travel one kilometre along the road to Denmark then take a right down a side track (two kilometres return).
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