Ronnie and I had decided it was a good idea to start the old
bike week at the Indian Harley rally. Members of the Indian
Harley club support our club at the Hillclimb and this way we
could do something back. A lot of people didn’t like the idea
though. Maybe they were scared of the unknown.
The rally is great fun, the people really do a great job
organizing such a great event. We choose to stay at the club
grounds but of course you can stay in Bunbury on a caravan park
or in a chalet, there is heaps of accommodation
available.
The rides through Bunbury area were once again great, it is
lovely to have so many bitumen roads although that way you have
to put up with heaps more people and traffic but for a weekend
it’s great.
Ronnie’s father Jacob joined Ronnie in the back-up car (the
Indian was on the trailer) and Phillip O’Halloran and I rode our
bikes to Bunbury. We had enough stops along the way; Denmark,
Walpole, turn off to Northcliffe, Manjimup and Balingup.
Ronnie had enough of driving the car when we stopped in
Manjimup and asked me if he could ride my Moto Guzzi Le Mans. I
told him no because he’s been riding motorbikes for the last 20
years and I have just started, it’s just too much fun!
The weather was great although we had a massive pour down near
Shannon national park. Phillip and I had to slow right down
because we couldn’t see a thing. Bunbury was sunny and warm. We
pitched our tents and Phillip went to Koombana Bay caravan park
where he had booked a chalet for 3 nights.
We caught up with some Indian Harley club members and went to
the pub for a very nice meal. When we arrived back at the club
grounds John Sinclair, Bruce and Kylie had joined us and Clive
Oakes, Dawn, Stuart and Jonathan came over for a drink.
John had decided to sleep in his van but had forgotten to bring
a pillow, sleeping bag and mattress. He used a chair as pillow,
Ronnie’s dad gave him a thin mattress and he just slept with all
his clothes on. I don’t think he had a very good night.
The next morning was sunny and crisp. Huw and Elina were staying
with Elina’s parents for the weekend but they came to the club
grounds to start the rides. Huw, Elina, Bruce, Kylie, Ronnie and
I decided to ride all together. Huw did a great job leading us
through all the back-roads and we finally ended up in Collie for
lunch.
Ronnie’s dad Jacob got a lift from 4 very nice ladies and did
the short course in the car with them. All up I think we did
about 220 km on the first day. That night we enjoyed the yummy
food the ladies had prepared and of course we had a great laugh
when it was time for the quiz.
The sunshine woke us early on Sunday morning and we headed to
the club rooms for a coffee and some breakfast. The ride today
was about 120 km and once again took us through very nice areas.
Our morning tea break was in Brunswick Junction, where we
enjoyed the goodies from the bakery.
Back at the clubrooms we had lunch and the winners were
announced. I was thrilled when we heard that I had won best
performance by a female! I won some nice wine glasses and
thanked the Indian Harley club and all the helpers for a great
weekend; we will be back next year.
In the afternoon we went to Koombana Bay caravan park where we
caught up with Andrew, Wendy, Phillip, Bill (cousin of Phillip
O’Halloran), Bob Jackson, Jim, Keith, Colin Hinkley and Daniel
Webb. We had a shower and had happy hour at the campground. Huw,
Elina and Elina’s parents joined us that night for Chinese in
the local restaurant.
Monday morning we packed up to go and have a coffee at Fiona’s
place (friends of Wendy who have just moved from Roebourne to
Leschenault).
They’ve got such a nice spot with a huge deck and beautiful
backyard, we nearly wanted to set up camp there and then! But
no, we had some kilometers to do and after saying goodbye to
Fiona and her friend Tom we headed off along the Old Coast road
and some other small roads. We ended up in Yarloop, where most
of us had a look at the old timber museum.
It was pretty hot by now and nearly lunchtime so we decided to
go to Waroona for lunch. From there we took a beautiful windy
road to Dwellingup where we were going to stay for 3 nights.
Ronnie and I had never been to this caravan park before and we
just loved the tall trees and the massive camping area. Bob
Jackson had arranged to stay in a chalet with Keith, Jim and
Colin but something had gone wrong with the booking.
Their chalet had been rented out to somebody else. A big
disappointment for the boys and for us because now we couldn’t
catch up with each other for happy hour or for pub meals. And
it’s just not good if you have booked something and your booking
is given to someone else.
Bill and Phil were in a chalet and Huw, Elina, Wendy, Andrew,
Daniel, Jacob, Ronnie and I were camping. The first night we had
a nice steak on the barbie and we whipped up a salad with all
the ingredients we had.
The next day was Tuesday and Elina, Jacob and I stayed at the
campground. It was a 34 degree day and I’m glad I didn’t go for
the long day ride. All the others went for a ride and Andrew and
Wendy decided to go for a swim. That night we had tea at the
pub, great meal and cheap. Back at the caravan park some had
another drink or a cuppa and we all went to bed early.
Wednesday morning started sunny again. Daniel had phoned Colin
Hinkley and we were sad to hear they had decided to go back home
early. I think the heat and the mix up with the accommodation
had put a dent into their holiday. Hopefully they will have a
better trip next year.
Most of us went for a big ride, first to Serpentine Dam,
through Jarrahdale and all the way to Kalamunda for lunch.
Ronnie was a bit worried about leaving the Indian on the parking
lot but Huw said it was pretty safe.
By now Andrew and Wendy had left us to go back to Perth to get
some things done. Bill had also left to go back to Kojonup and
Daniel went to see Mario at the Guzzi shop. Ronnie, Huw, Elina,
Phillip and I rode back to Dwellingup. Wes Thomas had arrived a
couple of hours before on his Ducati and Jacob was busy talking
to him at the campground. We had another meal and some beers at
the pub that night.
On Thursday morning we said goodbye to Huw and Elina who were
going back to Perth. We packed up and left for Boyup Brook. Our
first stop was at the Quindanning pub for a cuppa and we had a
look around.
Ronnie and I thought it might be a good idea to go here in
winter for the annual pub ride. We rode to Collie and had lunch
there before heading towards Boyup Brook. We had a look in
Gnomesville and arrived at the caravan park in Boyup Brook at
about 4.00 pm. Wes and Phillip booked rooms in the pub and
Daniel, Jacob, Ronnie and I stayed at the camping ground.
Phillip, Wes and Daniel shouted us a meal at the local bowling
club that night as a thank you for the back-up.
The next morning started foggy and cool, but when we stopped at
Tone Bridge the weather had cleared up and it was quite warm. We
filled up in Mt Barker and had a pie at the bakery before
heading back home. All bikes made it back home and the back-up
car wasn’t needed for breakdowns. I had ridden 1800 km by the
time we arrived back in Torbay. Although numbers were down this
year we had a great time. We couldn’t really lose each other
because there was such a small number of bikes. What an
enjoyable week away with great people riding through beautiful
areas of the south-west.
Ronnie Jellesma: 1942 Indian Scout
Bill O’Halloran: 1957 Triumph T110
Phillip O’Halloran: 1959 BSA A10 Golden flash
Jim
Sharpe:
1972 BMW R75/5
Andrew Haydock: 1973 BMW 90/6
Huw
Jones:
1974 BMW R90S
Wes Thomas: 1974
Ducati 750GT
Keith Graham: 1974 BMW R90S
Daniel Webb: 1974 Moto
Guzzi V1000 Hydro
Colin Hinkley: 1976 BMW
R100S
Antoinet Glazema: 1978 Moto Guzzi Le Mans
Bob Jackson: 1984 BMW
K100RS
Elina
Spina:
1986 Suzuki 250cc