After a restless night at Donnybrook Transit Park (continual heavy traffic through town) 😪 I pack up and head briefly onto the South Western Highway. Unfortunately, for Donnybrook there’s no bypass 🛣️ So the South Western Highway is that, a main highway for heavy haulage right through the centre of town. It doesn’t stop! 

As with most towns I’ve cycled through in Aus, there’s invariably a respectable skate park. Not as good as Manjimup‘s, but nerveless, good anyhow! 

Within 15 minutes I’m onto a B road and heading towards Boyanup. This road follows parallel to the South Western Highway. And what a difference! As it’s approaching the festive season (commercial) Santa’s out in force 🎅🏼 Looking properly fed, too! But saying that, a skinny Santa, just wouldn’t look right!

Not quite sure what Boyanup is known for, but it does have a particularly good pastieri shop! um um … Again, more Santa‘s on gate duty en-route! For such a large geezer, he does get around!

From Boyanup I start heading onto back-country terrain and through Dardanup Conservation Park 🎄 This was a particularly special day, as hot but no flies. I may harp on about flies, but when you have a day without the pesky monsters hounding you, it’s a great day!

With slow undulating terrain I head into Nglang Boodja Hut. This hut was vandalised last year. But, except for a few direction signs peppered with buck-shot 🎄 it looks untouched by rogues! 

Last year on the route North to South I‘d missed a loop that followed part of the Preston River. I took the route this time. I didn’t know subsequently I’d be in the buff and skinny dipping in the frigid water before long! Embrace the opportunity while it’s there! 🏞️

Equally, I didn’t know why not taking this loop was prudent! It’s a monster climb out ie off the bike and pushing most of the time. Totally unrideable. You may be able to ride down, just! And, then on the decent back to the road, again, would’ve been unrideable last year up! 🚵‍♂️ The whole excursion took 3 hrs. I could’ve ridden the same route, without the loop, in less than 1/2 hr!! But it was still worth it ...

Now, the significant push towards the old mining town of Collie ⛏️ As it’s approaching Xmas in a few days, I took the opportunity as it would be exceptionally quiet at the Collie Hills Village (contractors village) to book a ‘Donga’! 

Donga 🚪 a transportable building with single rooms, often used on remote work sites or as tourist accommodation.

And yes, except for a couple of contractors the village was quiet. I could’ve stayed longer as my room had air-con and there’s a restaurant! Big English Breakfast 🥓 Two nights anyhow with a brief cycle into Collie for supplies!

The following push onto Yarri Hut. I’ll be meeting up with a friend who’s joining me to cycle a few days from here. We met up at a crossroads (dropped off by a friend) and are soon back on the trail in the bush. 

Yarri Hut is particularity special as it’s really secluded 🔇