Perth Hills ride. |
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GU221
Senior Member Joined: 29 Nov 2014 Location: Australia Status: Offline Points: 367 |
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Posted: 07 Dec 2014 at 00:10 |
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Just as you guys are hibernating, we
downunder are coming into that period where it gets too hot to ride. Anyway, I
moved to Kalamunda in the Perth hills recently, and put this together for
another forum, but thought I’d share here, by way of introduction…
Wednesdays are the best ride days. Weekends
are fraught with too much city traffic heading into the country. None of the
usual Guzzi suspects could make a midweek ride, so I rode into the city for a coffee
with my old workmate Totts. He wanted to show off a new Kawasaki 1400 and was
keen for a quick ride. We headed off into the hills for lunch and a cold beer at
the Jarrahdale pub before he had to return to the city. This left me the afternoon
to explore the Perth Hills.
Lots of twisty little roads in the hills. Native forest abounds with
several reservoirs. This little bridge is over the Canning Dam overflow.
Typical vegetation for the area, except where its been cleared for mostly
horticulture. Its not spectacular country, but not typical Australia either.
Not many roos on the road. Perth sits on a coastal plain, behind which is an
escarpment, where you climb into the Perth Hills, where I now live. It levels
out into the Wheat Belt, after the hills, and then degenerates into desert. In
the vast state of Western Australia, there aren’t many twisty bike roads, so
the Perth Hills are the playground for bikers. The Mundaring Dam. This reservoir feeds Kalgoorlie and the Goldfields,
and is pumped 400 miles inland. Otherwise, like most of this harsh dry country,
Kalgoorlie couldn’t survive. The road to Mundaring Dam is every Sunday biker’s favourite ride. City
riders come here in their hordes at weekends. Its very heavily speed limited,
but that doesn’t slow some of them down. Little roadside crosses are a reminder
not to be careless. Spoilt for choice here. This is Bickley Valley. Vineyards, Orchards,
There’s been quite a bit of rain recently, so its all looking quite green, but
that could change quickly now that summers here. Those purple trees are Jacarandas. Originally from the Caribbean, they
grow in abundance in Kalamunda and the hills. The first signs of spring are the
Jacarandas coming into bloom here, and they are shedding their flowers now as
the summer begins to hot up. What’s a camel farm doing in the hills? I have no idea, but they breed
camels here, and I guess tourists can take them for rides. There’s a good café
here, apparently. Now to stop and smell the roses, literally. They are growing wild in the
hedgerow here, next to the “Heritage Rose Gardens.” I don’t know what
“Heritage” means any more. Ever since Harley Davidson started using the word it
has come to embrace everything tacky with little pretence to be historical. Carmel Valley. Could be picture perfect, but notice “the graveyard of
the rusted automobile.” In this day and age the wreckers will come and take
away old car bodies for free, so you have to wonder why this land owner wastes
good land. Is he making a statement, or just plain slack? So this is my new home turf. And its fine
riding country. It was a pleasant
temperature today, 26C, or 79F. That’s about perfect for riding. Soon it’ll
heat right up and the countryside will get browner. But for now, it was a good
day for a ride.
Cheers Richard |
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Bellagio 940T
T3 |
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Mike H
Senior Member Joined: 21 May 2014 Location: East Anglia Status: Offline Points: 8733 |
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I am so jealous, I hate you ..
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"Chicken nuggets don't dance on a Tuesday."
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Lemon 2
Senior Member Joined: 19 Oct 2014 Location: South Wales Status: Offline Points: 274 |
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Excellent report Rich, thanks fella, can't imagine Christmas time in such hot conditions.
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Dazed and Confused
Le Mans Mk2 |
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Brian UK
Moderator Group Joined: 13 May 2014 Location: Surrey Status: Online Points: 17641 |
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And you can see the tarmac between the cars, more than can be said for this overcrowded isle.
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Brian.
Better 5 minutes late in this world than years early in the next. |
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Grahame
Senior Member Joined: 24 May 2014 Location: Scotland Status: Offline Points: 275 |
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It's snowing outside, I'm obviously living in the hills near the wrong Perth!
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Jim Mac
Moderator Group Joined: 14 May 2014 Location: Edinburgh Status: Offline Points: 3202 |
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I opened this thinking it was Perth in Scotland and that I might take a run up to the Hill Ride, dissapointed it is not but then it is quite cold here just now even had a flurry if snow earlier. You have the better deal with the weather
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V85 TT Trzvel BMW R45
Too old to die young |
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Ken-Guzzibear
Moderator Group Joined: 13 May 2014 Location: Sileby Leics Status: Offline Points: 9454 |
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Yeah mate wrong Perth..... it is warm where he is .... lol G'day by the way
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The Older i Get, The Better I Was
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johnno
Senior Member Joined: 19 Jul 2014 Location: loughborough uk Status: Offline Points: 5582 |
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nice little report with pictures ,I got back from a little rideout on 650tt and was very cold and damp in good old england
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1100 sport corsa , Yam R1, guzzi 650tt rider
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OldJohnboy
Senior Member Joined: 16 May 2014 Location: The Hemingfords Status: Offline Points: 376 |
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Yeah, thanks for sharing that with us Richard. (I've even activated the 'Thanks' button at the top of this page - gets you some extra points I think so anyway.)
That's the first time I've ever seriously wished I was in Australia (no offence, I'm just rubbish in the heat + I wouldn't leave my little grandson) it just looks so great. One of my sons may be in OZ next year, or the year after. If he decides to stay there and put down roots, it will be a perfect excuse for me to come out and try the riding out there. I like the look of your Guzzi too. I've ridden a V7 - Excellent bike!
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GU221
Senior Member Joined: 29 Nov 2014 Location: Australia Status: Offline Points: 367 |
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Its a Bellagio, or was. Sort of custom roadster. I am new to this area near Perth. I lived on the south coast, Albany, for many years where the climate is much more temperate. Winter is the best season for riding here. Very few frosts near the coast. Summer heat can melt the tarmac on a hot day, and make very uncomfortable riding. |
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Bellagio 940T
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Oldrat
Senior Member Joined: 31 May 2014 Location: Harrow Status: Offline Points: 1659 |
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Sitting here, having got in from the chill, I really enjoyed reading about your local area.
Thanks for taking the trouble to post Richard. Cheers |
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OldJohnboy
Senior Member Joined: 16 May 2014 Location: The Hemingfords Status: Offline Points: 376 |
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norfolknorge
Falcone Joined: 07 Aug 2014 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 60 |
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I can !! lol. Great report and pictures, oh yes I'm jealous
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norfolk norge
Norge, Kawasaki ZZR14, Honda CB250RS. |
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Jerry atric
Senior Member Joined: 24 Nov 2014 Location: Wiltshire Status: Offline Points: 3367 |
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Can't imagine it being too hot to ride! If only...
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