Day 7 of Munda Biddi - A bigger day

Distance: 91 km

Elevation gain: 1,053 metres

From the town of Collie to the town of Donnybrook

About 8.5hrs travel time, from 6:30am to 3:00pm

Now at Donnybrook, my distance from Mundaring: 401km

I left the Collie Tourist park at 6.30am which is earlier than normal but went into Collie town to have Maccas for breakfast.  Bacon and egg muffin, hash brown and coffee - So good!!

It was a cool (10deg) start after breakfast which was very fresh (but welcome).  The track out of Collie started on a concrete path (so smooth - luxury!) and the day included quite a bit of tarmac.  The tarmac and cooler temperature helped a great deal.  Compared to a week ago (mid 30degree heat, soft pea gravel, rough tracks) the conditions today were beautiful.

That's not to say it was all smooth tracks. For the first time the track downhill was so steep and rocky that I got off and walked / dragged my bike down the track.  I did not want to go over the handlebars!

There were also a number of really big climbs - on gravel roads, tarmac and forest tracks.  This made today's elevation gain the largest on my trip so far.

I was also enjoying a sweet ride along a ridge looking at the green rolling hills when I heard a familiar squark and turned just in time to swat at a swooping magpie.  That was dangerous because I was riding downhill with one hand on the handlebars and wildly swinging my other arm in the air.  And then about 500m along the path a second magpie had a go.  So dangerous when I'm steering and braking with my right hand and left arm waving around.  You have probably all heard that it's a bad idea to only use the front brake on soft gravel while turning downhill. 😉

Today was also the first real sign of the famous Western Australian wildflowers. 🌸 There were patches along the track that I could even appreciate because the day was going so well.

Unfortunately the last 10km into Donnybrook reverted to the traditional soft pea gravel tracks mixed in with soft white sand.  It took the shine of an otherwise good day.  

Breakfast was special - compared to 'camp food' this was just the start I needed. 

A comical moment along the track when they didn't make the gap between the fallen tree wide enough for my bike with all the gear. 

It felt like one of the car chase movie scenes in Europe and reminded me of Clark Griswold in European Vacation. I love that movie.

Anyway my bike is very heavy and took a bit to get it over the logs.

The view from the track of the rolling hills before the magpie attacks.

Arrived in Donnybrook at the train station. Exhausted but not dehydrated.  A good day.