August 10, 2025
Day 1: Perth to John Forrest National Park
It was raining a lot when we got the airport. We found all our bike boxes okay and eventually crammed ourselves into two maxi taxis to the airport apartments. They had helpfully put a bed in the living room of the two bedroom apartment, which was good because one of the bedrooms was leaking quite a lot.
After a night in the softest beds ever, we reassembled the bikes. The only casualty was the tube in Ben’s rear tyre which had mysteriously failed on the way over. James arrived in his partner’s car and we managed to squeeze Maggie and all the bike boxes into it to go to Maggie’s colleague’s place in Perth to await our return. My bike box is going to be used by Sam on the way back.
We rode a little way up the Tonkin Highway to where I had come in in 2022 (give or take 500m) and stopped at a small Colombian cafe which had just opened. Every other customer was speaking Spanish but they were chuffed that we were there. The GF options were non existent but after some empanadas for me and beef stew for Ben and coffee we rode off in the sunshine along another great bike path along the railway to Midland. We passed through the nice settlement of Guildford then into a maze of car parks in Midland until we got to the shops we wanted. I panic bought a warmer sleeping bag liner and we all stocked up at the WA equivalent of Coco’s called Spudshed.
James finally caught us up at a rail trail terminus just out of town and we had some lunch, enjoying our cycle touring privelege to be able to carry more. Hayley sent us a photo of her looking miserable in the rain yesterday on the Bibblemun track.
We then continued our slow tour of the shops to get some GF options and wine at the Swan View Coles. After chatting to some friendly locals we headed up the Heritage Railway trail and soon reached the tunnel.
It was very wet and rocky and dark but we managed to get through it.
It was an easy ride along the railway trail with lots of walkers and nice views back over the city.
We decided to camp at the picnic area
Today's ride: 30 km (19 miles)
Total: 30 km (19 miles)
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