guzziriders.org - moto guzzi forum Homepage
Forum Home Forum Home > Out and About > Good Roads
  New Posts New Posts RSS Feed - Perth Hills ride.
  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Events   Register Register  Login Login

Perth Hills ride.

 Post Reply Post Reply
Author
Message
GU221 View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: 29 Nov 2014
Location: Australia
Status: Offline
Points: 367
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (3) Thanks(3)   Quote GU221 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Perth Hills ride.
    Posted: 07 Dec 2014 at 00:10

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

Bellagio 940T
T3
Back to Top
Mike H View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: 21 May 2014
Location: East Anglia
Status: Offline
Points: 8733
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Mike H Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 07 Dec 2014 at 01:44
I am so jealous, I hate you .. Big smile
"Chicken nuggets don't dance on a Tuesday."
Back to Top
Lemon 2 View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: 19 Oct 2014
Location: South Wales
Status: Offline
Points: 274
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Lemon 2 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 07 Dec 2014 at 08:14
Excellent report Rich, thanks fella, can't imagine Christmas time in such hot conditions.
Dazed and Confused

Le Mans Mk2
Back to Top
Brian UK View Drop Down
Moderator Group
Moderator Group
Avatar

Joined: 13 May 2014
Location: Surrey
Status: Offline
Points: 17641
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Brian UK Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 07 Dec 2014 at 09:09
And you can see the tarmac between the cars, more than can be said for this overcrowded isle.
Brian.

Better 5 minutes late in this world than years early in the next.
Back to Top
Grahame View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: 24 May 2014
Location: Scotland
Status: Offline
Points: 275
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Grahame Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 07 Dec 2014 at 12:52
It's snowing outside, I'm obviously living in the hills near the wrong Perth!
Back to Top
Jim Mac View Drop Down
Moderator Group
Moderator Group
Avatar

Joined: 14 May 2014
Location: Edinburgh
Status: Offline
Points: 3202
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Jim Mac Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 07 Dec 2014 at 13:37
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
V85 TT Trzvel    BMW R45
Too old to die young
Back to Top
Ken-Guzzibear View Drop Down
Moderator Group
Moderator Group
Avatar

Joined: 13 May 2014
Location: Sileby Leics
Status: Offline
Points: 9454
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Ken-Guzzibear Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 07 Dec 2014 at 15:15
Yeah mate wrong Perth..... it is warm where he is .... lol G'day by the way
The Older i Get, The Better I Was
Back to Top
johnno View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member


Joined: 19 Jul 2014
Location: loughborough uk
Status: Offline
Points: 5582
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote johnno Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 07 Dec 2014 at 17:31
nice little report with pictures ,I got back from a little rideout on 650tt and was very cold and damp in good old england
1100 sport corsa , Yam R1, guzzi 650tt rider
Back to Top
OldJohnboy View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: 16 May 2014
Location: The Hemingfords
Status: Offline
Points: 376
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote OldJohnboy Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 07 Dec 2014 at 20:45
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 Wink 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!
Back to Top
GU221 View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: 29 Nov 2014
Location: Australia
Status: Offline
Points: 367
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote GU221 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 07 Dec 2014 at 21:59
Originally posted by OldJohnboy OldJohnboy wrote:


 
I like the look of your Guzzi too. I've ridden a V7 - Excellent bike!

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. 


Bellagio 940T
T3
Back to Top
Oldrat View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: 31 May 2014
Location: Harrow
Status: Offline
Points: 1659
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Oldrat Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 07 Dec 2014 at 22:41
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
Back to Top
OldJohnboy View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: 16 May 2014
Location: The Hemingfords
Status: Offline
Points: 376
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote OldJohnboy Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Dec 2014 at 11:55
Originally posted by GU221 GU221 wrote:

Originally posted by OldJohnboy OldJohnboy wrote:


 
I like the look of your Guzzi too. I've ridden a V7 - Excellent bike!

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. 
 
Ah! I only looked at the fuel tank. Must pay attention to detail (slap) Big smile.
Well, it's a very nice job you've done. Thumbs Up


Back to Top
norfolknorge View Drop Down
Falcone
Falcone
Avatar

Joined: 07 Aug 2014
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 60
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote norfolknorge Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 09 Dec 2014 at 21:15
Originally posted by Lemon 2 Lemon 2 wrote:

Excellent report Rich, thanks fella, can't imagine Christmas time in such hot conditions.

I can !! lol.

Great report and pictures, oh yes I'm jealous Smile
norfolk norge

Norge, Kawasaki ZZR14, Honda CB250RS.
Back to Top
Jerry atric View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: 24 Nov 2014
Location: Wiltshire
Status: Offline
Points: 3367
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Jerry atric Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 09 Dec 2014 at 21:40
Can't imagine it being too hot to ride! If only...
Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply
  Share Topic   

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down

Forum Software by Web Wiz Forums® version 12.03
Copyright ©2001-2019 Web Wiz Ltd.

This page was generated in 0.074 seconds.