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The Great Southern Full pannier Tour

Sunday March 11, 2018 @ 8:00 am - Saturday March 17, 2018 @ 5:00 pm

Distance: ~300km: ,

PLEASE NOTE:  This site will be continually updated as more information is available.  Many of the eateries are closed on certain days but depending on participation of the tour, some eateries will make themselves available and open for us if there are sufficient numbers.

This is a 7 day full pannier tour with no support vehicle encompassing the Porongurup’s, Denmark and Albany with two nights in each caravan park.  This way on the rest days there is a base camp which means less packing and a lot more exploring the towns we will be visiting.  Accommodation will be the way of tenting or members may choose to use the on site cabins/vans.  So book your holidays for this exciting tour.  At this stage, this is a members only tour.

DAY 1 Sunday 11th March- Getting down there (Distance 410 from Perth to the farm in Napier by car, then 30 km’s to Porongurup Range Tourist Park:  Members, where possible, are to car pool to the farm in Napier which is between Albany & the Porongurup’s off Chester Pass Rd.  Details will provided to members prior to tour.  Car pooling is essential as it is a working farm, however there is safe storage for our vehicles.  Members are requested to arrive around 1.00 pm at the farm for a departure at 2.00 pm to our first stay at the Porongurup Range Tourist Park.  Please bring a frozen BBQ pack which should be defrosted by the time we get to the PRTP for a group BBQ for our first night together.  Wrap your meat in plastic then newspaper, it should keep till we get to camp.

Leaving the farm we have about a 30 km ride to the PRTP.  En route we can pop into the Castle Rock Winery to pick up a bottle or two for our group barbie.

At time of writing, the park has:

A beautiful camp kitchen with a big fridge and a full kitchen (plates, cutlery etc).

1 two bedroom chalet (1 DB, sofa, dining table, TV, aircon, full kitchen, shower/toilet and a sep bedroom with a QB, decking overlooking our park) for $145 p/n for 2 couples, and

1 cabin (with 1 DB, 2 SB, fridge, cutlery and crockery, dining table – no ensuite, the guests would have to use the camp kitchen and shower/toilet in our amenity block) for $70 p/n for 2 people (add $15 p/n for an extra person).

If you need more accommodation please try the Tea Rooms.  They have reasonable prices and located opposite of the park.

Contact details for the Porongurup Range Tourist Park: Freddie & Ulli, ph- 9853 1057, E- info@prtp.com.au

DAY 2 Monday 12th March- Rest Day:  What, a rest day already.  Yes, but hey, plenty to do in the Porongurup Range.  We have the range itself to go walking and use some other muscles.  We have wineries which serve lunch’s and that gorgeous cafe to visit for Devonshire Teas, etc. all in walking distance.  The evening meal is to cook in so you will need to carry enough food from home as there is little to obtain from the cafe.

DAY 3 Tuesday 13th March- Porongurup’s to Denmark (Distance 80 km’s):  Leaving the PRTP, we travel about 23 km’s west on flattish roads and beautiful country side stopping in Mt Barker for morning tea (of course) and purchase lunches to have on road to Denmark.  Mt Barker to Denmark, the roads are undulating but hey, for every up hill there is a down hill and we are travelling south to the coast.  Relatively little traffic should be to Denmark.  We will be staying at the Riverbend Chalets & Caravan Park which is approximately 2.5 km’s northeast of town on the banks of the Denmark River.  A truly beautiful spot and quiet with lots of trees.  In Denmark, before you go to the park, you can pick up tonight’s meal from the local IGA in town to cook in or BBQ or one can eat out with a lovely walk into town and back.  Remember, there is the famous Denmark Bakery one might desire, which I do.

At time of writing, the park has:

Unisex shower and toilets, a BBQ and sitting area in a gazebo.  Toaster and kettle available.  In the laundry they have facilitates to do our dishes.  No camp kitchen or WiFi.  They have self contained (you will need to supply your food and clothes) Chalets/Cottages.  Or the On Site Van (you will need to supply your linen, food & clothes).  There are many choices here, too much to publish.  Members can email me and I can send a copy of their cabins, cottages’ etc. or contact RCCP.

Contact details for the Riverbend Chalets & Caravan Park: Lisa & Mark or Mandy the receptionist, ph- 9848 1107, E- rivabend@omninet.net.au

DAY 4 Wednesday 14th March- Rest day:  Well, not really.  You can do what you want but the plan is to go for a long ride (about 65 km’s), without our panniers, along the beautiful Scotsdale Rd.  Along this road we will be visiting Estate 807 which will open for us if there are sufficient numbers on this day.  They are normally closed on a Wednesday!  It is only 8 km’s from the RCCP.  We eventually end up on the South Coast H’way where we can visit Greens Pool for a swim if it is hot (it’s blue by the way).  This is a really picturesque and safe swimming hole on the coast.  For those who have never been to Greens Pool you are in for a treat.  West, there is also the Bartholomew’s Meadery where you can have really yummy ice creams.  Further west, lunch will be at the Toffee Factory.  Heading back the same way along SC H’way, we could visit time permitting the Denmark Chocolate Factory (sort of compulsory to visit don’t you think).  However, this part of SC H’way is quite narrow and windy.  I have found the new Denmark Normalup Rail Trail which runs parallel with the SC H’way and being a rail trail, the surface is good for touring bikes, flat (well it was a rail line), quiet (no cars) and lots of trees.  Where we get on, it will be about 12 km’s to the Denmark River opposite the swing bridge with the other rail trail on the other side that most of us know about.  From here, not far back to Denmark and the Denmark Bakery and back to camp.  Meal arrangements as per the first night.

DAY 5 Thursday 15th March- Denmark to Albany (Distance 75 km’s):  After packing our trusty steeds, we head straight for the, you guessed it, Denmark Bakery for a coffee and a bite to eat if one chooses.  More importantly, to buy morning tea and lunch to have en route.  We travel south again to the little swing bridge over the Denmark River and get onto the Wilson Inlet Heritage Trail, 10 km’s of a beautiful quiet trail similar to yesterday.  This trail skirts part of the Wilson Inlet and is a great trail.  Much better than the SC H’way which we eventually get on.  We turn off onto the Lower Denmark Rd to Elleker which has a small shop.  Tea, coffee and morning tea can be obtained here but lunches are limited.  A nice place to stop for an on the road lunch is the old one way bridge on the Elleker Grasmere Rd which rings around Lake Powell.  This is a beautiful very quiet road with some stands of young karri.  Back onto the Lower Denmark Rd we eventually get into Albany where one can do one wants but basically afternoon tea will be in order somewhere.  Maybe a little bit of sight seeing if the day is still young with full panniers.  Food requirements for the evening meal can be purchased, well anywhere really, before we end up at the Emu Beach Holiday Park.

At time of writing, the park has:

Camp kitchen and BBQ facilities are nearby to the unpowered area.

Studio Apartment (2 people only as only a queen bed) is $125 per night

Medium Chalet (4 people – queen and 2 singles) is $140 per night for 2 people and extras are $25 each.

Contact details for the Emu Beach Holiday Park: Geoff, ph- 9844 1147, E- geoff@emubeachhp.com.au

DAY 6 Friday 16th March- Rest day:  No plans at this stage but there is plenty to do in Albany as one can appreciate.  Members may want to discuss with each other and form small groups to do whatever they want.  The nights meal, being the last one, we have been invited and attending the Emu Point Sporting Club which literally is 100 m from the EBHP.  Walk there, crawl back.  This is a sporting club and as always the meals are very reasonably priced.

DAY 7 Saturday 17th March- EBHP to Napier and the farm (Distance 27 km’s):  Leaving EBHP, we get onto the Lower King Rd and cross the King River bridge, onto back roads to Chester Pass Rd and back to the farm at Napier.  Here we strip down our trusty steeds for the last time, pack our vehicles, get into a change of clothes (leave some in the car at the beginning), kiss and say goodbye before we all head back home.

Accommodation and Costs:

For those members not wanting to tent, it is advised to contact the relevant parks to secure your booking as you may miss out and have to find accommodation outside of the parks.  There are many choices and some members may wish to bunk together with others to reduce costs.

For tenters, the cost for tenting will be all up about $100+.  Still some things to work out.  You will be advised prior to tour.

There will be a small fee for all participants to cover costs associated with arranging this tour.  Still to be worked out.  You will be advised prior to tour.

Please arrange to have correct money at the start of the tour.  Money will be collected at the farm in Napier.

What you need to do:

  1. Email me if you are wanting to attend and how many.  For those who have already emailed me in recent months please email me again with the following questions answered.
  2. Are you tenting or making your own arrangements.
  3. Will you be partaking in the rest day ride on Day 4 and therefore attending Estate 807 for morning tea (subject on numbers and confirmation).
  4. Will you be partaking in the last evening meal of the tour at the Emu Point Sporting Club.
  5. Car pool if you can.
  6. Be a current member of the CTA.  Non members may be able to attend the tour if numbers are down.
  7. Bring a sense of humor.

Any questions please do not hesitate to contact the ride leader.

Details

Start:
Sunday March 11, 2018 @ 8:00 am
End:
Saturday March 17, 2018 @ 5:00 pm
Event Categories:
,

Organiser

Stan
Phone
9345 3552, 0439 955 241
Email
stancds@netspace.net.au




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