I left the Pinjarra Motel and turned onto the SW highway at 9:10. The morning was cool with a light NE tailwind that turned SW and freshened during the morning. I took a rest at 480, beside a creek and one of the many crosses that line the major roads, marking the spot of a fatal accident.

 A magpie approached me, vocalising, and hopped up onto the bike, where it sat on the handlebars and spoke some more. I didn't have any food for it.

I rested again at 498, at the sign that says 'Welcome to the Shire of Harvey', after passing non-stop through Waroona.

I was labouring over this relatively short easy ride and invented the 'traffic-light stop'. There are of course few traffic lights in the country and one can just ride on and on, but I decided that what makes city riding easier is the frequent stops for traffic lights, when one can stop pedalling and straighten up and relieve any numbness. So throughout this ride I would have these little stops just for a minute.

I reached the turn-off and arrived at the Harvey Hotel at 516, 12:26. It took a while to get checked in because they have one person running around serving the bar and doing everything. I doubt if that will change with the new Industrial Relations legislation. The unit (No. 28) was $70, I was surprised this whole ride by how much the prices of motel units have gone up, though the units themselves haven't changed or have even deteriorated since my last visit. The Harvey unit was a snug little cabin in a row behind the main hotel, just as in 2002. A yard just behind the row of units contained the woodpile and some sheep and chooks. Three or four cats wandered about as usual.

The former Harvey post office is now derelict, having served a term as a bridal shop. The town is lively and prosperous enough. It was going to be a cold night. I got an early tea again after the usual tasks. I got sweet and sour chicken and fried rice from the local Chinese takeaway. It was disappointingly tasteless and there wasn't much chicken, but it filled the spot. I tried to get an early night, worried about the slog down to Donnybrook via Waterloo the next day. The forecast was still for headwinds. I had trouble getting to sleep.

Reading at Harvey, end of day: 516. Km for day: 54. Aggregate: 115, km/day: 57.5.