I hadn't heard from the Ocean Drive motel at Bunbury but I assumed it would be all right. I set off from Busselton at 9:36, 840. There was no hurry, hence the late start. I just took the Causeway to the main highway. I used to leave Busselton along the coast and go through Wonnerup before joining the main highway. This didn't save any distance but it was a different way to go and quite picturesque. But some years ago coastal erosion took out long stretches of the coast road, so that I had to carry the bike over sand. Subsequently, new developments east of Busselton created a confusion of new roads for which I didn't have maps, and I got lost.

The wind was from the south-east but not too strong and I assumed it would help me after Capel.

I took the tourist drive, formerly the main Bussell Highway, now bypassed for long stretches. I rested at the Ludlow river, 855. Before that I crossed the Abba River, whose name was more topical when I first crossed it in 1977. It was a ditch then and most times subsequently, but on this occasion it was a real river, due to the good season of rain. I took a picture of it.

I took the turn off the main highway and reached Capel at 867, for the traditional drink stop at Colroy's. It is now Colroy's Country Kitchen and has been largely rebuilt, but still bears the same name and the sign says 'Established 1960'. I left Capel at 11:30.

On the way north to Bunbury I stopped for a break and found another orchid, a spider orchid, a rare type with a long needle rising from the top. I took a picture.

This was beside the road, and the ground was very watery, and I was tormented by mosquitoes as I took the picture. I got about fifty bites. I spent the next few kilometres in discomfort trying not to scratch, but the itching had faded by the time I reached Bunbury. This reminded me of one of the things I had forgotten to pack - the Aerogard! Along with a comb.

There were a lot of signs as I approached Bunbury, and as I proceeded north the next day, reproaching Geoff Gallop for Land Grab.

I reached Washington Road at 889 and turned left to reach Ocean Drive. I arrived at the motel at 12:57, 896, to find that there were no single units available. The manager had tried to ring me in Busselton to tell me this but the hotel staff had not passed on the message. He said all they had was a family unit at $99. I said I might try elsewhere and he said I could come back if I had no luck.

Forty years ago there was another motel along Ocean Drive, to the north of the Ocean Drive motel. It was called the Marquis and was built in a funny angled style. It is still there, still looks the same, but is now called the Welcome Inn. I tried there and they said there were no standard units available, only 'luxury' units so called because they faced the sea. One of these was $119! I should have taken the family one back at the ODM, but I didn't feel like delaying any more so I just took it. It was very big. There was something about paying a deposit for the mini-bar which I didn't understand. Maybe my credit card bill will show a refund. Those mini-bars are a nuisance. I can buy anything I actually need at half the price and I don't have alcohol on a Ride.

There was a big double bed, a smaller bed and a lot of fancy furniture, and an air-conditioner out of reach high on the wall, with no remote, so I had to climb on a chair to turn it on. There was a sliding door and a balcony with table and chairs. These served for drying my clothes since there was no clothes line.

The TV had normal channels and several Foxtel channels, but these were all boring. There were no in-house videos.

I went shopping and bought drinks and food, including a hot pie for lunch, and big tasty salad rolls for dinner and breakfast, then went back, had a rest then crossed the road and went a bit north to get away from the rocks, to have a nice boisterous swim. Then I went back to have a spa - there was a private spa in the bathroom. You had to fill it yourself with a lot of water, and I got the water too warm, so I started to feel breathless after a while and it wasn't as enjoyable as the one in Dunsborough had been. I was also worried about the waste of water.

I strolled into Bunbury as evening drew on, to make some 'phone calls. I booked the Mandurah Gates Resort for the next day, and rang up Liz to arrange a visit after my return. Then I strolled back as twilight deepened. I passed the park in Wellington Street, a strange little hollow of smooth lawn with palm trees, that used to be a cemetery before the headstones were removed years ago. I don't know if they removed the bodies as well. You never see anyone in this park. I took some pictures.

I ate my cold but nourishing dinner and watched TV and had a reasonably early night, thinking of the challenge of the next day.

Reading at Bunbury, end of day: 900. Km for day: 60. Aggregate: 499. Km/day: 56.