ROTTNEST ISLAND PERTH WESTERN AUSTRALIA

QUOKKAS Rottnest has a checkered past, being a former Aboriginal penal settlement and a prisoner-of-war camp, but it is a truly beautiful, fascinating island, 11km by 5km, and a great day trip by boat from Perth, West Australia. My good friend Don and I spent a great day on Rottnest Island, 20 km off the Perth coastline. We had a great ferry ride over, $40.00 return, 25 minutes and all was looking well, at least that is what I thought. You see, we decided that I should rent a bike, $20.00 a day, to explore the island's well paved, traffic free roads. Don took his Sunrise Medical Quickie P222, a toxic green coloured wheelchair capable of 11 kph, with a range of 45 km.. I did get a 10 speed bike and as the trip (race) started out easy, amidst hordes of eager cyclists, so did the ride. That is until I hit my first hill and Don powered up at 11 kmh shouting "Big Beaver Bill, get a move on." But my butt was really getting sore, really soon and was just about mush by the time we had finished, after a four hour circuit of 40 kms. I guess there is a moral to this day besides no pain, no gain. Don could have slowed down. I was walking like a bowlegged cowboy. Perhaps it is as simple as this. If you are going to spend the day, riding 30 kms flat out on a bike, get some trial runs in first or you will be doing a lot of standing in the weeks to come.

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Travel & Events

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