2024 Ulysses National Rally - Mandurah

Mandurah Estuary.

Quilt, showing off all the AGM patches.

It could be true that men cannot do two things at the same time as Steve didn't leave enough room for the gate post when reversing my bike out of the garage. His attention was undoubtedly taken by our house alarm blaring; I had selected "away" before the garage door was closed. Take two commenced fifteen minutes later when the gate was lifted back onto its mountings and appeared to function as before.

F650GS & R1200GS.

Note to self - consider very carefully the accessibility of back roads when you are wrestling with impatient peak traffic. Our city ride, from Fremantle, to the rally location in Mandurah, took us down Stock Road, then left onto Wattleup Road, which turns up just before the Ten Mile Well Tavern. With the tailgaters hot on our heels I heard myself saying "I hope to God there is a slip road for Wattleup." I needn't have worried, Steve later admitted this was by luck.

Finally got setup.

We turned up at the rally check-in, in Pinjarra, just after 9am, then we were on our way to set up camp at The Mandurah Caravan and Tourist Park. We should have followed our usual routine and made tea before the tent assembly commenced. Impatience rarely wins. Firstly we tried to stand the tent with the wrong colour coded poles. Next the fly was completely tied on, and a couple of pegs were in the ground, before we realised that it was 180° out of position. Order was only restored when the tent was up and we had a cup of tea in our hands.

Cuppa & a good yarn with Ulysses president, Allan Pratt.

Mandurah Caravan and Tourist Park was well appointed to host the rally. The camp kitchen was home to an extra large fridge and a very big freezer, which was much appreciated by those living under canvas. I particularly enjoyed dining in the second gazebo, decorated Balinese style, a quiet and reflective space to share stories with those folk who had come from faraway. Bikes, dog's in sidecars, camper trailers, caravans, and campervans continued to arrive and by Wednesday night's Meet and Greet sausage sizzle most had set up a base somewhere in Mandurah.

Meet & Greet Night.

Haven't seen a Keytar on stage for quite a while.

Each night food trucks arrived at the caravan park, to tempt us and fill our bellies. The waffle, with the works, was memorable and the forty-five minute wait was forgiven after the first mouthful. On the Thursday night we ordered pizza. The chef said "this will be the best Pizza you have ever had." This was a big call, but I must confess it was nearly true. Well chosen live music entertained us, every night, and rally central was a nice place to hang-out at the end of each day.

Pristine Kawasaki 900. 

Beautiful 1941 Indian 741 Scout.

Every day group rides disappeared in all directions. We took a self ride to Bunbury, to visit the Bunbury Geographe Motor Museum. If you are a petrol head, get yourself down there. The museum is right in the middle of town with an engaging display of classic cars and bikes and motor racing stories.

I'm not scared of clowns.

On the Saturday night, we attended the “Villains and Heroes” rally dinner, at Greyhounds WA. The staff knew how to serve a beer, quickly, and the fancy dress participants entertained us all night long. A collection of rally photos, doing their rounds on the overhead TV screens, gave us quiet reflection on the week that was. The roast dinner seemed to please everyone and time passed quickly.

I'm not scared of pirates or witches, either.

Thanks a million to the countless volunteers who made the 2024 Ulysses National Rally run like clockwork.

In a week's time we should be heading east across The Nullarbor,

until then...