Discussion: What about

Hale to Welshpool then Orrong

Did you do any damage to the van?

Hale to Welshpool, then Roe and Kwinana.

I reckon the fastest route (in min/km terms at least) might actually be Tonkin -> Midland line -> Perth. There's a bit of fiddling around between Bayswater and getting on/off Tonkin, but otherwise it's a pretty smooth run.

According to Google Maps, from the junction of East Pde/GF Fwy to Tonkin/Hale is 17.8km via Whatley/Slade/Guildford/Tonkin and 14.8 via Orrong/Leach/Tonkin, and you'd eat up the extra 3km in the number of stops along Orrong.

Richard - Orrong was where I encountered the problems. Normally I wouldn't have issues going that way because I'd have crossed Orrong Rd at Leach Hwy (stopping for the cars) and come home to Kewdale via the back streets but today I only had to cross somewhere between Kewdale Rd and the start of the GF Fwy.

Juffy - I didn't stop on Orrong (hence the problem), but yeah all the cross streets are crap.