Ride to Clare

Adelaide to Riverton (103km)
Sunday, 26 January 2014

We set out early on Australia Day from Adelaide with first main town being Gawler on the main road which was quiet and quite flat. We joined the new Stuart O'Grady Cycleway but were pleased to get off at Gawler.  Although the track was perfect, it ran alongside the motorway and was totally exposed to the north wind.   After Gawler, things changed.  It was very hot and we had non-stop headwind and a gradual climb through vast wheat fields.  From Roseworthy to Tarlee, the road had a good hard shoulder.  By now, we were cycling in the upper 30C of heat and wind.

Arriving at Tarlee pretty exhausted, no shops, the roundhouse closed down and feeling pretty desperate, we heard laughter from a building to the side of the road.  Over the wall came flying a rugby ball.  We stopped and threw it back and asked if the pub was open.  They threw open the gates to let us wheel in our bicycles.  We had stumbled upon Australia Day celebrations.  A very friendly bunch of country folk, having a party.  We had a few beers, some barbie and David was invited to judge the fancy dress competition.  A lady in sequinned dress of the Aussie flag was declared the winner.  It was really fun! They filled up our water bottles and left them in the cold room chilling until we were ready to go.  We were touched by their kindness.

Feeling recharged, we rode onto Riverton and set up camp in a well-organised caravan park with clean hot showers.  A light evening meal at the local hotel and an early night in the tent.

Galahs on the Oval, next to camp

Camping in Riverton

Riverton to Clare (50km)
Monday 27 January 2014

It was all uphill.  We joined the Riesling Trail at Auburn.  Good trail, light gravel, trees providing shade and through fields and vines.  A steady climb to Penwortham, then pretty flat to Clare.  The hamlet of Penwortham was founded by John Horrocks, a 21-year-old Englishman in 1893 who would die tragically when only 28.  He had brought out from England large amount of stores, equipment, sheep, sheepdogs and his butler.  Horrocks was credited to have planted the first vines in the Clare Valley in 1842.  The highway from Gawler to Clare is named after him.

On the Riesling Trail

Visit to Robe

A lovely 3-hour drive past the Adelaide Hills and along the Coroong to the pretty seaside town of Robe.  A favourite holiday destination for South Australia and even from Melbourne.

Staying with Peter and Sue Barry; we caught crayfish, drank chilled Riesling and unwound.  After packing up the house, Peter and David loaded the boat on the trailer.  Taking his crayfish pots back to Clare, Peter was able to fill the pots with live ducks and chickens.

Lighthouse

Three beauties
Below, Paul, Peter and David taking in the pots

The beach at Robe, miles and miles of it

Adelaide and The Tour Down Under

Sitting under a pergola in McLaren Vale, waiting for the peloton in Stage 5 of the Tour Down Under.  Jens Voigt is in the breakaway sporting #42.  It is getting hotter and the race finishes after 2 ascents of Willunga Hill.

The unwitting attraction of Stage 5 who slept through the action

The breakaway, chased on minutes later from Team Sky-led peleton

We went to two more starts and one finish of the race.  We cycled to Norwood and Campbelltown but drove down to McLaren Vale.  Huge enthusiastic crowds.  It was relaxed and cyclists were following the route just before and after the professional cyclists.  Saw Cadel Evans and cheered on Team Sky and Richie Porte winning Stage 5 up the famous Willunga Hill.

We have enjoyed a week of carbon porn around Adelaide.  Never seen so many fancy bikes ridden by people of all ages.  Jens would have no difficulty picking up a proper road bike should he have a mechanical problem here.  The TDU has been very well-run and supported.  The race ends on Australia Day in Adelaide, coinciding with the fifth one-day match between Australia and England at the Adelaide Oval.

Adelaide is a truly well-organised cycling city.  We have enjoyed cycling along the River Torrens down to the coast and up to the hills.  They are lucky since it is a relatively new city set out on grid lines with wide avenues, leaving plenty of room for cyclists.

Cycling the River Torrens Linear Park from the city to the sea

The Tassie Loop: Leaving Phuket and the Painters

The bike boxes have been packed and we have found that re-using a 29er MTB box works perfectly with the front wheel removed and the rear mudguard in place.  The bike shop sold us 3 for 50 baht each, but in the end, we only needed one for each bike.  This packing has been slightly unusual since we will be holidaying in the Adelaide region before we fly to Hobart.  We had sort of planned to cycle to Clare, but with temperatures over 40C, this may be abandoned.
We fly to Hobart on 3 February and have organised that the airport hotel there will keep our bike boxes and suitcase of non-cycling clothes.
Now it is time to continue our research and route planning.  We have stocked up the house painters with enough paint to continue working during our absence.