Cycling Down Under: Vintage at Clare

We arrived in Australia with the intention of helping out during vintage in Clare. However, we started suffering again from heavy chest colds and seemed to spend most of our days in bed. We did manage to help Peter (Jim Barry Wines) collect cagettes of handpicked riesling and did a bottling run of Cabernet Shiraz for Mark (Mad Bastard Wines). The harvest in Clare looked very good and everyone is expecting to make fine wine.

Mark and Peter in the laboratory

Kinky boots in the 'chai'

Peter, Irene and Gillie with a riesling batch

Wendowree - the oldest winery in Clare

A proud grandfather and the next generation of Barrys

A mad bastard

When we were last in Clare two years ago, we helped to unpack this armoire which Peter and Sue bought from the Marché de St-Ouen a few years back.  This year, we had the pleasure of helping Peter assemble it in Adelaide.

 After Clare, we went to Adelaide and did manage to cycle from Peter and Sue's house to the coast and later on, we took off, fully loaded including camping gear, for MacLaren Vale and the Fleurieu Peninsula. It was a good ride down along the coast before heading inland to MacLaren Vale on the Coast to Vines Trail. Found a good campsite and decided to stay for two nights so the second day, we were to ride unencumbered up the iconic Willunga Hill, which features in the pro-Tour Down Under. At the top of the climb, we cycled along the ridge before dropping down to the plain by Penny's Hill. During the race, the riders hit over 100km/h. We were warned by a rider to watch for the kangaroos since sometimes they leap out on the road. Recently a cyclist was killed after a collision with a kangaroo.

Lovely hills surrounding MacLaren Vale

Had a great lunch at the Elbow Room, MacLaren Vale

Seen, on the Coast to Vines trail.  Fortunately, it was meant for the drivers on the road above.