Day 7: Port Augusta Rest Day

Collis and I have stayed in a cabin overnight so haven’t seen much of the riders today. I did do some laundry down near the camp kitchen and caught up with Gareth (who had very little planned for the day off) and Kirsten (who was heading out to the botanical gardens for a coffee). Everyone else seemed to be out of camp and doing some sightseeing.

Collis & I got some chores done and then we did the big shop for the two bush camps coming up. When we got back we found our electricity was off and had been for awhile. Some concern as I had a packet of Magnum ice-creams in the freezer for todays treat day. Annie and I had decided to bring our treat day one day forward as this Wednesday was a bush camp and I could safely say there would be no ice creams available out there. I sent Collis down to find Annie and tell her that we had an emergency as the ice creams were melting and had to be eaten. She was very quick to arrive but sadly they were beyond the nice slightly melted stage and we had to virtually drink them.

The cabin was too hot to remain inside so we went down to the camp kitchen for a cup of tea and the briefing. After the briefing the group were all cooking in tonight but Collis and I went to the Augusta Hotel for dinner and to catch up with my dear friend Denny and her husband Steve. Denny and I worked together about 10 years ago. Collis ordered a rump steak and it was huge, hanging over the sides of his plate and nicely cooked. I ordered the Salt & Pepper Squid entree and it was also a huge serving. We had a lovely night and we hope to catch up with these two up the road and eventually in Darwin.

Day 6: Laura to Port Augusta

No rush to get away this morning, everyone was in a very relaxed mood. The winds, the steep hills and the distance (100 kms) did not seem to worry any of the riders. It will usually just take one person to talk about headwinds or 20% inclines or weather events to start off a chain reaction of mild panic. This group have the attitude of whatever the weather will be is with the Gods and nothing they can do about it. This morning there are no or very little wind when they leave camp and the group flies along without a worry in the world.

Morning tea was at 45 kms at Melrose. I went ahead to set up and Collis wanted me to set up outside the Blacksmiths Cafe. I went up and down the main street 3 times and couldn't find the cafe. Collis was out of range for the phone so I made the executive decision to set up at the park opposite the bike shop, a cafe and the pub. The only thing missing was the toilets. The reason I couldn't find that particular cafe was because it had closed down since we were in there last year. Everyone went to the bike shop and Jane bought a new seat and Kirsten bought a couple of tops and a new seat. Theo bought some cleat screws. Coffee was apparently better in the bike shop than the cafe.

Lunch was just down the road at Wilmington and the same sort of thing was happening here- the town is dying. The cafe that we usually went to and the IGA were both closed down. The only thing open in the town was the pub and the local op shop so we went to the park for lunch.

The climb over Horrocks Pass began straight after lunch. This had been talked up a bit by some over lunch but no-one seemed too concerned. Crossing from this side is apparently the easier approach with a sharper, shorter incline with intermittent downhills thrown in. Everyone did it even though the wind had picked up a bit. Jane even thought she had another 10 kms of uphill when she had reached the top. The downhill was enjoyed by all.

Once over the hill the scene is amazing. You go from lush trees (maybe brown grass due to lack of water) to wide open plains of brown grass/dirt with the town of Port Augusta and waterways in the background. Hardly a tree in sight. The road surface changed once they got on the highway and the traffic was pretty horrendous with lots of trucks (big ones) and city traffic. The road itself was good but the shoulder (where they had to ride mostly) was horrible.

Staying at the Big 4 and everyone is camping. Collis and I have taken a cabin as we must now prepare for a couple of bush camps. The camping area has lost all of it's grass and they are camping in sandy dirt. The facilities here are good but it is a real shame they lost the grass completely.

Day 5: Clare to Laura

Late start this morning after a good night's sleep. The weather is a little warmer this morning and the wind is virtually non-existent. The riders left around 8 to 8.30 am with Collis and I leaving at approximately 9.15 am. They beat us to morning tea at Yacka. I think a few had been waiting for quite a few minutes.

After morning tea it was a leisurely ride through Georgetown and Gladstone. Jane stopped for coffee in Georgetown and then Theo, Mark  and Kirsten stopped for coffee in Gladstone. Jane was happy with her coffee but the other three weren't. Everyone arrived in camp early afternoon.

Annie and I went for coffee here in Laura and Collis shouted everyone a bowl of ice cream in the afternoon.

Alex and Barbara, who were here last visit, manage the community park and they do a really great job. Barbara leaves fresh roses in the ladies bathroom and Alex builds a fire and makes awesome damper for us. So everyone cooked in tonight and finished off their meals with damper and maple syrup or butter. Very nice. Sat around the fire mesmerised by the patterns and the usual bum warming. Gareth, mark, Annie & Kirsten played cards for awhile but as usual Mark won.

Day 4: Clare Rest Day

I was going to make as much noise as possible the next morning but the Pirates beat me out of bed. They were the 'Port Adelaide Pirates' rugby team and they had 2 games to play in the masters today. How they drove to the game let alone play in it, I have no idea. Anyway Collis and I went up to management in the morning, told them of the intimidation and threatening behaviour plus the big danger of a fire ripping through their park taking everyone with it. We were told emphatically that they would be evicted immediately. We just wanted somewhere to move our tents away from these idiots. Told no other sites available. The outcome was they were supposedly threatened with eviction if they didn't quieten down after 10pm. They were still very noisey up till that time and the police did a round of the park at 10 pm which scared them all off to bed so a better night had.

In the meantime everyone had a nice day off with everyone doing their own things which included laundry, sightseeing and wine tasting. Everyone was pretty tired all day because of the lack of sleep. Collis and I shopped for the BBQ we were putting on for the riders tonight. We ended up with "The best sausages in Australia", hamburgers and marinated chicken chops with green salad, roast potatoes and corn (done in the pizza oven). Pretty yummy and then topped off with chocolates provided by Annie.

Day 3: Nuriootpa to Clare

Another very cold riding day this morning. Very little wind this morning but every rider has complained about the freezing wind. We went through some interesting mining towns with lots of historical old buildings in the towns.

Morning tea was at Marrabel Soldiers Memorial Park. Interesting park with games for the kids (the riders struggled with these) and heaps of information on the pioneering families of the area. Very interesting. Morning tea today was a traditional German Apricot Cake bought yesterday at that really nice german bakery.

The rest of the riding for the day was mainly on the Reisling Trail and enjoyed by all riders although Lew chose the road in the end as he had done the trail before.

Arrived at Clare early again and spread out across the camping area but ........We have stayed here before with really pleasant memories but this weekend was the SA Masters Games being held in Clare. Most of the participants were staying in this park. When we first arrived we were told we could camp anywhere and it was a huge space so everyone spread out. Around 2 pm we became surrounded on three sides by young guys wearing t shirts stating 'it's a pirates life'. Everyone of them got out of their cars with a stubby in hand and for the next 11 hours their hands were never empty of alcohol. The tempo and the language increased constantly until around 9 pm when it had become a dull roar and every second word was a profanity. Collis reported them to the office asking they be asked to at least tone down the language- nothing seemed to be done. The rest of the camp settled down around 11 pm at curfew time but these louts just kept going. Eventually at 12.30 am one idiot lit a small gas tank and we had a fire spout shoot 30 feet in the air into a very thick, dry canopy of gum trees. One idiot burnt his arm and was intermittently screaming and then laughing. Collis and I once again went to the office requesting assistance. One camper called the police. Anyway the police and management arrived at the same time and everything settled down.

Day 2: Cudlee Creek to Nuriootpa

It was a very cold night last night with lots of wind happening outside of the tent. I had been in bed too long and my back was really aching. Time to climb out and risk the cold weather at around 6.30 am- no-one was up this morning.

Everyone left somewhere between 8 and 8.30 am with instructions to do lots of sightseeing and tasting of wines. We only had 53 kms to ride today. The group planned a coffee break at Lyndock. Really nice German Cafe/Bakery with lots of authentic german delicacies and breads. We had a lovely time eating and apparently the coffee was pretty good as well.

No morning tea break today so a leisurely ride through the hills and the wineries. Kangaroos or wallabies (I can't tell the difference) in a paddock near the road. Mark's knee is still playing up but the distance was better today.

Everyone into caravan park by 11.30 am.

Relaxed afternoon doing laundry and shopping. Everyone ate at the campsite and spent some more time socialising.

Leg 2: Day 1: Goolwa to Cudlee Creek.

Complicated directions out of Goolwa today so Collis only gave the riders directions as far as morning tea. The day has started out cold and windy. The group had the official photo shoot before they left and they rode out virtually together.

Morning tea (Strathalbyn) was 'double chocolate chip' cookies with all the usual extras. I had to make sure there were plenty of treats for Annie and myself as today is Wednesday and that just happens to be our treat day. Collis gave out further directions to get the group to lunch but we decided to drive up and wait on the corner for each turn they needed to make.

Not long out of Strathalbyn we found a group of the riders huddled on the side of the road with bikes on the ground and I thought the worst had happened. We both pull over and I jump out with the first aid kit just to discover that Theo had lost a screw in the bottom of his cleats and his foot was moving around too much. This was quickly fixed and they were back on their way again.

Collis has been looking for farm fresh eggs from the side of the road since we left Corryong (over 3 weeks ago) and at last his search was rewarded. He ended up buying 2 dozen eggs from this little old lady who required a 4 wheeled frame to be able to mobilize.

The hills today have been a bit of a challenge for some of them although the Taswegians seem to be having no problems. Mark has arrived on the ride with a sore knee and this did play up a bit today. Gareth ended up with a flat tyre- not sure how many this is for him yet.

It had got decidedly colder by lunchtime and we had stopped at this really nice park at Nairne with a heap of ducks for company. more directions provided to enable them to vet into Cudlee Creek and the exact location of the caravan park.

We go to book in at the park and of course they did not have our booking even though we spoke to them 3 times on the phone over the last 3 months. This happens all the time. Everyone was in camp by 2.30 pm and we were all feeling the cold weather. The ride was reported as cold but lovely- the wind turned at lunchtime and the split of 30/30/30 kms was great.

Collis shouted dinner of steak sandwiches or hamburgers from the Cudlee Creek Cafe as the tavern looked a bit suss. Everyone was into bed early as it was so cold and a little wet except for Annie and Mark who stayed up and played cards- the score was 1 win each.