Saturday, May 30, 2009
Touring in South Australia
Clive and I decided a short Tour de South OZ would be a nice way to stretch the legs and planned a trip from Kingston SE through the Curong, over to the Fleurieu Peninsular and up to Adelaide, maybe taking in Kangaroo Island if time permitted.
As it turned out we had a great time. The weather was excellent with no or little wind and temperatures reaching a max of only 20 deg C for the whole trip. A little rain on the last day didn't dampen the trip at all.
Day 1 Kingston to Policemans Point. A very flat road. The distance was about 98 klms. We were thankful that there was no head wind. About 4 years ago a shoulder was built into the road making this part of the trip very safe. The new shoulder runs from Kingston right through to the Wellington Ferry.
Day 2. Policeman's Point to Meningie. 70 klm. 5 years ago Gaye and I stayed at the lake side motel where the water lapped at the back door of the unit. The water is now 2 meters lower and about 100 meters from the motel. Could hardely be described as 'lake side' anymore. A real indication of the level of stress the Murray River is in.
As it was only a short ride to Meningie, we had time to check out the town, the museum and look for a time table for the return trip by bus. This led to an interesting encounter with a lovely local lady on her Bike Friday. Great chat outside the Newsagent where we learned all thing bike friday, and why not to go to King Island, (more expensive than travelling to Tasmania from Melb by ferry) and how to ride without sight, and how fast bike friday's can go - both tendem and single. Clive's bike won a yellow birdy-duck-sort-of-thing.
Day 3. Meningie to Strathalbyn. 96 klm. We had intended to stay at Langhorne Creek, but there was little accommodation so pressed thru another 20 klm to Strath. No comfortable shoulder on the road now, and there was a lot of trucks carting probably sand, but they were very attentive giving us plenty of room as they passed. Update: I saw the end of a news item on the Murray River System, where it was indicated that limestone is being used to 'wall off' parts of the lakes to try and stop the corrosive effects of the drought. Likely the trucks were carting limestone. Need to investigate this futher.
The first pub at Strath didn't take lodgers, but advised us to go up the hill to anorth, that was 'clean and comfortable', rather than the tourise ripp off motel down the hill. We were glad for the advise. The "Robin Hood' hotel was great.
Day 4. Strath to Goolwa. 50 klm Checked out canoes in Goolwa and the local windsurf speed strip. No one was out due to there being no wind. Bad for the speedsters like Chris D and Tim H, but good for us on our bikes.
Day 5 Goolwa to Normanville via Victor Harbour. 80 klm. Inman Valley very pretty and particularly green. Gave Kangaroo Island a miss. Maybe next trip.
Day 6. Normanville to Glenelg via Willunga. 100klm. There is an excellent rail train from Willunga thru to the coast. Stayed at the Stamford Grand for a little of end trip luxuary.
Day 7. Check out Adelaide.
Day 8. Bus back to Kingston.
Day 9 Drive back to Melbourne.
As it turned out we had a great time. The weather was excellent with no or little wind and temperatures reaching a max of only 20 deg C for the whole trip. A little rain on the last day didn't dampen the trip at all.
Day 1 Kingston to Policemans Point. A very flat road. The distance was about 98 klms. We were thankful that there was no head wind. About 4 years ago a shoulder was built into the road making this part of the trip very safe. The new shoulder runs from Kingston right through to the Wellington Ferry.
Day 2. Policeman's Point to Meningie. 70 klm. 5 years ago Gaye and I stayed at the lake side motel where the water lapped at the back door of the unit. The water is now 2 meters lower and about 100 meters from the motel. Could hardely be described as 'lake side' anymore. A real indication of the level of stress the Murray River is in.
As it was only a short ride to Meningie, we had time to check out the town, the museum and look for a time table for the return trip by bus. This led to an interesting encounter with a lovely local lady on her Bike Friday. Great chat outside the Newsagent where we learned all thing bike friday, and why not to go to King Island, (more expensive than travelling to Tasmania from Melb by ferry) and how to ride without sight, and how fast bike friday's can go - both tendem and single. Clive's bike won a yellow birdy-duck-sort-of-thing.
Day 3. Meningie to Strathalbyn. 96 klm. We had intended to stay at Langhorne Creek, but there was little accommodation so pressed thru another 20 klm to Strath. No comfortable shoulder on the road now, and there was a lot of trucks carting probably sand, but they were very attentive giving us plenty of room as they passed. Update: I saw the end of a news item on the Murray River System, where it was indicated that limestone is being used to 'wall off' parts of the lakes to try and stop the corrosive effects of the drought. Likely the trucks were carting limestone. Need to investigate this futher.
The first pub at Strath didn't take lodgers, but advised us to go up the hill to anorth, that was 'clean and comfortable', rather than the tourise ripp off motel down the hill. We were glad for the advise. The "Robin Hood' hotel was great.
Day 4. Strath to Goolwa. 50 klm Checked out canoes in Goolwa and the local windsurf speed strip. No one was out due to there being no wind. Bad for the speedsters like Chris D and Tim H, but good for us on our bikes.
Day 5 Goolwa to Normanville via Victor Harbour. 80 klm. Inman Valley very pretty and particularly green. Gave Kangaroo Island a miss. Maybe next trip.
Day 6. Normanville to Glenelg via Willunga. 100klm. There is an excellent rail train from Willunga thru to the coast. Stayed at the Stamford Grand for a little of end trip luxuary.
Day 7. Check out Adelaide.
Day 8. Bus back to Kingston.
Day 9 Drive back to Melbourne.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Mothers Day Run
Its been a year since Vic did her Mothers Day on her own run in Sydney.
This time Sue and Gaye did it together in Geelong.
Big Weekend
Well a week after visiting Vic and John in Sydney, they turn up on our doorstep. After discovering that she could survive a weekend with us, Vic has decided to push the limits of her comfort zone. Although arriving home on Sunday exhausted, she managed the trip very well.So to the week end. A birthday lunch party for me followed by birthday dinner with Jeff and family, backed yup with Mothers day on Sunday.
Oh and here is the update on the baby bump.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Weekend with Vic and John
Vic is around 3 months now, so it was time for a trip to Sydney for a couple of pics. An early start on Friday morning saw us on the Corso at Manly by about 8:30am followed by morning tea at Dee Why beach and a swim at Freshie. Water temp was just right at 21 deg C. and the water and wave quality encouraged Vic to have a swim with us. The afternoon was spent exploring John's new Mac and watching the movie Ghost Rider (Nicholas Cage, Peter Fonda). Saturday morning John and I did the Church Point Terry Hills loop (40 klm) on the bikes, followed up with another surf. This time at Dee Why beach. Another movie The Golden Compass with beer and popcorn. Finished up a great day with a glass of Penfolds and another excellent Shiraz from the Hunter Valley John had in the cellar. So good in fact, John has made a promise to himself to get a dozen at the next opportunity.
A trip to the aboriginal carvings and Americas bay at West Head filled out a great weekend.
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