This is the day! It's Adelaide today, and not a big ride. I spent the evening trying to find an easy cycle route from Gawler to Adelaide, so we wouldn't have to go on the busy main roads. There are lots of cycle ways throughout this city, but they don't really join up, and most are cycle lanes on the roads, or using back roads. So we decided to just program Joanne's (our friend in Goodwood) address into Davo, and hope he finds the bike paths.
When we arrived at the Caravan park, we met a German couple, cycling from Port Augusta to Melbourne, and had a chat with them. This morning we chatted some more, and exchanged details so we might, in the future, catch up. Immela and Wilfred were not feeling the best, but rode off to find Murray Bridge, anyway. We left soon after, in the drizzle, only to find them stopped at the information centre. They had ridden out 5kms, in the wrong direction, then returned and decided to stay another night, as Immela was feeling worse. I hope they are ok. Meanwhile, we hit the highway. And I really do mean the highway.
The unwell Germans, travelling very light. No camping for them.
Unfortunately, we didn't take too many photos, as we spent a lot of the day on Main North road, a major road into Adelaide, or trying to navigate the streets running parallel to it, for a traffic break. After 20kms, I was feeling hungry, and also in need of a break, we'd been pushing pretty hard, feeling the peer pressure of the speeding cars. We located a Subway, and pulled in. After a share foot long sub with everything, and a cold drink, we hit the highway again.
No bike lane, but a BGS. Nice change from the SDS.
Do we have to go back out there Will? Yep, Madam Google says so!
Oh, nice, a quiet back street.
There is a bike lane, but we choose the BGS instead, a bit more space for us all.
A few times we had to confer with Madam Google, as we tried to get off the highway, that Davo insisted we stay on (it was the most direct route), and we found the "Levels-City Bikeways", which had little signs and arrows, and used the back roads. We managed to follow this through the suburbs, and right to the Torrens river. Then we google mapped again, with the plan to skirt around the East edge of the city and onto some more bike paths to our destination. Davo had another plan, and while we were in our own lane, we were in the traffic, and we were flat out concentrating, so just followed Davo. Straight to the city centre and down the guts on King William street, which spewed us out the other side a couple of blocks from "home".
At last we found some of the many bike routes into Adelaide.
Cutting in to the city, passing Adelaide Uni. Hope this path lasts.....
Nope, no we are heading to the centre, right opposite the main train station.
Red light! Stop and wait for foot traffic!
On the Southern end of the centre, another red light, waiting for car traffic.
Another bloody red light? Think green everyone!
Davo had a couple of bike paths left for us, before getting us right onto Goodwood road, another major thoroughfare, with no bike lane, and making us ride down the notorious underpass, at high speed, in traffic, and landing us safely (thanks to our improved aggressive riding skills from Europe) on Joanne's doorstep at 2:30pm. Wow, we did it! There is always a great feeling when you achieve something you set out to do, but this was really amazing. 3,400kms so far, on this trip, what a huge country.
Another red light, now we're waiting for Tram traffic.....ugh!
Yay, we actually made it! A-maze-ing!
So we let ourselves into the unit, to wait for Jo, and sat and considered our efforts. Now we wait for our daughter Olivia, to fly in on Monday, for a short holiday, and then we head for Kangaroo Island. This is a change in the schedule, but life is full of schedule changes, and we can handle that. It keeps us interested. So fun in Adelaide for two weeks, more riding, then find our way home. That will be a challenge.
Hey Jo, thanks for having us, let's go in and have some dinner, I'm starving!
Serious meeting in progress! "What are you having on your Snitty?"
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