There are a zillion wineries in and around Clare, and we only made it to one. We had a lazy morning, listening to the birds, before heading to the info centre next door, for a real coffee and some breakfast. We thought we could get something cooked, but it turned out they only had coffee and cake, so we had that. Nice! We also spoke with Sharon, who told us about her brother in-law, who had ridden from Australia's lowest point, near lake Eyre, to it's highest, at the summit of Mt Kosciusko in September. She also found us a nice B&B in Auburn for two nights, to celebrate my birthday.
Lots of these geese around. Not as noisy as sheep.
We relaxed some more, and I found the blog for Sharon's brother in-laws ride. It is called Salt to Summit, and a good read. Sounds like a great ride too. Although we reckon we'd go the other way, Summit to Salt, more downhill. Then we hopped on the deadlies, and rode just over a kilometre to Stone Bridge winery, where we met Craig, an ex-baker turned wine maker, and tasted some of his wines.
We are customers, we can park our trusty steeds here can't we?
With a bottle of Sangiovese, and a wood fired pizza, we relaxed in their gardens. After two pizzas and the bottle of red, we decided we should head back. So we rolled back down the hill to camp. Can't really include those two and a bit kays then, hey?
Mm mm, good pizza and very nice red. It's a new one for us, Sangiovese.
We arrived home to discover we'd been invaded by huge caravans, one right on top of us, so that made it easy, we're definitely heading off tomorrow. Early night, no trick or treating in this park.
Thank god for the tree, or we might have lost our little tent.
01/11/15
Only 25kms to ride today, so no rush. We headed to the camp kitchen, made coffee and ate cereal, and chilled out back at the tent in our little chairs, watching everyone packing up. Finally, we did that ourselves, and just as we head off back to the Riesling trail, a couple of grey nomads from Geraldton, Brian and Lorelle Young (originally from Perenjori, they knew my dad and his history) stopped to have a chat. After a great discussion about our family history, we managed to get going by 10am. The trail was easy to find, just across the main road, past the doggie training grounds.
See ya Clare, back on the trail for us..
This is what I'm talkin' about.....
This trail is an absolute gem to ride. It has a very slight 1% gradient for the first ten kilometres through bush and vineyards, then fifteen kays downhill. Seriously, we hardly pedalled for the last half. It was so damn easy, that we rolled into Auburn at 11:30, and discussed whether we should turn around and do it again. But instead, we just rolled straight over to the Hop & Vine for some beer tasting.
Happy days hey Will? You know it is uphill? No way, really?
Cruising along just chillin.
I would have loved to ride the train along this trail in the old days.
Oooh, steep downhill bit, cool!
Wineries as far as you can see....
So neat and tidy....
Last one, of the vines anyway.
We are just rolling, rolling, rolling.
We didn't need a motor for today's ride,
Welcome to Auburn, Will, beer?
Very tasty beers, with my favourite, Mocha Stout. I have never been a stout person, but it was delicious and we sat and had a couple of "butchers" (small glass size in WA). We chatted to a couple from Tasmania, on their way home after four and a half months tripping around Oz. The Stevensons from Swansea, were a really lovely couple of adventurers. By now we were hungry, so walked across the road to The Rising Sun pub, and got ourselves a burger. Oh, good doogs! Then we rolled across the road, down a little bit to Amy's House B&B. Total luxury compared to our little tent. Sorry tent, no disrespect, you are awesome, but you don't have a spa, or a big comfy bed.
Everything seems to be just across the road here, how convenient.
Look what number they gave me. How did they know I'll be that old tomorrow?
Just outside our room is a nest of black birds with little chickies. We sit and watch quietly as mum and dad work tirelessly finding grubs for the babies. So cute. So tomorrow is my birthday, and we are relaxing here, maybe a winery or back to the Hop & Ale, but no riding. Then we'll make the run for Adelaide.
Luxury for two nights.....very nice.
I think we'll be able to relax pretty well here.
Everything we need for a birthday break.
There is at least four chicks in that nest.
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