Days 35 and 36 (December 7-8)

We’re now in Adelaide, two-thirds of the way across Australia. Total distance pedaled so far: 2,842 kilometers

To summarize the seventh of December I say “tailwind”.  To summarize the eighth I say “hills”!  The two days of the seventh and the eighth are distinctly memorable for our trip thus far.  Let me tell you about them…

On December 7th, we awoke from a restful night in the quirky caravan park in Yacka, SA.  This park includes mosaiced picnic tables, bug-infested showers and pine trees filled with squawking galahs.  Having checked the expected weather when in Port Augusta three days previous, I knew to expect a tailwind on this day (a wind out of the north, in this case).  Boy howdy, does a tailwind rule?!  The tailwind on December 7th was strong and held all day long, providing us with a nearly gas-powered boost (yeah, exaggeration, I know).  This meteorological power thrust resulted in our fastest moving speed (22 kph) and the furthest distance traveled in a day (132 km).  We made it into the large town of Gawler (population 24,000) and spent the night in a caravan park.  That night saw my fourth shower in as many nights – what luxury!

Vineyards in the Clare River valley. This is one of several of Australia’s wine-producing areas.

One of the wineries in the Clare River valley. Unfortunately they were closed when we passed by.

From Gawler to Adelaide is a brief 40-50 km, depending on the route taken.  Scott asked my preference on the more direct route (expected higher traffic volumes) or the less direct route with expected lower traffic, but 6 km longer.  As I am very new to cycling, traffic causes me much stress; I voted for the indirect route over One Tree Hill Road.  (I told Scott I act as the popular vote and he the electoral college, so really his is the deciding factor.)  Scott is both chivalrous and accommodating, so we went over One Tree Hill Road.  In hindsight, I should have known a road name including “hill” should be avoided!  We pedaled and pedaled up steep, narrow, winding hills for nearly three and a half hours before emerging into the downhill, yet suburban, area of Adelaide.

Halfway up the biggest, most exhausting hill on One Tree Hill Road

As previously mentioned, I abhor city traffic.  Cycling through Adelaide with a loaded bike was very stressful for me.  In order to mitigate this stress, at one point, when we were able to ride on a sidewalk for a bit, I decided to “koala hunt” in the tall eucalyptus trees lining the road.  No joking, the first tree I looked in, there clung an adorable, snoozing koala!  Our first koala sighting and after so many Aussies told us we wouldn’t see any but in zoos or parks.  The koala break was quickly followed by intercepting the paved Torrens River bike path that bisects Adelaide and took us almost directly to the caravan park.

Mattie’s magnificent koala sighting. We had just entered the outskirts of Adelaide and Mattie’s first random scan of the treetops found this little guy.

The Adelaide Caravan Park (at $35 AUS a night) is just 4 km from the city center.  This is a very convenient place to bed down, albeit the gravel pad where our tents are pitched is less than ideal with me having a leaky sleeping pad.

A beautiful Sulphur-crested Cockatoo along Adelaide’s Torrens River bike path

Tomorrow we will explore more of Adelaide, I will practice my city cycling skills, and who knows what else the day will bring?  Reports to follow!

Posted by Mattie