While the forecast for the Adelaide Plains was 38 degrees for today...down south where most of our riding was to be was looking at a maximum of 34. Eight riders with two pillions gathered at the OTR in Prospect. A first time visitor learner rider joined us today.
After the customary safety briefing we headed off up to Norton Summit. As may be expected with The Tour Down Under imminent we had many opportunities to practise leaving 1m and 1.5m spacing from cyclists. Fortunately none of us became a hood ornament on oncoming cars erroneously passing cyclists on blind continuous lined turns "when safe to do so".
From Norton Summit we headed to Clarendon via Crafers, Upper Sturt, Longwood, Cherry Gardens and Chandlers Hill. We picked up two more riders here, one a new visitor (so another briefing). Following some cooling refreshments at the shop we headed for lunch.
We skirted Kangarilla along Bakers Gully Road and later joined Wickham Hills Road to Range Road up to Willunga Hill. Through Mounts Compass and Jagged to Pambula Road…not so many pine cones as usual along here but a pigeon lost it’s collision with the max, my thigh and Trish’s knee…! Then along Hindmarsh Tiers Road to South Road and through Myponga to Yankalilla. More cooling refreshments and we picked from a large choice of pastries at the very popular Yankalilla Bakery.
After lunch we had a leisurely cruise down the coast past the beautiful Lady Bay to Delamere where after a brief fuel stop we headed for Victor Harbor. I expected the run along Range Road to be more windy and thankfully the rain showing on the weather radar on our phones stayed well south over the ocean. The downhill run into Victor was welcomingly cool. Another brief fuel stop for those whose tanks were larger and/or preferred a higher octane was had before heading back north.
Between Mounts Jagged and Compass we took Cleland Gully Road down to Bull Creek Road. Thankfully we all traversed the cow dung opposite the dairies and a layer of blue metal gravel at the Quarry Road intersection without incident. Through Ashbourne and further along we enjoyed more of Bull Creek Road to the ride’s end at the Meadows Bakery. Cool drinks, ice cream, coffee and reflection on the ride finished the day.
Thank you to Tony for bringing up the rear today and everyone for marshalling the corners. A safe and most enjoyable beginning to the year.
Good day
Fred