Day 38 - Clare to Kapunda
|
The caravan park I stayed at in Clare is really nice. Set amongst a large, spacious area under gum trees. Also the camp kitchen was fully kitted out, not like the last couple of places.
It was certainly very cool outside this morning. I was nice and snug in my sleeping bag though. So left a little later at about 8am.
I followed the Riesling Trail to Auburn, which is about 25kms away. The trail is really well maintained and gave me some nice views of the vineyards. As the trail is a disused rail-line, the gradients are quite gentle. Didn't take long to get to Auburn.
Auburn is a small town with some nice looking buildings. Didn't spend long here, as the town was shut still. So I followed another cycle trail called the Rattler. This trail takes me to Riverton.
The Rattler Trail is generally quite good, but there were a few sections where the bridges are no longer there and you have to go up/down steep sections which are not well graded. Also there were a few spots on the trail where it is in a pretty poor shape. Once I got to Riverton I decided I was enjoying being away from the cars and followed the Mawson Trail.
The Mawson trail starts in Adelaide and meanders it's way to the Flinder Ranges. In total it is about 900km in length and makes use of dirt roads, cycle trails and farm tracks. The part of the trail I rode took me close to a number of farms and some attractive disused buildings.
I then got to a sign which stated the trail would be about 37kms to Kapunda. This seemed a bit too scenic, so I checked my phone to see where I was and rejoined the sealed road. I was just 15kms to Kapunda. The sealed road was still nice and quiet and I got to the town at about 12.30pm.
Kapunda is the oldest mining town in Australia. In 1844 copper ore was first mined. Mining ceased in 1912, as it became uneconomical to get the iron out of the ground. The town now has a museum displaying a number of items from the local area. I spent a while having a look around in the museum. They certainly had a lot of stuff on display.
I really had a lot of fun riding the dirt for a good 60kms of the ride today. It was nice to be away from the traffic and see a few things I would have missed otherwise. Tomorrow not sure where I'm going, will decide when I leave. Great to be ahead of schedule and have a few relaxing rides touring around Adelaide.
It was certainly very cool outside this morning. I was nice and snug in my sleeping bag though. So left a little later at about 8am.
I followed the Riesling Trail to Auburn, which is about 25kms away. The trail is really well maintained and gave me some nice views of the vineyards. As the trail is a disused rail-line, the gradients are quite gentle. Didn't take long to get to Auburn.
 |
Auburn is a small town with some nice looking buildings. Didn't spend long here, as the town was shut still. So I followed another cycle trail called the Rattler. This trail takes me to Riverton.
The Rattler Trail is generally quite good, but there were a few sections where the bridges are no longer there and you have to go up/down steep sections which are not well graded. Also there were a few spots on the trail where it is in a pretty poor shape. Once I got to Riverton I decided I was enjoying being away from the cars and followed the Mawson Trail.
 |
The Mawson trail starts in Adelaide and meanders it's way to the Flinder Ranges. In total it is about 900km in length and makes use of dirt roads, cycle trails and farm tracks. The part of the trail I rode took me close to a number of farms and some attractive disused buildings.
 |
I then got to a sign which stated the trail would be about 37kms to Kapunda. This seemed a bit too scenic, so I checked my phone to see where I was and rejoined the sealed road. I was just 15kms to Kapunda. The sealed road was still nice and quiet and I got to the town at about 12.30pm.
Kapunda is the oldest mining town in Australia. In 1844 copper ore was first mined. Mining ceased in 1912, as it became uneconomical to get the iron out of the ground. The town now has a museum displaying a number of items from the local area. I spent a while having a look around in the museum. They certainly had a lot of stuff on display.
 |
I really had a lot of fun riding the dirt for a good 60kms of the ride today. It was nice to be away from the traffic and see a few things I would have missed otherwise. Tomorrow not sure where I'm going, will decide when I leave. Great to be ahead of schedule and have a few relaxing rides touring around Adelaide.