Trippin' round Oz: Clare

What a lovely drive down from Hawker to Clare. Many river washouts over the road from the heavy storms and some amazingly pretty country. The rain had been heavy where we were but it looked as though the southern areas copped it even worse than us. We took the RM Williams Way to get from Hawker to Clare and we stopped at a couple of interesting spots. Firstly we visited Orroroo and visited the Big Gum Tree. It is estimated to be 500+ years old with a circumference of 10metres. It dwarfed Nigel. It was just huge but as they are affectionately known as the Widow Makers. The photo was quick and then out from under it we came. We had a quick bite to eat in Orroroo also. Which was great because they had also lost power so could only do a limited menu. Toasted sandwiches and coffee. Yum. Our drive then continued down the rolling hills into Jamestown. The birthplace of RM Williams. A bust in his honour was our stop here.

From Jamestown we headed into Clare but firstly we ran into a plague of locusts. It was like driving through a 3D movie as they slammed into the windscreen. They just kept on coming. Blasted little insects. Arriving in Clare we setup the van while the birds happily picked at the front of our car. They were having an absolute feast on the dead and partial dead bugs. It was gross. Nigel took it too the car wash as soon as we got it clean, that was the most important thing as we did not want it baked on.

We did a heap of work on our Journals and the kids did some blog again the first morning we arrived. The Ralph family arrived in from Hawkers so kids had a quick play before we did a drive around a couple of the better known wineries. Firstly we visited Knappstein's where we tastes many of there range. I particularly like their sparkling riesling. Nigel did mind the cabernet. We both enjoyed their beer. It was like a passion-fruit punch. Then we headed to Sevenhill Winery. It is the oldest winery in the Clare Valley run by the Austrian Jesuits who came to South Australia. We had a quick look around the the winery and tasted a few of their wines. I particularly liked there tawny port. Yum.

We had nibbles and drinks with the Ralph and then headed out to the Taminga Hotel with the Ralph's for a nice cheap meal. The kids ended up eating for free which was fantastic. The buffet was pretty great too. A huge selection from soups, salad, vegetable, slices, desserts and ice cream. Far to much to select from and the nibbles now seemed like a bad idea. Oh well still had a lovely meal and ate enough to last me a couple of days. Lol

Getting ready for tea.

I final got in to have a massage for my neck and arm. My god it hurt like heck when she was trying to loosen all the tight muscles but no pain no gain. The bruising will be evident in a day or two and already I know tomorrow will be a little difficult but that's okay. It will be our travel day to Adelaide anyway. I did a little shopping after my massage and then head back to camp for some lunch and then off for a bit more of a tour of Clare.

We headed back to Sevenhills the following day to do the walking tour and enjoy another taste test and this time a purchase of tawny port. From here we headed to Annie's Lane were we caught up with the Ralph's and enjoyed tasking their wines together. I particularly enjoyed the moscato. I think my taste buds are changing to a much sweeter palette. We did a drive then to the historical Mintaro. We stopped in at the Magpie Stump Hotel to enjoy a drink but the publican was a grumpy old bugger so we decided to go back to the van and enjoy a quiet drink with the Ralph's. Which ended with a baked lasagne and gems for tea together. We finished up the night around 10pm and then we were off to Adelaide.