Wine, Pink Lakes and Desert
The ride was scheduled from 16th March 2025 to 2nd April 2025.
There were 15 riding days and 3 rest days. The total scheduled riding distance was 999k but add in trips to the shops/pub/winery the total would easily click over the 1000k.
The shortest day was 37k (the day we landed in Adelaide) and the longest day was 104k.
There were 7 veteran tourers and we all assembled at a caravan park in North Adelaide by various means. Some flew then road there, one drove then rode and one drove straight to the park.
As there were 3 electric bikes on the tour, we camped mostly at caravan parks so we could charge the bikes and so we made use of the cooking facilities. This meant we would stop at the local IGA during the day, purchase items for dinner and cook in instead of going out. However, there were some occasions where we did eat out.
Before we left, we all went through cyclone Alfered with the attending flooding and loss of power. At the same time South Australia was having a 40-degree heatwave and is experiencing a severe drought. They have had no rain since last August. So it was with some anxiety that I boarded the plane to begin the tour. Was the heatwave going to continue? Would the drought break and so rain the whole time we were there?
I am always a fan of not riding on the highway or the main road, so this tour was designed to avoid busy roads where possible and it was only in the last week that we had to ride on the highway (Port Augusta to Cowell, Wallaroo to Port Wakefield). Other than this it was possible to do the tour on bike paths, cycle lanes, rail trails and back roads.
The unfortunate thing is most of the back roads in South Australia are dirt and of varying quality. From hard clay with rock in it to soft sand (and once the beach by accident) we experienced it all. However overall, it was a fair swap for the traffic.
The weather was variable with some days 36 degrees and others having you look for your beanie. It even rained on the rail trail to Clare but not enough to cause any trouble and just left the place with a clean eucalyptus smell, - delightful!
The tour lived up to its name as there was plenty of wine, the pink lake was not so pink due to the drought but we did find the Lochiel Monster and enough desert to keep us happy that we live in Queensland.
The highlights of the trip for me were touring the Barossa and Clare valleys, the great downhill from Clare to Lochiel which just seemed to go forever, going through the Horrocks Pass and seeing some of the Indipac riders going the other way and or course the companionship of my fellow tourers.
There were no arrests or hospitalizations. There were 4 punctures over the 7 riders
One tent did not finish the tour. One sleeping mat did not finish to the tour.
There were no other mechanical issues.
Adelaide to Adelaide - 2025 - click for photo album
Lawrence Ferrari - The Bearded Cyclist