Quorn to Clare -The alternative Mawson

Quorn to Peterborough. Wrighty's Day 5

Whilst the lads left Quorn to tackle a 100km day, I had to kill time time in this tiny little town by hobbling around the block of this town drinking awful coffee. Not having yet overcome the disappointment of waving the cycling goodbye I drowned myself The crap coffee was made all the matter worst as I was only operating on one knee and my adventure was over-the riding part of it anyways. After some serious negotiating with the local bus driverover the phone, they finally agreed to let me on the 'hand luggage only' bus with all my bits. I convinced them that because bikes are steered by hands, it should be deemed as 'hand luggage' along with 2 panniers, a tent and a drybag. Slightly over the normal limit but due to circumstances were accomodating.Quorn being isoltaed has a subsidised transport service to people who dont have transport. Upon loading the bus I was quickly acquainted with three old dears who were all in their 80's. This was a great as they were all were very friendly and open to this bloke and his shitload of 'hand luggage'. One lady, a very proud one at that still had her mauve jumpsuit on she use to where in the 80's when fashionable but did not seem to get out alot hence still thought it was fashionable. Another middle eastern block accent lady gave me a running commentary of who lived on which farm and station as we drove along as if I knew these people. The final lady of the trio and the friendliest was what I would deem an atypical looking Collingwood supporter although she did not support them. Grey whispery hair, with a tea cosy half sitting on it, every second tooth missing, and weathered face which capture a thousand stories. She was telling the other ladies how she did not like going into Adelaide as it was too busy. She then went on to say "she had only been there once in her life and that is only because the ambulance driver took her to the hospital whist she was unconcious-otherwise she would not of got in that bloody ambulance !" All fantastic characters.

Peterborough
The grumpy bus driver turned out to be not a bad bloke and did the right thing and dropped me off outside a backpackers- which was shut for winter! Fully loaded with dicky knee I decided to go to Caravan Park and seek accomodation other than a tent. I had negotiate a howling wind and pissing with rain and uphill with knee giving serious gip. Got a onsite van $30 with plasma for cricket. Taxi anywhere in town cost $5.50 and ask the driver to take me to his finest establishment in town ie the best pub grub. This was the Federal Hotel which I found a liking for because the beer was cold and locals friendly. It was obvious I was not from here and leaning up against the bar made me open to conversation. I had a great chat with an old bloke you use to run the pub that was actually drinking there for free that night as the owners were away and he was in charge-payment in lieu. He gave me a full history of the railway town of Peterborough including whwn he worked for the railways in the 50's. For some reason I found it all quite interesting. Anyways a surf and turf later the taxi driver, who by the way use to run the post office in town, took me back to caravan park.
Peterborough dont get too outsidemany folks visiting I think !!
Following morning got on a 6.30 bus to Clare.

Clare
Wine, cheeses and rolling hills.
Dumped in middle town I kept riding out of the town to get to the caravan park. My interstate rescue contigency was arriving the next day along withe the boys cycling from the north. Slowwwwwly,painfully cycled out to c park but could not get a cabin for another 2 hrs.
Starving for brekky there was no way I was cycling back in turn, I was fortunate enough the monthly Clare show was on , directly across the road. My saviour. I brought plenty of supplies and hung out staying dry. Even met a bloke who offerrred me 2 tix to the Freo v Adel game that night. Lucky I did not go as Freo got a sherlacking.
Kate and the girls drove up from Adel the next day whilst the boys rolled into Clare. Maslen and Crowdy stunk of Slee so forced Slee to take on my tent for rest of journey. Boys watched the cricket in the cabin in the warmth and dryness.

Clare and Beyond
Spent the next few days exploring a few wineries and as I entered Adel recieved a phone call from Slee to say about the boys derailer misadventures. Caught up with the boys in Adel and saw them off. Did a few more doing things around Adel with Kate and the kiddlywinks as Kate had hired a car. If you go to Adel go to Belair NP -Super

I will be back- unfinished business !

Day 10 - Kapunda to Kapunda...

Headed out from Kapunda; hit the mud; Maslen totalled his rear derailleur. Removed it and rigged up a fixed wheel system to limp back into town. Game over. A total of 700km covered; started in Blinman in the Flinders ranges and ended up 77km out of Adelaide (by road anyway - more on the trail). We'll be back. A great trail and no better way to move from arid outback through farming country to wine country to the city.

Hit the pub in Kapunda, then spent ages in the morning cleaning the bikes before the amazing Adelaide dial a bus came out to pick us up.

Rode for 3:43, total of 47km, avg 13km/h

Day 9 - Clare to bush camp

The mud starts to take its toll. Crowdy destroys derailleur after falling in the mud and bending the cage. Fixed it, but later up a hill changing down, the cage ends up in the spokes and the whole thing shears off. Slee carries a spare derailleur so camped by the side of the road after checking out a farm shed. Cold and wet, but spirits high.

Rode for 3:50, total of 59km, avg 15.4km/h

Day 8 - bush camp (Bundaleer) to Clare

Off to catch up with Wrighty and family in Clare. We decided to miss out the Burra loop and rode from Spalding to Clare on the road. The road riding was probably the worst part of the trip overall - people in a hurry with caravans should be exterminated.

Rode for 4:32, 82km, avg 18km/h

Day 7 - bush camp to bush camp

Wirrabara to the Bundaleer forest. Getting wetter...

Rode for 5:29, total 83km, avg 15km/h

Day 6 - Quorn to bush camp

Left Wrighty to catch a bus out of Quorn to Peterborough then Clare so not a pleasant morning. Stopped at Melrose for lunch. Melrose must be the most mountain bike friendly town in the country. There are a bunch of trails neabry, and they run the Fat Tyre Festival there each year. Hung out in the bike shop for a while, and finally bought the chain oil that Maslen was supposed to have brought from Perth :) fantastic pub lunch in fantastic pub. Must stop there overnight next time.

Tough hill out of Melrose, then solid tail winds for the rest of the day let us rack up 100km and camped in a ruined building on the edge of the Wirrabara Forest.

Rode for 5:10, 101km, avg 19.6km/h

Day 5 - bush camp to Quorn

Left the bush camp of the trip, and had to leave Wrighty in Quorn after his knee pretty much froze up. Pushed him the last 25 kms or so into town.

Most ironic moment of the day was Wrighty packing up his tent in the morning singing "Everything's going my way"...

Rode for 2:45, 45km, avg 16.2

Morning - cold

Nothing stops Maslen singing

Pushing in shifts