Almost Home

After all these touristy visits it was very relaxing staying in Mitcham where Joan and Garry Richards visited us to catch up on 20 years. Gardening Australia had an expo at the showgrounds which we visited and picked up a few ideas for when we do return to normality. We drove to the Mt Lofty lookout which does provide a wonderful view of Adelaide and also wandered around the Mt Lofty Botanical Gardens. Hahndorf was a pretty little township with an excellent Museum/Gallery and a cheese shop "Udder Delights" which lived up to its name. Beerenberg farms 1/2 km away had pick your own strawberries so we had our strawberry fix and picked up some new season apples from a local orchard. Whilst we knew the Adelaide Hills existed we were not aware just how hilly the area was and quite how pretty and lunch at Bridgewater on the way home was enjoyable - right next to Petaluma!
The weather was really heating up about this time but we did go into town on the train and wander through Rundle Plaza, the Art Gallery and the Museum as well as admire the old magnificent buildings that face North Terrace.

The next move was to the Tanunda Caravan Park and again I must say that the distance was almost urban. Gawler was not the small village we expected but quite a thriving town. Marilyn and David Tucker picked us up for a visit to the Angaston markets where fresh local produce abounded and was very well priced. Under our own steam we visited the Jacobs Creek Visitor Centre which was very impressive and apparently they provide tours and information for schools. Wolf Blass has also changed their cellar door since we last visited 21 years ago .

David and Marilyn have 75 vines and we were invited to join them for the press of grapes and the long table lunch which followed. Rob certainly enjoyed watching and listening to the "experts" as they took the grapes which had been fermenting for 9 days through the process of loading into a 1932 press which had been brought out from Italy. You usually do not get to see the different colours of the juices and the lees or "snot" as it is commonly known but we managed to experience the transition and get splashed in the process.

We are now in Renmark and knowing that we will be back in Canberra in a week's time seems a little hard to believe. The last week has been very hot and Tanunda was in the low 40's. Predictions for the next week are all in the high 30's but Renmark does have a pool and we have already had a swim.