Day 15 Tanunda to Birdwood, 49.1km, 3.46:43hours, 13kmh ave, max 53.88kph, 786m ascent, 708 descent, 8.3 degrees, 13kmh NE wind, left at 8.20am
It was still raining in the morning so all the wet weather gear incluuding the pants were on, cold too and hoping my normal gloves even when wet do the job. My top raincoat covered over the backpack to protect it.
There is a cycle way back to Adelaide which I take instead of going out and back again through grapevines but on gravel roads, possibly red clay. The cycle way is bitumen but isnt great so sometime im on the Barossa Valley road. The Mawson meets up at Rowland Flat so will rejoin there up Steingarten Road. Found it and know that this could be a hiker bike for sure. Its getting muddy but its the steepness that stops me. Off the bike and up through a gate to a small track where a car travels along and says hell keep the gates open for me, reat. On top there's a lookout of the Borossa as well as a vineyard, I think Taylors winery. Once I reach Trig Hill I think Im safe from mud. Ive researched a few options if the roads were going to be muddy plus looked on google maps satellite for the colour of the roads.
Along dirt roads with magnificant remaining gum trees so thick on the side of the roads and then to look at in the paddocks green grass and cattle or vineyards was not great sight. There 's just so few remaining natural forests here let alone a paddock. Where there is there;s wildlife.
Ove rmore rolling hills theres a right turn past a vineyard then an even stranger sharp right turn whto take you onto Cowell Road when it feels like you should take Eden Road. Past a few farms I hit a main road which you have to go along then first right dirt road off. This Glen Devon Road takes you towards Forestry area and theres signs up saying at work. Its a right into the forest area and there's workers moving logs and signs saying detour around. Well thats not going to happen as I would hav eno idea how to go around so I cycle past avoiding the machinery and I think he didnt even see me. I see a family of emus and some kangaroos but the Mawson Trail signs seem to disappear and there's signs for everything else. I take what I think is a good track and it takes out to the main road intersection where I hav elunch at some picnic tables in th erain. That's lucky as Ive reache dthe iintersection and a gap in the fence to ge tthe bike over and the road to take is straight across. A few more km on gravel roads and a closed of section in the cut down forest so i continue alongside on Black Snake road to the intersection of Lucky Hilt road which joins onto Cromer Road and into Birdwood. A turn right on the main road the Motel Ive booked is right at the end near the pub shop and Motor museum. Cost $158.40. Truly glamping.
The reception ladies help out with getting my bike washed by getting a hose and I settle into the room. Its huge and I only need to dry the wet weather gear I hav eon, but charge up everything. As it was raining not much footage today.
I visit the cafe which has just opened for a hot chocolate.
Off to the shop for dinner supplies and snacks and a walk up the road to check it out past the schools. I rush back as the rain is coming and luckliy it pours and Im out of it. It stops a lot later and off for another walk this time towards Adeliade along the main road to the sport fields and check out places to stay when I do the Heysen next year, so I don't have to spend $$$.
I start binge watching Derry girls on netflix and watch the last episode in the morning before leaving.