Day 2 Woodside to Tanunda

After the hell of the first day, it was going to be an easy but long ride to Tanunda. Being dehydrated and suffering cramps for the last two hours of a nine hour ride wasn't much fun. It didn't help when we had to bypass the forest as there was a total fire ban. Unfortunately for us, there were no signs advising of this when we entered the forest, but the ranger soon found us and sent us back about three kms. If there is one thing I hate when biking, it is backtracking.

If there is another thing I hate when biking, it is doing needless extra kms when dehydrated and cramping. Ray took the Barossa Trail when Tanunda was only seven kms away. It retreated further into the distance as the path was very windy and steep in places. Practically in tears and hallucinating, we finally arrived at our air-conditioned accommodation at 6 pm. 9 long hours on the bike and nearly 100 kms.

Tim-tams (a waiting gift in the apartment) and a delicious glass of French champagne at a very trendy local restaurant almost made it all worthwhile. It's only a short ride of 70 kms tomorrow in the searing heat.

White roads, rolling hills and rows of grape vines. It must be Tuscany. Sorry, not this time - it's the Adelaide hills. The Tuscany of the south.

More vistas...

THere must be money in rolls of barley. There are acres of the stuff growing in fields throughout the hills.

Brenda felt like a glass of wine about this big at around about this time. She barely had the energy to get the camera out of the bike box.

Made it to Tanunda just in time for this. You have to appreciate beauty even at your lowest point.