Tuesday. August 20.

Day 24.         Laura      to     Clare

Distance: 91 km in 3 hrs 56 min at 23.0 km/hr.

Distance so far: 2569 km.

Climbed: 1969 ft.

Elevation tonight:  1408 ft ASL.

Punctures so far:  0

Out at 7.45 am.               In at 12.30 pm.

2 of 15: Chris (NSW) is a farmer with 1000 sheep on 600 acres. She has cycled almost all the way round and celebrated her birthday today. She injured her leg on the previous leg (Broome to Perth) but soldiered on.

We left this morning with temperatures at 2 deg.  Very cold, but dry. As the day progressed things didn't improve that much and warm gear stayed on for the duration. The coldest day yet. And we had a few showers also.

Leaving Laura (still very quiet) I passed by the Laura Shiraz vineyards. I was impressed by the full body and spicy tannin taste in the bottle last night and filed it away for future reference.  Also noticed that the business was for sale.

As I cycled along I noticed signs for the Gladstone Grain Trail. There was a field of Vetch and also a field of Barley. Gladstone claims to be the largest inland grain storage facility in Australia.

Largely today the landscape was as it was yesterday.....wheat and tillage. Trees changed and for a while I was surrounded by pine trees. Plenty of canola fields stretched into the distance with their unique mix of green and canary yellow. 

On some occasions today, I spotted some new farm sheds mostly to store fodder.

Sheep appeared more often today than previously. Yesterday, they scampered away when I approached, but today they were more at ease. They seem so much bigger and woollier than at home.

Morning tea was at Yakka (47 km) in a public park. There, we had our little celebration of Chris's birthday. Looked splendid in her Mundarabilla Roadhouse hat. In all, we have had 5 birthdays (33% of the group) on this cycle - all born in August. Unfortunately, Chris had a puncture earlier on.....on her birthday. Not fair! 

Yakka was the quietest town we have passed through. All businesses seemed to be closed and not a sinner in sight. A common occurrence in small communities along the route.

After morning tea we had a number of passing showers till the end. I didn't bother to don wet gear based on yesterday's experience. But still, it was so cold. My shoes had become wet earlier on in the quest of a shot of a field of granola and my feet chilled, right until I checked into Clare.

Approaching Clare, the vines became more evident. In some, workers were busy tending to the plants but still found time to wave to me.

In so many places, I have noticed the roads near towns decorated with donuts much the same as at home.

Clare appeared on the horizon at the 86 km mark with its population of 3200. It is by far the most affluent settlement we have come to since leaving Port Augusta. It has a very welcoming sign as one enters the town. Haven't seen much blue and saffron flags or reference to the All-Ireland. Hardly much of a chance of picking up some tickets out here!

The centre of town was busy, but I had to go on another 3 km to the Caravan Park. 5 of us booked into a cabin again ( most others did also) with only one soul camping.

After a quick change I went back into town to buy for 2 dinners (today and tomorrow)...steak and chicken and vegetables and potatoes. Want to cook a special dinner tonight.

About 3.30 I headed off again to Sevenhills Winery where the Clare Valley affair with wine began. Jesuits from Silesia came here and brought some vines. They flourished, with the Jesuits at first just supplying altar wines. I felt I just had to start at the beginning. I tasted a few wines there and purchased Inigo Shiraz for a special occasion. While there, I also visited the underground cellars and St Aloysius’s Church. By this time a steady drizzle was down and I was soaked by the time I cycled the 5 km home. Not to worry, I had a special bottle of wine safely in my grasp.

For dinner I prepared steak, onions, mushrooms, peppers and potatoes and some Inigo Shiraz for the celebration. Today is our 37th Wedding anniversary, so I raised a glass to Margaret and drank to our health and our future. Margaret, you do the same. That dinner was delicious and the plate was cleaned down to the enamel.

Rain is still falling outside. I hope it clears off by tomorrow because I have a full programme planned for our Rest Day. More of that later.

Enjoyed this special day.

Thank God for the health and thank God for the energy.