Not A Mid Life Crisis, Just An Extended Tour (Part XXII) - The Adelaide Exploration Begins

 DAY 29

A bit of a sleep in again today but I was on the road by 0900. It looked like being a bit wet in places today but I would play it by ear as to the route selection for the day. I was favouring the northern end of the Hills and started out with a lap up Norton Summit road, then back down, then back up...just because I could.

Not A Mid Life Crisis, Just An Extended Tour (Part XXI) - The Adelaide Exploration Begins

 DAY 28

Flying back into Adelaide late at night I wandered over to the storage shed and liberated the bike. I was very kindly staying at Andy's place for a few nights as he was stuck in Brisbane with Covid. I didn't have any major plans for this visit. I just wanted to mosey around the Adelaide Hills in general and as rain was forecast for today, I would check the radar and ride to wherever it looked dry. First order of business though was to grab some breakfast. Despite the forecast, it looked like it was going to be a decent day.

Not A Mid Life Crisis, Just An Extended Tour (Part XX) - The Sydney Contingent Arrive

DAY 26

We tucked into the complimentary hotel breakfast with slightly heavy hearts. Today was the group’s last day in Tassie as we would board the Spirit of Tasmania and be spirited back to the mainland and thus, reality. Mt Owen put on a spectacular farewell for us.

Not A Mid Life Crisis, Just An Extended Tour (Part XIX) - The Sydney Contingent Arrive

 DAY 25 

Today was going to be something different for Chiller (Steve). He wanted to tackle the dirt of the Western Explorer up to Arthur River and back. I had ridden the W.E. a few weeks back but was happy to go again. 

We set off from Queenstown at about 0930 as it was getting a bit cool early in the mornings. We enjoyed the twisty road across to Zeehan. I stopped for a quick photo of the church as we entered town.

Not A Mid Life Crisis, Just An Extended Tour (Part XVII) - The Sydney Contingent Arrive

 DAY 22

This morning Steve and I kept up our support of the local bakeries, today to our detriment. Feeble pies and coffee coloured warm milk. Oh well, you can’t win ‘em all. 🤨

It  was stands up at 9am and we trod carefully on the road out to Elephant Pass. It was wet from overnight showers and I was taking it very carefully on the knobbies again. (Riding my Tuono in the wet at home a few weeks later it feels totally planted. This justifies my very careful speed in the wet on the knobbies, despite feeling slow, being dropped like a hot potato by the lads😕)

The road did dry out as we climbed the pass, being dry on the eastern side. Steve and I stopped for a couple of photos.

Not A Mid Life Crisis, Just An Extended Tour (Part XVI) - The Sydney Contingent Arrive

Day 21

The Deloraine Town Cafe’ was open this morning so that was the location for breakfast and it was good. While we ate three guys turned up on immaculately restored Kawasaki Z900s. They were from Hobart had spent the weekend lapping the island out through Queenstown, then up here and were headed home today. So, not just show ponys.

Not A Mid Life Crisis, Just An Extended Tour (Part XV) - The Sydney Contingent Arrive

 

Day 20

With this many cats to herd a rigid regime was put into place for every morning. Breakfast at 8am, stands up at 9am. Unfortunately the Deloraine Town Cafe’ bakery was closed this morning (WTF?) so we ate at a small cafe down the hill from the Holy Grail bakery cafe’. It was basic but good.

We were pleased to see that the bikes were still there in the morning. Another group were also staying and one of them had a Benelli Tornado. Now that is a bike you don’t see every day. I love the look of the extraction fans for the under seat radiator.