June 25: Not Feeling Blue Here!
Examining my wet socks in Mount Gambier this morning, I realized that my attempt to dry the soaking footwear by placing it on top of the electric blanket on my hotel bed had not been enough to combat the frigid room temperature or lack of a blow dryer. Still, I couldn’t help but be excited by the day’s prospects – starting with a stop at Blue Lake and continuing north to a German enclave near Adelaide.
After loading up the bike I headed just a few miles to the Blue Lake Lookout, a vantage point within the city limits to take in the stunning body of water formed in a volcanic crater that provides the town with its main water supply today. Although the color of the surface was grayer this time of year than it would have been a few months ago, it striking gray-blue hue was worth the stop.
Heading north from there through the wine regions of Naracoorte and Padthaway, I saw storm clouds ahead of me but looking in my rear-view mirror was treated to a beautiful rainbow arching through the bright blue skies behind me, signifying the promise of a great ride ahead.
Mesmerized by the dozens of vineyards sporting twisted red and purple vines, pastures with sheep and cattle grazing in their fields, and kangaroo crossing road signs, I sped through one delightful canopy of eucalyptus trees after another, feeling the warm embrace of the trees’ arched white and grey trunks, forming a welcoming tunnel for me along the way.
One thing I’ve noticed about the Australians is their dedication to save driving. In addition to heavily enforced speed limits, numerous road signs encourage drivers “rest, revive, and survive,” and admonish with others. “Drowsy Drivers Die,” and “Fatigue is Fatal.” Another popular sign warned, “Stop flirting with death” and showed a driver holding a cell phone with a picture of the grim reaper.
Pulling into the little German-inspired town of Hahndorf, I stopped at “The Haus” to fill up on the “Trio of Wursts,” a juicy and flavorful chef’s selection of specialty Mount Pleasant butcher sausages: bockwurst, bratwurst, and cheese kransky served with two different types of mustard. What a great day on the bike!
