Tour Day Nine - 22 October 2011 - Another Short Ride - meeting Helen

After my shorter ride on the the evening briefing made note of the number of riders taking the short cut.  Most of us had let the ride marshals know and nobody had got lost.  For the last two days the organisers decided to provide approved shorter routes .  While these would miss the morning tea stops rides would be monitored by a roving marshal  in a 4WD.  I had so enjoyed the shorter distance and decided that I would do the shorter ride again today.  The only problem was that Helen intended to meet up  with me at morning tea.  My mobile phone was flat and my computer's battery had nearly run out as well.  Power points are in short supply on a bike ride.  Fortunately I was able to send Helen an e-mail which she responded to immediately and we agreed to meet at the small village of Callington.

I took it easy packing up my gear and tent before having a light breakfast and was on my way by 8.30am.. Helen would be at Callington about 10.30am giving me two hours to ride 30 hilly miles.  Even the original route to Mount Barker has been changed to avoid the heavy weekend traffic on main Adelaide Road.  We all took the quieter Callington--Strathalbyn Road as far as Woodchester  where the faster/fitter riders took the Wellington Road to Wistow and on to Mount Barker.  The slower/more sensible riders took the right fork on to Callington.  Whereas on the day before I didn't meet any other riders taking the short cut today there were quite a few enjoying another perfect ride in the Adelaide Hills.

I neared Callington at about 10.15am and Helen was there to greet me.  She had been greeting the other riders with a wave and some others who stopped to look at the remnants of an old amusement park closed about 20 years ago as being too dangerous.

Helen takes photos of everything including me and an albun of this day is at:
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.246903978692172.55773.100001177142734&type=1

Helen scouted out Callington for a tea stop and found the one pump service station which also sold refreshments.  Several other cyclists were also there and soon the great savoury snacks baked at bakery in another local town.  These soon disappeared and as Helen pointed there would be several residents missing out on a lunch time snack today.

After tea I pushed on to our camp site at the Monarto Zoo education centre.  My day's ride was about 40Km and as I was fresh after setting up camp I took the shuttle bus from the camp to the visitor centre and visited the chimpanzees.

In the evening we dined in our Marquee and some riders dressed up in black-African style.  We were inundated by zebras.  One lady stole the show by blackening her face, wearing a clerical collar and a short white ballet skirt over her back tights - she was Bishop Tutu.

After diner we were told about next year's tour through the Copper Triangle and the Riverland of SA.  Body willing I shall be there.  Incidentally  the oldest rider was 76, about 15 months older than me.  I hope he is there next year.

 My final camp site

The Monarto Zionist Lutheran Church,.

Literally in the middle if nowhere but it's members served us up a great dinner.