2019 Adelaide Smiddy Challenge: Day 3 (Baroosa Valley Loop)

Today’s blog will go down in history as the shortest ever blog I have written in 13 years at just 500 words. Which I feel will be duly accepted well by this playful group ☺

Today’s stage of just 90 kilometres saw the enthusiastic peloton biting at the chip to once again depart at seven-a.m. Absolute crystal clear skies, not a breath of wind and a starting temperature of ten degrees, combined for another perfect start. Before each roll out a roll call is done to make sure everyone is accounted for. A nice polite cheer went out when Dom’s name was called out. It was great to have him back in the peloton. Just to be sure he was okay to ride, Dom and our practitioner from Allsports Physio, Kieren Egan, went out for a half hour warm up ride to make sure Dom’s knee was okay. Captain Kevvy chose first time Smiddy volunteer in Luisa Patel to ring the bell today.

Really not a lot happened in the short time we were out there today. The riding was superb, the roads quiet with very little traffic and I’m told we travelled through several famous vineyards such as Peter Lehmann Wines at Tanunda, Rockford Wines and Seppeltsfield Winery.

Morning tea was at 56 kilometres at the town of Tanunda, where we indulged, thanks to the road crew, in a morning coffee. It was here that David Smiddy approached me and said that someone that knew me, not in our group, was asking if I was there. So I went over and spoke to an old running mate of mine from our Toowoomba years in the 1980’s. Albert Van De Wyk and his partner Janet were on holidays in South Australia, who just happened to be in Tanunda, visiting that same coffee shop, at that precise moment that we were! I love chance meetings like that. So cool.

From morning tea the highlight for the peloton was a go-at-your-own-pace session for nearly ten kilometres up Menglers Hill Road. While it was long, it was mostly gentle climbing after the initial couple of kilometres, where we took a right turn into Tanunda Creek Road. 

Zane took off immediately from the start of the climb. His tactics were to totally demoralise everyone with a short explosive attack, in which no one could respond to. Seem to have worked, although Stephen, Cookie, Garath, Wayne, Johnno and Dom, had a play as well.

The peloton regrouped at the top, which was at a touch over 500 metres of altitude, and then the remaining 21 kilometres was mostly downhill fun, with a short stint on a bike trail thrown in for the ride back to the Motel.

We were back to the Motel before 11a.m. The huddle was done and dusted, an early lunch had been prepared by the road crew and the group then had time to relax until the 1.30 pm Vineyards tour. A tough day at the office in Smiddy land today...

By all accounts the tour of the three wineries went well and was appreciated by the group.

The category Jersey at tonight’s dinner was awarded to Wayne Messer and his co-worker Neil Brown. 

Wayne has been a longtime supporter of Smiddy and the Mater, while Neil and his enthusiasm as a first time Smiddy volunteer has been well appreciated by the group.

Cheers, 

Sharky