A circular bike ride

We have two new cycling paths by us, and we are loving them.   Safe and speedy!    Plus from Aldinga Beach we can cycle on a circular route with out riding on the road, although we do have to cross many of them, and need to pay close attention to the traffic as we cross over.    Cyclists and pedestrians have to give way to traffic unless there are lights or crossings.    

The route takes us east to Willunga, then north via McLaren Vale, cross over South Road, then head south to Aldinga Beach.    I think it is about 33 km in total.

Although I have used the bike paths often with the cycling group I thought it would be a good idea to ride it on my own so that I could stop and take photographs.      This makes for a much slower trip.

I also had to complete the ride twice as the phone ran out of battery on the first trip.    And it has taken me two months to finally put the photographs on Blogspot.

I rode from home on the bike path along Quinliven Road, Aldinga Beach, and crossed over the South Road overpass at the lights.    I always find I need to walk on the overpass as the cycle/walk path is quite narrow with a sharp turn before the slip road.    This path was not planned by a cyclist!   No photos, as I forgot!

A smooth stretch along Flour Mill Road, named after the two flour mills that operated here.  Well I think there were two flour mills.

One of the flour mills is still there, now a mostly fallen down wreck.    It is by the line of trees on the right.   

Around the corner on Free Lane, there are two old buildings.  The house in the photo below was once a maternity home, which is currently being restored into a family home.

Next door are the ruins of an old church.    

The new bike path on Aldinga Road, which leads to the little town of Willunga.  A gradual uphill ride, thank goodness for electric bikes.    There are some orchards but the land around here is mostly used to grow grapes.

The old railway station in Willunga.   The railway line, to Adelaide, was opened in 1915 and closed in 1969.    

Luckily the land that was used for the railway was made into a bike/walking path, with rest stops along the way.   I must add that it is a very scenic path, and travels through vineyards, and farming land and the town of McLaren Vale.    It is also lined with trees, and passes a couple of creek beds.

A lovely sunny rest stop on the edge of a hill, with a wonderful view over the vineyards.

The bike path with steep sides, and a bridge in the distance.    This part of the path goes through McLaren Vale, which has numerous restaurants and cafes.     McLaren Vale is known for its wine of course.

McLaren Vale Visitor Centre, the perfect place to have a rest, plus coffee and cake.    It is here that my telephone faded on the first trip, but two weeks later the weather had improved somewhat, with plenty of sunshine.  This makes such a difference.

On the second occasion, Emma rode with me, and we met up with Walter and Andreena, plus Trudy and Lindsay, family from New Zealand, who were visiting us.

Emma, looking very professional, on her electric bike.    

The new South Road bridge, with its fish sculptures, over the bike path.    Once past the bridge there is a turn off on the main bike path which leads south along the edge of the new expressway.

The new bridge over Pedler Creek, with the bike path on the western side of it.

There are two areas on the new bike path which display Aboriginal sculptures and boards explaining the Indigenous stories and life in this area.    Sadly most of the Aboriginal people died when Europeans settled in the area.

The new expressway on the left, with the bike path on the right, which is the western side of the road.  Plenty of valleys and hills to negotiate but easily managed with an electric bike.   At the moment the path is very exposed to the wind but hopefully once the trees have grown there will be some shelter.

Another Indigenous area.

No more photos sadly.   Not sure why this was so.

Once the path reaches Aldinga, then it follows a street to the area that we call Old Aldinga.  I take a short cut through the Eco Village, and then back onto the Quinliven bike path, and home.

Altogether a very scenic bike journey.