A quick visit to the Barossa Valley

Finally a blog.   And thank you to everyone who commented on my last blog, and my apologies for not replying to your comments.   Time just slipped away.   Too many distractions.    The main distraction being the purchase of e bikes, plus walking dogs, cycling, birthdays, gardening, and coffee with family members.   Life as a retiree is very busy.

Also Blogger has changed its format, and I have had to get my head around it all.   Much improved, but not so user friendly.

We did make a short trip to the Barossa Valley, at the end of May/beginning of June, ten days after campsites opened, as the message was to travel to places in South Australia and support the local economies.   A great idea except that pubs, restaurants and cafes were only just opening again.  A little bit of a repeat experience of Kangaroo Island, without the sea sickness. 

There was very little open in the Barossa Valley so difficult to spend money, other than on coffee and food at the local bakeries.   Most wineries were closed, as were distributors, so we did not purchase any wine.   There were signs to say the opening hours for restaurants were at the weekend, and the cabins at the camping ground had been used the previous weekend.   Pubs were still firmly closed.

It rained most of the time we were there.   And very cold.  Still it was great to get away for a few days.

The main street of Tanunda.

It was strange to be in the Barossa Valley without tourists.   No bus loads of people, no grey nomads in their large caravans, no people staying in hotels, motels or cabins.   No tourists on the streets, just us and the local people.   We basically had the place to ourselves.

A beautiful little Lutheran chapel in Tanunda.

Coffee outside in the cold.   We had Piper with us, but the cafes were small so no seating inside anyway.  Great coffee and friendly staff.

Walter and Piper all alone on the street.   Luckily there were  verandahs.

So what to do in the Barossa Valley, in wet weather, and very little open.   We could not visit the lovely little furniture shops, due to one person having to stay outside in the cold with Piper.  There were only a few wineries open, and sitting outside one, in the cold and rain, did not appeal to us.   

We decided we would drive around the area, which turned out to be a very interesting option.   We put the electric seat heating on in the car.   We were very cosy.   Piper was happy to snooze in comfort on the back seat.

We visited all the towns ending in 'unda', Tanunda, Kapunda and Eudunda.   The meanings of these towns all refer to either water holes or water springing out of the ground, so I am guessing that that is the connection with the end of the word.

On one day we drove through Springton, Eden Valley and finished in Angaston, where we ate the most delicious take away pizzas in the car.   The view, of an overgrown building lot, was a little dismal. 

The countryside was very green and the heavy clouds and mist added to the lushness of the land.

More green pastures.

The entrance to Tanunda.   Advertising Jacob Creek of course.  Jacob Creek country.   

Piper in our caravan, too wet to go outside.   She managed very well.   There was a park opposite the camping ground, where she loved to chase a tennis ball.  Thank goodness I brought my Wellingtons, as it was very wet underfoot there.

A view, from the road, of the camping ground, and luxury cabins.  There were two other caravans there, plus the permanent vans, all very quiet.

On the day we drove to Eudunda the sun came out for a couple of hours.   We drove through green fields, and rolling hills.   It was very picturesque.

The township of Eudunda used to be the centre for the sheep grazing properties around it, but now the land is used to grow grain crops.   

There was no train arriving in Eudunda, and it was sad to see the silos, deserted railway station, and water hose, which all sat forlornly in the sunshine.    Luckily there was sunshine and blue skies at that point.

The main street of Eudunda, mostly deserted, except for the bakery which had a queue of people waiting to be served.  All keeping a safe distance from each other.   We bought pasties there, eaten again in the car, and they were delicious.

A deserted street.   An interesting cafe/bookshop was next to the bakery, but we stayed in the warmth of the car.    Although the sun was shining there was a bitter wind blowing down the street.   I would have loved to walk around the town, in order to see all the old buildings, but it was just too cold.

Kapunda, once a successful copper mining town, established in 1842.    Although we did not stop there, too cold,  it looked an interesting town.

The eight metre tall statue of Map Kernow, a traditional Cornish miner.

A view from our caravan door of a very waterlogged camping ground.   The toilet block was modern, and with lovely hot showers, but it was not a heated building.   I do miss the heated ablution blocks in the UK.   Due to Covid-19 restrictions every second toilet, shower and hand basin was blocked off.

The good news was that we managed to live in a small pop top caravan for three nights, and two days, without too many arguments.   

So now we are looking forward to taking it out again, hopefully without the rain.