A LITTLE BEHIND, A LITTLE CATCHUP

Following the days at the rock we headed South again, with an overnight stop above ground at Coober Pedy. While driving we decided to go to have a look at Port Pirie which we found surprisingly pretty for an industrial town.  

 The Chinese restaurant gets a reasonable write up online so that will make a change from pub food (though we did deviate from that a bit at Yulara).  I cannot really recommend it highly, bit too much sauce with cornflour for my liking. Otherwise it was fine. We did locate a good place for breakfast after which we take the walking tour around town.

There are a number of former churches around the town several converted to private use of one sort or another.  Rob is particularly taken with the one time church now a Barnacle Bill fish cafe but I prefer the former small cathedral now a dear little laundrette.  We have lunch at the same Cafe Safavi, yet another former church,  and finish up with the local museum. All in all a good decision.

On to the Clare Valley for a couple of nights in Auburn, a lovely smaller town south of Clare itself.
In spite of the thunderous din made by possums directly above us at 0100 we enjoy The Rising Sun Hotel which is well known for its food and rightly so.

 Monday we split up, Rob does the wineries and I rode a bike along the Reisling Trail. We connect briefly over lunch in Clare then again at the bike shop as I return the bike.  I miss my bicycle and it was good to get out on one even riding uphill into a headwind on the outgoing leg.  I passed a couple of other riders but saw no more.
That evening I chatted briefly to a kilt wearing rider who is riding the Mawson Trail alone towards Adelaide.  Of course we compare experiences and I feel nostalgic about my rides
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A light dinner of excellent soup for me then a night with barely a sound from the furry beasts so we decide to stay another night and do a day trip to the Barossa Valley including a catch up with old friend Will in Angaston. Really what decided the extra night was the prospect of dining in Clare at Seed where we do have a truly delicious meal.  Allowing the kitchen to decide what we will eat could be a disaster but thankfully is far from it. None of the four shared entrees is something we would have chosen for ourselves and we learn the lesson not to be so narrow in our selections. The baked trout (in local paperbark) is outstanding.
Another peaceful night and off we go to Skillogalee where the scones and jam are a good as ever. A quick stop at Martindale Hall at Mintaro then lunch at my favourite in Burra - La Pecora Nera. VERY BEST wood fired pizza with water thin crust. Yum and leftovers for dinner that night.