Four go adventuring again

It was with great pleasure that we welcomed Colin and Lorraine, our good friends from Perth, to the Robertson's retirement villa in Encounter Bay this week. Driving from Adelaide, with a detour to investigate the charms of Happy Valley and the Happy Valley Reservoir, the Potts arrived in good humour, ready to take on the challenge of the packed itinerary we had planned.

First up was a visit to the Langhorne Creek wineries. We love this area as it seems less commercial than the more well-known McLaren Vale to the north. There are only eight or so wineries here but each one has its special flavour.

Here is Vineyard Road cellar door, a fascinating mix of wines on one side, and olive oil soaps and cosmetics in the adjoining area.

Bremerton Wines is housed in marvellously restored stables.

An intricately carved gate at the entrance to Bremerton's cellar door.

Bleasedale Winery was founded by Frank Potts in 1850 but despite a lot of research Colin has failed to find any connection with his own family.

As with most wineries the roses always provide a good display (even thought this was winter and these hadn't been pruned yet).
 

We lunched at a microbrewery where Steve had the best butter chicken ever, I could stand my spoon upright in the pea and ham soup (which had huge pieces of succulent ham straight off the bone), Colin's Coorong mullet was pronounced delicious and Lorraine bought an order of these amazing curled chips - we couldn't work out how the chef got them this way.

Last stop of the day was at Rusticana. Here their specialty was zinfandel, durif .... and horseradish, as well as other delectable relishes and jam. I'm a pushover for fig jam and the one I bought had the added allure of ginger. The cottage on site was charming, framed by a blossoming almond tree.

Here is the paddock newly prepared to plant the horseradish.

On the way home we stopped at the old Milang Railway Station, now a railway museum. Both Colin and I share a love of all things train-related (though I can't say I've ever done any train spotting as Colin has in his native England).

The orange carriage was built in 1949.

We stopped by the enormous freshwater Lake Alexandrina, named by explorer Charles Sturt after Princess Alexandrina (who was later to become Queen Victoria) ....

... passed a smaller lake ...

... and then saw this rainbow.

After a well-earned rest back home, we set off to do the obligatory Encounter Wetlands walk just near our home; Colin gently corrected me that the ducks were, in fact, coots and the egrets were ibis.

The following day was Steve's birthday. After the celebrations and
opening of presents, we set off for Port Elliot, 10 minutes down the highway.  En route we stopped at Victor Harbor for a quick walk down the main street, browsing in the shops (we loved the Kiri Kiri Aboriginal shop), and for some posing by the whale tail fountain.




We love taking people to Port Elliot, a tiny seaside community of honey-coloured stone cottages, boutique shops, yummy cafes and wind-whipped coastal scenery, though on this day the wind was very well behaved.  Here Lorraine and Colin are reading one of the Whale Trail signs that Steve helped prepare for the Council; a set of 14 has just been installed all along the coast.

Back home, we walked along the nearby Encounter cycle path, but the weather was looking threatening so we turned homeward.

The following day, we arose early and headed for Granite Island. We cross the causeway, then it's a 1.5 kilometre walk around the island.

More posing...

More photographing ...



... and more exploring.

We met some locals who offered to take our photo for us, so we posed before another of Steve's Whale Trail signs. 

It was the end of a few days of fun and friendship. Thanks Lorraine and Colin for sharing our home and letting us show you some of the delights of the Fleurieu Peninsula.