Made the relevant bus pick-up and was whisked into the efficiency of organised day bus trips. At no time do you get the feeling of being sheep (except perhaps the plunge pool between busses! 🙂) Fortunately, our bus driver, Mark, was a talented tour guide and made the whole trip very pleasant.

Driving through Adelaide was eventually replaced with driving through the McLaren Vale. Beautiful rolling country, largely given over to vineyards. Many of the really famous [Australian] winery names were on the gates of these vineyards; notably D’Arenburg, Marienberg, Tintara (Hardys), and we stoipped at Tatachilla. Sampled widely from the reds and fell in love with the “Foundation” Shiraz and “1901” Cabernet Sauvignon. Bought a bottle of their “Growers” Sem/Sauv/Chenin for dinner(s) over the next couple of days – delightful, fruity wine.

Back on the bus and off to Victor Harbour. Apparently, this was an alternate site for Adelaide, and would have made a beautiful setting. Now it is a cross between (say) Terrigal and the Gold Coast. We arrived during the week after S.A.’s “Schoolies” week and some of the Schoolie hangers-on were in evidence. Bought fish and chips for lunch and walked out to Granite Island to perch on a granite bluff looking out on the Southern Sea. Caught the horse-drawn tram back to town and back onto the bus again.

Then the ‘official’ wine tasting at Currency Creek. Tried many of their wines (mostly the whites) but liked their sparkling best. Soft taste, soft mouth feel. Very pleasant! Then a winding bus ride home through the Adelaide Hills.

Free drinks at the hotel at which I got talking with a very nice opal and jewellry salesman, Mark. Always nice to talk with someone new and interesting.

Bought Thai across the road and sat in my room eating that, drinking the “Growers” Sem/Sauv/Chenin and watching I, Robot on the in-house movies – very pleasant evening. Definitely getting into the holiday feeling!