Ironbank to Clare
There was more light rain this morning as we sat outside having breakfast in the cold. We packed up and followed Google map instruction on the best way to drive to Clare. The first step was to double back along the windy roads to get onto the freeway to Adelaide.
The South Eastern Freeway has a 7kms section where there is a continuous downhill run, very steep in parts. Multiple signs warn bus and truck drivers to be in low gear. They are supposed to descend no faster than 60kph, but in some section the heavy trucks crawl down at about 20kph. The general speed limit is 90kph, but I drove down much slower using the Toyota's low gears to reduce reliance on the braking systems of the car and caravan. There have been fatal truck accidents on the downhill section with one truck reprtedly travelling at 156kph before crashing.
We skirted around the CBD and headed north eventually travelling on the Horrocks Hwy. Just before reaching Clare we stopped at the Watervale Hotel for lunch. We sat out of the wind in the beer garden with a well behaved Bluey. The menu was designed to facilitate sharing plates so we did, including the chocolate covered cheesecake topped with espresso ice cream.
The hotel dates back to 1847 but the current building has had many renovations, mostly organised by women. Opposite the hotel is the war memorial and wonderful old building housing the historic society. Unfortunately I could not get to see inside.
We set up camp and explored the facilities. This evening we helped celebrate two birthdays- Beccy's and Amber's. This was followed by the staff singing songs related to women in country music.
