A day in the Clare Valley

We had a few hits and misses today exploring all that this part of the Clare Valley has to offer. We started the day very well, enjoying great coffee and a perfect bowl of oats at Cafe 1871 on Main N Rd in the township of Clare. Afterwards we decided to check out the Gleeson Wetlands just to the NE of the centre of town - a joint venture between volunteers from the Lions Club and the Council to maintain the long term health of the wetlands. However today, with it being so dry and warm in the district, the wetlands looked very depleted to us and very lacking in evident birdlife. Full marks to all the volunteers however who have worked so hard to get the area restored to its current state.

Still looking for somewhere to walk in amongst this amazing countryside we set out for the Spring Gully Conservation Park about 6klms south of Clare township (closer to where we're staying at Penwortham), hoping to do a 40min hike around the ridge top. But despite our efforts in finding the park (through narrow dirt tracks and lots of dust) we were unsuccessful today - the park was closed!!!! and no reasons given!!

Oh well, luckily the beautiful Skillogalee vineyards and cellar door were close by - very nice for a reviving visit and fun to buy a few bottles of their tasty Shiraz and Riesling.

Next stop was the Mr Mick Cellar Door and Kitchen, closer to Clare township. Unfortunately our favourite Clare Valley vineyards (Grosset and Mount Horrocks) aren't open this week so we're visiting winemakers like Mr Mick who aren't on our preferred list - its a very pretty place to visit and I'd hoped to find local produce available here (but it wasn't to be!). Anyway, Mr Mick certainly delivered in the pretty place to visit department.

The Riesling Trail runs very close to Mr Mick so we were able to go for a long awaited walk at least to end off our morning in the Valley. We walked for about 3 klm along the track but it's obvious that the trail is better suited to cycling as the vineyards are a L-O-N-G way apart - and we weren't up for a 7 hour walk in the hot midday sun.

Instead we did a little bit more dirt road bush bashing in the car and ended up at Pikes Wines and Brewery on Polish Hill Road east of Sevenhill. We regard Pikes Rieslings as a great stand by (but not too special) so we weren't interested in doing a tasting or buying today - so we had a Pikes IPA beer from the adjacent brewery instead. We thought it nice and fruity, yet with a distinct bitterness (nice and toasty).

Pikes is a very commercial operation with miles and miles of vines - but the cellar door and brewery are in a beautiful setting - very quiet today on a Tuesday!

Nothing is better at the end of a day in the Clare Valley looking out over the vineyard (while pretending its your own vineyard) with a glass of local (Skillogalee) Riesling in hand......