Week 12 - Petersbrough to Burra and Clare Valley

Looking around Burra

Jim Barry Winery - Clare Valley (SA)

Lush Fields in S.A

Lunch at Seven Hills Hotel

Girls outside St Aloysius Catholic Church

St Aloysius Catholic Church

Brother John May (hat on) with tour - Gavin on side with Sarah piggyback.

Inside the wine cellar

Brother John May - discussing the vines

Well, we spent 2 nights in comfort at a caravan in Petersbrough (South Australia). We have decided that we don't want to camp anymore. SURPRISE!!!! And it was a good thing that we decided to as the weather turned rather chilly. Not too much rain but on the day we went tripping to the Clare valley it didn't reach above 11 degrees.

Left Petersbrough for a lovely drive to Burra. Passed many wheat crops and lush fields. Big change from the desert. When we got to Burra we did not know that it was such a beautiful old town. It was a copper/gold town and it has heaps of history.

Next stop was a couple of wineries in the famous Clare valley. We went to Jim Barry wines first as we kind of have a romantic attachment to the place - visiting it 3 times now. Full wine tasting with the kids amused in the corner.

Lunch was at Seven Hills Hotel - lovely pub lunch with atmosphere and a warm fire. Yes, it was good wine tasting weather! Then we dashed up to Seven Hills winery and there was Brother John May doing a tour in front of us (only on Tues and Thur) we quickly got the ok to join in as he is one of Australia's most famous winemakers. What an amazing experience! He turned out not only to be an expert wine maker, but also very knowledgeable in architecture, history and spirituality! We got the ok from him after the tour to acquire one of the first two cases of the Mary Mackillop Sainthood wines. Both the red and the white. This was a pre-launch sale as it would not be released to the locals until Friday. Brother John said yes to our request after the tour. I love this place.

On our way to Broken Hill and then the Blue Mountains tomorrow. We have a motel booked in Broken Hill and we will stay at my mothers place in Wentworth Falls.