Wine Tasting

Tanunda
8th March


Today started a little damp even though it was totally unexpected.
It had showered very lightly a few hours earlier - just enough to dampen everything except our spirits.
I decided to justify my bacon and egg sandwich by going for a walk once Tracy came back from her morning power walk. I suspect mine was a whole lot easier, and the fact that I ended up at the local Foodland purchasing an Iced Coffee was a true symbol of how serious I was.


After arriving back at camp, we all (Well the Hardy's and us - the Marbles had already set off), and bundled into the cars and took off to visit some wineries. First stop was at the local metwurst store, where I am sure the lady had the shock of her lice seeing 6 overly excited kids (the Hardy's and us) come barrelling inside and asking to taste each and every sample available  after bundling them outside, we managed to taste a few and pocked one to bring back for the afternoon feast. Next stop was Kaisler, where I decided to start growing my taste sensations and chose all Shiraz. Turns put they were pretty nice, so I bought a bottle to "sip" this afternoon.
Somehow we next ended up at the playground in Nuriootpa, where we kept the kids entertained for 10 minutes or so..
Peter Lehman was next on-route, and is always a favourite, albeit a little expensive. I worked my way through the selection of 13 different Shiraz varieties, but the wallet made the final decision, because at $30 a bottle, I wasn't about to go any higher.

The trip back to the caravan park involved stopping at Foodland again for some cheeses and biscuits for this afternoons pig out, and then finally got on our way.
We came back and had the obligatory BBQ lunch and a few drinks, and then what seemed only an hour later, I set up a platter of cheeses, garlic metwurst and biscuits and started gathering the troops.
The drinks started flowing and the platter started disappearing. The atmosphere was getting funnier the more the alcohol was getting lower, until the wasps made it too uncomfortable to have the food out any longer.
We then realised it was past the kids tea time, so the alcohol took a well earned break and we started acting like parents again for a few hours.
Last night tonight.... has been great weekend a good short break only an hour away from home. definitely on the list for a quick weekend away.

South Aussie with Cosi

Tanunda
Saturday 7th March




After a few too many wines last night, I crashed pretty solidly and was happily snoring away when Tracy woke me up around midnight to let me know sleep was not going to happen with the guys about 3 vans away enjoying catching up over an entire esky of beer. So now that I was awake, I did the manly man job of puffing out my chest and walking over to them in my satin boxer shorts and ugg boots to let them know that being this loud at midnight is not ok unless I was invited. And quite clearly I wasn't.
I climbed back into bed and crashed instantly, finding out this morning that they apparently carried on for another hour, so needless to say, Tracy wasn't in her usual morning cheery self..
Once we were all up, Nicole decided she needed to go for a run, Tracy and Olivia went for separate walks (although I think it was a ploy to just meet up in the main street of Tanunda for coffee) and I cooked up a storm of bacon and eggs. I am still convinced my morning routine is a much better option than all these exercise based ones 


At 11am, the temporary whale water slide opened and the kids were off. They spent the next 2 hours playing on the slide, in the pool and the jumping pillow,  whilst I started checking out the wine tasting.... which was ok, but all it really did was start my appetite for getting a full glass from the van and enjoying the day.

About this time, Cosi from South Aussie with  Cosi, turned up and started filming. I got my 5 minutes of fame by being filmed getting my 5th top up of wine and when asked how was it, all I could think of saying was "not big enough!" We then had a look at the 20 foot white rhino and giraffe that Cosi had bought from a guy at 1770 in Central QLD. Dylan managed to get himself filmed onto the jumping pillow - complaining of course that there were too many kids in his way to do his front flips. Apparently it isn't being aired till September, but it is going to be well worth the watching.




The afternoon was spent sitting around the vans, having a drink or 3, and just relaxing the way caravanning allows us to.
I just love this lifestyle. Pity that I need to work to pay for it to happen.

Tanunda - Here we come

Tanunda
Friday 6th March




We picked up the kids on Friday night from school, with the caravan hooked up and squeezed through the back streets of Hahndorf eagerly waiting for the last school bell to sound so we could get going.
I had my best camping clothes on already with my weekend gardening shorts, black socks halfway up my legs and a polo shirt better suited to someone half my size- but I was comfortable and these days, that is what is most important. Tracy was so proud that she took off ahead and dis-owned me to avoid the embarrassment of being associated with me in front of all those school friends.

The kids were finally bundled in the car and we were off. We had a massive 81 km to travel for this trip, but like clockwork, the moment we hit 80km/hr, Tracy fell asleep and left me talking to myself about all the roadside sites to see.
Less than an hour later we arrived. Tracy went into the office while the rest of us spent what seemed like 2 hours in the car waiting for the financials to be sorted. Finally we got in, and set the van up. We have at last got things organised enough that setup is now less than an hour...... Meaning I can sit down and crack open a coldie ... And that is the best part about camping.

Turns out this park is a hive of activity over the next few days. South Aussie with Cosi (Andrew Costello) are here tomorrow filming and there are multiple kids activities, along with a BBQ and wine tasting for those of us that are a little older and like a bevvy or 2.

Cheers till tomorrow.