Australian Bike Friday Club

CLEAN AND GREEN-GEAR IN THE CLARE VALLEY, 24-28 March 2010 

The 14th ABFC will meet in Clare, the beautiful old town among the autumn vineyards, farms and big eucalypts of the rolling Riesling Trail. The little old stone villages in the valley, its pubs and churches are barely changed from the time of the bullock drays.

Around 1850, Polish Lutheran immigrants were among the earliest settlers
in the area where they purchased land and settled at Polish Hill River.
A church was built and also a school where Polish and English
languages were used. Meanwhile, Austrian Jesuits, fleeing religious and
political persecution, migrated here and established Sevenhill
Cellars. They planted Clare Valley's first vines and began making
sacramental wines as well as supplying settlers and other workers
involved in copper mining. Jesuits at Sevenhill are still making
sacramental wines in the same cellars. The magnificent St Aloysius
Church, with crypt, is part of the Father Rogalski Loop of the Riesling
Trail. There are now more than 20 other wineries and 40 cellar doors
operating out of old farms, heritage buildings and in cottage gardens.

As well, pastoral settlements and some grand homes were established
nearby at Bungaree. Slate was quarried at Mintaro, where Martindale
Hall, the 'Picnic at Hanging Rock' mansion and coach-house, was built in
1876 and used for sporting and social occasions. C J Dennis, the
Triantiwontigongalope author, lived at Mintaro and Auburn. Spring Gully
Conservation Park close to the Skilly Hills will be on our route to
visit Skillogalee. Billygoat Hill Lookout and Neagles Rock, in and near
the township of Clare, provide two great views of the surroundings.

The base camp is the Clare Caravan Park set in 25 acres on Main North
Road, just a couple of kms south of the town, phone (08) 8842 2724,
info@clarecaravanpark.com.au. The McBride Flora and Fauna Reserve is
within the park, tucked among the gum trees and serendipitously adjacent
to the Clare Valley Visitor Information Centre. There are plenty of
cabins of various sizes accommodating from 2 to 6 people, with prices
ranging from around $115 to $80 including linen. Extra rates apply for
more than two. Shady caravan and tent sites are available. There is a
spacious covered bbq area on site as well as a pool. Be sure to mention
that you are with ABFC when booking as a discount will apply for those
who stay 3 or more nights. Children are welcome.

ACCESS: A coach leaves Adelaide daily at 8.15am, book by phone (08) 8842
2575. OR travel one hour by train from Adelaide to Gawler, call (08)
8210 1000 for timetable, then ride on Theile Highway 31 kms to Kapunda,
then via Tarlee to Riverton where it is possible to join the 19 km
roughish Rattlers Rail Trail to Auburn and finally on the Riesling Trail
to Clare.

For Tourist Information, contact Clare Valley Visitor Information Centre
on 1800 242 131 or www.clarevalley.com.au.

The first ride will be on Thursday 25th starting at 10am. Rides willbe on the Riesling Trail with its interpretive signs and along rollingroads, sealed and unsealed, with options to stretch the legs with
extension rides. Sth Aust BF riders will be the route leaders as they
know the area.  Everybody will be required to sign an ABFC indemnity
form and all need to be responsible for insurance, road safety and
mechanical repairs. Be sure to check brakes and bring spare tubes and
locks. Be seen - wear green.

As always, all participants will need to register by 1 FEBRUARY 2010,
including model and colour of BF and with cheques or postal notes for
$75 per person made out to Margaret Day, 9 Church Rd, Mitcham, South
Australia 5062, to cover the cost of the Saturday night communal dinner
and the Sunday lunch. Please notify by 1 Feb if vegetarian meals or
other dietary needs are required.

If there are any questions, please do not hesitate to ask.

Margaret Day mday@picknowl.com.au  ph (08) 8271 5824
Bronwyn Laing bicycle@aapt.net.au  ph (02) 6355 1195

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Scroll down to CLUB NEWS to read multimedia reports of past gatherings and other Bike Friday downunder stories

JUST FOR TANDEMS: LE TANDEM TOUR DE DUBBO

Le Tandem Tour de Dubbo is an annual event for Bike Friday tandem owners. For 2008 the dates are 25, 26 & 27 October. We will probably ride about 70 - 80 km each day, although the Monday could be less to allow people to depart from Dubbo same day. Most people will come Friday. We need to know who's coming to arrange accommodation. It's for tandems! Contact Graham Keast, keasty446 at gmail dot com

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A BIT OF CLUB HISTORY ...

Every year since 1997, the Australian Bike Friday Club meets for a gathering that spans 4 days of fun and frolics in an idyllic location.

All Bike Friday owners and those contemplating ownership are welcome. Margaret and Graham Day, Bronwyn Laing and Dave Boyling are the founding organizers. The location rotates between Adelaide, Victoria and New South Wales each year.

The event is low-cost (pay your own way) with a communal dinner, lunch and charity auction. A representatives from the Bike Friday factory including Australian Sales Experts Peter Berra, make the trip each year.

MEET FRIDAY FOLK ACROSS AUSTRALIA!

Join the ABFC message board to connect with over 100 Australian BF Club members.

Canberra contacts - www.bikefriday.com/clubs/canberra

Sydney contacts - www.bikefriday.com/clubs/sydney

Melbourne: There are several Bike Friday owners in the Melbourne Bicycle Touring Club which hosts a well-attended weekly meeting. Bicycle Victoria is the nations biggest bicycle touring and advocacy organization, headed by Harry Barber - a Bike Friday owner.

South Australia: check out Cycling For Pleasure

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