Day 17: Wed 01 Mar 23 - Strathalbyn

Wed 01 Mar - Strathalbyn

A moderate 15 Deg this morning reaching 21 Deg with a few light showers throughout the day. Another full day of activity, and we're both feeling a weary again. The day started with an early morning walk followed by breakfast and a few chores, including booking the car in for a service in Adelaide next week. Before heading off on another drive today, we ventured into town to the Hammer and Tongs cafe in town for another good brew. From here, we followed the100km 'Hills and Lake' loop drive from Strathalbyn through the hills to Lake Alexandrina and back through Langhorne Creek to Strathalbyn. On the way out towards Ashbourne we passed through some magnificent very old and large gumtrees lining the roadside, and some very scenic grazing country. There didn't appear to be anything of interest in Ashbourne, so we continued on to the once thriving river port of Milang on the banks of Lake Alexandrina. The Milang shacks on the foreshore were very cute, and imagine they would be fantastic photographic subjects in the right light. The historical Milang Railway and jetty were also very interesting.  Our return to Strathalbyn took us through the Langhorne Creek wine region where we stopped for a look through the Bleasdale Winery with its impressive red gum wine press. No tasting today, but a worthwhile and interesting stop nonetheless. We arrived back at the van by 1300 where we had lunch and filled the afternoon with more chores, including taking the car through a car wash and refuelled in preparation for our departure tomorrow.  I even managed to get out on the bike for a ride around town and along a riverside path for an hour.  Tomorrow is only a shortish drive to Port Elliot, made a little longer with some road closures, so we can take our time packing and leaving in the morning. 

Historical Buildings in Strathalbyn. The Old Angus Flour Mill opened in 1849, sold to Laucke Milling in 1938 and closed in 1961

Historical Buildings in Strathalbyn

Historical Buildings in Strathalbyn. The Old Angus Flour Mill

Historical Buildings in Strathalbyn. The Old Angus Flour Mill

Historical Buildings in Strathalbyn. 

Time for coffee...

Our new favourite coffee venue in Strath- Hammer and Tongs


A wide load on our drive today - a railway carriage

Historic Milang Railway on the edge of Lake Alexadrina

Historic Milang Railway

Milang Foreshore Reserve and walkway

Milang Foreshore Reserve - a popular destination for bird watchers

Historic Milang 

Old cottages along the waters edge in Milang

Jettys in Milang

Milang was once the largest inland port in South Australia

Historic cottages on the edge of Lake Alexandrina - where the mighty Murray River meets the ocean

The old trade Jetty in Milang

Run Like the Wind Sculpture at Milang (one of the 26 on Hills Sculpture Trail)

The Old Milang Butter and Dairy Factory which operated from 1894, being brought back to life

Milang old Barn

View across the quant community of Milang an Lake Alexandrina

On our return to Strathalbyn, a stop at the 171 year old Bleasdale Winery in Langhorne Creek. The incredible 43ft long red wine press used from 1892 to 1962.

Large Red Gum vats

Large Red Gum Vats

Bleasdal Winery

Old Church in Langhorne Creek

Flow Sculpture at Langhorne Creek (one of the 26 on Hills Sculpture Trail)


Old building in Langhorne Creek

Magnificent looking Catholic Church in Strathalbyn

Anglican Church in Strathalbyn

Corellas in plaque creating havoc in the park at Strathalbyn


   

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