Day 20 - Adelaide Hill

Today we to spent exploring the Adelaide hills area. First attraction was the Steam Ranger steamfest at their Mt Barker depot. Contrary to the views expressed by some of our more cynical blogees, advertising of this event was only discovered by accident in a shop window in the Barossa about a week ago.

We headed over to Mt Barker in time to admire locomotive 621, which was built in 1936 and once hauled express passenger locos. Geoff was very impressed with the big Pacific.

We waited to view the departure of the train. Notice the semi- streamlined appearance and the 2 metre drivers. A beautiful machine. Pity the departure was on a downhill grade, so it was a bit of an anticlimax.

We then went for a section car ride which went several kilometres out from the depot and return (in the opposite direction to the steam service!!)

We enjoyed views along the track that would not have been possible from the steam hauled service

From Mt Barker, we headed over to Lobethal markets, held in the old Onkaparinga factory, which used to make blankets and other woollen goods. Next door to the markets, still in the old factory is the Lobethal Bierhaus micro brewery and restaurant. Fortunately they had local ciders which we taste tested while we waited for lunch.

From Lobethal it was back to Gumeracha for the antique fair held in the local hall. It was now getting a bit cold, so back to our suite at Randells Mill. The slow combustion heater has now warmed things up considerably.