2017 - Tour Down Under: Day 22: Tue 24 Jan

Overcast and cold all day, with a very lazy wind
Cycle: 34km

Today we did Mt Gambier. We started at the top of the hills with the Lakes - Blue Lake, Leg of Mutton Lake, and Valley Lake. Blue Lake was probably the most spectacular due to its size and colour, but the others were interesting as well. Centenary Tower was in the vicinity but it was up a rather steep hill which we thought was best done in a vehicle (Y&G did this in the late afternoon but still had a 200m odd almost vertical climb, on foot, at the end!). It was then time for mornos and Gunther suggested that the first cafe we saw was the one we should visit. So, we did, and we were not disappointed. The cafe and bakery was adjacent to the new cycle way they have made from the disused rail line. We shared a berry scroll, with a coffee each.

Next stop was at an Antique shop. There was a lot of old stuff, almost too much. Wendy managed to find a pair of bicycle earrings that were handmade in Kenya. It was then onto "The Lady Nelson" visitor and discovery centre which was more than just an information centre. It had a replica of "The Lady Nelson" ship and a very interesting interactive display centre where you "stepped back in time through a number of different caves. It was then time for lunch and we found a cafe and bakery on Commercial Street which was obviously good as it was PACKED. We were lucky enough to get a table and ordered our sandwiches which were rather large.

After lunch, we ventured across the road to the Riddoch Art Gallery for a bit of C&C. We just missed viewing the volcano movie about how the area in and around Mt Gambier came to be. We then visited the Cave Gardens with was basically a sink hole with some flowers and plants. Very nicely done though. Next on the list was Engelbrecht Cave. However, we arrived at 2:10pm and the 2pm tour had just departed. So, we visited the Vansittart Park Jubilee Gardens which were immaculately kept. There was a German 77mm Gun and a Memorial Park.

We arrived back at Engelbrecht Cave with plenty of time to buy our tickets and await the start of the tour. We visited two caves, East and West. One of the caves is a live cave-dive site with a level 3 dive. Apparently this is one of the most difficult of cave dives and one has to have a psych consult before the dive!!?? We ventured 27m underground where the temperature is a constant 14 degC. The caves are 15-20 million years old and were used as rubbish dump sites many moons ago. Engelbrecht was apparently a bit of bootlegger and to dispose of his unsightly waste, he would send it down one of the "solution hole" to hide it. Many years later, modern man found it, along with bones and all matter of other rubbish.

Greg had needed to replace his rear tyre on his bike for about a week. So, we cycled into town, found the cycle shop and purchased a tyre. It was then back in the direction of the van park to visit the Umpherston Sinkhole. Lucky we did not leave this one off the list - a very nice garden grown in the hole in the ground. Greg even sighted a possum having a sleep. By the time we were finished in the sink hole it was 5pm and we were ready to go home.

Home was not too far away and whilst we did some chores and prepared dinner, Y&G drove to Centenary Tower. On their return, we sat in the middle of the park with our pre-dinner drinks and continued to chase the sun for about 30 mins. After dinner, we caught up with sorting photos and writing and posting blogs.