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From a lookout near Palmer, South Australia
Farming land and wheat silos near Palmer, South Australia
Palmer is a small town about 20 minutes’ drive north of where I live. The main crop in the district is wheat which accounts for the storage silos shown in the photo above. After being stored here for a while, the grain is then transported to flour mills like the one in nearby Murray Bridge, to other mills elsewhere or to Port Adelaide for export.
Palmer is only a short distance from the River Murray town of Mannum, a centre for the river boat trade in a bygone era and now a top tourist destination. It doesn’t show up in the photo above, being slightly to the right of the frame.
The area around the lookout is quite rocky, as shown in the photo below.
From a lookout near Palmer, South Australia
2011 Tour Down Under Stage 2 – still more photos
2011 Tour Down Under, Murray Bridge
Stage 2 of this year’s Tour Down Under came through Murray Bridge this morning. Click back through recent posts to read more information, and to see more photos.
The stage started at Tailem Bend before travelling through Murray Bridge, Kanmantoo, Birdwood, Mt Pleasant and finished at Mannum. This race is the last appearance of Tour de France seven times winner, Lance Armstrong, in a race outside of the United States. The race also features most of the leading European pro-teams in their only appearance outside of Europe.
2011 Tour Down Under, Murray Bridge
2011 Tour Down Under, Murray Bridge
2011 Tour Down Under, Murray Bridge
2011 Tour Down Under Stage 2 – more photos
2011 Tour Down Under, Murray Bridge
The 2011 Tour Down Under cycling race came through my home town this morning on its way through the Adelaide Hills and finishing at Mannum. See my previous post for more details. Here’s a few more photos I managed.
2011 Tour Down Under, Murray Bridge
2011 Tour Down Under, Murray Bridge
2011 Tour Down Under, Murray Bridge
2011 Tour Down Under Stage 2
Race director's car 2011 Tour Down Under, Murray Bridge
A short time ago I drove across to the main road leading out of my home town Murray Bridge to see the cycle race, the 2011 Tour Down Under, pass through town. I just only made it; the cyclists were about 4 minutes ahead of schedule. This is the only race outside of Europe featuring all the top professional cycling teams, a major coup for our little state of South Australia.
The race features many of the leading riders in world cycling, including Lance Armstrong in his last appearance outside the United States, Stuart O’Grady, Robbie McEwen, Mark Cavendish and a host of other riders, about 130 in total.
Stage 2 today travels from Tailem Bend through Murray Bridge and up through Nairne, Birdwood, Mt Pleasant, Tungkillo, Palmer and finishes at Mannum.
This is being posted before the end of the race.
Leading group, 2011 Tour Down Under, Murray Bridge
2011 Tour Down Under, Murray Bridge
2011 Tour Down Under, Murray Bridge
Ostriches at Monarto Zoo, South Australia
Male (L) and female (R) Ostriches at Monarto Zoo
Ostriches are native to Africa, not South Australia, but if I want to see some Ostriches I only have to drive for about 10 minutes from my home in Murray Bridge South Australia. There is a small flock of Ostriches on display in our local open range zoo at Monarto which is a part of the Adelaide Zoo. Good – but quite as good as seeing them in their natural environment.
On the other hand, there are some Ostriches living in the wild in South Australia. In the nineteenth century Ostrich feathers were in demand for decorations on hats and several farms were set up in several parts of the country. A few feral birds remain in the arid country just north of Port Augusta where one farm was located. These were released from the farm when the market demand slumped, and a small self sustaining population can still be seen from time to time – if you know where to look.
Other African animals at Monarto Zoo include the African Lion.