R. Doug Wicker's Blog, page 86
July 22, 2020
Circumnavigating Australia — Barossa Valley; Lambert to Seppeltsfield Road
Vineyards of Seppeltsfield Road
I have for you today four more images of Jim Lambert’s Lambert Estate Wines, beginning with one of the vineyards:
Lambert Estate vineyard
Several of these vines are nestled among rolling hills:
Lambert Estate vineyard
No tour of a winery would be complete without a look at the cellar, so:
Lambert Estate cellar
Leaving behind Lambert Estate we made our way to Seppeltsfield Road. The Seppelt Family were once the dominant wine dynasty of this area. Indeed, the Seppel...
July 20, 2020
Circumnavigating Australia — Barossa Valley; Tanunda and Lambert Estate
The beautiful Ursula sporting her Aussie sun hat
Two wineries down. One to go. But before we get there, let’s stop in the town of Tanunda for some refreshment at a great place for ice cream (and coffee) — Beans and Cream:
Beans and Cream, Tanunda
Beans and Cream was, quite simply, fantastic. Very interesting gelato and sorbet flavors from which to choose. Here’s a photo of some of their selection from Steempeak (unfortunately, Beans and Cream’s website does not do them justice):
Image obtained f...
July 17, 2020
Fun Photo Friday — Circumnavigating Australia; Barossa Favorites 1
White Wine Sampling
This week and next Fun Photo Friday will feature some favorite images of our Barossa Valley tour.
The Grapes of Path
Peter Lehmann Estate
Barossa Sculpture Park at the Mengler Hill Lookout
Three Flags over Château Tanunda
July 15, 2020
Circumnavigating Australia — Barossa Valley; Château Tanunda Winery
Château Tanunda estate
Next up on our Taste the Barossa tour deep in the Barossa Valley was Château Tanunda Winery, which dates back to 1890. Here, in addition to Shiraz, the varietals included Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Chardonnay, and Riesling.
Château Tanunda Winery
Unfortunately, the grounds were more impressive than the wines. The samplings were okay, but not up to the standards of Peter Lehmann or what I’ve come to expect from other vintners from this area.
Our Château Tanunda wine tast...
July 13, 2020
Circumnavigating Australia — Barossa Valley; Peter Lehmann Winery
Closed to everyone . . . EXCEPT US ! ! !
Our ship, Radiance of the Seas, left Esperance on February 27, and we arrived three days later to our next destination — Adelaide. Adelaide is some 950 miles/1,530 kilometers to the east of Esperance, clear across the Great Australian Bight. From this port of call we once again had a tour at the ready. This tour however was not of Adelaide. Rather, we were about to embark on a wine tasting tour of the magnificent Barossa Valley.
Peter Lehmann Winery, Baro...
July 10, 2020
Fun Photo Friday — Circumnavigating Australia; Esperance Area Favorites
Rover P5 Grill
It’s time for Fun Photo Friday favorites of Esperance and the surrounding environs:
Ursula Having Fun!
Surfing
Teen Outing
Crashing Waves
Breaking
Windmill and Scrub
Quiet Contemplation
July 8, 2020
Circumnavigating Australia — The Beaches of Esperance
Esperance Area Beaches
On this day our tour took us to many Esperance area beaches, which we visited while transiting Twilight Beach Road. Some of the beaches we visited this day included names such as Fourth Beach, 2 Mile Beach, Twilight Beach, 9 Mile Beach, 10 Mile Lagoon, 11 Mile Beach, 13 Mile Beach, and other equally originally named areas.
Pounding surf
While the skies were not very cooperative this day, the crashing waves and pounding surf made up for the cloudiness.
Crashing waves
The ro...
July 6, 2020
Circumnavigating Australia — Esperance
Esperance Clock Tower — by the jetty
We arrived to our next destination on February 27, but here we had to tender in from Radiance of the Seas. This week we will take a look at this destination, Esperance, Western Australia, which is situated along the southwest shore of the Great Australian Bight.
Everything was just ducky at the Miniature Railway
On this port we once again had a tour planned, and we met up with our tour guide just outside the tender jetty area. Spots of interest on this van to...
July 3, 2020
Fun Photo Friday — Circumnavigating Australia; Perth Favorites
Sunbathing
Today’s Fun Photo Friday favorites of Fremantle and Kings Park:
Chillin’ on a Bench at the Beach
State War Memorial Cenotaph
Of Palms and Pines
Busy Bee
The Flame of Remembrance
July 1, 2020
Circumnavigating Australia — Perth; Kings Park and Botanical Garden
Perth and Perth Water
Today we’re visiting a park just west southwest of Perth, called the ‘Pearl of Australia’. Unfortunately, we didn’t get into the city itself, but we did get some great views from an overlook:
View of Perth (Elizabeth Quay) from Kings Park
This scenic vantage point is quite the place to visit. It is the 900-acre/400.6 hectare Kings Park and Botanical Garden:
Kings Park and Botanical Garden
The skies this day were quite interesting, with parallel formations of cumulus forming...
