In early November, 17 intrepid cyclists met at Wallaroo for KI BUG’s annual off-island weekend – 10 from KI plus seven mainland friends, including one keen couple who came all the way from Stawell, Victoria. We were based at the caravan park and the forecast for the weekend was excellent for exploring the other two Copper Triangle towns of Moonta and Kadina. Luckily, Wallaroo is connected to both towns via rail trails – old railway corridors converted into cycling and walking tracks.

The first day we cycled to Moonta and beyond. Just before the town we paused at an abandoned open-cut mine, large and deep with the classic emerald green lake at the bottom. Next stop was the well-preserved old railway station (now housing the tourist information centre), then we continued on a brand-new cycle path to Moonta Bay for our well-deserved lunch break.

We retraced our steps on the way back but detoured into the large old Moonta mine site, where we got lost a few times. After finding and admiring the well-built old mining structures, we returned to the rail trail and were soon back in the familiar surrounds of the caravan park. The day was rounded off with a joyful shared BBQ dinner in the well-appointed camp kitchen.

The next day we were scheduled to ride to Kadina, but since our destination was not far away, we decided to take the scenic route and first explore a bit of the coast. We cycled around the typically flash new marina development, then negotiated a short section of beach track to North Beach. From there we headed towards Point Riley but were deterred from our course by the extremely corrugated and sandy road, exacerbated by overly friendly flies. So we made a unanimous decision to turn around and head post-haste for the nearest bitumen road to Kadina. For the first time, we enjoyed cycling into a stiff headwind because the flies could not keep up with us!

On the outskirts of Kadina our ride leader (me) got his flock lost again and another about-face was necessary, but eventually we found beautiful Victoria Park for our lunch break. Refreshed, we pushed our bikes through this prosperous-looking town, past an attractive mural and another disused railway station and on to the rail trail back to Wallaroo. No chance to get lost again! Our cycling weekend ended with a pub dinner and lots of discussion about where to go next year – perhaps interstate?

BUGfred.

Manfred Meidert is a both a long-time Kangaroo Island BUG member and Bike SA member.