Willunga's Tour Down Under

We have been watching all the preparations in our little township for all of this previous week. So much time and effort goes into getting everything set up for this bike race day.The road is smoothed at the intersection with the rumble strips removed, banners and balloons by the kilometer to decorate the way into the township and up Old Willunga Hill where the race finishes with some bike rider being crowned "King of the Mountain". There they were erecting a double story marquee when we drove past last Tuesday on our way to a friends place in Stirling,  so I guess all the politicians and officials today would have had a grand view of the bike riders making their last desperate effort to be crowned King.It is a huge hill and a very narrow road as well.

 I took these" before" pictures yesterday as I thought we could see how things change with all the people and families arriving and settling in along the route. Who needs to go to France when we have a Tour Down Under? It was good to see all the young kids on their bikes, some all dressed like their Dads and looking very serious about keeping up, treadling past the Willunga High School where I chose to take up my position to get some shots of the Tour competitors.

 I love this metal sculpture on a massive dead gumtree opposite the school, I am not sure who the artist is but it is very innovative of him.

So many volunteers must have blown up and positioned these green and gold balloons along the school fence and up the High street as well.

The weather this morning was especially kind, with a cool breeze and a bit of cloud as well.What did surprise me as I was waiting for the action to start and watching people walk past to go to places further along, were the number of women wearing inappropriate footwear, mostly thongs or high healed sandals, all listing to one side or other.As you can see the above photo and the one on the left were taken this morning after the riders had passed, people everywhere and families gathered under awnings and enjoying their food and drinks with other bike riders whizzing by.The picture on the right are the actual competitors riding in the race. They had to cover aprox 150 km by going over various roads several times and then climbing old Willunga hill at the end of it all. I'm sure they won't need any rocking to get to sleep tonight!!