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
Storm Clouds over Mannum, South Australia
Storm clouds over Mannum, South Australia
Last Tuesday afternoon I drove to Mannum for a meeting. This lovely little town on the banks of the River Murray is about a half hour drive north of our home in Murray Bridge. A local community group called The Friends of the Mannum Walking Trails has asked me to write a pamphlet giving visitors to Mannum a guide to bird watching in and around the town.
Storm clouds over Mannum, South Australia
It was a good meeting and we were able to deal with the business in a reasonable time. This allowed me about an hour to do a little birding and photography before heading home again. On the northern outskirts of the town there is a bird sanctuary right next to the caravan park. This is usually an excellent birding spot with a good variety of water birds. On this occasion I was a little disappointed and there was nothing out of the ordinary to be seen.
Storm clouds over Mannum, South Australia
My attention quickly shifted from the birds to the clouds. All afternoon a series of spectacular storm clouds built up over and near the town. These clouds became the focus of my camera.
Storm clouds over Mannum, South Australia
Click on the photo to enlarge the image.