I decided to try out the Adelaide free cycle hire scheme on Monday 26th August, taking a leisurely ride down along the Torrens to the sea. It was a pleasant trip only slightly marred by swooping magpies (breeding season is just beginning and they get rather protective...) and something of a speed limit on the 3.5 gear bike... Through the day I also took care of a few things, including making my mandatory vote in the upcoming Australian election - being unsure of my whereabouts on 7th September I thought it best to get it out of the way and took the time to order all 82 Senate candidates (possibly not my most informed vote...)
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| Garden by the Torrens |
On Tuesday I cadged a lift with Paul down to Noarlunga, where he works. Following his advice I took a walk along the Onkaparinga river to the sea and back to town along the beach (winner of Australia's cleanest beach awards). Another walk along the coast showed scenic red cliffs while the Noarlunga reef and bobbing seals were visible from the end of the pier. Post work Paul kindly took me for a drive down the coast and along the beach as far as Sellicks Beach (just in time not to get washed away!) to make the most of the view of late afternoon sunshine on the hills and sea. The return through McLaren Vale gave excellent rainbows and sunset.
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| Noarlunga Reef |
Tara picked me up next day to take me mountain biking (especially kind seeing as she had somehow packed the bikes herself) and we went to Craigburn Farm to give the bikes a go. I found it fairly scary but exhilarating and once we had worn Honey (Tara's dog) out sufficiently we returned to her house in Kilburn for afternoon tea with Tara's English neighbour. It was soon time to prepare for the evening's activity, and once Tara's husband Brad, Aaron, Elysa and James had arrived, pizza had been collected and many cushions and blankets had been loaded into the car, we headed along to the nearby drive-in cinema. This is something one cannot seem to do in the UK and I gather it has something to do with the inferior weather; the last one left in Adelaide, I cannot understand why it does not seem more popular... Having waited for a rain-free day to enjoy our evening it was a little disappointing when the drizzle started part way through our second film!
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| Too tired to internet |
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| At the drive-in |
Tara dropped me off in the town centre the following morning and I just missed out on a free bike hire at the first place I looked - there would have been two left had I been 30 seconds earlier... Not taking this as I sign to discontinue my search I traipsed with my luggage along to the next place I could find - they had one bike left, although the rain had started by this point! Sure it would ease I followed through with my plans to explore the Torrens in the other direction. It did not, and quite a lot of time was spent taking cover from rain and magpies, and having to find new routes when paths were closed for no apparent reason. Sadly I did not make it as far as the hills as hoped but still managed to return to Belair exhausted...
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| Bridge over the Torrens |
I took it easy on Friday, doing some catch-up and taking a tour of the garden, looking for but not finding and redback spiders! Next day we took a family outing to see some guest tallships at Port Adelaide with recently returned Ben, Bene and Franzi. There were also lots of dolphins swimming around in the Port and I even found myself a boat trip to Melbourne leaving that evening - only $1330! In the evening we enjoyed seeing Angus' band play a gig in town!
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| The Lord Nelson at Port Adelaide |
We started preparations for a camping trip on Sunday morning, before a meaty lunch in celebration of Father's Day. After some shopping and piano moving Ben, Bene, Franzi and I were ready to embark on the trip down to Deep Creek Conservation Park, where we set up camp and started up a fire to cook our pasta. Through the evening we spotted kangaroos and enjoyed the clear view of the stars...
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| Cooking dinner |
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