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Published: March 28th 2011
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As we left the Barossa it was great to finally see the one weather condition we were yet to experience – fog. The drive was quite eerie, through the numerous tiny villages, Monday morning but with barely a sign of life.
The fog (and rain and then wind) in fact followed us the whole way to Port Elliot, a small town just north of Victor Harbor on the Fleurieu Peninsula.
What a great area this is! Scenic with a history, or historic with great beaches – we went up to Goolwa, the former Murray River port, for a look in the rain, then wandered along the bridge out to Granite Island from Victor Harbor, being too poor to afford the horse-drawn tram.
Granite Island was great – a solitary seal swimming close to shore, a few dolphins a bit further out to sea and, on the windward side of the island, wind and waves and spray. Apparently the island is famous for its tiny penguins, but all we saw were thousands of millipedes all over the paths.
Even tiny Port Elliot has some history- first port on the peninsula, albeit not overly successful as heaps of ships
were wrecked there, and the first public railway in Australia. Judging by the size of the Council Chambers though the councilors didn’t exactly do their legislating in cutting-edge luxury.
On the way to Adelaide we stopped in Glenelg for lunch - the weather wasn’t very pleasant (the word cyclone comes to mind), but we had a beer in the pub and watched people bend into or run before the wind as they crossed the promenade. It certainly wasn’t the seaside resort town we expected.
Our Adelaide lodgings were the Princes Lodge Motel, in the very Centennial Park-esque North Adelaide (thanks Vicki – great spot!). It was a pleasant walk past a lot of heritage-looking homes with plaques on their fences down to O’Connell Street and a whole bunch of pubs, restaurants and shops.
In fact we walked around quite a lot of central Adelaide, down past the Adelaide Oval and the lake and then around the North Terrace/Rundle Street area, then through the botanical gardens. It was great to be outside and dry, and the city has a historic look to it yet still seems full of life. The one metre diameter water lily in the gardens
Adelaide
Rundle Mall was worth a look too.
Two long days of driving, the first 950 kilometres to Wagga Wagga, then just over 400 more to the New South Wales south coast were another reminder of Australia’s diversity of scenery. The endless Hay plain, the gentrified southern highlands and finally spectacular views through Kangaroo Valley and over the south coast reminded us that there are some fantastic places close to home as well.
Our last real stop this trip was Coolangatta Estate, for a get together with other members of the Hurstville Grove Desperates Society. It was a fun night, with many world problems solved and a few sore heads taking in the fatty breakfast on Sunday morning!
So, for both of you readers who made it this far, this is our last instalment for now. Rather than bore you with our stories of, well, not going to work, we will resume transmission in May, when we will be heading off to Europe.
Hope you have enjoyed these bits and pieces from what have certainly been some fun experiences for us!
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Kerrie and Ric
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Memories
We've enjoyed going on this journey with you. Brought back lots of wonderful memories. Seems Glenelg can still dish it out!! And we were there in the summer. We definitely DO have one of the most beautiful places to travel in the world. Love to you both.