FIRST OFF – MANY MANY MANY THANKS to good chums and family who helped us get on the road: Ant (many a late night trooper), David (Cargo door & roof engineering), Nick & Ko, Fred, Horace, Damian, Adrian & Sam(invaluable help with van fit out) – Tina, Felix & Daniel (hosts extraordinaire) – Madeleine (divine curtains) – Mum, Dad & Vicky (pallet builders, packers & moral support), Garry, Micha, Brendan, Bir (moving), Jason, Kellie, Bridget (storage experts), Matt (superb next door neighbour – moving, music & tea) – Fay (brilliant Cafe Koula send-off), Adrian & Grace (kept the coffee coming), Beck&Mick, Sarah&Emma, Tina, Martine, Fernanda, Tina, Horace & Maddy (keeping us fed)… and encouragement from many more we will miss…..
Have we left yet? Well – we left Melbourne. That is a definite. Thing is – we broke down on our 2nd day 70 kms short of Adelaide – and we are still here. The pulley bearing on the secondary belt seized. Thanks to RACV total care – we have spent the last 4 nights in Adelaide – currently roughing it at the Grand Mercure in Mt Lofty up in the Adelaide Hills. It is a tough life! We are waiting for a part to be flown in from Queensland – hopefully heading north by mid-afternoon Wednesday.
A brief overview since our departure:l
DAY ONE: 160 kms – overnight in Beaufort rest stop. Pulled over by the police for Kai’s over enthusiastic use of his new spotlights. No ticket – instead an escort to an overnight rest stop close to town. Small town hospitality at it’s best.
DAY TWO: 500 kms – and that’s pretty much where the van stayed. RACV covered the tow and taxi into Adelaide. Stayed for 2 nights in the city at a lodge funded by the Cancer Council. We were in the minority as most residents were undergoing chemo. Home away from home for a while for some. A good education for the girls. Kaia made friends fast and started inviting herself into other’s units. The stories soon flowed and her innocent questions answered with more honesty than she knew how to process. A humbling experience for all of us! Took a stroll into the city with Aleni from Iraq & chatted with crafts people at the Rumble Street market. Lulu had to be dragged away from the candle makers. Kaia tried to ride away on a wooden rocking horse, while Lulu took some carving lessons.
In the park
Lulu and the carver
Candle making
DAY FOUR: Roughing it a Rydges Hotel and a good roam around the city. Adelaide is an amazing city – great architecture, overflowing with style and culture and very friendly characters about town. Kaia and Lulu wrestled with dumplings in Chinatown in the evening and Lulu announced she wanted to come and live in Adelaide.
DAY FIVE: Out to Glenelg to hang on the beach.
Kaia at Glenelg
Literally in Kaia’s case as she, in typical Kaia style, ripped her clothes off and rolled through the sand into the surf. Again, loving Adelaide’s diversity and abundant sunshine. One more night in luxury at the Grand Mercure in Mt Lofty.
Out for dinner in Hahndorf – mid 1800’s settlement by German Lutherans. We introduced the girls to traditional German fare in a pub that started trading 163 years ago. Dinner of wurst & sauerkraut did not go down well with the girls but the strudel and ice cream disappeared quickly. Back for a daytime visit to the puppet shop in the morning.
Hahndorf
Hahndorf