Trains and boats and a plane - pt 2

Part 2 of our adventure covers our stay in Adelaide.

We happily checked into the Stamford Plaza Hotel on North Terrace, in the city centre, opposite Parliament House, a short stroll from the main shopping street, Rundle Mall and just down the road from the casino (which strangely enough is in the railway station building).
We were up on the top floor, and although at the rear of the hotel could see through buildings to the hills. We had a quick unpack, a little rest and then around 8.30am we hit the streets looking for breakfast. We walked through Rundle Mall, but apart from McDonalds didn't spot anywhere open. Then we saw a very popular breakfast cafe, lots of people - $18 for breakfast or $12 for a Turkish BLT. We walked around the corner and there was another little cafe - $11 for breakfast or the daily special - an egg and bacon toasted sandwich and a small coffee for just $8. (we decided on that and chose to upgrade the coffee to a medium for an extra 50cents.) If breakfast hadn't been included in our hotel package this would be our start to every day in Adelaide.

Then we walked to Victoria Square and caught a bus down to Port Adelaide.

I had decided that we'd had enough rest on the train and we needed to get out and about. We'd checked out what was on in Adelaide and what we wouldn't be seeing on our included tours, we decided to visit the National Railway Museum.
The bus took us through some interesting suburbs and we were soon in Port Adelaide. We vaguely remembered visiting the Port when we were travelling 'almost around aus' but had been to visit the markets not the museums.
We walked around to the museum and found that the SA Aviation Museum was just down the street, and the SA Maritime museum was close by too. They had a special offer whereby if we got a 'stamp' at our first museum we would get 25% off admission at the other museums, within a 3 month period. What a good idea.
It didn't cost any extra so we got our stamp.

We had a lovely wander around the trains and exhibits in both sheds, investigated the goods yard and went for a ride on the little train around the site so it was time for an ice cream and a sit down.
We were sitting in the shade when one of the volunteers came by and we started chatting. He took Michael off to show him something particularly interesting and when they returned we asked for a recommendation where to eat lunch. He started to tell us and then decided that as he had to move his car anyway he'd drive us around there and drop us off.
We had a choice of two cafes, one had a large lunch menu and the other was a busy bakery. We chose the bakery and enjoyed a very nice Spinach and Feta Quiche (me) and a meat and potato pie, which was like a shepherd's pie, in a pastry shell (Michael).
Then we walked back to the Railway Museum (only got slightly lost) and continued down the street to the SA Aviation Museum.

 We got our discount admission and entered. It was just one hangar but the exhibits were well presented.

 Their pride and joy was a Spitfire, but it is privately owned and only open for close inspection on certain days of the year, at an extra charge.(today was not one of those special days).

There were a couple of interactive displays, an early simulator, and a 'press button' for the Red Baron's plane's propeller to rotate and guns blaze.
 (I did that one twice).

 We decided not to 'do' the Maritime Museum, 2 out of 3 was enough for us so around 2.15pm we found our way back to the bus stop and got the bus back to the city, and our hotel.
We went up to our room and both relaxed so much that it was 5.30pm when we woke up.
Around 7.00pm we ventured out to look for dinner. We found the fact that smoking is still allowed if dining al fresco quite strange and very off putting, (as well as making the place really dirty with butts lying everywhere).
We walked around the block and ended up with 'Australia's Best Pizza'.
We dined in as we didn't want to take the pizza back and smell out the hotel room. A very nice 'Beef Diablo' pizza it was too. Then we went back to watch tv and relax before our 3 days of tours began.
We asked about wifi in the hotel and were not surprised to find that it is not included (unless on a different/business package). The charge was 40c/minute and could be booked in 20minute sessions! It's not even free in public areas, why is Australia so far behind the rest of the world? When looking at hotels overseas nearly all of the hotels offered free wifi and reading trip advisor and travel writers' comments, most people expect it these days. Most cafes offer free wifi so what is the issue with hotels?

After an excellent, very relaxing sleep we woke at 7.30am, showered and went down to breakfast. What a feast, the orange juice was so good we had 2 glasses. There was so much to choose from and the chef was there in a cooking area in  the centre of the dining a room to cook any eggs fresh for you.
We couldn't linger too long over breakfast as we had to get ready and be outside by 8.40am for our coach trip.
Today's tour was the half day Adelaide City Highlights.
It was the usual, hotel collection run around and then back to the bus station to disperse into various coaches for various tours. Today our collection coach was going to be the city tour coach so we didn't have to change seats.
There always seems to be something happening in Adelaide and at the moment the Fringe Festival is on, Womadelaide music festival is about to start and the touring cars were racing around the streets last weekend. As one of the parks that we were going to visit is the site of the Womadelaide event we couldn't go in, the driver did a quick diversion and we sat on an overpass road to see an O -bahn bus go by. (Been there, done that).
 

We stopped for a look around St Peter's Cathedral. The foundation stone was laid on St Peter's Day (29 June) 1869, and although services began in 1877 the structure was not completed until 1904. There were lots of lovely stained glass windows. I love stained glass windows, but don't usually like modern ones, I love The Magdalene Window.

 It was installed in 2001, it 'acknowledges and celebrates the role of women in the Scriptures, in the history of the church and in the forefront of social change in SA'.
The coach stopped for about 30 mins at the Cathedral but my quick look around didn't take that long and when I spotted the Anglicare Op Shop around the back, I was off. I bought one blouse and was back in plenty of time.
The next stop was the Haigh's chocolate factory, which everyone on the coach (apart from us) was really excited about. As the door of the factory/shop opened and that sickly sweet smell hit us, we headed off for the coffee machine and sat outside whilst they indulged. We were traffic watching (like people watching in shopping centres but done outside), and spotted a bright red Ferrari gurgling slowly along. It turned into the parking bay at the factory and the guy headed into the offices - obviously a Haigh himself, there's good money in chocolates (even if no one outside SA has heard of Haigh's chocolates!)
The chocolate shop was the last stop on the tour and we were dropped off in the city centre, at the top end of Rundle Street Mall, next to a Haigh's chocolate shop. We wandered down through the Mall, doing a little shopping and stopped for lunch at a food court (Felafel and salad sandwich for me, Vienna burger for Michael). The food court ran between Rundle Mall and Hindmarsh Square, it was almost next door to the little cafe where we'd enjoyed breakfast on our first morning in town.
Michael went back to the hotel, to read the paper (siesta) and I wandered around the shops. I took my time and even tried on clothes that I wouldn't normally look at - nothing bought though.
The rest of the afternoon was spent just relaxing and reading.
Dinner was at a little curry place near the hotel, next to student lodgings so quite cheap and cheerful. I had a really great fish curry but Michael's beef curry was a little too authentic for him - lots of bones and gristle. Two curries and a shared iced tea cost us $25.40. On the way back to the hotel we bought dessert - an ice cream, then we settled down for another night in front of the telly.

Another good night's rest, shower, lovely breakfast and wait outside the hotel and we were ready for our tour of the Barossa Valley and Hahndorf.
This time we had to change coaches at the terminal but everything went smoothly and we were soon away. We drove up to the vineyards through the Adelaide Hills, a scenic route which avoided the burnt out area and road closures from a major bush fire about 6 weeks ago.
First stop was morning tea at the Lyndoch Bakery - coffee and Beesting cake.

 The cake wasn't as rich as I'd thought it was going to be, but we still shared a slice rather than a whole one each. Then it was on to more serious things - wine tasting at Jacobs Creek Winery.

We had a little talk on the history of the vineyard and how things are today with the company now being owned by a French company. There are some cork trees on the estate but the first 'harvest' was not succesful, the cork was too uneven in quality. They are hoping for better luck next time, but in these days of screw caps it's not a great disaster.

Then we had a 'sensory experience', smelling a couple of 'flavours' and then tasting the wines. We had a 'blind tasting' to finish off and I'm slightly ashamed to say that I got it wrong and Michael (who was only smelling, not drinking the wines) got it right!

All of this before lunch -
we headed back to Lyndoch and the Chateau Barossa for lunch.

It was a very, very nice 2 course meal and I enjoyed a glass of sauvignon blanc to wash it down. We had a quick look at the Hermann Thumm collection of antiques, mainly glassware. The pride of the display was a Meissen porcelain figure of a coach and horses, apparently there are only two of these particular pieces in the world, one here in the Barossa and the other in Buckingham Palace. The other connection with the Queen is a 30,000 roses, rose garden which was opened by Her Majesty (QEII) and is the largest rose garden in the southern hemisphere. When she visited and opened the garden the Queen had lunch in the 'Barrel Rooom', where we'd had our lunch, I wonder if she had a nice glass of wine too? We didn't stroll around the 30,000, I just took a quick stroll across the lawn.

Then it was back on the coach and a drive across to the village of Hahndorf.
Hahndorf is Australia's oldest German settlement, with tree lined streets, quaint cottages, craft shops and galleries.

We had 45 minutes to wander around. There was a very 'commercial' German shop selling cuckoo clocks, cow bells and liederhosen, all the things a tourist could want, but at a highly inflated price.  (Aprons that made you look like an Alpine maid were $17.50 in Lyndoch at the bakery, here in Hahndorf the same thing costs $27). In the free on board magazine on the Indian Pacific there had been an advert for Hahndorf with a note saying 'Bring this ad into the tourist centre and get your free gift' - so I did. I don't think many people actually bother because the gentleman in the very sleepy centre, was a bit taken aback. He eventually produced a box and asked me what colour I would like - I got a free pen. But it doesn't have Hahndorf written on it, it's from the Adelaide Hills Tourist Office.
We found a cafe with outdoor seating and watched the world go by.

 A little out of place but very friendly this panda was really sweet. Then it was back on board the bus and a scenic drive back to Adelaide. Our driver, Martin, took the old road down the Hills and as there was virtually no other traffic we were able to crawl along spotting koalas sitting in the tree tops. The SA koalas are bigger and darker than the other Aussie koalas, we saw about 5.
 What a great day out - free wine and then koalas!!!
We were back in our room by 5.30 and decided to get a take away for dinner, I went to find something but after discounting a couple of old chicken rolls from Woolworths decided that Subway was the better option. A $5 bottle of local Merlot helped it go down rather well.

Another day, another tour so we were outside waiting for the coach by 8.40. Once again the coach was going to be the one for our day trip so we stayed aboard, changing seats this time to get up front. It was a full bus, 45 of us.
 Our driver, Terry, seemed a little 'wooden' but he gave an interesting commentary.(By now we are very tired of hearing how SA is the only Australian State not founded with convicts, they were free men. Let's not mention how poor the state is, the convicts got the better land!?)
We headed up through the Hills and even though we were on the new freeway not the old road I did spot a couple of koalas in the tree tops.
Around 11.00am we arrived at the Murray River and Proud Mary.

We had a welcoming cup of coffee as we boarded and took a seat in the dining area next to a window. Coffee over we headed outside, up to the upper deck and enjoyed the scenery as we slowly cruised along the river.

We saw quite a few pelican, egrets, heron, galahs and corellas. There were lots of willow trees on the river banks, although not Australian natives they are thriving. They were planted by early river boat men, to help define the banks of the river. As with lots of 'good intentions' they are now causing a problem and there is some effort being made to remove them in some sections of the river. The red earth of the banks, the cliffs and the white barked gum trees were very pretty.

Then we were called back to the dining room for lunch. Everyone was being very polite and returning to the seats that they'd had for their coffee so we had a lovely window seat to watch the world go by as we enjoyed lunch. An excellent lunch it was too. Chicken, ham, crayfish, prawns and lovely salads. All too soon we had returned to shore and it was time to disembark.(And time for the chef to relax, and have a cigarette).

We got back on the coach and drove to Mannum.We got out at the town's lookout and enjoyed the beautiful views up and down the river.

Then we went into town and had about 45minutes free time to wander around town. We hopped on board the  free, chain ferry across the river, staying on board for a round trip.

Then we walked up and down the main street, bought an ice cream and (once it was finished) re boarded the coach.
We drove to the little village of Woodside where we stopped at a chocolate factory - not an expensive, flash place like Haighs this place, Melba's was much more low key. More interesting and openly commercial selling lots of 'moo cow' oriented produce. Next door to the chocolate place was a cheese factory, Woodside Cheese Wrights. They had a lovely selection of cheeses, including goat's cheese rolled in ash. Haven't seen such nice cheese since we were in Tasmania.

We bought a nice cool drink and sat in the shade before heading back on board and heading back into Adelaide. We decided not to change buses at the bus station, we decamped and headed down the street to Chinatown.

We had dinner in Chinatown, in a very noisy, busy food court - very authentic asian. Then we strolled through the malls and made our way back to the hotel.
We ordered our 'boxed' breakfast for the morning as tomorrow we have an early pick up - 6.15am.   So we had an early night.

Next morning we were up bright and early, having our box breakfast (cereal and milk, juice, very small muesli bar and even smaller biscuit). The hotel dining room opens at 6.00am so we went down and got coffee and toast whilst waiting for the coach.
The coach arrived a little late, 6.25, and filled up from hotels all over Adelaide. More people got on at the bus station and then we headed out of Adelaide, south to Cape Jervis. We were towing a trailer with mail for the island and stopped in the little town of Yankalilla to pick up some pastries from the bakery, to take over too.
In Cape Jervis we boarded almost straight away and found seats at the front, looking out across the water.

                      

It was so cold on board the ferry, we didn't have coats, Michael just had a lightweight denim shirt and I had a lightweight scarf. We snuggled together to keep warm. The ferry left on time, 8.50am and we slowly edged across the Backstairs Passage to Kangaroo Island. The trip took 45 minutes and then we were off to look for our island tour coach. There was quite a bit of confusion but we got the right coach and climbed aboard, finding the last 2 seats together, right at the very back. More people boarded and we soon had a very full coach of 45.  Glen was our driver, tour guide. He was Kangaroo Island born and bred, having given up farming to be a tour guide.

 Our first stop was at Seal Bay, home of the Australian Sea-lion, and the second largest breeding colony in Australia. We walked down to a platform overlooking the beach with a ranger. Then we were escorted onto the beach, there were strict safety rules in place for our protection as much as the sea-lions, we had to keep at least 10 metres from the animals.

We only had about 10 or 15 minutes on the beach, but saw lots of seals in that time, lying around on the beach and surfing ashore. On our way down to the beach we hadn't noticed but there were quite a few seals lying in the sand dunes, one or two lying under the platform. Once we'd spotted on or two, we saw them everywhere.

Then we were back on the coach, off for lunch.
Lunch was described in the brochure as 'aussie style lunch in a charming country setting' it was at Vivonne Lodge. Well, I've had better meals and I don't think I've ever had a potato salad with uncooked potatoes before.
 I have since contacted the tour operator and told them my gripe, and have been in touch with the Lodge manager, who strangely seems to be more occupied with the notion I had that the lodge was for sale than my comments about the food quality).
We continued our tour of the island's west coast calling in at HansonBay Wildlife Sanctuary. We did eventually spot a couple of koalas sitting up trees. Then we realised that there were orange marker posts under the trees that had koalas in them. It was still difficult to spot the little grey balls in amongst the leaves.

All too soon, time to head back on board and carry on westward to the Flinders Chase National Park. We headed down to the Remarkable Rocks,a cluster of granite boulders sculptured by the weather, perched on top of a granite dome which rises steeply out of the ocean. We went for a walk and a climb.

Very interesting but then the weather turned chilly and it started to drizzle.

We drove down past the Cape du Couedic Lighthouse and then we got out of the coach to walk along the boardwalk with a viewing platform overlooking a colony of New Zealand Fur Seals. Michael stayed up and chatted to Glen whilst I wandered along the boardwalk to the first viewing platform and looked down on a group of seals lazing on the rocks below.

The pathway continued and went down to the beach via 40 or so steps, where there was a view of a rock formation called The Admiral's Arch. I didn't carry on down to the beach, 40 steps down meant 40 steps back up!
We had a quick stop at the visitor's centre on the edge of the National Park
and then it was time to head back to the eastern side of the island.

 We arrived back in Penneshaw with time to grab a bite to eat before boarding the ferry and sailing back to the mainland. It was just as cold on board, but this time we had a nice hot coffee and found seats out of a draught.
Back at Cape Jervis we found the coach back to Adelaide hotels and were surprised to find the seats behind the driver vacant. We sat down, strapped in and were soon enjoying the nice smooth run back into the city. We were dropped off at 10.20pm and enjoyed a nice cuppa tea and a hot shower before bed.
What a long day and we seem to have picked up a virus - sneezing, sore throat runny nose and cough. Bugger!

Trains and boats and a plane - pt1

March 1st, the start of autumn in the southern hemisphere and for us, the start of a little holiday. We started with one of 'The great railway journeys of the world', the Indian Pacific. The train runs between Perth and Sydney, spanning 4352km, crossing the Australian continent. We were only going as far as Adelaide (2669km) but it was still a big adventure.
We were up early (7.45am - late for some, but early for us. In our working life we often had 5.00am starts so one of the joys of retirement is getting out of bed after 8.30am). Our chauffeur to the station (our wonderful neighbour Julia) arrived punctually at 9.00am, so did the rain drops! The rain stayed with us for the first half of our trip but then the sun came out and stayed with us through to the station in East Perth.
We checked in nice and early, got our tiny ticket boarding pass and went for a coffee. Then they announced that we could board the train.

 We found our coach/car and climbed aboard. We found our cabin and settled in.
It was very exciting and at exactly 11.55am we started to move out of the station.
Our car hostess, Olivia, came by and went through the familiarisation of the cabin, the off train excursions etc. Then Casey, our dining car hostess came by and we booked our dining room sittings, it was all so very pleasant and very professional. The train slowly passed through the eastern suburbs of Perth and out to the little town of Toodyay. But progress was sooo slow, by the time we got to Toodyay we were already 20 minutes late. As we passed through the town of Northam we went down to lunch. We sat with a couple from New Zealand who had been on a cruise around the south of Australia, spent time in Perth and were taking to train back to Sydney before flying home. (there were a lot of these kiwis on the train, all having a great time.)

Lunch was our first meal on the train and it was fantastic - rolls with macadamia butter and quince jam, Jewfish or veal for main course and a yummy cheeseboard. The Vasse Felix Semillon Sauvignon Blance was a very smooth accompaniment.
Progress was even slower after lunch and by the time we reached Kellerberrin, in the wheatbelt we were 2 hours behind schedule. The whole journey was a very stop, start affair and finally at 5.30pm they announced that due to severe flooding over the track we would be delayed and the 'off train' excursion of Kalgoorlie would be cancelled. We sat at a siding for about 3 hours and continued to edge slowly forward. I overheard one staff member telling a fellow passenger that they were trying to clear the water off the tracks, had pumps going but if they couldn't clear it the 'worst case scenario' would be that we would have to return to Perth. They were also trying to find a driver to fill in once our present driver reached his legal hours limit.

We continued to edge slowly forward. After the town of Merredin we had a lovely sunset and the country opened up. Those rain clouds were still overhead.
We went to dinner (7.30pm sitting), sharing the table with a couple who had been in WA for around 10 years, were originally from NSW.
Another lovely meal, Smoked chicken salad, Tuna steak or Beef steak for mains followed by chocolate mousse or cheese plate.
Whilst at dinner our cabin had been converted into our bedroom, with the bunk beds turned down. We had an early night, remembering to put the clocks forward one hour as we headed eastward.
Michael gallantly took the top bunk and was soon sleeping soundly. All the bumps, grinds and rattles of the train and cabin meant that I had a less peaceful sleep. I saw the sights of what I think was the town of Southern Cross and saw our slow, quiet passage through the Kalgoorlie railway station. (around 2.00am)
We were wakened at 6.40am with our requested early morning cuppa and found that we were still in Western Australia, somewhere called Emu Flat.
We showered, dressed and went down to breakfast, sitting with our dining friends from last night. Breakfast was another feast, juices, cereal and full cooked options.
We had made up some time during the night, by cancelling the Kalgoorlie stop over and the train was now running only an hour and a half behind schedule.
We were now travelling across the Nullarbor plain, a plateau about twice the size of England, the world's largest single exposure of limestone bedrock. covering about 200,000 square km.
We pulled into the siding of Rawlinna whilst we were having breakfast. Rawlinna is the largest sheep station in Australia, 2.5 million acres. Today it stocks more than 70,000 sheep and the siding is the disembarkation point for jackaroos and jillaroos. Also in Rawlinna is a small lime mine, with the extracted limestone being used in the gold production process in Kalgoorlie.
The train dropped off mail and we carried on to the next mail stop for the station at Nurina.
As we slowed down and then came to a stop in Nurina we were aghast to see about 20 dead camels next to the rail track. The carcasses had obviously been there some time and were bloated and rotting in the rain. One English passenger thought that the 'farmer' should have moved them. We were just grateful that they hadn't caused a derailment. Although it was a sad sight.
Considering that the 'farmer's' land probably covered an area the size of Belgium and the camels were possibly hit by a train (and then shot if injured), it really showed what life out here is like.
The weather continued to be overcast with drizzle. There was still a lot of water on the ground. A member of the train crew said that when they had travelled to Perth on Friday ( it's now Monday) the area had been totally dry. Just one day of thunderstorms had produced all that water - hopefully some fell where the farmers need it.

After Rawlinna we were travelling the longest straight stretch of railway in the world, the 478km track between Rawlinna in Western Australia and Oodea in South Australia. The next stop after Nurina was the township of Forrest.
There's an airstrip in Forrest, with refuelling facilities and a fly-in-fly-out Bed and Breakfast.

We read, relaxed and napped until lunchtime, 1.00pm. We sat with a couple from the Peak District in UK, on holiday in Aus visiting their son in Sydney and taking the opportunity to travel on the Indian Pacific.
 After passing through Deakin we crossed into South Australia and passed through Hughes (places named after Australian Prime Ministers), we pulled into the little station/outpost of Cook.
We were stopping here for around 30 minutes so we all interrupted our lunch and disembarked.

Cook is 1523km from Perth and 1138km from Adelaide and the closest highway, the Eyre Highway is 100km away. The nearest town, Ceduna, is a 5 hour drive away and the local doctor in about 12 hours away. The train brings supplies to the little town.
When the railway was completed in 1917 small settlements were established across the Nullarbor, along the line every 30km apart to assist with line maintenance. Cook developed into a major base for line crews and provided accommodations for railway crews. It was a thriving community with a school, a hospital, a swimming pool, golf course,general store and houses for around 200 people. The town dwindled in population following privatisation of the railway in 1997 and now has a permanent population of just 4.
It is a refuelling stop for the train.

                    These are not toilets - they are the male and female cells!

It provided a welcome stretch of the legs, but those rain clouds had not left us, and it started to rain again.
We climbed back on board, found our lunch table and had our dessert.
After Cook the scenery changed and once we'd crossed the Nullarbor we were into red dirt country and there were trees!

We were travelling along the southern boundary of the Maralinga Defence area and the Woomera Prohibited Area but there was nothing but red dirt and scrub.  Woomera is Australia's rocket testing range established in 1940s and Marlalinga is Australia's atomic test site, used in 1950s but still 'off limits'.
We passed through Tarcoola which was named after a horse - the horse that won the Melbourne Cup the same year that gold was found at this outpost - 1893. Tarcoola is also where the Indian Pacific and the Ghan tracks meet, with the Ghan heading north from here.
As we headed on towards Adelaide, Port Augusta during the night and after another early awakening, but not breakfast, we arrived at Adelaide's Parkland Terminal at 7.20am on Tuesday morning, right on schedule.

Those people continuing on to Sydney headed off for their selected 'off train tour', we collected our bags and headed to the taxi rank. It was a pleasant short ride into town and our hotel, surely Adelaide peak hour isn't always this quiet?
We had previously contacted the hotel regarding leaving our bags with the concierge, as check in time was after 1.00pm  but had a very pleasant surprise - our room was ready!
Well done Stamford Plaza.

A New Year starts

"Summertime and the living is easy", and we were taking it easy. Lazy days spent sitting reading and just a few hours a day doing little jobs.
I got my act together and actually got up early and went for walks along the beach in Guilderton.

The wind was unrelenting and when walking southwards  I felt as if my legs were being sandblasted. The timing could have been better as the tide was almost completely in, but the beach was beautiful, almost deserted.

                                          (another hat, I wonder if there's a theme here for 2015?)

Being summer in Australia there was of course a fire hazard and a big fire did break out. This one didn't threaten our home but we were inconvenienced when travelling into the city to meet friends for a picnic in Kings Park on the Saturday evening, being diverted due to road closures.
Fortunately no-one was hurt and no homes were lost in the fire, but 7000 hectares of land was burnt out, and it burnt for 4 days, with the 'bush fire advice' alert posted for over a week due to small pockets still smouldering.

Our picnic in the city park, Kings Park was lovely. The weather was quite balmy and the get together with a few girls that I used to work with and a couple over for a return home from living on a barge in France, was lovely. There were even fireworks on the opposite shore of the river, possibly for a wedding as some of the fireworks formed hearts.
We had to detour again on our way home but otherwise the trip was uneventful.

We continued to read and potter for a few moments a day.
The next week saw the Lancelin Ocean Classic - the world's longest ocean windsurfing race. This year marks the 40th Anniversary of the event, so the celebrations were bigger and better. They were having a beach party and fireworks. It sounded too good to miss. Our friends, over from France, drove up on Saturday afternoon and after a couple of hours chatting over a platter of wine and cheese we all went up to Lancelin to check out the fun. The party was in full swing, but we were hoping for a selection of food vans but the lonely Chicken Treat option didn't appeal. We watched another glorious West Coast sunset and then went along to find a spot behind the Tavern to watch the fireworks. We stood on the footpath behind the Tavern, thinking that it might be a good spot, Boom!
We were right behind the launch area. The show was fantastic, each firework display we see seems to be better than the one before! A great show, well done everyone involved.

Standing so close to 'the action' made for some different photos, quite a few more of the ascent rather than just the 'burst' up high.

It's great fun playing with colour brightness and contrast with these photos and this time I set one to black and white - I really like the result. It makes the image look like a glass or ice sculpture, I think.

        

The summer heat continued unabated and the garden really needed the reticulation. The birds loved the bird bath and our little kangaroo family were grateful for the bucket of water, in the shade under the large gum tree     

Then we got some summer storms - thunder, lightning and RAIN. Lots of lovely, lovely rain. 

Unfortunately this weather usually brings power outages and loss of phone and internet. 

This time was not different. We lost our internet on Jan 24th, the estimated restoration date was 29th.

 The 29th came and we got a new message saying that the amended restoration date was Feb. 2nd. The 2nd came and we got another message - restoration date now amended to 10th  !!!!!Aaargh!!  Then we lost the phone connection too.!!  The thunder, lightning and hail storms continued.

 But surprise, surprise on 3rd we got both phone and internet back on line. Well for a couple of hours anyway, then we lost power as another storm front passed over.It was only out for a couple of hours and then we were back up with all connections functioning. fingers crossed that the storm still hovering does not cause further disruptions. The weather forecast is for the storms to dissipate over the next couple of days, here's hoping. 

The weather did give us some dramatic cloud patterns and sunsets.

The next couple of weekends we are busy socialising and then at the end of the month, well on 1st March we're off on our train adventure........ watch this space.                   

                                                                                                                           

A New Year arrives

Twas the season to be jolly, so we were.
We had friends (from Geraldton) come to stay for a couple of days before Christmas so we had an early Christmas barbecue, inviting a couple of friends/neighbours around in the afternoon which stretched into the night. The next day we drove to Hillarys Boat Harbour for a stroll around the shops, cafes and marina, enjoying a really  nice fish and chip lunch. We drove back north checking out the splendid, the strange and the lovely houses of the northern beach suburbs and stopped for a coffee at Mindarie Marina. Michael was rather disappointed that there weren't any boats on the boat ramp - boat launching and return is one of his favourite pastimes. Then we toured the new housing developments further along the northern beaches and made our way home via Yanchep and Two Rocks, all four of us heading off for a 'nanna nap' (or 'scan' - senior citizen's afternoon nap) as soon as we got home.
Christmas Day and Boxing Day we spent lazing and relaxing, on the Saturday our Geraldton friends came back to stay, having spent Christmas celebrating with family in the city, before heading home.  Then we were off on the road again, heading south to spend New Year's Eve in the country town of Dumbleyung. Where they were celebrating 50 years since Donald Campbell set the World Water Speed Record on Lake Dumbleyung. There was more water in the lake then, but still a memorable event, some of our friends can remember the actual event.
As we were living in UK at the time our personal memories are of the tragic crash on Coniston Water in the Lake District which claimed the life of Donald Campbell just a couple of years later.

We packed the motor home on Sunday evening and were ready to head off by 10.30 on Monday morning. We avoided the city traffic, letting those who wanted to head off for the post Christmas Sales. We took our usual slow paced route through Gingin, Bindoon, Toodyay and Northam. As we leaving Northam we got a phone call from Ralph and Hanny, they were ready to leave home. Where would we meet? We decided to meet in Brookton as we were both about an hour from there.
They phoned us again when they were in Brookton, parked in some welcome shade, we were only 12kms away. Good timing.

After a short break we carried on south, through Pingelly, Cuballing and Narrogin down to our overnight stop. A lovely little spot next to an old Hall in a very quiet spot near Wagin. The Hall is still used occasionally, and apart from the new fire shed next door there is nothing else around.
Just us, the birds, the wind and unfortunately the mosquitoes. We headed into our vans for an early night.

The next morning, just after breakfast, our other friends arrived. Diane and Alan had had a very early start but had no soon joined us than we were on the road again. We headed out to Dumbleyung.
We four took the 'long way around' sticking to the bitumen roads but Diane and Alan took a short cut getting into town before us. We went to check out the caravan park as it was heading up to 40 degrees The park is unattended but after a phone call we had found out the cost and checked the ablution block. The park was fully booked for the next night (NYE) so we could only have one night. We were just thinking about options when Diane rang to say that they were parked at the Stubbs Park recreation ground, where free 'pop-up' camping was available. They were parked in the shade and were next to toilets and showers. As there was no shade in the caravan park we headed down the street to join Diane and Alan.
We each got a lovely shady spot and set up camp. We took a shower but there was no need to use any hot water, the day was getting much hotter,  a cold shower was welcome. Diane just wandered into the shower in her clothes, when they dried out she went back under the shower.
Just after lunch it was extremely hot - Diane had a thermometer and kept giving us updates on the temperature, 42 degrees and rising. We considered de-camping and going to the caravan park so that we could plug into power and run our air conditioners but decided to stay put. We moved to various positions to find the coolest spots, popping in for a cold shower every now and then. Then Michael fetched a bucket of water, up ended it over his head - that was the start of it. What a great idea.
We were soon taking it in turns to throw buckets of water over each other - the more surprising the attack, the better. We were then sitting around in dripping clothes and chairs, with a slight breeze the temperature certainly didn't feel like the 47degrees that the thermometer was reading, (40 degrees inside the motor homes!)
Gradually the temperature dropped and we enjoyed another lovely WA sunset.

The next day, New Year's Eve. The big day.
We had a lazy morning and then after lunch walked into town for the start of the celebrations.

We went to the special exhibition at the old post office, bought souvenirs and checked out the display. Rosco McGlashan (World Land Speed Challenger) was there with models of his land speed challengers. Rosco was inspired by Campbell, and has broken Campbell's Australian Land Speed record with 500 mph.

What a small world it is sometimes - across the road there were a few cars on display and there was someone we hadn't seen for many years, this chap had helped us through the importing process when we had imported our Porsches back in 1990! He now races his E-type Jaguar on dry salt lakes.
 In the car clubs there's usually someone we know from somewhere, we had a little chat and then rushed off to get the shuttle bus up to 'Pussy Cat Hill'.

On 31st December 1964 the world record run took place at 3.43pm.
From the top of Pussy Cat Hill about 12 kms out of town, you have a great view out over Lake Dumbleyung and there is a monument to Donald Campbell. This year's celebration was a big one and we didn't want to miss it.
We were on top of the hill by 3.00pm.

                                       


The monument on the hilltop is a large rock, shaped like the state of Western Australia, with a small hole drilled in it at an angle. At the base of the rock is a brass plaque, with a little model of the world record car, Bluebird, sitting on it.There is a map of the lake on the plaque and the car is in position so that at EXACTLY 3.43pm on 31st December a shaft of light pierces the rock, through the drilled hole, and shines down on the Bluebird model.
It's very simple but an amazing piece of engineering.
(The Bluebird model this year, is a new one, the third one. Over the years,the other models have been 'souvenired' by people. The story is that the last theft caused the thief to have lots of bad luck so they returned the model, with a letter of apology. Not a new story, and we hope that their bad luck continues. This new model is well and truly bolted down - we hope.)

There was a very well organized ceremony up on the hill, speeches and then at 3.43pm  the sun shone through the hole - excellent.
Then there was a fly past by the Wagin Aero club.

All very special but the most special thing happened just before that - standing on the sidelines was Gina Campbell, Donald's daughter. She was having her photo taken by an official photographer and with her, as always, was Mr Whoppet.
(Mr Whoppet is a teddy bear. He was Donald Campbell's constant companion on all his speed attempts and was in the cockpit that day on Coniston Water. He was recovered from the crash site.)
Michael went over and asked Gina if we could have a photo of her and Mr Whoppet - we were both shocked when she said 'You can hold him!'

It took days for the smile to fade from Michael's face....he held Mr Whoppet!
(In fact, he bursts into a grin now, just thinking about it).

After the ceremony everyone had to return to Dumbleyung for the official unveiling of a replica of Bluebird K7. We had to stand in the sun for 20 minutes for the shuttle bus, but were back in town by 5.00pm.

We managed to get seats for the ceremony and soon the official business began.
Gina Campbell was officially declared an honorary citizen of Dumbleyung (does that make her a Dumbleyungian or Dumbletonian?). Then Gina thanked the Shire and town and made a surprise gift to them. One of the four Segrave Trophies awarded to her father. (1955,1958,1964 and posthumously in 1966).
The Royal Automobile Club created the Segrave Trophy in honour of Henry O'Neil Segrave, (the first man to hold both land and water speed records), to recognise British nationals who demonstrate outstanding bravery, skill and initiative on land, air and water. Since 1930 the Segrave Trophy has been awarded to those with 'the Spirit of Adventure'. Campbell's father Malcolm was a recipient twice but Donald is the only person to have received it 4 times.
Gina also presented a small piece of strapping,  a piece of the seat belt from Bluebird, found when they recovered Bluebird from Coniston in 2001. It was a very emotional moment for everyone.

There were more speeches by local dignitaries, including Joan Ward, the widow of the man responsible for bringing Donald Campbell to the lake back in 1964. She remembered how there had been several attempts at the world record. Some aborted due to ducks on the lake. She was home in the afternoon on 31st December when the local policeman came up and said that Campbell was going for another run and she should come to see it.  She told him 'well he'll have to wait, I haven't finished washing the kitchen floor'.
 She finished the floor and got to the lake in time to see the second run.

Col Ward was President of the local Dumbleyung ski club in 1964 and he read about Campbell's frustrated attempts at the water speed record in Barmera, South Australia. He suggested to the local
Shire Clerk that they invite Campbell to Dumbleyung to try on Lake Dumbleyung. This suggestion went to others, to the State powers that be and the invitation was issued. Campbell flew over to have a look at the lake and the rest is history.
By making that run on 31st December, Campbell became the only man to ever set the land speed and water speed world records in the same year and became known as the most prolific world record breaker of all time.
The record set on Lake Dumbleyung was 276.33 mph (444.7km/h).

Then it was time to see the beast - the unveiling of the replica of Bluebird  K7 Hydroplane_Mark 19 built by Statewide Boating, who coincidentally are based in Ledge Point, just up the road to us.

There were lots of oohs and aahs - it looked great but what a pity there's no engine in it and it won't actually take to the water.

Then all feeling rather tired we headed back to the 'camp' and relaxed. We were going to buy dinner from one of the food vans at the oval but they were inside the party area and it was $20 to go in to the party. As we were all planning on just sitting around our vans and listening to the band from afar, it was time for a quick re-think and a hastily prepared dinner.
What a difference a day makes - 47 degrees yesterday and now as the sun set the temperature plummeted. Diane got the thermometer out again and at 11.00pm it was 12 degrees! We went for a stroll around the oval and park, then back to our vans for a quick champagne toast to welcome in the New Year.  Happy New Year!
The first morning of 2015 and we were all packing up ready to move on. Diane and Alan were heading home and we four were discussing were we were going to head to. With the prospect of more 40plus days we didn't welcome staying out east of Perth and the south coast would be very busy with school holiday makers so we decided to head north, back up the Great Southern Highway and see what camping spots we could find.

We found Yornaning Dam. We had been here before and were delighted that it was still available for an overnight stay. In fact someone had been working hard to keep the place clean and tidy. We set up camp, had a stroll around and then put the kettle on.

Then we got a visitor, John, a local farmer dropped by to say Hallo and remind us not to light a fire. He was the man responsible for the great state of the site, his little hobby I think. How he has time to do it as well as running a small farm and working as an ambulance officer I don't know. Anyway, we all got chatting, he had a cuppa with us and then the boys got talking about cars.... then John took Ralph and Michael round to his place for a look at his 'collection'.
Hanny and I finished off the champagne from last night and opened a bottle of Moscato.
The boys eventually returned and as it was a very pleasant warm evening (Diane wasn't with us so we didn't have a thermometer) we sat outside until after 8 pm. John then went home and we went inside for dinner, a short read and then an early night.

More indecision the next morning and after double checking maps we decided to see if our friends in Northam were 'at home' to visitors . As there was no phone coverage we drove into Pingelly, where we stretched our legs with a walk up and down the main street where it was lovely to see a full sized nativity scene in the local park. Okay the wise men could have looked more masculine but it was a lovely scene and totally unvandalised, so well done Pingelly.

We had phone coverage so made the call.

Yes, we would be welcome so on we drove. We didn't stop for lunch, heading straight into Northam. Once parked outside their house we made ourselves a light lunch and joined them in the kitchen.

Tom and Lois host many overseas exchange students and 'willing workers' this time they had a couple from Italy and a return visit by a German chap. This made for very lively, noisy conversations around the dining table. The wine and beer started to flow and it looked like stretching long into the night if we stayed much longer so we bid our goodbyes and headed on home. It was just getting dark as we pulled into the driveway. Light enough to quickly get what we needed form inside the van and go inside to settle into the comfy chairs infront of the telly.

It was a shorter trip than we planned but there's always another day....