Port Augusta 2018 Day 8 & 9

After a long day driving we finally arrived at 'The Shack; Chris had down played the place by telling us that it was just a tin shed by the beach. And actually that is exactly what it was except is had everything that one could wish for including air conditioning, a flat screen T.V and a coal range! We stayed out the back in the retro caravan which also had a T.V and air conditioning. The outside toilet even flushes, luxery!  

And even better the water is only about 20 paces at full tide. It is not really a beach, more of a stoney shore, but beautiful. The weather up here gets very hot and last week got up to 43 degrees celcius, although we have a mild 23 degrees and a light breeze. 

We decided to forgo dinner and had some cheese, salami and things whilst we played card and enjoyed a drink. It was a great evening and we toddled off to bed just before midnight. Lance and I slept well, but did have to nip out to the loo in the middle of the night. I have been very watchful for snakes and lift the toilet seat to check for large or nasty 🕷. 

After a slow start to the day we headed off to Quorn, Chris' home town. The landscape so far has been very dry with not a lot of growth, as soon as we headed into the Flinders Ranges it was still dry but much more interesting with misshapen trees and bushes and even a family of emus! 

The town ship was very old and had some lovely old buildings and homes. We stopped for a bite at Emily's Cafe which apparently used to be a large haberdashery store. Large wooden framed glass cabinets were on all walls and beautiful old wooden counters lined with items from years gone by. Especially intriguing was the cash carrying system that I remember seeing in Auckland department stores when I was a very little girl ( I must be ancient). Wires criss crossed the ceiling all leading to an ornate wooden booth where the owner Mrs Fox used to sit and count the money, returning the change to the counter via the same system. I had a wild peach pie with vanilla ice cream and it was lovely. 

When we got back to 'The Shack' the tide was perfect; donning the correct crabbing attire (particularly on the feet) we grabbed our buckets and rakes and made our way to the low tide line. 

  I have to admit that I felt reasonably confident, after all they are just 🦀. That was until Chris let out a shriek and leapt into the air, she had been nipped, but she paid back when she scooped a huge crab out of the water and popped it into the awaiting bucket. Immediately I started checking the water more carefully, moving away from the stirred up sand so that I had more visibility. Crabs were being caught in a fast and furious fashion, I was a good spotter as the crabs scooted towards the deeper water, but I wasn't game to try my hand at scooping. Then horror struck, the sand under my feet started to wiggle and nippers appeared. Yes there was screaming and hopping. Have you ever tried Irish dancing in water two feet deep with sloppy sand and beach shoes on? And in I went with my new phone in my pocket, I quickly raised my rear end out of the water to save it. The phone was fine, but I only wish that Lance had been holding it videoing my antics, I would have been on one of those funny You Tube clips for sure. 

We hauled our 20 blue crabs in to the shore and began the procedure of preparing them for dinner. And what a feast we had! Along with a couple of bottles of South Australian wine everything went down very well. Thanks Chris and Rob for the adventure. 

I had a slow start, and after bacon and eggs for breakfast we hit the road for home. It was great to finally stay at 'The Shack' and be able to take home our own 'Shack' stories. On the drive out we spotted a couple of emus, so we stopped for a quick pic. 

The temperature over that's couple of days has been lovely, not too hot at all and we didn't even use the air con in the caravan. Tomorrow though it will be 41 and Saturday 46, so we timed our visit perfectly. 

Port Augusta 2018 Day 6 & 7

Our journey from Adelaide City to Port Augusta began without a hitch. Before leaving Chris' magpies arrived for their breaky. She has a little family that visit every day and she can hand feed them. Some days they come right up to her door and call out to her. 

The trip was broken up with a stop in Tanunda to stay with Chris and Rob's friends Di and Wally. After lunch at the club we were invited into Di and Wally's lovely home, with Lance and I accomodated in a luxurious sleepout. 

What a lovely evening we had, playing Finska and having a huge BBQ meal. Finska is a game similar to pétanque however instead of boules you have wooden cylindrical shapes to knock down. Much fun was had over beer and champagne. 

In the morning we departed for Port Augusta and 'The Shack'. During our time in P.N.G Chris had filled our heads with stories of 'The Shack', or what we would call the bach. Port Augusta is a few hours North of Adelaide and was once a Seaport.  

Taking the scenic route we stopped at Seppeltsfield Winery for a taste and a wander. This is a large and beautifully set out winery and was worth the visit, of course we left with a couple of bottles of wine. A Vermentino or two. 

Our next stop was for lunch at a vineyard called Paullettes.  My map took us to the other end of a long road, so we found ourselves travelling a little longer than we needed. However this was not a problem and we arrived right on time after meandering through desolate terrain. A bonus was finding a mob of kangaroo sitting in the sunshine, and a really old village. Lunch was lovely; I had Jamaican jerk chicken with caramelised sweet potato. Then off we went to Port Augusta and the shack stopping for petrol on the way. And I just had to get a shot of the place where you can get air for your tyres. 

Adelaide 2017 Day 5

Well rested after a lovely sleep in our little attic suite we breakfasted and headed off to the village of Hahndorf in the Adelaide Hills. The drive was lovely, full of more quaint buildings and very green considering how hot it gets here. 

Hahndorf is a very quaint (I seem to be using that word a lot but nothing else suits) German village with shops selling unusual and local faire. Chris and Rob's sons, Andrew and Ben own and run The Hahndorf Inn and that is where we lunched on authentic German food. The servings were huge and We all had schnitzel with a stein of beer for Lance (after his beer tasting tray). In fact the chicken schnitzel was so huge that I am wondering how big the chook must have been! As we ate we were seranaded by a German musician and we sang along to 'The Happy Wanderer. How can my brain dredge up the words to this song that I learned when I was only 11years old?

Wandering through the village we made several purchases and the place was pretty busy. The temperature is pleasant again today with a high of 23 degrees Celsius and blue, blue skies. 

We meandered home with a tiki tour of some beautiful streets and a visit to the Lookout. Adelaide is very flat and you could see for miles. 

Our New Years Eve was tame but fun filled. When we lived in P.N.G with Chris and Rob playing cards was a big part of our entertainment, with another couple Laurel and Ron. Chris, Laurel and I attended Bridge every week, sometimes twice a week. And often on a Saturday night we would share a meal and play euchre, with copious amounts of a variety of beverages. It didn't take us long to get back in the groove, but alas the boys whipped the pants off us, metaphorically speaking, don't visualise. 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Adelaide 2017 Day 4

An early flight saw us up and about at 6am, we said goodbye to our apartment and at 7am our driver texted to say that he was downstairs waiting. This has been a reliable company and we recommend them. They are a bit more expensive than a taxi but very good to deal with and you get a small bottle of water, (It's the small things that count). Southern Cross

Breaky was had in the Virgin Lounge and soon we were boarding the plane to Adelaide. The purpose of this journey was to catch up with our old friends Chris and Rob Holmes. I have been to Adelaide before in 1991, but this is a first visit for Lance. Driving through the city of Adelaide the buildings are all stone, mainly a lovely warm ochre colour and all very quaint. It is a very pretty city. 

We spent time with Chris and Rob when we lived in Lae in Papua New Guinea, they were our P.N.G family. So it was so special to finally see them again. 

From the first second of our welcoming hugs it was like we had never been apart, albeit that we are all a bit more wrinkly. We talked non-stop into the evening, catching up on the gossip and family stuff. 

Chris and Rob's house is also very quaint and we have our own suite upstairs with lounge and bathroom.  The temperature is pretty mild considering how hot it can get here. And Chris has a pretty full itinerary planned for the next week. 

Melbourne 2017 Day 3 - Happy Birthday Lance

After a great nights sleep we tried the little cafe downstairs for breakfast. Lance had the most unusual and delicious thing. It was a bread roll that had been wrapped around chopped potato and it had cheese and mustard on top. The sides of the bun were thin and crisp, I could hear how delicious it was when Lance bitbinto it and had greasy cheese running down his fingers. 

Anyway, we were first on the 'Hop On Hop Off' bus, and we checked to make sure that we were definitely touring the city this time. With front row seats up top we had a great view of the city, enjoying the wonderful architecture new and old. The sky scrapers are all very unique and interesting to look at, and are interspersed with beautiful old buildings. 

The trams in the city centre have tram stops in the centre of the road with a designated area for people to wait. As we headed out of the city we were surprised to see the tram stop in the middle of the road, open the doors and have people step right out onto where the traffic is flowing. The drivers are obviously aware of this and there must be a road rule that works, because we didn't see anyone get squashed. But it must be tricky for drivers that are new to the city. 

At one stop I spotted a man running quickly to the coffe shop, it was a bit strange because he was flying along and wasn't really made to run, in fact he was quite awkward. He came back out which his coffee and strolled back down to where we were parked.  It was then that I realised that he was our driver. Later on the trip we saw his awkward run again as he did a fast waddle across the road to the ATM machine. We were anticipating a meeting with a pizza delivery guy next, but it didn't happen. 

It had been the right move to get on the bus early. When we arrived back at Flinders St, which is the starting point there must have been over 50 people waiting to board the bus. Hopping off we got straight into an Uber and shot of to DFO South Wharf for some outlet shopping. 

We had spotted a Vietnamese Pho shop so grabbed a seat and ordered Pho. Pho is a tasty broth with meat and herbs, you add sprouts and other greens, and of course chilli. It was okay, but not as tasty as we have had before. If we could replay our lunch we would have walked 2 minutes around the corner where there were lovely waterside bars and cafes, maybe next time. Lance did a 5 minute shop and then found a comfy spot to enjoy the sights and the wifi. I sped around the shops in just under an hour, shopping is one of my many super powers😉. 

Our taxi dropped me off at Bourke St Mall and returned Lance to our apartment. Bourke St was packed and I really just wandered around, apart from a quick purchase in Zara. The day had been cloudy up to that point, but not unpleasant. Suddenly the heavens opened and I felt a little smug as I pulled out a light jacket and my brolly. Always prepared, and was never even a Boy Scout. When I arrived back at the apartment (I know, I didn't get lost!) Lance was feeling a bit stressed as he couldn't find a restaurant that could take us for dinner. And we wanted something special for his birthday. I had spotted a place across the road called QT that had minimal signage and could have been anything, in fact I did wonder if it was a bit of a gentlemen's club, if you know what I mean. Anyway, I googled it and found that it was a boutique hotel with restaurants and bars. So that is where we went. 

We did wonder about the rooftop bar, as by then we had,had a huge thunderstorm, but it had a large covered area. We were a bit disappointed that we hadn't found it earlier, it was very trendy and the people watching was great. Lance ordered me a cocktail, a honey dew mule, but when he came back he had two cocktails and a shot glass of champagne as well as his beer. So what's a girl to do? Delicious!

Downstairs we ate at Pascales Grill. This was a large restaurant that was well set up.  For the third night in a row we started with a dozen oysters. The options were with a lemon minotte dressing, hot sauce or hot grilled chorizo. Of course we went with all three, the lemon minotte was beautiful and really complimented the taste of the sea that an oyster brings. The chorizo however was just a chorizo sausage on a plate alongside the oysters. Very strange we thought, and it completely over powered the oyster. We left the hot sauce. 

Our main was a huge T-bone steak designed to be shared and it came with a bowl of golden homemade looking chips.  When the chips arrived we both looked at the size of the bowl and before I could utter the same words Lance said "Can we get another bowl of fries please". Phew, saved a fight in the restaurant. I finished with a rhubarb and custard soufflé and they didn't bring two spoons! But maybe that is because Lance had said not to bother bringing two spoons because he hates rhubarb. 

Toilets: I know that my regular followers must be wondering about the toilets on this journey. The toilets were easy to find just past reception, but when I went in a actually couldn't find the cubicles! Standing the blinking and taking in the shiny copper basins and the walls and ceiling that were covered in an orgy! I know! An orgy of body parts all tastefully intertwined with no vulgarity present. I touched the wall and found that in fact the wall was a row of toilet cubicles, and the door swung open. As I sat I looked in wonderment at the sea of flesh, Lance's description was Caligula, and I do agree.  

Goodnight Melbourne. 

Melbourne 2017 day 2

Shopping!  That was the plan for today! I had googled the mall and it said that it opened at 10am.  

We haven't bought any supplies for our stay as we are only here for a couple of days. So Lance nipped down to the cafe downstairs to pick up a couple of coffees. We have discovered that it is a specialty bread and brioche place, verrrrry tempting. 

Lance googled the mall and found that it opened at 9am, so with plenty of anti inflammatory and pain relief drugs we skipped out the door for the 8 minute walk. A quick breakfast was had, just yoghurt and a cuppa, and then we found the mall. And low and behold it didn't open until 10am. But he best thing is that we happened across one of my favourite shops, UNIQLO, a Japanese store with all sorts of clothing. We managed 28 items and only two of those were Lance's. "Well done" I must say to myself. 

To Lance's credit he lasted until 2pm. His hip has been good today thanks to a good load of drugs, and he just needed to sit frequently, which merged perfectly with my jaunts into a variety of shops. I carried on until 4pm, but actually found nothing else to buy.  The big news is that I found my way home, I know, I had my phone and that helped me. If you have never used the 'maps.me' ap when travelling, then you need to get it.  You don't need any data, and you just down load the map of the city and you are off. 

Back at our apartment I coerced Lance across the road for a beer and a shandy. We sat outside, as it was quite a mild day. But a cool wind came from nowhere and I have to admit that I had goosebumps. 

Lance wanted to take me down to the Crown Plaza for a look around and a nice meal, we ubered there (isn't it funny that uber has become not just a noun but also a verb, just like Google), and got dropped at the Crown Casino. No we didn't gamble any money and we also didn't gamble on not being able to find our way out! Finally we got through to the other side and wandered down by the riverside looking for a restaurant that took our fancy. Well we needn't have bothered because none could take us! If they could fit us in we would have to be out in an hour. Finally we found an Italian place that would let us stay for a two hour meal. Phew. By then Lance was feeling the pain again and hadn't brought any drugs with him, so he limped into the Gradi Crown and started with one dozes oysters kilpatrick. Well not just him, I had half. The service and food was great, Lance had pizza and I had eyefillet, sliced with parmesan cheese slices covering it, sitting on a bed of rocket with a balsamic jus. Desert was just for me and it was pannacotta, which I love. I do wonder though why when only one person orders desert they always assume that you are going to share it with the other person and they bring two spoons. This happens to me all the time and "I'm not sharing!!!"  We finished with a lemoncello and a sticky (desert wine). 

It is a shame that we had to wander back through the casino to try and find a nice bar. The whole place makes me feel sad. I bet these same people go home and tell their kids off for staring at their phones or Play Stations. And there they are feeding machines with money with a blank look on their face. Sorry rant over, well nearly over because the only bar that we could find was a sports bar and that was equally unpleasant but not so depressing. 

We are really enjoying our apartment, it is very central and comfortable. I would recommend it but worry that you will all come and stay and then there may not be a room vacant when we want one!

Melbourne and Adelaide 2017-2018 Day 1

Here we go off on another adventure. This time we are winging across to Melbourne Australia for three nights and then off to Adelaide to join some friends. 

Getting up early is always easy when you are going away holiday, so the 5am start wasn't too unbearable. And what made it easier this trip was that we had an upgrade to Premium Economy arranged with Air New Zealand. Of course this was a lovely treat, with all the bells and whistles, only to be met at the airport by the driver that I had arranged to whisk us off to the Hero City Pad Apartments in Russell St.  I had booked this online and the apartment is perfect.  One bedroom and a selfcontained area, close to everything. And of course 'air conditioning' which is great because today we hit 34 degrees. 

We were met at the apartment by Tricia, who showed us around. Then we quickly unpacked and hit the streets. This is my very first venture to Melbourne, Lance has been here several times for business, but not for some time.  Following our normal holiday regime, we hopped on the 'Hop On Hop Off' bus to get our bearings. There were two routes on our ticket and we chose to hop on the St Kilda route first, rather than the city route.  This was only because the city route looked quite full. We managed to get a seat on the top deck and the warm wind kept us mildly refreshed. 

The commentary was good, and we picked up some facts. Half way through we decided to hop off in Bay St for a late lunch.  Fish and chips at BELVGA. The sign said that they had the best fish and chips in Melbourne, it was okay, but not great and I certainly doubt that they are the best in Melbourne. I went for a wander and Lance took a seat (he has a bad hip at the moment) and there was nothing to see, just food and beauty places. Back on the bus we decided that we would finish this route and then jump on the City route. And that is just what we did, except when we got on the other bus we had to wait for 20 minutes before it got started and it was roasting.  As soon as the commentary started we realised it was doing the same route! Bugger, never mind, we sat back and enjoyed it all over again. There were no stops that were close to anywhere else and Lance wasn't up to walking far. Then a stop before the last stop the driver said that he was finished and we all had to hop off and walk the last bit, which wasn't far. But after all the sitting Lance had seized up, so we got a cab back to our apartment and had a beer and a shandy across the road. 

After a well deserved rest we headed off to a restaurant called Lucy Liu which is situated in a small dark cobbled lane off Flinders Lane. We had been directed to this place by a good friend and foodie who would never put us wrong. The basement restaurant was humming and we had a 45 minute wait for a table. Perched behind a concrete pole we enjoyed a cocktail and a beer and sat back taking in the vibes. I was a little concerned that the young woman who had greeted us would never find us amoungst the throng of people, particularly because we were hidden behind the pole. But right on cue she arrived and showed us to our table, well not actually a table, but a couple of stools perched at a bar. Please don't misinterpret this as a disappointed tone. We were delighted to be looking straight into the prep area of the kitchen, in fact the chef leaned over and directed us to his favourite dishes, not to be missed. Our waiter also was charming, in a casual chatty but professional way. Food: 8 freshly shucked oysters, we chose 4 with ponzu sauce and 4 with a spicy red nam jim. There was almost a fight over the last oyster, I felt sure that it must have been mine. The oysters were followed by kingfish sashimi with refreshing green chilli and mint and coconut cream. I know, anything with coconut cream is delicious, but I think that this was my favourite of the evening and I wanted desperately to lick the plate. The Peking duck dumplings were great, filled with tasty duck and wrapped in a dough that was fleshy and light. My second pick of the night was the soft shell crab 'JIANBING' in a pancake roll with hoi sin sauce. The crispy crab was complimented with a fresh  Vietnamese flavours and a rush of hoi sin sauce. (salivating as I write this, I need breakfast badly). The chef had insisted that we must have the roasted short rib with rending curry and when we ordered it he leaned over and told the waiter that we wanted roti as well. The beef was melt in your mouth, in fact it was a bit rich for me so Lance had the honour of hoovering it down. Even the roti gets a mention, it was almost like a soft pastry and my regime of not eating grains just flew out the basement window. The roti came with pickled vegetables and a tasty tangy relish. As I was absolutely stuffed I had decided that I wouldn't have desert, but alas, when asked the words just flew out of my mouth "banana fritters please". And that is just what we got, nothing over the top, good old banana fritters with vanilla ice cream. What an outstanding meal, service and ambience. Definitely on our ' places that need a second go' list. Thanks to Debbie Zouch for the recommendation. 

On our 5 minute work back to our apartment Lance needed to stop and rest his hip. It is a bit of a worry really and we hope that it is better tomorrow.