6th – 11th May,

We have been on the road for 3 weeks now and today we have reached Adelaide.  The journey here from Nurioopta was an easy one down a freeway and we did not see much traffic at all before we arrived at Semaphore Park in the north west of the city.  We have set up camp right near the beach.  In fact there is just a model tourist steam train track between our camp and the beach so we are well placed for some good walks and rest.  We have some interesting company at night also.

Bunnies - the farmers friends - in camp

Unfortunately our challenges have continued as our GPS system (Gerty) has tired significantly and causing as much confusion as benefit.  Worse though is that our fridge has decided it has had enough.  We are currently depending on our mobile freezer and ice to keep all things cool. Alice has done a big cook up to use any frozen food that is at risk.  Getting repairs done in a timely manner is difficult so we have extended our stay here and will visit the surrounding areas from this base camp until we can get it all fixed.

First night out and we went for a walk on the beach.  The water in St Vincents Gulf was so calm it was like a millpond and there were several small boats out fishing. 

Semaphore is an old beachside area near Port Adelaide but it is developing into a really trendy area.  The main street is full of small shops and no large supermarkets.  A pier juts out into the bay and there is a lot of park area for picnicking.  A small model steam train runs tours from the pier down to near our camp site on weekends.  Further north the coast has been developed into marinas and condominiums.  On Mother’s Day we had lunch by one of these marinas at North Haven.

Semaphore main street from the pier

Visiting the city we loved the parks that completely surround the CBD.  There were sports of all kinds being played and there were row boats on the Torrens.  Even on Saturday it was difficult to get parking.  We visited the city Botanical Gardens in the CBD and next day we saw the other Botanical Gardens at Mt Lofty to the south east of town.  Mt Lofty rises to 710m and it was only 10 degrees when we were there.  Didn’t stay long.

 The Torrens River & Entertainment Centre

The city Botanic Gardens

The autumn colours were really great.

We then went on to Hahndorf, a small German town, for lunch.  This was a very folky environment with lots of crafts and wine / produce shops.  It was a unique experience.

Everywhere around Adelaide the stone architecture in all of the homes & buildings is wonderful to see.  It is the hall mark of the area.  Even new buildings have been created in similar facades and they are a great pleasure to see.

A trip to Victor Harbour and Goolwa showed us more of the historic influence.  Victor Harbour was an old whaling station and one can take a horse drawn tram ride along the pier connecting Granite Island (where the whaling station was) to the mainland.  Goolwa was an old Murray River port near the mouth.  It has really exploded a a marina type residential development, particularly on Hindmarsh Island adjoining.

 Horse drawn trams to Granite Island

Victor Harbour

We are really enjoying Adelaide although the weather is turning cold, wet & windy which is a little limiting.  Now the beachside camp site is working against us as the wind blows across the gulf unhindered. The wind & cold tends to keep us in doors and we do not get to meet as many people unfortunately.  We are not badly off however compared to the young people around us living in tents and some just sleeping in their cars.  We are blessed to be here.