Adelaide

Forgive me Carlton for I have shopped. For a fine blue Crumpler bag. They are made in Australia, they are extremely nerdy, they’re guaranteed for life. I told the kids at the store that at my age it’s not a biggie.

Adelaide had lots of interesting shops. Including one devoted to puzzles. Anyone up for a 40,320 piece puzzle? Maybe I can leave one to the GHBC puzzle closet when I transition to the next level.

Main shopping area in Adelaide.

My hotel is what I call early concentration camp. But, it is just for the night. Saw a bunch of folks dressed in matching faux safari wear while I was out shopping. I suspect that they’re going to be on my train. Hopefully they will be in deluxe class and not in my part of the train. Had some interesting folk on the last trip. About evenly divided between Aussies and Europeans. I was the only north American.

And the second installment of my travel log.

Australian Adventure Before Alzheimer’s week 2

Feb 9

Off to Geraldton to see Leilani and Joe. Looking forward to seeing them and not making any decisions!

9:15pm. Had a lovely day. I was treated like visiting royalty. Sights were seen, meals eaten,

Feb 10

8:20am. Good sleep. Leilani fed me fried eggs, bacon and toast plus cappuccino for btekkie.

Now on the bus waiting for lift off.

Critters
Sheep
White cockatiel
Horse
Cows lots of cows
Emus maybe a dozen
More emu
Cows and emu together
Finally a kangaroo

At Dongara now 0920ish

Showing a movie about talking cars. Passing wonderful white dunes.

Exciting down town Eneabba. No one got on or off.

11:30. Stopped at Mill Hill Halfway Roadhouse. Got a flat white and a bottle of water and some photos. I am loving this adventure so far. Of course there’s three more weeks for the wheels to come off.

Way back when I was 50something, I took yoga with a man in his seventies. From time to time he would pack off for distant shores. He said that his aches and pains lessened on the road. I didn’t understand it then. But now I do

1:20. Getting closer to Perth. Land is less lumpy. Lots more cows. Speed just reduced from 100 to 80. KPH not MPH. Up to 110. The expressway maybe?

Swan Valley now. Grapes, olives, wine. When you make wine from grapes grown by a busy highway does the wine have undertones of gasoline with a hint of diesel?

Bedtime. Found the hotel. And later found a better way. The bus terminal is also the train station so, a better way is good.

Chicken and leek quiche take out for dinner.

Silly thing I did was to wash my long pants. I think they just might get dry.

Feb 11

11:35am. On the train heading east

Critters
Sheep
Horses
And, Before the train cockatoos woke me up.
Brown cows

13:20. Just finished a great lunch. Fish. Chocolate ice cream. Espresso oh and beer. Good dining companions.

Next event is dinner at 6pm.

Closing the door and I am going to chill out..

1530. Napped. The seats are not as comfortable as Amtrak ‘s. But every thing else is better.

I discovered pillows-like the seat better now.

4:45 went on quest for coffee. Found some. Ok not great. We have a field trip to a goldmine after dinner tonight.

2330 hours. Dinner was great. Tuna a wee bit over cooked, wonderfully steamed broccoli finished with a good salad and Mac nut ice cream. Then off the train to see an open pit goldmine. It is the reason the town of 30,000 exists and is expected to play out in 10 years. Don’t think I am going to invest in residential properties there!

Monday February 12

0545. Been awake since 5. About 15 minutes ago they started waking us up for our breakfast picnic. Time to get dressed.

0820. Under way again. It is very flat now. And trees are getting smaller at an alarming rate. Breakfast was good. Quiche, mushrooms and most excellent sausages. Nice to be outdoors in the sun.

Big decisions today. Shower before or after lunch? What beer to have with lunch? What beer to have with dinner?

And do I read or listen to an audiobook. Nothing in see out the window, maybe the kindle.

Critter count
Very sturdy looking brown cows

Shower before lunch. Nice big shower. Hot water. Big fluffy towels.

5:00pm. Had 2.5 hours removed from my day. Just finishing up a late lunch when they said advance your watches two and a half hours.

About lunch. camel curry was on the menu. Lots of one hump or two jokes. I passed on the camel.

I scheduled myself for the 8:30 sitting for dinner. So, I can read, do my blog, take a nap or just sit.

10pm.

A nice leisurely late supper. Good food. Better company. The very best travel experience.

Tuesday February 13. 10:30am

Adelaide.

We got put off the train at about 7:30 for crew change over. Went on a very little walking tour of the city. It ended with second breakfast. There are more outings scheduled for early this evening. But I am rather tired of all these outings so I just said no more.

Looking forward to another day of looking out the window. Oh and eating and making my way through the beer list.

Critters
Magpies
Sheep
Lamas
Cows
Finally a hopping kangaroo and another
A lone emu
One big and four small emu

1330 hours. Finished another meal. Good company again and nice food. Now I am going to hole up in my little room.

Just got an invite to dinner at the Asylum on my first night home. It is great to have something to look forward to other than journey’s end.

2315. Am I a party animal or what? Late dinner then hangout in the bar. I must be having fun.

Spent 90minutes walking around Broken Hill. Great old mining town.

The roadbed leaves much to be desired.

Wednesday February 14.

Rose pink sunrise and brekkie at 7am. Totally ordinary breakfast – except for the kangaroos that bounced by.

0925. All packed up. Will chill and charge batteries until Sydney.

Critters
Cows
Sheep
Kangaroo
And a bat in Sydney

10:00. Today’s goal. Get to hotel without drama. The goal was not met. Missed my train station.

Sydney. Very festive this evening with lovers going out. But I am tired.

Thursday February 15

Went to the zoo today. On the ferry. The zoo is big and hilly. But you can take a bus to the top of the zoo and sort of tack back and forth ending up at the ferry.

Found out that my hotel neighborhood is getting ready for lunar new year. And they’re expecting one million visitors from Asia. I can see some of it tomorrow evening.

 

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