Wed, 2nd Mar, 2016 Brownhill Creek Van Park, Mitcham, SA (exploring Adelaide City)

Nice morning waking up with lots of birds chirping. The hills on each side block the sun coming up and going down.

Steve and Rick headed off to find gold at Jupiter Creek. Leanne & I drove down to the Edinburgh Hotel to park the car then catch the bus into town. While we waited I wandered around the park reading the history signs about Mitcham (1850s).

Got senior discount today but we will ride for free for the next 4 days using our V8 tickets which is great. After 28 stops over the 7km into the city we got off at the intersection of King William Road and North Terrace. Walked around the corner to find where the V8 bus leaves from. It is supposed to be near the Casino/Railway Station. No signs anywhere!!

Went into the Casino for a look – very nice decor – huge chandeliers etc but I couldn’t take photos in the gaming rooms!! Found the bistro and a balcony – looking across to another old building.

Margaret rang – she will meet us in Rundle Mall later. We wandered down North Terrace to Government House (1837) – fancy gate.

The Limestone walls were restored in 1987 after standing since 1845 and 1862 when they were erected.

Climbed on the retaining wall to see over the wall for a photo.

Great sculpture of Dame Roma Mitchell who was Governor of SA.

Nice walk down the tree-lined North Terrace.

Next statue was of Matthew Flinders. A few of the locals chilling out.

On the footpath were plaques of important people.

The War Memorial is having a facelift.

Edward VII – King and Emperor – 1901 to 1910.

Love all the old buildings.

Pigeon park!!

Back into King William Street and along to Rundle Mall with Haig’s Chocolates on the corner.

Margaret said it is called Beehive Corner as there is a bee on the roof and everyone uses it as a meeting spot. The year 1896 is below the bee.

Cute pigs in the Mall since 1999. I am patting Horatio. Truffles is in front, Oliver is eating out of the bin and Augusta is bringing up the rear.

Found Margaret and headed back around to the corner of KW and North Terrace again to have lunch at Jamie’s Italian (Jamie Oliver) which is in an old Westpac Bank building. Margaret and Gary had eaten in one in London and she said this one is decked out exactly the same.

The pasta is made right in front of us. Great lunch though very noisy with the high ceilings and lots of people.

Our waiter said to make sure we went to the toilet!! Now we see why – it is in the bank’s vaults.

Loved the toilet inventors name – Crapper.

Complete with the time-locked vault.

We then went back around the corner and up an elevator to the 6^th floor then onto another elevator to the 8^th floor to a roof-top bar. Great views though a bit warm in the sun. They had misters misting water over the patrons.

Looking north over the River Torrens. Looks like smoke from a fire in the distance.

Zoomed in on St Peters Cathedral.

Better view of Government House.

Walked to the other edge for a view down North Terrace to the Casino.

Looking down on New Parliament House.

The little old Parliament House next to it.

Back down to the Mall where we wandered around checking out the shops. Stopped in the Info Centre to ask about the V8s buses but they didn’t know much. Wandered through the huge Myers – the girls would love it!! A couple of old buildings still exist among all the new ones.

Lots of street artists which is part of the Fringe Festival on at the moment too. One was a magician from Korea – he was very good. This French guy had a big crowd and started off flipping the hats onto his head and then a break-dance but then he was doing a lot of talking so we didn’t wait to see what the actual act was.

Great mural on a side street.

Adelaide is known as the City of Churches but of course they are all closed so we can’t see the beautiful windows etc. Around Chalmers Church (1851).

Found our bus stop to head home but as it was 5pm it was slow going and the traffic was doing its best to block the road for the bus!!

Back to the car then the short drive back to the van park. The boys were back but empty handed unfortunately though they had a nice day. Lots of old mines etc to check out. Rick was using Steve’s other detector and thought he was onto a good one but it was just alfoil.

Relaxed with a glass of wine before cooking dinner. Malcolm rang for a chat as he is racing at Winton this weekend.

A few possums decided to have an argument in the tree next to our van. Light shower of rain as we headed off to bed.

Tues, 1st Mar, 2016 Port Parham foreshore, SA to Brownhill Creek Van Park, Mitcham, SA

Just woke up as the sun was rising just before 7am (16 degrees). A cloud band was across the sun so I could get a photo of it – amazing.

The Gulf is so flat and calm.

Zoomed in on the silos at Ardrossan across the Gulf.

Packed up and headed off. Wispy clouds.

Back down the highway into Adelaide. Worked our way through the detours around the Clipsal area and on to Brownhill Creek Van Park. Booked in and drove through the long narrow park with Brownhill Creek on one side and a hill on the other. Stopped to fill up the water tanks first – I checked out an old tree.

We are at the end in the unpowered area. Leanne and Rick headed down from Mt Lofty House and we set up camp under a lovely big shady tree.

Got my washing in the machine. Booked our tickets on the Kangaroo Island ferry for the 8^th March with Leanne & Rick. Leanne and I headed off to pick up their V8 tickets and get her groceries. Steve and Rick installed the new airbags that we purchased which had been delivered to the Van Park.

Enjoyed chatting and drinks in the afternoon. Daniel rang - yeah he has a new phone. All good at home and his work which is great. So nice to talk to him.

Louis sent an photo of our old house in Collinson St showing the progress of the renovations – will have to call in and check it out next time I am home.

Rang Mum and Dad for a chat.

Heard the possums in the tree beside us so out with the torches – so cute.

Lovely clear sky with a cool breeze.

Mon, 29th Feb, 2016 Port Parham foreshore, SA (sightseeing)

The extra day – Leap Year. 16 degrees at 7.30am with clear blue sky and no wind again. The mornings start off like this then the wind comes up about 11am.

Said bye to Darlene and Stephen as they are heading over to Yorke Peninsula. Steve checked out the water and said it was so clear you could see the grain silos at Ardrossan across the Gulf.

Unpacked the groceries etc from yesterday and packed the meat into the vacuum bags. Made some more pasta salad and some ‘Nuts and Bolts’. Had a clean up – carpet out, sweep and mop the floors etc.

Had lunch under the awning – if you are in the sun it is hot but in the shade the breeze is cold!!

Got up-to-date with my blog. After smoko we headed down the road to fenced off military area – wonder why there are street lights going out in the water.

Looking across the gulf but I couldn’t make out the silos. May have been easier to see with the morning sun on the white silos.

Into Dublin to dump the toilets and have a look around. In the shelter shed were ceramic tiles created by the locals telling the stories of the area and the people who lived and live here.

Found the school and another lovely old building.

Drove down to Thompson Beach, down to the southern end – just the same – a few streets of old and new homes.

Then up the northern end.

Back towards Parham then we turned off to a smaller group of houses at Webb Beach.

Parham’s history photos are in the Social Club hut but it is closed Mon to Wed so missed having a look. Along the Parham Esplanade – must be a plumber.

Quiet arvo – had to do an update for the Satellite phone and upload the blog etc.

Wind settled down early today. Rang Margaret to arrange meeting up with her again on Wednesday. Quiet night watching our favourite shows, Supernatural and X Files (that I had taped).