Western Highway to Adelaide

The temperature overnight in Horsham, Victoria, was a chilly seven degrees, but we woke up to brilliant sunshine.  The promise of a good day out on the road.  Very straight roads, with acres of golden crops on either side of the road.

First stop, Nhill, another deserted looking town.  So sad when the heart goes out of these once vibrant country centres.  But perhaps Nhill was still holding in there.   There were two prosperous looking cafes, and certainly the coffee was very good in the one we chose.

Nhill also had three pubs, all thriving, by the look of them.

A deserted street, with many empty shops, and those that were open were old, with dimmed lights.

A street of old shops.  Great character.

A beautiful lawn, and picnic area in the centre of two very wide streets, and spotlessly clean toilets, which included piped classical music.  A nice touch.

A very ornate and successful looking gift shop.

And then ever onwards, through other small settlements, past dry countryside, until we came to Bordertown, the unoriginal name of the town on the border of Victoria and South Australia.

The photograph below is of the dry countryside, rather than Bordertown, which is quite a reasonable town.  An oasis amongst the brown.

Next stop, Keith, for our last picnic lunch.  Another green oasis.

A local tourist landmark.  The big jeep, up a pole.

During our trip through New South Wales, then Victoria and now South Australia, the huge grain silos dotted the landscape.   Hundreds of them.

Another iconic scene, the huge metal windmill beside the metal tank.

On through Tailem Bend, where we saw the River Murray, before it entered Lake Alexandrina, and the Coorang, and finally the sea.   The next time we saw the river was at Murray Bridge, before we started on the expressway that passed over and through the Adelaide Hills.

We finally arrived in Adelaide, a 2,700 kilometre drive from Merrimac on the Gold Coast in Queensland.

As we were collecting Donna from her work, in Adelaide, we decided to visit the Central Market, for a much needed cup of coffee.   The central market, one of the best markets I have ever seen, is absolutely full of food, of immense quality and quantity.

Walter enjoying his coffee, from Lucia's.   A long standing tradition for Walter, in the days when he visited the market each week, in order to purchase our fruit and vegetables.   The owner's daughter now runs the successful business.

Then it was time to collect Donna.  It was lovely to see her again, and all our other members of the family, who live in Adelaide.  Great to be here.