A short stay in Blackwood

We spent a lovely few days with Moira, in her home up in the wooded hills of Blackwood.  A lovely cool house, with a huge shaded verandah at the back, and an excellent view down into the shallow valley.

There were eucalyptus trees everywhere, as there would have once been a forest here.

The white mottled trunks, and green leaves were spectacular as was the prolific bird life.  We heard one kookaburra calling out, but did not see it.  There are also koalas in the trees too but they were absent, no doubt they were elsewhere in search of food.

And there were some trees with distinctive black branches

We experienced beautiful sunsets, after the hot days.

It was great to spend the time with Moira, with plenty of talking and eating.  Sadly Stan passed away sixteen months ago, and it was strange not having his smiling face there.   We really missed him.   But I did manage to drink some of his excellent wine!

We also went shopping with Moira, and visited new shopping centres.   We were amazed at the low prices in the discount chemist warehouse, with a cut price supermarket next door, which sold out of date, or nearly out of date produce.  Great value.  Mind you we only sampled the chocolate bars, and they were okay.   Cherry Ripe.  Scrumptious.

I was fascinated by the huge containers of powders, different brands, which apparently build up muscle power.   Or so they say.  Big business here, by the looks of it.  Men in Australia like to look good, apparently.

On the last day we relunctantly said goodbye to Moira and set forth in the simmering heat, towards Aldinga Beach.

An evening at Aldinga Beach

A very hot evening at Aldinga Beach.   After a 40 degree day, the temperature was still hovering at around 38 degrees by 7.30 pm.   Hot, hot, hot.

There were plenty of people on the beach, enjoying the last rays of sunshine.  Aldinga Beach is the last remaining beach that allows vehicles on it.  In the hot weather it is fantastic to drive onto the beach in an airconditioned car, run into the cool water, then back into the car to return home for a shower.  Of course it is even better to put the marque up, get out the picnic table and spend the day lounging beside the car.

Our destination was not the beach, but the airconditioned comfort of the Victory Hotel, up on the hill.

A large sprawling hotel, with a busy restaurant, beer garden, and crowded bar.   We chose the crowded bar, as we did not feel like dining in a formal atmosphere or pay the prices of a restaurant.  We also had not booked a table, which was essential at this hotel.  On walking through the restaurant I was amazed at how many people were wearing rubber flip flops (jandals, thongs).   Very casual.

The view from the hotel is superb, especially at sunset.

The electricity poles do tend to get in the way of the view though.

The South Australian stobie pole, invented by Mr Stobie of course.   Stobie poles are very sturdy, being made out of metal railway lines, with concrete inserts.  No problems with white ants eating them.

We sat outside with our drinks, and then managed to find some stools to sit on, in order to eat our dinner at the bar.   Hamburger for Walter, fish and chips for Darren and salt and pepper squid for me.  My favourite and cooked to perfection.  I have waited nearly two years for this meal, and I was not disappointed.

We drove back to Darren's house for coffee, and to finish off a delicious bottle of wine that I had bought from Moira's house.

A beautiful sunset,

plus a lovely cloud formation.

And when we went to bed the temperature was still in the thirties.  Adelaide certainly knows how to turn the heat on.

Activity at Aldinga Beach

Busy times here, plus extremely hot weather, and no time for writing blogs.   My apologies.   The main focus, other than visiting people, has been the laying of tiles in Darren's side room, and the subsequent cleaning up and rearranging of furniture.

Patrick and Darren mixing the adhesive, in their identical elasticised boots, once  worn only by outback horseriders, but now a popular boot for the active and less active, alike.

Poppy resting on her rug, well out of the workers' way.

Donna sitting patiently at the front door.  My apologies, Donna, not the best photo I know.  Donna and I painted the skirting boards, which were laid out on the grass at the back.   We managed to paint blades of grass onto the boards, which gave them an interesting texture.  

At the end of the first day all tiles were fixed to the concrete floor.   Next job, grout the floor.

On the second day, Patrick and his willing helpers, Walter, Darren and Scott worked on the floor.  They grouted it, and then put the skirting boards on.

While they were busy, Donna and I took Poppy for a walk on the Aldinga rock shelf, a marine reserve, which was partially exposed by the low tide.

Two pelicans resting on the shelf.

Poppy loved running through the shallow rock pools.

Hundreds of birds waited patiently for the tide to turn, in order to grab the best fish.

The view back towards the cliffs.  We felt as if we had walked quite a distance, but in fact the shelf was twice the distance out into the sea.   Tne total shelf is only exposed at rare times, during an extremely low tide.   At the end of the shelf there is a substantial drop to the sea bed.  A place loved by divers and sharks, all after the shoals of fish that live there.  No fishing though as the area on and around the shelf is a marine national park.   Not that the sharks know this, but then they are protected there too.

Meanwhile back at the house, the men continued to work hard, and before long the floor was finished, grey tiles and gleaming white skirting boards, with a faint hint of leaf blades.

The back door sliding door was taken off, and rehung, in order to stop the rain from leaking in around the edges,.    Darren repainted the skirting boards.   I oiled the wooden furniture, and then we reassembled the room as a dining/lounge/office room.

Walter relaxing on the couch. All the work now finally completed.

After many years Darren has finally achieved a light,  comfortable and well insulated room, out of a carport.

A big thank you to Patrick for leading the final task, the laying of the tiles.  Often in temperatures that exceeded 37 degrees.

Early morning walks

Early morning walks, on two hot days.  Any later, and it would be too unpleasant.  But manageable early in the morning.   And on the first of the hot days there were plenty of people around, walking, jogging and riding their bikes.

We walked around the Patawalonga, once a swampy area, and now a lake, the level of which is controlled by locks at the entrance to the sea.  

Reflections.

Glenelg is such a popular area for cyclists, which mostly use the bicycle lanes on the road.  However a new law has been passed, which gives cyclists the right to ride on footpaths, which is fine, as long as the footpaths are marked as such, to inform hapless tourists like me.  And yes, I got tangled up with a cyclist on this particular walk.   Literally.  I was happily walking along, with Donna and Poppy, when I heard a voice yelling out, 'Coming through'.  I jumped, in fright, to the right, and the cyclist rode straight into me, and knocked me flying.  Ouch.  He fell off, so I think he was hurt more than me.  I was about to give him a mouthful of abuse, but thought better of it.  Donna explained that I was a tourist and did not know the rules, which is to move left to allow cyclists to come through.  I limped off, covered in bruises.  I was not a happy bunny, I can assure you.  

More reflections.

A peaceful scene.

More cyclists speeding by, on the road , on the other side of the Patawalonga.

The planes landing at the airport close by, fly so low it is possible to see the pilots in the cockpit.

Another hot day, and another hot walk, this time along the beach, and back through the suburban streets.  No Poppy on this day, as the temperature was already 31 degrees at 7.30 am.  Not many people on the beach either.

The walk yesterday, in perfect weather, on the beach with Poppy, plus many other dogs, and their owners.  Lots of doggy fun, chasing each other, in and out of the water.

 Glenelg jetty, always a stark outline against the blue water and sky.

 A jetty tunnel.

Looking forward to more beach walks.  And I am certainly spolt for choice here. And no cyclists there to worry about either.

Glenelg

Donna and Patrick live in Glenelg, a well known cosmopolitan and touristy beachside suburb in Adelaide, South Australia.  A busy and vibrant place, with great bars, cafes and restaurants, plus a beautiful beach.  

The downside, when the weather is extremely hot, it is very noisy, due to an increase in the number of cars and people.   And it has been suffocatingly hot during the past four days, with temperatures in the high thirties and low forties.  

Donna and Patrick's house peering through the trees.  A very cool house, with plenty of shade, inside fans and airconditioning in the bedrooms.

Public transport to and from Glenelg is easy, on the modern airconditioned tram with its own dedicated line until it reaches the city centre.   A very quick and pleasant journey.

Saturday morning was a hive of physical activity, for some people, but for others it was enough to dress in lycra outfits and walk around looking sporty.

This grassy area was busy with boot camp type activities.

The Nippers (junior surf life savers) were out doing their morning training.

Morning coffee, in the cafe, was amongst the lycra clad cyclists who appeared to use Glenelg as a mid cycle break.   Reminds me of the lycra clad cyclists in the south of France, who are out on the roads early in the morning.

A brightly coloured cow, wearing Ugg boots, outside the Ugg boot shop.

Morton Bay fig trees, with their huge exposed roots throwing out plenty of shade on a hot street.  I love these trees but too big for most suburban gardens.

 

We walked down to the busy and noisy beach, when it was cooler in the evening. 

A stark jetty in front of  the darkening sky.

Looking back to Jetty Street, with plenty of people around, relaxing in the cooler evening.

It was great to be with the family, including the adorable Poppy, who has not completely forgotten me.

Lucy and Scarlett preparing to leave for the Taylor Swift concert.  They were stars too, with their short net skirts, intertwined with flashing lights, plus sparkling shoes and hand printed tee shirts.  The girls created their costumes, with very little money, and a great amount of imagination.

Lucy and I, posing together at the beach.

A family line up.

We had a lovely barbeque on Saturday evening, plenty of good Aussie meat, plus salads.  Delicious.

The downside.  It is a not a good idea to drink red wine when the weather is extremely hot.  It dehydrates and leaves one feeling very groggy.

Now I join Walter and drink his non alcoholic beer, very refreshing, and less calories. Tomorrow we will have to source some more supplies of it.