We did like the park at Renmark and spent most days in the pool. Apart from that we made a quick visit to Almondco and picked up some almonds in various shapes and sizes. The weather for the last week or so has been an incredible 40 degrees plus so we have slept with the fan going full blast and the temperature still 27 degrees at 5 in the morning. We did survive better than we thought and took the car through the car wash although the van looks totally grotty. There were quite a few water skiers on the Murray and houseboats were chugging up and down. For something different we just missed being hit by a eucalypt branch cracking and breaking for no good reason at all!!
The drive from Renmark to Mildura was quite uneventful even though there were more road trains than we thought possible. Mildura is a place we have visited several times in the past so apart from more time spent in their pool, we visited Orange World and did the tour around the orchard.
We decided to leave early for the trip from Renmark to Hay to minimise the heat and after the overnight stay in our (now usual) site went to Wagga Wagga for the last night before reaching Canberra.
It seems incredible that it is 10 months since we were here last. At the end of May last year we were wearing warm clothes and this time we are wearing as little as possible to make the (now quite pleasant temperature) 31 degrees comfortable.
We will now spend about a month in Canberra before heading off for Queensland for the winter.
We would not have missed doing this for the world but it will be nice to see the changes in the grandchildren and collect a few cuddles that were missed during our travels.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Almost Home
After all these touristy visits it was very relaxing staying in Mitcham where Joan and Garry Richards visited us to catch up on 20 years. Gardening Australia had an expo at the showgrounds which we visited and picked up a few ideas for when we do return to normality. We drove to the Mt Lofty lookout which does provide a wonderful view of Adelaide and also wandered around the Mt Lofty Botanical Gardens. Hahndorf was a pretty little township with an excellent Museum/Gallery and a cheese shop "Udder Delights" which lived up to its name. Beerenberg farms 1/2 km away had pick your own strawberries so we had our strawberry fix and picked up some new season apples from a local orchard. Whilst we knew the Adelaide Hills existed we were not aware just how hilly the area was and quite how pretty and lunch at Bridgewater on the way home was enjoyable - right next to Petaluma!
The weather was really heating up about this time but we did go into town on the train and wander through Rundle Plaza, the Art Gallery and the Museum as well as admire the old magnificent buildings that face North Terrace.
The next move was to the Tanunda Caravan Park and again I must say that the distance was almost urban. Gawler was not the small village we expected but quite a thriving town. Marilyn and David Tucker picked us up for a visit to the Angaston markets where fresh local produce abounded and was very well priced. Under our own steam we visited the Jacobs Creek Visitor Centre which was very impressive and apparently they provide tours and information for schools. Wolf Blass has also changed their cellar door since we last visited 21 years ago .
David and Marilyn have 75 vines and we were invited to join them for the press of grapes and the long table lunch which followed. Rob certainly enjoyed watching and listening to the "experts" as they took the grapes which had been fermenting for 9 days through the process of loading into a 1932 press which had been brought out from Italy. You usually do not get to see the different colours of the juices and the lees or "snot" as it is commonly known but we managed to experience the transition and get splashed in the process.
We are now in Renmark and knowing that we will be back in Canberra in a week's time seems a little hard to believe. The last week has been very hot and Tanunda was in the low 40's. Predictions for the next week are all in the high 30's but Renmark does have a pool and we have already had a swim.
The weather was really heating up about this time but we did go into town on the train and wander through Rundle Plaza, the Art Gallery and the Museum as well as admire the old magnificent buildings that face North Terrace.
The next move was to the Tanunda Caravan Park and again I must say that the distance was almost urban. Gawler was not the small village we expected but quite a thriving town. Marilyn and David Tucker picked us up for a visit to the Angaston markets where fresh local produce abounded and was very well priced. Under our own steam we visited the Jacobs Creek Visitor Centre which was very impressive and apparently they provide tours and information for schools. Wolf Blass has also changed their cellar door since we last visited 21 years ago .
David and Marilyn have 75 vines and we were invited to join them for the press of grapes and the long table lunch which followed. Rob certainly enjoyed watching and listening to the "experts" as they took the grapes which had been fermenting for 9 days through the process of loading into a 1932 press which had been brought out from Italy. You usually do not get to see the different colours of the juices and the lees or "snot" as it is commonly known but we managed to experience the transition and get splashed in the process.
We are now in Renmark and knowing that we will be back in Canberra in a week's time seems a little hard to believe. The last week has been very hot and Tanunda was in the low 40's. Predictions for the next week are all in the high 30's but Renmark does have a pool and we have already had a swim.
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