Month: March 2020

From Saturday 28th of March 2020 to Wednesday 1st April 2020

We decide not to stay at Levi Park. Lovely park, nice management and we enjoy it here under normal circumstances. However, we have several criteria to fill for an alternative. We want to get out of the city, so less people. Also we have to be close to a Dump Point for the van toilet which is not an easy thing. We cannot have close contact with people and especially older people with ailments who are more susceptible to the virus.

Enter, friends Rick & Diane at Loxton. We have stayed there before but in less restrictive times. We are welcome to park in their wide rural driveway as before. They can provide water and 240 volts, but of course, due to the virus and isolation, no access to house and other facilities. They are totally realistic and do exactly what every other Australian should do.

So we are on the road to Loxton. A mini tour with a stop at Waikerie for a $10 roast chicken and a look for hand cleaner and mentholated spirits. HaHa!! Silly me. Got the chook though.

We had the UHF on and heard truckies chatting. One said to the other, ‘You see that Commodore in a big hurry?’ Reply, ‘Yeh. passed me as well, late for his own funeral.’ Then a few minutes later one says, ‘Hay! Radar got him!’ Then about eight minutes later we get to view the occasion on the other side of the road. Brilliant. Missed videoing but got a pic.

Then over bridges, down Accommodation Hill, turn right, through Moorook and we arrive.

We are welcomed warmly from a distance (about 6 metres) and offered a convenient patch of ground with the services mentioned. It’s a good spot and they are bemused by our choice to face the scrap metal storage area view west rather than the drive way east side. We explain, if we put the awning out, we are sitting in the drive way, where as facing the scrap metal has several advantages. Firstly we are protected from the midday sun by the awning, then the trees give us shade later from the setting sun, which means we also get the sunsets as well. Finally, Rick does scrap metal art and this area holds lots of potential artistic masterpieces which we can ponder over coffee and cake.

Our ‘rubbish tip’ view which is anything but.

An interesting wander with all sorts of metal treasures if only one looks.

The next day we set up and get comfortable. Our first outing! off to empty the toilet cassette! The dump point is near the caravan park and on the back road, we bypass the town. The one way trip is literally only five minutes. Normally the round trip would be twenty minutes. However we have a bonus fifteen minute trip to Berri Bunnings for some hose, because our two do not quite reach the tap. The only food grade hose is clear non reinforced, but that is all that is available on a Sunday.

Back at our new home, we install the hose and find out why they reinforce these water hoses. It grew from 13mm diameter to about 17mm that day and by Monday we were back to get a replacement from a camping store now open, before it turned into a three stooges sketch with the big bursting bubble. Here’s one for you. No hand gel at the camping store but it was suggested these ‘Pet Wipes’ were quite effective. Anyway, till further notice that is what the table gets wiped down with. By the way, no alcohol in them because that would aggravate puppies skin.

Now if you want to witness a long term indicator, Anne wanted the party lights out. Last time was Christmas. So soon already? So now we have setting sun and party lights.

Next day’s cassette emptying ceremony and we wear our hiking boots for a walk along the river track for a little, what they call, ‘EXERCISE.’ Nice scenery and we revisit ‘The Tree of Knowledge’ which is pretty cool. It has plaques of all the flood heights including the monster 1956 flood to end all floods. So it turns out you  can make emptying the toilet cassette fun and interesting.

We wake up to April Fool’s Day and it did fool us because while not forecast nor expected in this dry region, it rained all day. Not down pours but drizzle or sprinkle. We stayed in all day and no pictures of rain. I am betting you have seen it before. Oh, we did get a little river through our little haven which of course, pooled at the door as luck would have it.

From 11th of March 2020 to 27th March 2020

I will blend the next sixteen days but the events will be more or less in order. It is blended because it is a hotch potch of maintenance, observations and day to day readying for our run across the Nullarbor to Perth.

We successfully negotiated our way out of the driveway from hell in one successful exercise under the watchful eye and instruction of my mate Des, his backing and manoeuvring experience reflected in the success of the operation. A few bush scratches on the bull bar, but that’s what it’s there for.

BACK IN THE CITY

Checked into Levi Park again, to be close to all the running around we had to do. Hindmarsh Square in the city, I saw, for the first time an electric car plugged into a ‘filling station.’ Tynte Street North Adelaide, an unique pedal bike I have never seen before. A VALLKREE. Their spelling, not the classic ‘Valkyrie.’ N.B. Valkyrie. noun SCANDINAVIAN MYTHOLOGY each of Odin’s twelve handmaids who conducted the slain warriors of their choice from the battlefield to Valhalla.

Got the car serviced and there on the hoist was a shiny black, I think 1965 fast back Mustang. I wouldn’t kill for one but ….!? Then noticed they had a sense of humour on complaints. See photo of sign. The place was BMW on Main North Road at Sefton Park. No. Not Bavarian Motor Works. Brentons Mechanical Workshop, run by Brenton and son Jesse. This was yet another worthy recommendation from my cousin Mal. Mal is a wealth of information and knows just about any and every service person worth knowing, which includes the tyre place across the road from BMW, Best Drive/Continental run my Michael and Dimitri. You know how from time to time we long for businesses from the good old days, when they were run by good guys who charged fair prices. Well congratulations. These two places are just like that.

WALKERVILLE AND WOOLIES

We went to Woolworths Walkerville to stock up and noticed the nice little park across the road from the store for the first time. Either they created it over night or we aren’t very observant. A few plaques told the story, or stories. LH Howie Principal of the School of Art brought students here to sketch nature. Also Mary P Harris an artist from Yorkshire established a sanctuary here. A real chunk of history for that neck of the woods and right on the river. There was a carving of a chap with a loincloth. We had to make the assumption it represented the indigenous aboriginals of the area although the loincloth looked more like a red Indian. A plaque wouldn’t have been wasted but it’s not a perfect world. Sorry to break it to you. A free book exchange box, lots of shaded seats and just across the road form panic buyers paradise.

We had seen the evidence of panic toilet paper buying in ‘the burbs’ but surely not here in prestigious and sophisticated Walkerville? Yep. Sorry to disappoint but cretins really get around. They are amongst us. They exist everywhere and they multiply. Panic buying had spread from toilet paper to baked beans, flour and pasta. There was only one can of baked beans left and while I can’t remember the special flavouring, I remember I didn’t want it either and while all those racks were bare, by far the biggest and barest was the TOILET PAPER. Unbelievable!!

HUTT STREET, ST PADDYS and SHILAZ (not mis-spelt)

I watched this lady pull off the road and park (?) with all the intent and discretion of a slug. I have blocked her number plate because I do not want to be unkind or sued, not necessarily in that order. Over the line and almost two metres from the kerb, she walked of with not a sausage of doubt or regret. Bless her limited heart.

We were in Hutt Street, our future stomping ground when we stop travelling. Our house is just around the corner. We noted the councils effort to brighten things up with a Flower Power ‘Bug’. It was a flash back but to me took up valuable parking space. What a sour puss I am.

We were on a roll as it was the magic day of March 17th and my favourite day of the year. However, St Paddys, Adelaide Oval function had been cancelled. We phoned the Irish Club only to be told, they hadn’t had time to organise anything after the Oval cancellation. They further added ‘try a pub’ and I established that the front bar of the Brecknock in King William Street was indeed ‘IRISH.’ We passed the Police Club on the way and popped up to the second floor. but that’s another story. ….

Well in fact the board room was named after my grandfather on my mother’s side. This was done years ago. We were invited to go to the opening but mum couldn’t because of a family feud and the other warring side would be there. So, around forty/fifty years later, I had my photo taken pointing up to the sign above the door which read, ‘H.G. HENDERSON BOARD ROOM’. I was told the photo was not to be posted on public media , I guess because it showed a particular part of the Police premises. So I have cropped it down and now it’s just a meaningless photo of me pointing up for no particular reason in no particular place. I have complied.

We got to the Brecknock and it was indeed Irish and in swing. We had A GUINNESS, one only (!!) because we were driving. but I met another ‘Carroll’ and the bar person ‘Kim’ was a love.

The other ‘Carroll’

Bar person, ‘Kim’ who was a love.

In the evening we met Jim and Pam. A night at the Gin Long, an Asian restaurant that enjoys playing up Asian pronunciations of basic items. As an example we had a house Riesling and a Shiraz, which in fact came out as Liesling and Shilaz. Nice night. A good Lesalont.

NORTH ADELAIDE , HARLEYS AND COLONOSCOPIES

The old North Adelaide Hotel in Tynte Street has now closed and it is a real shame. Beautiful building and located opposite the North Adelaide Post office so giving one a double reason for clearing the post box. A bit of trivia. It was the pub used for the farewell bar scene in the Australia film ‘Gallipoli.’ I was in there having a drink with friend PM and I told the new owner this fact. He didn’t know but googled it while we were there and identified the stained glass front window in the film. More trivia. My cousin Mal had the Cathedral Hotel at the time. He was approached by the film makers and asked to use the bar in his pub. However, they wanted the bar for six weeks to film and Mal quite rightly didn’t want to lose six weeks bar trade. Would you?

Next, came across a serious Harley service shop. Every photo tells a story.

It comes to those who wait. It was determined, I should have not only a colonoscopy but endoscopy. Both ends. I weathered all the jokes such as, ‘if they only have one camera, do the endoscopy first’ etc etc etc. For those who have never had one, firstly try to imagine how clean your bowel must be for the camera and them imagine what must happen to get it that clean. If you are feeling just a little ‘blocked’ have some of the stuff pictured. The experience reminded me a little of the space shuttle take offs.

PHOTOS, FLASH CARS AND THE ARMED SERVICES.

We decided to do a short photography course and I spotted this car sticker on a car in the car park. I found out it was purchased overseas. I wanted one. No can do. Walking back, we noticed a wedding in the magnificent Naval, Military and Air Force Club on Hutt Street in the city. The waiting wedding cars were a car collectors fantasy. Look at the photos and dream of the old days. I had a 1968 GTS Monaro as per the blue car but grey and V8 instead of 186. I sold it for next to nothing which is on the list of regretful acts of waste. I still have nightmares about it.

SLEEP APNOEA and COMMUNITY

My charming says ‘You snore too much.’ So she insists I have the test and I qualify for a self application Sleep Apnoea test at home with all the gadgets. We get the instruction and the kit. That night I turn myself into a home experiment. I could have sworn at one stage I picked up short wave. It was remarkably non intrusive or inconvenient. Mind you I wouldn’t buy one and use it for the hell of it. The waiting time for results is four weeks (?) so the clock is ticking.

Encouraging to see a community exercise in a suburb with book exchange and fruit deposit for free to anyone who happens to pass and fancies it. Even a couple of chairs to sit and eat it. Nice thinking. Everyone should seriously look at this. I was impressed.

CHANGE

Now … This virus thing is forcing us to have a serious think. We are in a caravan park and things are tightening up. We no longer use the ablution block for fear of human contact and shared facilities. So we have to use the caravan toilet and empty it every day or two at the park dump spot. What to do? Anyway, our trip across the Nullarbor is off … for now.

 

 

 

Up to Wednesday, 11th March 2020

Levi Park Caravan Park is ideally located right on the River Torrens with perhaps a little over an hour walk to the city along the river bank, or about an eight minute drive. Down at the river, you wouldn’t know you were that close to the city.

Though we have been back from  Dili, East Timor for some time, it is still a renewed novelty to go to the city. We thought our Dili salon was reasonably nice with it’s two big spa chairs, but some here left ours for dead.

I used to do ‘Traffic Menace of the Month’ in Dili and was amused to see there are just as bad drivers or parkers here as well. See car encroached on handicapped park. I guess they had difficulty getting out on the passenger side. Well …. what about the handicapped person SPORT!!

A little history. On the corner of King William Street and Currie Street, while waiting for the lights to change, we spot a plaque on the wall stating, ‘Hereabouts on the 10th of August 1844, Captain Charles Sturt set forth on his central Australia exploring expedition ….’ Such an epic journey and just a plaque on a wall I have walked past off and on for over sixty years. Wonder what you have to do to get a statue?

Captain Charles Napier Sturt (28 April 1795 – 16 June 1869) was a British explorer of Australia, and part of the European exploration of Australia. He led several expeditions into the interior of the continent, starting from both Sydney and later from Adelaide. His expeditions traced several of the westward-flowing rivers, establishing that they all merged into the Murray River. He was searching to prove his own passionately held belief that there was an “inland sea” at the centre of the continent. 

(N.B. There wasn’t one.)

We also dropped in at the Train Station. I was told years ago that the eastern facade of the train station was part replica of Buckingham Palace. Though partly concealed by building fences and equipment I believe I can make out similarities. I have included a shot of the palace for comparison. What do you think? I say yes. Doesn’t matter really, there is a building going up that will all but completely conceal that side of the railway station anyway. It’s called progress. (!?)

Our stay in Levi Caravan Park continued till Friday 6th when we had to temporarily vacate due to excessive pre-bookings for WOMAdelaide. (World Of Music Adelaide) We will return on Wednesday, the 11th but for now we accept the hospitality of my old mate Des who has a large concreted area in his front yard.

It wasn’t difficult to reverse up the incline and around a corner between garden bed and drop. No. Not difficult. It was just about impossible. Took over an hour, but we got there. I have already started thinking about the exit.

His house is in an outer suburb and just about rural, with grape vines up to the back fence and open, natural park in front.

Also, just an eight minute walk to a small but substantial shopping centre with a Coles, pizza place, fish and chippery and a BWS. (Beer, Wine, Spirits) Even a Laundromat. with, believe it or not two massage chairs!? The bare necessities of life.

That is to say, ‘the bare necessities of life’ EXCEPT FOR TOILET PAPER! Ned Kelly’s quote again, ‘Such is life.’ Here’s another quote but from Absolutely Fabulous. “Just tax the stupid people.’ You work out how that applies.

We spend the time sorting the van and car to drop some weight and manage between 35 and 40 kilo’s on bits and pieces. while we could manage a further 40kg by swapping from AGM to Lithium batteries in the back of the car, it just isn’t worth it.. Somewhere between two and two and a half thousand dollars. Friend Garry is now a fellow van owner and is currently changing from inner sprung to foam mattress for the same reason and we have ordered one as well. Only time will tell.

We move back to Levi Park today. Oh. Getting out the front yard? It’s always nice to have something to look forward to.

Sunday, 1st of March 2020

The city was named after Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen, queen consort to King William IV at the time. Adelaide was established as a planned colony of free immigrants, promising civil liberties and freedom from religious persecution, based upon the ideas of Edward Gibbon Wakefield.

Today is a day of rest … and work. (?) That is to say, while we are going out tonight, we have nothing specific to do today, however we should do some maintenance. The day is taken up with clothes washing, blog up to date, anti-flap supports for the awning etc.

Tonight food and drinks. day finished.

OUR STAY IN ADELAIDE WILL BE UNEVENTFUL FROM A TRAVEL BLOG POINT OF VIEW. SO UNLESS SOMETHING HAPPENS WORTH RECORDING, WE WILL SLIP OFF THE RADAR AND COME BACK ON AROUND 22ND.

‘Auf Wiedersehen für jetzt.’