Sunday, February 13 in Adelaide

Our Breakfast Feast

Today we decided to have room service breakfast AND what a breakfast it was. Free Range Eggs scrambled, the ham-like Bacon called San Jose Bacon, chicken and truffle sausage, strawberries and yogurt, fresh squeezed orange juice, coffee, croissants, crusty Italian bread and wonderful jam. The price was the same- $34 per person- as going to the buffet.

We learned yesterday that the government does not subsidize the farmers in any way in Australia and probably that is why food is so very expensive. There is also a law forbidding any genetically enhanced crops or livestock. This country is really careful about a lot of things, it seems to us.  When we got off the train there was an announcement to be prepared to deposit any fruit in the bins on the train platform and not take them into the station or away with you. That was much as we experienced each time we left the cruise ship here in Australian several years ago.

Several of you have asked about the forgotten Kindle. We have had now 5 phone calls to the Crowne Plaza in Alice Springs with the same response, "We'll get in touch with housekeeping all call you back." So, you guessed it, no call back until just a moment ago. They found it and are shipping it to Bill and Katherine's house in Sydney. I'll believe it when I see it!

Faith Lutheran College

Adelaide is a beautiful city with lovely neighborhoods. There are many stone buildings and wrought iron fences. There are many churches, no doubt because of the Wakefield Experiment- with all these freedoms especially religion. Many German Lutherans came to the area in search of that freedom from persecution.

South Australian Art Gallery

There is a lovely downtown street which has the South Australia Art Gallery, The Parliament Building, and City Hall. Jenny said they were trying to create an elegant street like the Champ Elysses in Paris. Really does have that feel but the people are much friendlier.

Our friend Jenny Peirce picked us up this morning and we spent a wonderful day together driving out into the Adelaide Hills and over to the coast. The scenery was great, the wine delicious, and the visit with Jenny just wonderful. She is an amazing lady who has traveled extensively. She was a pilot for a number of years and even did flying instructing. She had carefully planned a day that was unforgettable.

Jenny drives a Honda and she told us it costs $700 to register her car for a year. Imagine!

The city of Adelaide was originally built on a one mil square of land bounded on all for sides by streets names Terrace- North, South, East, West. The Sebel Playford Hotel where we are staying is on North Terrace so we saw all the others just to get the feel of the city.

Gulf of  St. Vincent

We drove out through the hills to Aldinga Bay and saw the town and beach area on the Gulf of St. Vincent. Nearby were fields of hay that had been harvest and bailed into those round bails. It was beautiful!

Yesterday we learned the term "Hobby Farm" where people come out and have just a few animals or a small amount of crops they are raising as just something to do for a hobby. The young woman working at Thorn-Clarke Winery told us she and her husband have a Hobby Farm of sheep and they have a deal with the winery for the sheep to graze between the vines after the harvest. She described what is a good arrangement for all parties.

We also drove through a charming town, Willunga, where Jenny says Bill's company NBNCo. is rolling out its broadband coverage in its first stages.  The buildings and houses were just charming.

The Salopian Restaurant for Lunch

We drove into the McLaren Vale and to a terrific restaurant for a great lunch. I had pasta with Swimmer Blue crab and Jim and Jenny had a salad with prawns and fruit. We began with a small plate of goat curd, warm bread and mixed olives that were also warm.

After lunch we drove down a beautiful road lined with Gum Trees.

We took a small, curvy road and drove around the Mt Bold Reservoire
and Dam. This is the source of water
in Jenny's neighborhood.

We were so glad to get to spend this day with her. When she phoned this morning I asked if she had gotten home OK after our dinner on Friday evening and she brightly replied, "Not only that put I pulled up good on Saturday morning." What a great expression! So we wish for you a day tomorrow where you "pull up good."