A wonderful catch-up with friends.

Edit - 
We have no resolution to our wifi issue, even after 8 days! We have had our issue "escalated to Level 3" and we have been told that we will be reimbursed for using our mobile data. So here I am, using my mobile data. Hopefully one day soon we will have our usual network back... Anyway. Photos now included. yay! :)

Disclaimer!

We are currently experiencing the most frustrating difficulties with our Telstra Wifi. We fried our original modem and Telstra sent a replacement, which Richard and Catherine bought to us. We have since learnt that MANY MANY travellers have had problems with the same modem – some are onto their 3^rd or 4^th replacement! We were given a lovely new one (which doesn’t match our dock and therefor makes Dunc’s network redundant…) which unfortunately won't work at all. After numerous calls to Telstra which would be humorous if they weren’t so frustrating, we have been told to call back “next week” because their systems are down. We are struggling coping with the reduction from 120GB at home to 8GB plus 5GB on each iphone. Take our 8GB away and Dunc and I are both about to max out our data. Eeek! So below please find the entry that has been written about Adelaide. Photos will follow when Telstra get their arse in gear…

Wow – what a long time between writings! I hadn’t even posted the last entry before Richard, Catherine and everyone arrived, and then it was completely busy and frantic in a truly wonderful way.

We have had a lovely and loooong 5 days in Adelaide. 5 nights in one spot. We are almost locals – Dunc even had mail delivered there! LOL. The caravan park was a perfect choice, although it was right next to the airport so we had regular fly-bys of jumbo jets. At least Dunc and Angus were entertained. We arrived a day before the guests, so we had time to catch up with the 3 big rig owners and every child at the park. Tours a-plenty were had – others and ours. We also popped into a shopping centre and picked up a new bike for Lexie. She had outgrown her old one before we even left, but we figured a small bike was better than nothing. It was getting a bit ridiculous though – think clown bike. This way we had a spare bike for Neave – perfect! This morning, before leaving the caravan park, we put it out with a “free to good home” sign on it and I think it lasted half an hour before being snapped up by a grateful family.

The weather had been utterly perfect every day since leaving Melbourne (unless you count the heat in Coober Pedy) and of course the English folk bought their own drizzly weather with them. We had sunshine the day before they came and then 4 days of drizzle. At least it was WARM drizzle and not enough to stop any enjoyment of the splash zone or pools or even bike riding. Just enough to drive me insane with wet swimming towels that couldn’t be hung outside…

We had 2 wonderful days with Richard, Catherine, Neave, Fred and Sue and then Catherine and Neavey stayed on while the others returned to the farm. Neave stayed on Bertha the whole time, and Catherine the last 2 nights. Lexie just ADORED having Neave with us and was mighty sad at our farewell this morning. They live too far away!! Lexie and Neave even prepared our lunch one day and cooked a special breakfast for Richard. Only Richard though. Check out Duncan eating his lonely old cereal all by himself - he doesn't even get any of the special tablecloth!!

Bertha was bursting at the seams with so many people to entertain, but somehow we managed. We rustled up enough seats for all the bums (Angus and I can cuddle on the moon chair) and were even comfortable enough in the rain. The children ate outside under the annex and the adults fit comfortably around the table. We ate very well without going out, and ended up cooking on Bertha all the time – its too handy when we have all the good utensils and cookware. We almost had enough crockery and cutlery – the kids used teaspoons a few times.

Adelaide Shores was too entertaining and the children were not very keen on going anywhere else. Dunc had to take Bertha for her ‘2000km’ oil change, which sadly had to be a 4000km oil change since we had been unable to find the right oil until Adelaide. Dunc was able to take Richard there and Fred back, so both of them got to have a ride and experience his swearing for themselves. (Still learning that gear box…) We happily pottered about for the 2 days with everyone and then Catherine and Neavey joined us on an excursion to the Maritime Museum at Port Adelaide. It was a lovely museum, but one bum too many meant we had to shuttle the 20 minutes there which complicated matters a little.

We also went to the Zoo, which was soooo much better than we expected. It was fabulous and we got to see Pandas! The only ones in the Southern Hemisphere and they were utterly gorgeous. The volunteers at the zoo were incredibly knowledgeable and helpful and told us all about the pandas and guided us the (numerous) times we were lost. Neave seemed to enjoy the animals as much as Angus did, and Lexie happily tagged along. She was really excited to see both a Snowy Owl and a Sloth which we hadn’t ever seen before.

In between all of this, Dunc managed to catch up with one of his cousins who he hadn’t seen for about 30 years. Jacinta bought her 3yo son with her and we had a great afternoon using the splash zone and facilities.

This morning was a very early start as we had to get Cath and Neave to the train station by 6.40am. The kids came along and we had some yummy hot chocolates while waiting to board. 

After an emotional farewell we were off – Cath and Neave to Stawell and us to Port Augusta to head down the Eyre Peninsula. We are currently in the little motorhome park where we met the huge bus last time. Back then (all of a week ago. LOL) there was one bus and one caravan. Right now it is choc-a-block with 6 caravans, 5 motorhomes and 3 buses. Dunc has been in his element chatting to all the grey nomads and comparing notes on wind generators, water pipes and goodness knows what else. This lifestyle suits him to a tee!