- Visiting the West Coast of Scotland
- This is it!!!
- On the road again
- Back Country – NZ
- NZ update – east coast
- Back Country – very different this time!
- Lake Taupo
- The Coromandel
- Mini-break
- More little adventures – NZ
- Getting out and about again!
- More holidays!!
- A new year of adventures
- The mountain cottage
- Ginny’s visit
- Another visit – Marni and Jodi
- More changes!
- First stop in Canada – Niagara Falls
- Quick visit – Toulouse and Venet les Bains
- Ffald-y-Brenen
- The Cotswolds
- Back in France again!!
- Barcelona
- A much more interesting path – crossing the Irish Sea!
- London to Loxton
- Enniscorthy – a quick visit
- County Donegal
- South Gippsland, Victoria
- Next port of call
- Victorian High Country
- Snowy River Country
- Reindeer Lodge – Tanjil Bren
- Hiccup to Blessing
- Have tent will travel!!
- Family and friends – hugs and kisses
- Road Trip to the West
- Very snail like!
Well we’ve just got back from visiting family in South Australia. Last year was one of COVID and lockdowns – and our Victorian border was closed to other states for large portions of the year. So we were excited to actually leave Phillip Island and head west. After driving through Melbourne we stayed at Ballarat – cheap caravan park cabin. Left early. Called into the very pretty town of Stawell before pulling into a road side parking bay for a morning cuppa. Always nice to break the journey. Lots of stubbled farmland as we drove on towards the border. We turned north at Bordertown and made our way to Adelaide – lots of little towns on the way – many with grain silos visible on the horizon. Lovely to see many of them adorned with works of art these days.
We arrived at my son Ben’s house late afternoon. Lovely time settling in with Ben and his beautiful family – wife Komala and children Will and Molly. Managed to organize an extended family catch up for the next evening. Reg’s daughter Ginny, partner Jeremy, and our older granddaughters Ocea and Indi joined us on the outdoor veranda. Lots of wine, nibbles and chatting, followed by Reg’s very yummy Indian dishes. He spent all afternoon throwing spices around the kitchen – absolutely loved it!! Our time in Adelaide was spent chilling at home during the day – feet up – while everyone was at work or school. We had lots of fun with Will and Molly. Especially enjoyed a game of outdoor cricket in the backyard- Molly even wore white cricket gear to mark the occasion! Can’t remember who won what but definitely remember dog Maggie – one year old Labradoodle – getting involved in the outfield!
We then drove south to Aldinga and stayed the night with Reg’s sister Leonie and partner Charles. Thanks Charles for a magnificent breakfast – very much needed after a brisk morning walk to nearby Port Willunga. Next it was off to the flat inland Mallee region to visit my sister Jan at Swan Reach. Landscape got even dryer as we left the Adelaide Hills behind. Crossed the Murray River on the familiar car ferry before joining Jan for afternoon tea. Then on to the Riverland. We had booked a bed with Reg’s mum in her little unit at the Berri Cottage Homes. We were greeted with a beaming smile and lots of hugs and kisses. She had missed us.
Our week in Berri was relatively quiet. Lots of time spent with Reg’s mum, visits with my daughter Marni. Also caught up with Reg’s brothers and an assortment of old friends. Ginny drove up to Berri for another quick catch up. Always a joy seeing her with Reg’s mum. You can definitely see where Ginny gets her good looks!
Victoria went back into lockdown towards the end of our stay. We managed to get permits to cross the border again -bit iffy for a while!! Uneventful trip, no police checks. Drove through Melbourne again. Not our favourite – but sometimes you just have to do what you have to do. We remain country bumpkins to the core!
Love Di and Reg
This entry was posted in Australia