From the Barossa to the Limestone Coast

Jan 5

As John woke in Hahndorf, in the Barossa Valley, he was thinking that it would have to be another McDonald's breakfast if he was going to upload the blog for January 4th. Janice had said he could borrow her car and he took it up to the McDonald's at Mount Barker again.

The drive was truly mystical. The heavy mist was rising in front of a strong sun over the twisted road bucking and heaving under the car as the skeletons of trees emerged and then receded into the fog. John noticed how well Janice's car drove - steady and firm with good brakes.

John ate another egg mcmuffin just to use the Internet. He spent quite a long time doing his email and uploading then got back into the car and headed back to the Zorro Motel. I know, what does Zorro have to do with German heritage, but there you go.

Janice was up and eating a piece of 'Bung Fritz' sausage that you can only buy in the state of South Australia. Janice said it tasted like sawdust with a skin. But she had to try it because you can't get it anywhere else. She said that the first time she tasted it was good but it went downhill every time after that.

They then packed up the car and hit the road. Janice had called her cousin, Kaye, and they used her GPS to find the location. She chose some intermediate stops so that they didn't have to go via Adelaide again. The result was a very pretty drive through low mountains, tall trees, well maintained homes and roads like those in New Zealand. It emptied out onto a wide plain that slowly transformed itself into the outer suburbs.

On the way they looked for a dongle so that John could use the Internet more reliably but they didn't find a dealer. Janice did however find a Boston Bun to take to Kaye.

The bangalow was extremely nice and was located in a new housing area. Kaye's daughter-in-law is an officer in the Australian air force and these were her married quarters. Kaye was looking after their dog, a huge friendly malemute named Misty, who liked nothing more than to have her ears scratched and be stroked. The house, like many in Australia had a clear path for the wind to flow through the house from front to back (or vice versa) and was very airy and spacious.

Kaye told them of a mall where they could find a dongle. After a short but friendly visit, John and Janice set off again and successfully found one but John's visa card didn't work and he had to get cash out to pay for it. Then theyy were off to find the Barossa Valley, renowned for its vineyards and wineries. It was an exceptionally pretty area and after passing many, many wineries John saw one that he recognized from the LCBO, Jacob's Creek. Janice very kindly suggested that they stop in.

John tasted a reisling, a pinot grigio and a shiraz cabernet. As Janice was driving she didn't taste any at all. She said it would make her more tired and that just wouldn't be responsible.

After the wine tasting, they set off once more this time to get onto the road. The GPS gave directions through beautiful though very dry lands until they finally found themselves on the main highway, called the Princes' Highway (M1). From there they took another highway, the Dukes' Highway (A8) and travelled a long way. Once again, John was amazed at how big the country really is. Along the way they passed yet another winemaking area, the Coonawarra Valley.

It was going on 8pm when they arrived in Mount Gambier on the Limestone Coast about 7 hours from Melbourne. They looked for motels helped by the GPS and eventually found one. In the process of looking they went by another RSL and John remembered the fine meal he had had at the one in Mildura a few days before.

So, they found a Quality Inn and left for the RSL. The restaurant had porthouse steaks on special so they each had one. It included mashed potatoes, fried onion rings, a Steak Diane sauce and a salad. John overindulged in the pickled beets that he had hoped to have on a burger in New Zealand but had not found one. They washed it down with a beer. John had told the bartender that he wanted a local brew and had one called West End.

It was yet another interesting and enjoyable day on the road.

BTW, the dongle works well, doesn't it?

TRB