J+N [and Gang] Down Under XLIV--Adelaide

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: Tuesday, September 3rd - Well, the time had come and this day was inevitable.

As much as we'd loved to stay a while longer, it was time for us to move onward, it was time for a change of scenery, and.... we were secretly starting to felt homesick!

So we said a heartfelt goodbye to Mitzi (yes, lots of hugs between her and us girls!), her father the roadhouse owner and the other co-workers (handshakes, natch) and thanked them all for having graciously put us up. We reassured Mitzi we would keep in touch. In fact, I would sit down and write her after we'd have gotten back to Canada....

Indeed, we had wanted to push onward as the storm clouds were starting to gather since overnight and hopefully hit Port Augusta or even Adelaide before it had got too rainy to travel.

So with hugs and waves goodbye, the six of us were soon on our way eastward in our loaded up Toyota Tarago.

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Light showers had caught up with us when about 8 hours later we had reached Port Augusta. Got ourselves a cabin at the local campground. Thank goodness we didn't get a huge downpour, because we kinda needed a dry place to rest and spend the night after dinner. Eight hours of driving---even when taking turns at the wheel, and making stops at Ceduna for lunch, Wirrulla (its general store) for washroom break(s) and Kimba for light provisions---can get a bit tiresome....!

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: Wednesday, September 4th - Partly cloudy this morning in Port Augusta, a bit cooler than back in the Nullarbor.

Packed up and continued onward, reaching Adelaide 3½ hours later. Claimed our two rooms at the YHA hostel on Waymouth St, close to Light Square.

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Well, travel diary.... as I write, it is now late arvo here in the capital city of "The Festival State". And we have been having quite a time thus far!

Of course, Caitlin at first kinda forgot that this is winter here in Australia (July thru September here is akin to our January thru March, calendar- and season-wise!), particularly here in the more southerly latitudes. Not quite so warm as back in Camooweal or Broome, I can tell you that! But then again, being in Australia as it slowly migrates toward Spring kinda helps us acclimate ourselves once back in Canada as we slowly migrate toward Fall....!

Anyway, among the sites and places we visited (featured in the pics) included:

• Jen, Wyatt and me checking out the Adelaide Festival Centre, particularly this interesting sculpture display along the entranceway radiating from King William St just past Parliament House at North Terrace. This is the prominent stainless steel Environmental Sculpture (also known as Tetrahedra), by Viennese-born Australian visual artist Bert Flugelman;
• all of us checking out the well-known suburb of Glenelg and its celebrated jetty and beach. The sky really tried its best to get sunny in spite of the heavy clouds!; and
• Jonesy, Wyatt and Jude in Victoria Square, downtown, contemplating the statue of famous explorer, John McDouall Stuart.

 
Actually, most of the time we were out-of-doors around Adelaide, we were each wearing a light jacket. Certainly as it was occasionally raining here....!

And speaking of Victoria Square, there would be no evening smooching there for Jonesy and me, or anybody else, unlike back in 2010. Since March 2013, the city and developers have embarked upon a total redevelopment of Victoria Square. Stage One, the northern side of the square facing King William Street towards Hindley Street, is a $28 million refurbishment. Under construction is a large events area capable of holding up to 5,000 people along with a funky "urban lounge", new garden beds, bike racks and much, much more.

Stage One, which should see completion in December 2013, also involved the removal of the fountain where Jonesy and I had smooched three years before. Sad to have seen it gone, but rest assured, it would be restored and reinstalled at the northern edge of the Square upon completion of Stage One. Then comes Stage Two.

Whenever that happens.

As soon as they work out the funding.

Which they neglected to make notable during this year's federal election!

Oh well....

But the City of Adelaide wants this revamp of Victoria Square and they will get it done! As I understand it, it's taken 40 years and five different plans which didn't get off the ground for the City to finally see the light and get things done....!

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Another what-if postcard and journal entry from two 2½th-year university students Jonesy and Nikki, along with the rest of the gang, exploring the Land Down Under.



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