Some of you have probably been wondering what the heck I have been up to the last couple of weeks, and an explanation is necessary. My wife and I have been on our first holiday (REAL holiday) together, in 5 years and, as you’ve figured out, we’ve been all the way to Adelaide and back. The reason why I haven’t made that clear is that my better half was very concerned that I not advertise that our house was going to be vacant for two weeks. Hence the secrecy.
We had a fabulous time. We visited lots of places that neither of us have seen before and a lot of places in SA that I haven’t seen since I left there as a boy, 51 years ago. I have to tell you that Adelaide really hasn’t changed that much, but, then again, I didn’t expect that it would have. It’s that kind of city.
We stayed in all sorts of places, from 5 star hotels in Adelaide to cabins by the Murray River at Tailem Bend and everything in between. We covered over 3500 kms and basically made up out holiday as we went along, Long Weekend in the middle, notwithstanding. The southern states are glorious at the moment, green and lush and waterlogged. The stock is luxuriating in some of the best feed they’ve had for decades and the tourist sector is enjoying a boom.
We had a minor hiccup with a blown radiator in the Adelaide hills which necessitated us staying for two full days in the magnificent historic village of Hahndorf, home of the late Hans Heysen, one of Australia’s greatest lanscape painters. The village dates back to the late 1830’s and was settled by German Luteran immigrants, fleeing persecution in their native land. If you had to choose a place to be isolated with car trouble for a couple of days, you couldn’t really choose better and it happened to us purely by chance. It seems that the Fates had determined right from the beginning that nothing was going to spoil our break.
And, while I’m on the subject, a HUGE, ENORMOUS thank you to Mark Rutte of Rutte’s Radiators in Mount Barker who struggled for over a day with a recalcitrant car and delivered it to us, fixed and ready for the trip home, after 4 o’clock last Friday afternoon when he should have already been long gone from the premises for his Long Weekend holiday himself. Thanks, heaps, Mark, you are a STAR!
Yesterday we deferred to time and other constraints and came home from Albury up the Hume rather than the prettier and slower route through the mountains. I have to say that the NSW RTA has FINALLY got the message and realised that the major highway in Australia, linking its two largest cities, needs to be made into a 4 lane road. All but a small section around Tarcutta (which is being finally bypassed) is now complete and, while it doesn’t make the trip any more INTERESTING, it certainly makes it quicker.
Before we left Albury yesterday morning I went searching for the old Hume Weir circuit. I found its location but, sadly, anything that would make it recognisable as a circuit has long since gone. However, in the process, we stumbled upon the Bonegilla Migrant Camp, a section of which has been preserved and is now functioning as a museum. Over 300000 migrants from overseas called Bonegilla their first home in Australia over a period lasting from 1947 to 1971. It was wonderful to see this slice of important Australian history being preserved for future generations. It was an especially significant accidental discovery for my wife as her father first stayed at Bonegilla as a migrant when he came out from Finland in 1958. For her, the visit and the opening up of a part of her family history that has not been mentioned for many, many, years, it was a very emotional visit. The fact that her dad is now in a nursing home with dementia made the visit especially poignant. I must admit that, at times like that, I find I am very inadequate to cope with what happens.
We spent last night at Chris’s place in Canberra. Chris administers this site and has provided me with invaluable assiatance and support over the last couple of years. It was great to chat with him, talk about new developments (a new design is in the offing that will be better and more functional in many ways). He also did some important maintenance, showed me how I can administer the site from my mobile if I am away from home (yes, you heard right), and also installed a new version of Windows Mobile which will enable people to view and comment on this site from their own mobile phones! A link now appears in the top L/H corner that enables uses to shift to the cut-down mobile interface if they are using an internet-enabled phone. Amazing.
I can honestly say that it was the best holiday I have ever had. With all the stresses that my wife has been under with ill-health to both her dad and her mum over the last 18 months, it was just the thing that she needed and it gave me such a thrill to see her relaxed and de-stressed.
I’ll try and get some pictures up in the next couple of days, so stay tuned for that.
jeffb says
All becomes clear now, Phil. Hahndorf a top place- must get back there myself someday. Bern and I spent the 6 weeks tavelling last April -May. It’s a top way to spend some quality time together. Hope Helena feeling relaxed having the time away. Glad you’re back!
Phil Hall says
Mate, it was the BEST holiday. Just everything went so well. Found some great riding roads that I have to go back and check out, too. My better half is now much better, thanks. I shall convey your good wishes.