DAY 43 - ADELAIDE SA

ADELAIDE SA

DAY 43

WEST BEACH – BLACK FOREST

17.99 km

Total Time: 10.00 – 11.45 (1h 45m)

Time on Bike: 1h 05m 43s

Max. Speed: 26.3 km/h

Av. Speed: 16.4 km/h


My first day around Adelaide in 17 years.

Last time I was here in 1991, Gulf War 1 had just kicked off and Australia was in recession.

Adelaide 2008 style is infinitely more impressive.

The feeling is that this is a fully qualified international city now – not on the same scale as either Sydney or Melbourne would boast but there is no evidence about that suggests otherwise.

The Fringe Festival caravan has stopped off in Adelaide for many a year and in Womad and the newly appointed International Guitar Festival, there are some truly original experiences that can rightly stamp themselves as pure Adelaide.

There is still more of Melbourne about Adelaide than any other Oz city and that is nothing to shy away from.

I can’t quite summon an international comparison, although there are just a few cathedrals about and this could lay claim to most anywhere in Europe.

There is one attraction however, that may just separate Adelaide from all others.

This is the Adelaide Oval.

Adelaide Oval lays claim to being one of the finest cricket grounds in the world.

And as cricket grounds are not abundant in many places other than Australia, England, India and the West Indies, this is basically fair enough.

I watched part of a test match here on my last visit and even to the outsider, it is a fine specimen of its kind.

As a purpose-built ground and at nearly 130 years old it is as fresh as a new stadium without ever having sacrificed its history.

The ground still caters to its patronage with timber and grass instead of metal and plastic that sterilise most sporting arenas around the world.

Any event here is more comfortable with 20 000 heads being close to the action than 100 000 watching on a screen from 500 metres away.

With the River Torrens and the Festival Hall precinct as a backdrop and flanked by European gardens and Cathedrals, Adelaide Oval is the unique centrepiece of the city, even if you do compare sporting details with bathroom duty….

Personally, the day in Adelaide opened with a swim at West Beach – my only glimpse of the ocean in the past 6 weeks.

Not nearly as cold either as some would claim – though with a 10 am checkout beckoning, I had to get moving.

With bike packed, I headed towards Black Forest to finally make good my dossing appointment with Geoff and Hellina.

Just over 15 kilometres and an ice cream stop in Glenelg later, all things were good and I have a place to stay until Tuesday.

The afternoon became mine about town and a major objective to see my camera back in good health and functioning again.

If there was good news to be had for the day, it is that the little digger has some breath yet.

As things stand, the current dilemma is either battery or charger related and with some love and kind words, the photos will be still flowing until at least the end of this trip.

More Adelaide adventures to follow in coming days along with some very pleasing photos…..