DAY 45 - ADELAIDE SA

ADELAIDE SA

DAY 45


Final day in Adelaide for the time being with Part 2 of the journey set to begin.

The decision has been made to head further west as the time of year dictates it as best to do so.

My objective will be the Eyre Peninsula – the largest of 3 peninsulas that hang off the bottom of South Australia and an area that I would never otherwise choose to explore.

All the more reason then, to do so.

The most common trip of travellers heading west from Adelaide is to take the long haul straight across the 1200 kilometre Nullarbor Plain and either directly or indirectly end up in Perth, Western Australia.

It is certainly the most obvious route and almost certainly the most difficult.

A 3000 kilometre odyssey, including long stretches of isolation, no showering and days (or weeks) of rationed food and water.

Not something to be taken lightly at all, yet not difficult to the point of being prohibitive.

It should really come down to desire and willingness to want to travel to Perth in this manner.

For myself, at this point, I have no particular purpose to travel to Perth and therefore believe that there are actually far better trips to consider than taking on the Nullabor just because it’s there.

Just for the record though, it is likely that I will travel as far as Ceduna - the official East – West starting point of the Nullabor Plain and this will also signify that I have ridden halfway across Australia by tricycle.

To haul straight across the Nullabor on Highway 1 (as most who attempt to impress the world in such a way do) inherently ignores the majority of the Eyre Peninsula –– and this my friends is good enough reason for me.

It has also been decided that this trip will likely end in Melbourne, as the Eyre Peninsula is a circular route that will take me back past Adelaide and eventually to Melbourne along the coastline of South Australia and Victoria.

ETA in Melbourne should be mid-July, but this at present is but a detail.

For now, I can reflect on the past few days in Adelaide and the wonderful hospitality of Geoff and Hellina Barnes.

I have also spent some good time hanging out with their son Adam who was good enough to weld up my broken mudguard this evening, as well as take me out for a tour of his workshop located in the grounds of the old Adelaide Gaol.

Adam is a sculptor of some repute and stores many a block of marble and granite in the old horse yard as well as the odd cast iron column as they lay in wait to be transformed into something yet to be thought of.

The Gaol itself is still as solid as the rock that holds it together, even though it was decommissioned in 1985 and is no more than a current day tourist attraction.

Not a bad view of the city skyline either for all the old prisoners.

I wouldn’t score something this presentable in a 3 or 4 star job about town for a 100-odd-dollars per night.

Doubtless though that Adelaide’s updated correctional facility is likely twice as efficient and half as aesthetically impressive as its former self…..

Time has now come to move on in the morning, however it was most satisfying to indulge in the fine home cooking of my hosts this evening as well as some generous servings of local South Aussie cheese and wine product.

This should never be something to be denied, no matter how far I have to ride tomorrow.

It is not certain exactly which route I will choose, however it is certain I will do everything possible to avoid wheeling out of town in midst of morning rush hour.