March 4
The Desert to Adelaide
I slept reasonably well and woke early to find a few scruffy buildings outside my window. Once I was washed and packed, I discovered the marshalling yards of Port Augusta on the other side of the train.
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We stopped there for a while and then set off again. Not too far from Adelaide, only another 300 kilometres. Rumour had it that the weather there would be hellishly hot for our arrival.
We followed the coast, not that you could really see the sea. Port Pirie is a lead mining town and there was obviously a lot of industry in the area. We went a sharp curve and could see both ends of the train stretching as far as the eye could see.
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The countryside was beginning to become agricultural, with huge cornfields, all brown at this time of year. We even encountered a large wind farm on the brow of one of the hills.
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The bad news was that I probably wouldn't be able to get to the pointy end at Adelaide Station to photograph the engines. This was because the train would be split before we arrived as the platforms couldn't accommodate all of the train at one go. Half of the train would be towed into each of the two platforms.
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The last couple of hours dragged on as we dawdled through flat fields, then small towns with lots of greenhouses, then some complex road networks and, finally, some large suburban towns.We reached the outskirts of the city and some familiar buildings came into view as we rolled slowly past the city on the western side and into the huge station.Right: Into the small towns |
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At one stage, we passed a gaggle of people armed with Hoovers, presumably waiting to rush aboard and clean the carriages. The train was split in half but, luckily, I was in the front portion so we were first to arrive.
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I grabbed my bag and dashed towards the front end of the train to take photos. I arrived just in time to see the locomotives being uncoupled from the carriages but was able to fire off a couple of shots before they sped away to collect the second half of the train. Mission just about accomplished.
Just about satisfied with my success, I waited with everyone else for my bags to arrive. I used the time to say farewell to a number of new friends and to agree to meet Ian and Jan over the weekend.
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My bags finally arrived on a long row of trucks towed by a small tractor. I managed to find a seat on a shuttle bus which delivered me to the hotel about five minutes away. Without my bags, I could have walked it with ease.
The hotel was expecting me and was very smart. I unpacked, collected loads of emails and washed loads of clothes which I draped round the bathroom. The view from my window across the city was excellent.
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On the station platform, it had seemed pleasantly warm. When I emerged from the hotel in the mid afternoon sun, it was HOT. The good news was that it would be even hotter - 39 degrees - on Saturday and just about the same on Sunday. I had plans which involved high speed walking to the top end of the city but slowed them down a little.
I found the hotel in which Jerry and Kathryn plan to stay next year and asked them some questions, which they answered more than satisfactorily. The Tourist Information Office had moved, yet again, and could now be found, hidden down a side street just off the main drag. Will this city never learn!
They were very helpful and let me use their phone to book two half day coach trips on Sunday. I emerged onto the main drag, Rundle Mall and re-acquainted myself with the famous pigs, probably my favourite examples of street art. I decided to take photos of them later in my stay.The fringe festival was in full swing so that there were buskers and street performers all over the place. |
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I found the Italian restaurant I remembered from many years ago. Mention of the Welsh waitress confirmed that it was the right place. I booked for Saturday night.
Next step was the market to collect provisions. I will do a photographic trip tomorrow as this one was too rushed to play photography. I finally reached the Kings Head for a much needed cold beer.
Once back at the hotel, I felt very tired and had a lengthy lie down. I came round and decided that it was very hot. It turned out that the air conditioning was off by default and I had to turn it on. That made a big difference!
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A little after 6, I wandered in the direction of the local pubs and discovered one on a side street. Closer examination revealed it to be The Police Club, so I decided to go elsewhere.
The Kings Head, where I had had my afternoon pint was heaving and noisy. I then discovered a small dining room at the side. They found me a table and then this too began to fill. Lots of men, mainly in town I assume for the V8 racing. My steak was OK but not as good as the amazing one I had in Darwin. The two cold beers were probably more important.Right: A Kings Head steak |
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I had hoped that Coles, the supermarket, might provide a coffee plunger. No such luck. I bought a small strainer and will make do with that.
I walked the short distance back to the hotel. It was dark but still very warm. The next few days could be a struggle.
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