Saturday, 11 June 2011

Australia, Adelaide / Perth

 

I arrived in Adelaide on the 21st May, my friend Margaret picked me up from Adelaide Airport early in the morning after a flight from K.L. via Singapore.

As I was in Adelaide last year, I took very few photographs on this visit so I apologise for including a few of last years pictures to illustrate this text.

Below is a picture of Margaret on the right with three of her four children, she very kindly accommodated and looked after me last year and again on this visit.   

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Most of my stay in Adelaide was spent relaxing, catching up with friends and planning the rest of the trip. Sorting out visa, medical insurance, mobile phones etc.. Also contacting companies in Perth regarding the purchase of a suitable vehicle for travelling.

On fine days I enjoyed walking along the Linier Park which follows the River Torrens for 20km from the Adelaide Hills to the sea, fortunately there was a access only a few metres from where I was staying. On one occasion I took Tatty Bear with me. 

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One of the regular marker pillars showing location.

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The 5km walk into the city is very pleasant and all on virtually flat ground, I found this not too difficult if I maintained a steady pace.

Below is the Obahn which is a system where buses can leave the main roads and run for some distance on tracks, thereby covering a much greater distance in a shorter time. These tracks cross the Linier Park occasionally.

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My work colleges from when I worked at the Adelaide Festival Theatre in the early 1970’s Paul, Keith and Margaret.  We were the members of the sound team at that time.

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Adelaide Festival Theatre below, this is one of last years pictures the temporary fence constructed of bicycles was to enclose a piece of ground used for a function at last years Festival of Arts.

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We flew to Perth on 7th June, where we had a look at some ex hire camper vans that were  for sale, these were very expensive and in poor condition. I had spoken to the company prior to going to Perth and was quite enthusiastic about these until I saw them. After looking around to see what else was available on the second hand market, I enquired about hire vehicles. It just so happened that we were in the seasonal dip and the prices were at the lowest of the year, so I decided to rent rather than buy. I have the van until mid October which should be plenty of time to reach Brisbane.

Breakfast in London Arcade Perth. 

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My travelling companion Irene, also having breakfast. We stayed in a backpackers in Perth which was very noisy and neither of us got a lot of sleep.

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Swan Bells re-visited. I visited the Swan Bells and rang there for the first time last year. The bell tower was built to celebrate the Australian bi-centenary in 1988 and houses the 8 Elizabethan  bells from St Martins in the fields London which have been re-tuned and augmented to 16 plus 2 additional, which allows lower combinations of the 16 to be rung.

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As well as the full circle ringing bells there is also a carillon on the top floor which can be played with a keyboard or from a computer with pre selected tunes.

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The views of Perth and the Swan river are very good from the top.

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In a bar next to the tower they were selling English beer so I decided to try the Doombar, it is the only place I have seen it sold. It was disgusting, I left most of it.

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I have to include a picture of the swans on the bank of the Swan river.

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On Friday the 10th June we collected the van and started on a tour of the south west of Western Australia. Our first port of call to be Albany on the south coast.

To be continued ………….

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