Onwards from Yorkey

Another lovely day on Yorkey began with a trip down the coast to the markets in Stansbury. Eric and Joe hit the jetty at Ardrossan as soon as we got back to the tent in the hope of catching something for dinner, while Campbell, Drew and I went for a walk to the bakery for some fresh bread and a wander around town. It was a perfect day of nothing much for our last day in South Australia- lots of reading, chatting and eating.

As our last hurrah we went for a walk around the cliff tops to take in the view before dinner.

While Campbell continued reading....

And Campbell kept reading.....

Up and out early the next morning we decided to just push on as much as we could and see how close we could get to Melbourne. The temperature was rising swiftly and we didn't mind a long stretch in the air conditioned car. We had an afternoon tea stop over in Bordertown, which we thought might be our resting spot for the night, and decided to see how much further we could go. With rumbling stomachs complaining from the back seat at dinner time, we finally stopped in Horsham and opted for a motel for the night. It was a lovely relief from the dry heat outside and the boys savoured the chance to watch a bit of telly. Campbell protested loudly for Chinese take away for dinner in we were quite happy to go along with that request.
We have managed to stick to a budget of $100 a day for our accommodation and food so far, so this was a big indulgence. Most nights our campsite cost us about $50 and the most we paid was around $70. The boys had lots of Christmas spending money and bought their own souvenirs and treats, and with my lease car with a petrol card, our expenses were pretty low. It left us a bit in reserve for the occasional lunch or dinner, or a night away from the tent when the heat or wind got too much.
Having a tighter budget this year really hasn't had much of an impact on our holiday at all. We packed snacks and drinks for morning tea and always had stuff ready for lunch in the esky. We were always able to find a pretty spot to stop and set up a quick picnic on our travels- much nicer than lunch in McDonald's! There was heaps of Christmas stuff on sale in the supermarkets so there was never a shortage of biscuits and chocolates to choose from. Our kids love nothing better than instant noodles or tinned baked beans- they would eat that every night if we let them. It seems that you really can't put a price on old fashioned fun.

Rest stop at Bordertown.

New Year

The boys were all very excited to celebrate the arrival of 2014 in our typically sedate but happy fashion. Sparklers were purchased, special treats at the ready and a movie selected to watch under the stars. Hahndorf remained quiet and peaceful with nothing but cicadas and kookaburras to cheer on the start of the new year. There was a brief spattering of fireworks nearby around midnight and that was as exciting as it got.

It was a heavy heart that I saw the new year roll over. I am feeling very sad for a dear friend for whom 2014 was to be full of the best kind of joy- it is most unfair that it has been ripped away from her. It was hard to celebrate the coming of the new year when I knew how she would be grieving and she is still in my thoughts constantly.

We were set to leave Adelaide on the 1st to see what new adventures we might find, but here is some of the fun we had before we left:

Jonas certainly appreciates the outdoor experience most of all- rocks to find, bugs to hunt, ducks to feed...

Meanwhile, some of us enjoy the quiet time to relax...

The breakfast menu planned by Joe for the first day of 2014 was a stroke of genius! Thanks Joe :)

Barossa

What a scorcher! 43 degrees today but we were determined to get back to Maggie Beer's for lunch. Delicious food and beautiful views. We meandered around the Barossa a bit and dropped into a few wineries. We stretched out the drives in the air conditioned car as much as possible because there was no relief to be had at the tent. I spied a Chiropractor somewhere on route and begged them for some relief from my neck pain. No chiro was available for days in advance but they could give me a massage. Ahhhh bliss and a little less pain and a bit more movement. So we did have to face the tent eventually and a swim in the pool helped reduce the body temperature for a while. A bag of ice and a cold bath in an emptied out tub was perfect for those of us small enough to fit in the tub!
We hit the road again tomorrow chasing the coastline and a swim in the ocean. Joe will miss the ducks in Hahndorf- but not as much as they'll miss him! They actually waddled up to the camp site tonight looking for their dinner.

Adelaide.

Everyone was busting to get back to Adelaide. Well there is a zoo AND a comic book shop AND a Dymocks!!! Something for everyone. This time Joe and I did the zoo together while Eric took Cam and Drew to Rundle Mall. Adelaide Zoo must be my favourite. Eric got to take Joe last time and they did say it was the best views of the animals they had ever seen- they were 'being true' (one of Joe's favourite sayings). It is a very pretty zoo and I have never seen a Tassie Devil up close before. We could have easily spent a lot more time roaming but we had a lunch date at the Botanical Gardens. After lunch we wandered back past the University and The Art Gallery (still no takers despite my frequent suggestions) and popped back into the Museum for yet another look see. 

this time Cam got into it a bit more and enjoyed the ice wall and some of the computer activities. The Ancient Rome exhibition was good fun too.
It was a hot and busy day which we all enjoyed.