Adelaide Adventures, Week One

06/11/15 Adelaide 

Today, we just relaxed, and caught up with how Jo and Ainsley have been going, and visited Jean (Joanne's mum). She had a nasty fall, and is now in a rehab centre, getting better every day. After our visit, we went and checked out Jeans house, did some watering, and weighed ourselves (Will lost 8, I lost 10kgs). Then I cooked dinner for all of us. It was strange being in the car in so much traffic today, and many times I felt like I missed being on my bike. 

Joanne having a little rest in her mums wheel chair, while Jean practices her walking.

Jean has a couple of friends Nonuts would like to meet.

It's my turn for a rest, Jean is doing great.

Now Will is resting while we head home. Joanne must have driven well.

07/11/15 Adelaide 39km

Another relaxing morning, then we got into some jobs. Bike maintenance, was Will's job, and he even got Joanne's bike out and gave that a work over too. Jo did some washing, and I just tidied up our sleeping area and continued relaxing. Jo called her friend Jilden, (from her cycle club), and he rode over and took us on a tour through the cycle paths and back roads, with very little road riding. We rode from Jo's, to the west side of the city, along the Torrens and out to Glenelg. Then along the beach, coming back east so we could check on Jean's house again, and then rode home. We all decided that we should go out to dinner with Jilden, and his wife Margret. The place of choice was The Hyde pub, nearby. It was an enjoyable night, chatting to Margret, who writes poetry, and has two published books. She also breeds donkeys, makes Elderflower cordial, and many other things. It was supposed to be an early night, but Will, Jo and I stayed up talking till very late. Never mind.

I am just having a little bit more rest. I'll be up in a sec..

Will is giving Jo a run down on our bikes, while doing some cleaning of hers.

It's all done, and Will is just replacing his pump after putting more air in all our tyres.

We're all set, lead us forward Jilden, let's go!

There are cycle paths along most of the railway lines,

Through cemeteries,

Along the creeks,

And along green ways. They are comprehensive, if you know where to go.

Council land that you can agist your horses. It is really nice.

We did a bike swap, so Jo could check out Black Betty. She is loving herself sick.

Along the beach to Glenelg, a bit like the coast near Cottesloe and north.

It was a very beautiful day for riding along the beach.

Jilden on his beast of a bike. He is a pretty tall guy.

08/11/15 Adelaide 61km

After our late night, we had to be up early, as Jilden was coming to lead us around the city, and up to Mawson Lakes (about 24kms). Jo has some arthritis issues, and didn't want to push her body too far, so only rode with us for the first bit, before training it home to rest.  We met with some members of the South Australian Recreational Cycling Club (SARCC), and joined them on their planned Sunday ride along the Little Para route. This took us through some old suburbs, wetlands, parks and green ways. It was pretty hot, but a fun ride. There was a big range of fitness levels and abilities, and we all just rode along at a pace that we could all stick together. We met some interesting people, and chatted at some point with everyone in the group. Once back at Mawson Lakes, everyone just went their separate ways, and Jilden, Will and I caught the train into the city, then did a running change over, to then get us out to Clarence Park, where we could then ride a short cut to Joanne's. Another dinner out with Joanne's sister, Heather, and her mum (it was the first outing from hospital, since her fall). Very buggered, after a very hot, great day, we had an early night. It was a super way to see the pretty, un-city, sights of the city.

We're off again, it's 8:30, and it's already hot.

Quick toilet break on the way, in the musical toilet....

It's nice chatting, while we pedal through the park.

The huge overpass is the new South road. It was great down here on a Sunday.

If it wasn't for Jilden, you wouldn't know this path through wetlands was here.

And we're away, the group of about 20.

Loving that we don't have to know where we're going, and just following.

All different types of tracks today..

All sitting around eating, in our cycle wear.....never thought I'd see the day!

No idea where we are, but don't really care.

Oops, wrong turn. Group u-turn.

We're waiting for the train to the city. We could ride, but we're a bit hot.

09/11/15 Adelaide 

Jo and Ainsley both went to work. We tidied the house, did dishes, resorted our gear and got ready for Olivia's visit. When Joanne came home, we went and collected her car from her mums' house. Jean has let us use her car while Olivia is here, so we left Jo to water the lawn, and Will drove (for the first time in months) into Adelaide city. We've arranged an apartment for a week. We walked down the street and found Phonatic, a Vietnamese place (check it out on Facebook). Anthony was our waiter, his parents were our chefs, and the food was delicious. Then to shopping for food supplies. Into Rundell mall and Woollies, then back to relax until we needed to collect Liv.  The airport is 10 minutes away, and very easy to get to, so we got there with 15 minutes to spare. Liv's plane landed as we arrived, early, and in no time she was with us. Another quick zip back to the unit, and we sat and caught up for a bit, before crashing into bed. It was a very relaxing day.

Fantastic to see Olivia.

10/11/15 Adelaide 

A slow start today, while Olivia adjusted to the time change. Then we took a walk in to the mall for some clothes shopping. We all hate it, but needed stuff. Luckily, we all managed to find what we needed, and explored a few of the arcades and alleys.

A whole shop dedicated to buttons.....Really?

Will and Liv. Nice to see each other.

Look at our successful shopping. Yay, thank god it's over.

We stopped at Harry's bar for a snack and refreshing drink, before heading back to our apartment. It is right behind the Adelaide Remand Centre, and next door to one part of the Adelaide Uni. Will and Liv watched a movie, I had a nap, then we all went back to Phonatic for some more delicious Vietnamese food.

We returned to Phonatic to show Liv.

Anthony and his family have done a great job. Only been open four weeks.

Another chilled day, and tomorrow we might do a bit of a drive and see what we can see.