There’s something about motels. Last night’s was expensive, had a special built-in game called, “Find the Towels” and a faint whiff of wet dog. This one is just the opposite. Situated midway between Port Adelaide and the City, it fits the budget just perfectly and, when I’d propped the door open long enough to get rid of the cloying stink of the room deodoriser, the distinctive whiff of beery vomit wafted up from the region of the bathroom door. Not that I’m complaining or anything… I’m just making the point that $200/night in Mildura does not buy a better room than $105/night in Adelaide. It seems to me that the cheaper the motel the better the breakfast, anyway.
If only I hadn’t lost that day at the beginning of this trip I’d have been able to stop and take lots of photos, for today I saw much to photograph. I shall do my best to describe some of the sights. I’ve decided to come back this way instead of via Broken Hill, anyway. I reserve the right to change my mind… I’m a woman, after all.
This morning was dark and wet. Very dark and very wet. Ahead was a streak of watery blue sky across the horizon which, despite the 110km/hr speed limit, didn’t get any closer. This seemed extremely unfair, as the chap on ABC24 this morning assured his viewers, “These bands of rain cloud will pass to the east, leaving a bright, sunny day.” Whizzing past Mildura Airport, it was puzzling to see the three windsocks indicating three different wind directions. No wonder I was well into South Australia before the wet, grey stuff was finally behind me.
How nice and polite were the AQIS men at the border! Sydney Airport take note, if you will.
Just short of Renmark, at a place called Paringa, Camel and I crossed the mighty Murray River via the ancient bridge. There was a fine photo that didn’t get taken. The sun was shining, too. We shall pass that way again, for sure. At Renmark there was a quick stop for an Internet dongle – I knew I’d forget something in that scramble to get away! The availability of Wi-fi in the next few weeks could be patchy, I suspect.
The Murray is a river of character. Stretches of it run in wide, deep chasms of its own making, as though to impress with its sheer power, yet in other places it provides widespread wetlands, benignly offering a perfect environment for water birds and fish.
The closer to Adelaide we got the brighter the day became. After the long, straight stretches of amazingly good road, it was refreshing to encounter a hill. Then another. Hey, this was good. The hills were green, astonishingly green and dotted about with farm houses and sheep. Such rich, green fields made me think of that apt expression, ‘eye candy’.
Of all the place names I’ve come across, Wilabalangaloo has to take the prize. I hope I’ve got it right, because it doesn’t appear on the road atlas and I had a terrible time committing it to memory on the strength of one road sign.
Tomorrow the train. Camel and I will take it easy until Saturday, when we arrive in Perth.