Adelaide

Our journey to Adelaide is the last on the bus and our second day in the panoramic front seat. On the way we stop at a salt lake where the earth seems to be as white as snow before our lunch stop is at Port Augusta. Our final stretch on the bus takes us past countryside that looks as though it has had a healthy dousing of rain during the past few months and we see the fruits of many farmours labours as the harvest is in full swing. Our arrival in Adelaide takes us past the Oval as cricket supporters are spilling out at the end of the first days play in the second test. It's quite a celebration for us getting off the bus for the very last time (and probably for our fellow passengers too).
Some of those supporters in full costume make their way back to the hostel we are staying at overnight and we have a quick clean and change before heading over to the nearest hotel for drinks with those who want to come and celebrate our last night on the bus – even Rickadile Dundee comes along.
The following morning we are entertained to a busking-style song of the journey from Matt and Allen before we wave off the bus and those who are taking the final two days to Sydney – many of whom we have shared our lives with for the past three months. It's mixed emotions and quite odd to see the bus departing without us or our luggage.
An hour or so later we are collected from the hostel to be taken to the second days cricket by the family and after a blisteringly hot day in the sun we make our way to Port Willunga to hook up with the rest of the family for Summer down under. Over the next few days we 'enjoy' carols under the clouds, stormy weather and lots of family fun, food and fizzy red.
So we made it. Overland - over 3 months with several highs and a few lows, but both intact. Definitely a little older perhaps even a little wiser. Met some interesting, funny, lovely and also some less appealing folk along the way.
Now it is time to spend Christmas, the New Year and a little more time with the family.
Hope you've enjoyed at least a couple of the blog entries along the way and keep an eye open over the next couple of weeks if you don't think you've seen enough pictures as we should be uploading a couple more links to the many places we visited along the way.
David & Helen