After in-room brekkie with delicious ripe mango, granola/yoghurt and so-so coffee we head out. Again the birds greet us. I will miss the Australian magpies with their two-tone warbling.
We stop after 200 meters at a coffee spot, Oxenberry Cafe. I get an apricot slice with coffee -- I expect a shortbread and preserves, but it's more like a crumble with custard and jam. Still good. The coffee however is so-so. We have heard how great the Aussie coffee is, but really haven't found any superb roast or blend. Hmm, maybe another, more coffee-focused, trip in the future?
As we ride through McLaren Vale we remark how quiet it is once again. This has been our biggest surprise in Adelaide and its beaches, so much room with so few people.
With a slight tailwind we leave McLaren Vale at an easy pace. That easy pace it also as fast as we can ride with our necks craned up to scan for koalas. Kathy is watching the right side, so I examine the eucalyptus trees on the left. So many groves with so many eucalyptus trees! Thank goodness there are no snakes on the path.
Everything is so easy on the return trip. All the navigation is known. We have the transit apps downloaded and configured. And the tailwind! We're at Seaford in no time, then a short wait and train to Seacliff. From there it's a stunningly beautiful ride up the beach path past Glenelg to Henley Beach. Lunch at Estia once more, then it's time for the beach. Ahhhh. The water is perfectly cool for the warm sun, without the baking temps of earlier in the week. Later in the afternoon we return to Adelaide on the River Torrens path.
Martin from Adelaide Bike Hire comes by to pick up the bikes. All good, mate? He tells us of a Frenchman who was dive-bombed by a magpie during nesting season, got spooked, crashed, fell off and broke his arm. I think they have these stories to entertain the tourists, like the sign about snakes. And looking for kangaroos to jump out on the path.
Dinner at a nearby Vietnamese restaurant. I have street food crispy pancake. It's like a crepe/scrambled egg with shrimp and bean sprouts inside, then you wrap it in lettuce with herbs (Thai basil and mint) and dip in fish sauce. Yum! Kathy has a bird's nest of fried noodles with veggies and seafood on top over soup. Looks good, too.
Back to the hotel and it's time to plan our days in Singapore. We set up a hawker market food tour for tomorrow evening after our flight. Then credit cards fail to work when trying to buy Gardens By The Bay tickets -- according to Reddit this is common for Americans do we don't sweat it.
Australia has been wonderful to visit. We start checking which cities are best for banking (Sydney then Melbourne) and high tech (Melbourne then Sydney). You know, in case we had to come establish a family beachhead due to the current administration messing up our country. Very hard to contemplate.
Tomorrow, Singapore!
Remember to try the chicken rice which is the national dish. Then ask a few different people individually how you should eat it. They will then most likely give you a very specific way to eat it. Every answer will probably be different as I have heard they are all very particular and passionate about their food. To be a real local, at lunch you should discuss where you are going for your next meal.
ReplyDeleteI don't think you'll escape the heat in Singapore...but you should eat well.
ReplyDeleteAlthough it is humid and thunderstorms are a possibility every day, temps for Singapore are supposed to be in the high 80s, so we have lucked out in that department. Nothing like the 100s we had in Adelaide earlier in the week.
DeleteWow, goodbye Australia! On to country 3!
ReplyDelete