Jason and Anja

Sunday 11 May 2014

A great day for a bush walk.... on your doorstep!

We are quite literally blessed that not far from where we currently live is Belair National Park. So even when you awake to a foggy autumn day in the hills it doesn't take long to pop on our hiking boots and go the short distance up the road to the nearest entrance. While it was foggy and the clouds dark we layered up with jackets but the temperature was mild enough to discard the heavier garments. This allowed us to go further into the park to explore even new areas after living here for nearly three years.

Within the park are numerous walks so it was decided the promisingly named Waterfall hike would be our target. The signs indicated a moderate hike of three hours return and 6.5km's distance and the clouds had disbursed enough to allow us to think we could do it. Underfoot was muddy but not enough to deter us to head up the hills we had recently ridden our bikes up.

Other people were scarce as we hiked but we were so fortunate to meet up with just about every form of wildlife that calls the park home during our walk. From Emus, Rabbits, Kangaroos, Koalas and a wide variety of bird life we didn't get far without bumping into one of them. However it was a chance encounter with a cheeky Koala that made our day all the more memorable.

As we got into an area with an abundance of gum trees we noticed in the corner of our vision a Koala obviously coming backwards down the tree it had been calling home. We tried to keep as quiet as we could but I think it didn't take much for our presence to get noticed so a halt to proceedings of course happened. It did after a short while come a bit more down but we thought it best to leave it in peace as to not stress it out.

Not long after we got out of it's vision we snuck a quick look back and it was evident it had made it to the ground and slowly moving on to it's next home. Still we thought it best to allow it to do so without us around so we continued along the track joking what we do if we cross paths but surely the Koala isn't that fast??

At the top of this hill we then spotted to our shared surprise our adventurer indeed coming back towards us and we weren't sure who was more shocked. Anja slowly walked up the path still away from the Koala but just to get a better photo and not disturb it whilst I kept my distance whilst she did that. Slowly though even though the Koala obviously saw Anja it just kept walking towards her only to stop for photos.

It even crossed over the hiking track right next to Anja without showing any worry as it must have sensed no danger from us and then once it had crossed over turned around one last time for another photo! That made our day as it isn't something you are likely to come across very often if ever so as we ventured along it soon became apparent this area was full of Koalas all nestled away sleeping or eating (why do anything else?) and we renamed Waterfall Hike - Koala Hike!!

Luckily the sun came out as we finished our hike and moved onto the lorikeet loop (you can guess who is spotted on this walk) and made our way back the short distance to home. Our legs were sore and bodies tired but it was indeed a great day for a bush (koala) walk!

Saturday 15 February 2014

Tour Down Under 2014....very hot!!

Living in Adelaide we are blessed to get close up to an international event such as the Tour Down Under and it is free! Never really been into the cycling much before and the stigma surrounding Lance Armstrong hasn't done it any favours but when you see it up close and personal you really get why there is so much world-wide interest!

We were away during the People's Choice race in the city which precedes the actual race and when we went two times before that was very cool. This time the penultimate stage being stage 5 was run again in the beautiful confines of Willunga and the very last part is a race up Willunga Hill so we headed there!

Heading down the Southern Expressway (the one way road that switches direction depending on time of day/week) it became quite obvious that we weren't the only ones heading that way and the temperature was rising! Willunga is a quiet sleepy little town which has an awesome Saturday morning farmer market but based on the amount of traffic today the town was well and truly awake. Another curious element to Willunga is that is the most random of spots to be chosen to be a trial area for the NBN rollout.....

Last year we had found a spot on the hill but this time we had some more time up our sleeve so we wanted to get closer to the action at the finishing area to soak up the atmosphere....and lot's of sun!! Parking was made on the side of the highway which takes you down to Victor Harbor and the rear view side mirror got swung in to avoid any exuberant motorists but we were one of many.

There was quite a few buses parked as we got closer to the main area and a mass of mamils (not definite is that the right plural of this group) who had ridden down before the real guys making it a sea of colourful lycra! Mamils are literally middle aged men in lycra and around the Tour time Adelaide's cycling numbers increase quite a bit. I am not making up the term and here is proof!

http://www.mamils.com.au/

In saying that there was quite a lot of people also in their bike gear of all ages and sexes who based on their signage had come from all parts of the world to be in this spot and that really was a great thing to be part of. The big screen gave us an update on the race progress and it looked like it still would be a while before the Tour arrived for their two laps of the hill but there was plenty to see and enjoy.

Anja got us nice and close to the finishing line and a nice older lady in front was very helpful handing the free cycling stuff back to Anja as it was hard to get their attention :). Being true backpackers it didn't matter what it was hey it was free and I am sure I will have use for the nifty cycling cap at some time or other?? The locals were selling sausage sandwiches and soft drinks in great volumes to feed the crowd of cyclists and the pizza place was sold out well before the race was over so that was good to see.

Being in Australia even the Cancer council ladies surfed the crowd with more sunscreen which was definitely welcome as Adelaide was in the middle of it's hottest ever summer. It was really exciting when you could sense the riders coming up the hill the first time as their was a tussle for the lead and it is hard to fathom just how fast they ride and somehow stay on (well when we were watching!) Not far from our vantage point we could see the commentators sitting intently in front of their monitor watching it all unfold as Cadel Evans mounted a challenge to hang on to his small lead.

However one of the coolest things was not really knowing too much details and just being in the hectic moment of watching these world class athletes do what they do so well. An Aussie called Richie Porte came through in first place right in front of us which was amazing to see. Then we could see the Aussie team Orica Green Edge hugging in front of us so news filtered through that Simon Gerrans was now the race leader by one second!

While some of the crowd filtered off we really wanted to see the presentations and the crowd that remained didn't let us down as they treated the riders like rock stars! As we slowly made our way back to the car and crossed over the road (track) Anja stopped to take a photo and some riders briskly rode past going back down! Once they were almost on top of us we soon realised it was none other than the German Andre Greipel so we both saw our countrymen up close and personal!

Heading through the back area a large crowd was gathered around another cyclist doing an interview and again another German Jens Voigt was there and he is a sprightly 42! Feeling the effects of the sun we stopped a little further south at Mt Compass for a cold drink to discover the only Cow Race in Australia had been on and again we had missed it!

Still not sure though if we will see the Cow Race next year as it is pretty hard to pass up the chance to watch the spectacle that is the Tour Down Under and it is free!!