Settling In and Around Town

Pam's first bird drawings

For now road trips are behind me, and I am shifting gears by learning all about the culture of Gilles Street Primary School. From the 45 members of the staff, I have mastered about 40 names. At bedtime going through teachers' names has become my way of counting sheep. I sleep like a rock here until the possum leaps onto the roof, the curious bird taps at the window, the rooster crows, a commotion of birds wake, or the koalas grunt.  The neighborhood of humans are quiet. The animals are not.

Adelaide is a busy town full of markets, festivals and sports events. The Adelaide Santos Down Under bike race is part of the world competitive races. There were 30 laps of the first stage of the race. Debbie and I were front row of a banked curb. Each time the riders passed there was a huge blast of air and I found myself gasping at the energy of the cyclists. The last few laps were a blur. The next two days were road races, and at each there was a pileup just at the conclusion of the race. On the hill climb, the stage concluded in the oval of my little town. I did not think that I would be able to get through town because the roads were to be blocked, but I left early to get to my first inservice.

Waiting for the opening race 

35,000 non-residents are in town for the race, and I think each is on a team of some sort. There is cycling mania with pelotons everywhere you turn. Cyclists are referred to as lycra this or that and many jokes concerning them are tossed back and forth. This week the town was flooded and accidents between a cyclist and a bus and a cyclist and a truck. 

The last Sunday of the month (today) Stirling holds its market which has homespun yarns, lotions, local wines, fruits, veggies honey and many other goodies.

Crazy Hat Day?  A hot item
at the Stirling Market

 I am waiting for the mangrove honey which won't be ready for a few months. Scents waft through the stalls, and I bought my first and last meat pie.  The queue to buy one was the longest, so I thought the crowd would know. It turns out that I had the first acid reflux that I have had in a long time. I do not intend on sampling other pies including the pie floater, which is a meat pie floated on top of a warm mushy pea soup and drenched with tomato sauce- a culinary treat I must turn down. I'd be more likely to try a muntry: baked bush tomato pasta and warrigal spinach pie, squid salad with sweet lemon myrtle chilli sauce.

I love taking walks in the hills and peeking in at the homes' styles and gardens. If someone builds a new house they are required to add solar panels and add rain water storage. There seem to be more environmentally advanced regulations here. The hill areas are great. When driving around, each valley seems to get a little deeper, and each ridge a little higher. The areas include Oakbank, Aldgate, Bridgewater Mt. Barker Handorf, and Mt.Lofty. Then there are all the areas that begin with Woll. . . .  and I keep confusing one from another. 

I have found an entire book of words specific to South Australia called Bardi Grubs and Frog Cakes and the words are great fun to learn local tidbits and stories. For example there is the Tantanoola Tiger, similar to Adam Pacheco's "mythical"  cupacabra. The Tantanoola is anything from a wolf-like creature to a tiger. Some said a tiger escaped from a circus, while others said that it was an Assyrian wolf that survived a shipwreck.  In the 1890's rewards were offered to bring in the beast and everyone kept close watch over their children. It was later responsible for taking sheep until two men were caught stealing thousands. There are  creatures worldwide to capture our imaginations. 

Yesterday was Australia Day, a national holiday. The barbies were all aglow and the neighborhood celebrating. I spent a great evening with my neighbors Sylvia, Thomas and their absolute darling son Gabriel Cseh. I am so sorry that they plan to move in less than three weeks. They have been very welcoming, and am hooked up to their internet for the time being. They have made it so that I am not wandering from cafe to library to locate a wireless connection to be in touch with all of you. 

Be well. Think of me in the next days when I encounter a class of eager faces, most of whom know little to no English. I must remember to smile and be gentle. 

Toa- 

possible signposts or markers

used in the  desert