Pam Down Under: August 2013

Not quite covered in spider webs or rusty but unused much in the winter months, I pulled my cruiser with a squeaky seat from the school storage closet and went for a Sunday ride. Beginning downtown I wound my way through the construction of the hospital and stadium to find the Linear trail which follows the Torrens to its mouth flowing into the Great Australian Bight, sometimes considered the Indian Ocean. Bike-paths are an integral part of the CBD and surrounds. Adelaide is a bicycle heaven. The trail along the river is beautiful and separate from the car traffic. There is a country feel although the ride literally wound through the middle of the city.

Adelaide is fantastic for its open spaces and numerous parks. The CBD is one square mile and the parklands surround the entire city.

The Park Lands are are essentially Adelaide’s canvas. Adelaide is the only city in the world entirely encircled by parks, or better known as: 760ha of festivals, food, sport, native vegetation, manicured gardens, picnic and playgrounds. It makes the city pretty special (Wikipedia).

Where the Torrens meets the Sea

The 20 K ride took me to the sea. I then road along the esplanade which follows the coast and connects beach towns. Lunched in a cafe in Henley Beach, a popular spot for Sunday gatherings. When re energized I pedaled back to the city feeling grateful for the "bewdy" experience.

The almond trees are in bloom and daffodils grow wild along the trail.The Acacia, or the Australian Wattle is aglow in sunflower yellow. So, now my training has begun for an organized bike tour in Vietnam to take place on the next holidays. Heaps of tourists from AU travel to Asia during the holidays as it is much less money to go there than to travel AU. I have never seen myself as a traveller to Asia, and I am really excited. Also, I am eager to tour again by bike. The last bike trip was with the girls on the bike and barge in Holland. There really is no better way to travel. I firmly believe so after 40 years and 40,000 of bike touring.

Wattle, Australian's floral emblem
Wattle Day is September 1- Stay tuned

The wattle has many uses.The seeds from some specific Acacia species provide a valuable food source. Mostly the seeds are ground into a flour and cooked like damper although some are eaten raw or made into a porridge. The gum from some species is also edible.

Various extracts from the bark and the leaves or phyllodes have been and continue to be used by Australian Aborigines for a wide variety of medicinal purposes such as relieving toothache or colds or applying to wounds and burns. Green leafy branches of some species may be used to 'smoke' someone who is suffering from a general sickness.

The wood of various species has been used to make clubs, spears, boomerangs and shields. (Wikipedia)

AND ANOTHER EXCURSION TAKES PLACE

What a crew (not quite chucking a wobbly but like possums up a gum tree) walking to the Central Market

Room 3, volunteer and friend Pascal, Milan's mom from the Reunion Islands and Room 2 headed out the other day to the central market. These excursions take place often to "build the field" or give authentic experiences to the "New Arrivals". This trip was to price, choose, request to purchase fruit, and to "tick-off" foods found at the stalls.

Before going to the market students practiced asking, "Can you tell me how much for. . . " And when we found out that cherries were $27.00 a kilo, we splurged and bought one for each student. Fourteen cherries were $4.50. I couldn't be talked into spending $6.50 for one mango and whinging did not persuade me to change my mind. I was cashed up, but not to that extreme.