The drive south and Adelaide for Christmas

So we set off with the aim of doing three one night stops to get to Adelaide in time for some fun and relaxing for the Chrissie period.  We drove for quite a few hours that day and made it to Marla for the night.  Basically a roadhouse in the middle of nowwhere.  You camp behind it in a grass area, and they charged $35 per night!!! (for those not travelling, thats a lot!!). 

Its 42 degrees and the aircon played up

The next day we had a nice short drive to Coober Pedy only two hours.  What a weird weird place.  It's hard to describe, it's dusty, dry, lots of corregated iron, and houses underground.  With basically no green anywhere.  We pulled up at the Big4 caravan park and set up under a shade cloth.  We were pretty lucky though and didn't get a hot day, a rare thing for this time of year.

First stop was an underground mine tour.  I am not a fan of small enlosed spaces, and it didn't improve down there in the mine!!  Interesting place but I would much prefer to be on top of the earth.  They had great displays on mining and my favourite part were the examples of bedrooms and living room.  Pretty cool to see how a house can be made underground.  And the kids loved wearing the hard hats!  Rather fetching.......

Then we had a drive around town.  Checked out some weird 'art' and the view from the look out.  We went to see where Mad Max was filmed, but its pretty much closed off now and if you did want to go inside it cost $.  So we decided not to, plus I don't even know the movie (yes I am apparently very deprived!!).  We then went out to the Breakaways, these cool picturesque hills.  The colours of reds and yellows in the earth were fabulous to capture on camera.

The view from the look out

Mark trying to turn the handle, probably like very other person who visits!

Weird crap

The Breakaways

Then we went to the Dog fence.  Basically a really long fence running West to East to stop the wild dogs from getting south.  Much to Jakes disgust I took this picture, I thought it appropriate to have a 'dog' trying to get through the fence, he didnt!!

Poor Woof Woof can't get through

And that was pretty much it for us and Coober Pedy.  We did get asked to stay and work, apparently they need nurses and mechanics.  But however we politely declined.  Its an interesting place but I have no wish to stay in the heat and dust!

We did another big days drive to get as close as possible to Adelaide for the next day.  So we just pulled up for the night at a recreation ground at a small town called Red Hills.  Got  a lovely photo of the rig and the sunset.

And the exciting day finally arrived.  We were up early and made good time to Adleaide.  We checked in to the very lush and green Adelaide Shores Caravan Park.  We couldn't believe the grass, so so green.  We took our shoes of and just relished in its softness!  We have been without green grass for months.  And of course there was much screaming and hugs when we met up with the Cronans and the Beesons to camp with them for the next ten days.



So we basically spent the next few days relaxing, seeing the beach and hanging out with our friends..  We so needed to just slow down for a few days.  The kids went to kid fitness a couple of mornings, ran by the caravan park.  And of course we prepared for Christmas!!  And I had a little mini melt down about this trip and our future plans.  But luckily I sort my crap out and got over it.  And yes the trip will most definitely go on!
Here's some nice beach snaps we took.  Taken down at West Beach, right in front of the park.



Three Musketeers

We also managed to catch up with our friends the Bolzons, Ronnie, Leanne, Alesha and Chelsea, we met in Mission Beach in 2011.  They have finished there trip around Oz and have settled back into normal life.  So it can be done!!!  We had a lovely dinner at an Italian restaurant, with lots of stories and laughs.  We hope to see more of these guys again soon.

I thought I might have gotten out of photos with Santa this year, but alas no.  The kids actually wanted to do it for once.  So off we trudged to Harvey Norman and got the happy snap.  It actually turned out quite well!

Another day we all caught the tram from Glenelg to the city.  You should have seen us travellers, we didn't quite fit in!!  We stood out like well I dont know what but it was funny.  Especially Mark with his back pack on and cow boy hat!!  The city was crazy and busy, as to be expected just before Christmas. 
We took the kids to Myer to Santa Land where they had photos with Santa and the younger ones rode the train.  Then we caught the free bus and did a tour of the city. While we waited for the bus the kids entertained them selves by saying 'Merry Christmas" and waving to all the strangers going past.  Was lovely to see so many people reply too.  And that about did us, so we headed home.

Jake, Will, Em, Hazza, Meg, Charlotte and Charlotte

Emails from Santa and tickets from the train

Love this shot of the ladies dressed up in town



Tourists cooling down in the fountain

Even the bus driver was a Santa and gave out lollies



TROUBLE

Ok you'd have thought we would have been done by now, but no, we did more christmas things.  The kids and I did some craft.  They made name/place cards and serviette holders for everyone to pretty up the table on Christmas day. Was pretty nice doing this, even when we started singing christmas carols!

I missed out on this event but the other guys took the kids.  The park arranged for Santa to visit the children and drop off a few little goodies on Christmas Eve afternoon.

Then we went with the other guys to Christmas Carols at the local sailing club.  Was such a pretty spot right by the water, but bitterly cold.  Much much different to the Alice Springs night!!  When that finished we went and looked at some Christmas lights.  Was a fabulous evening.

See it was really cold

Kids still getting in the spirit of things.  We went to the beach and Charlotte and Meg wrote Merry Christmas in the sand for Santa!



And the very very exciting evening finally arrived.  The kids were almost busting with excitement.  Was beautiful to see, not so much to hear!  This is a photo of Christmas Eve, the kids are sprinkling the reindeer food Belinda got them.

OMG its Christmas day!!! And the man in the red suit left a sack full of goodies.  The kids got lots of fabulous pressies, none too big thankgoodness.  Not much room left in the van!

Oh my gosh, we got a tablet

Putting the Lego together

Jake and his lady friend Meg playing with toys

Merry Chrissie Woods family

We spent the morning opening pressies, eating breakie and preparing for the main meal at lunch time.  We set up our awning and attached our annexe wall as another shade area, plus one wall for a wind break.  It all worked really well, plenty of room for the thirteen of us.  We cooked meat in our webers, some roast vegies, Marty made Triffell and I made a Toblerone cheesecake.  So we certainly didn't starve this christmas.  It was such a nice day, lots to eat, lots of laughs.  For our first Christmas away from family this one was great.  Think it helps we have our adopted family, our mates with us!!

The table is set

 

Cheers

I made a silly hat for the kids, and I painted our nails in green and red!

We had to take the token cheesy group shot on the big day.  Then of course we had to do a crazy shot aswell!! 

Me, Mark, Bell, Mart, Nik and Matt.  Em, Charlotte, Meg, Will, Charlotte, Jake and Hazza

Hazza eating Niks foot??

We ended the afternoon with a game of cricket, which I must say I excelled at!  Others may not agree, as I was a little tipsy at this stage, but I did have a go!! All in all we had a fabulous christmas, minus our families but you never know, maybe next year!

Matt, Nikki and the kids had to leave Boxing Day.  So we sadly watched them pack up.  Said our goodbyes and hopefully we will see them again soon.  Thanks guys for the good times.

My Aunty Trudy lives in Adelaide and we went to visit her on Boxing Day.  Grandad was over from Tassie too, so we got to see him too.  We had a lovely lunch, with cousin Simon aswell,  So nice to see family again.  They also came over to the caravan park to see the van.

We had a couple more days with the Beesons.  We pretty much hung out at the beach, had one good day but then it got windy.  Kids (and Dads) had a great time going down the dunes on the body boards.  We flew the kits, and layed in the sun.  We also made the mistake of going to the shopping centre the day after boxing day.  Never never again, it was bedlam!!!  Kids got to spend their gift vouchers at least.

 

Love this shot of Belindas

 

 

Just thought I'd add a couple of shots taken down at the beach.  It was so so nice to be near the ocean again.  We had so missed it!!  We said goodbye to the Beesons, who we will also hopefully catch up with again soon.  So many goodbyes, but such a good Christmas so I can't complain.

 

 



And now we are heading to the Fleurieu Peninsula for a week or so before Mum and Dad arrive.  Much excitement to see the parents soon!!