This was a long trip… in more meanings than one. I managed to get a speeding ticket and lose “double demerits, madam, because it is a holiday” <sighs> and, a day earlier, virtually destroy the bike rack and bike sitting on it when memory failed me and I dangerously looked for a shade to park – which was provided by a roof about 3 feet lower than it should be. Ah, the roof and beam was also damaged by uncontrolled 2 Km/h speed…
Thankfully, all the deplorable stuff happened at the end of the trip and AFTER the Tour (are you kidding me ??), so damage control was a bit easier than total disaster… Here’s what we did:
We start in Sydney (letter A is behind the N, which is surprisingly the end of the trip as well…) So the whole family packed and crammed into the car – the Royal Transport having the VIP seat, settled on the American Subaru car rack bars that took us months to get and hours to release from customs. Big Deal. The kids had their new iPods, we had to take turns to drive from Sydney to Adelaide and back in 10 days – with a detour via Kangaroo Island.
Our first stop was Leeton, NSW, 615 Km into the trip – we had booked to spend the night at the Historic Hydro Guest House. Gorgeous hotel that, unfortunately has seen much better days… There was only ONE person as staff caring for both restaurants, bar, cleaning, checking in and out, as well as the gossip. Apparently, the hotel was leased and the lessee was bankrupt – the hotel was then sold and was expected to change hands March 2008, until when he was the only one in charge of everything. Fair enough… meanwhile, my asthma is flaring while the dust mites throw memorable parties every night. The ballusters, windows, facade and general architecture are notable though. I hope someone invests some cash into recovering these beginning of the century details…
Next day we traveled to Kingston SE, in South Australia, after a great picnic lunch in Swan Hill… 
After driving almost 11 hours, we thought we would be able to go for a swim.
HA ! The wind was gusting and the water temp was much lower than my freezer would ever get. I bought a sweater instead. And my husband realized his old dream of driving on the sand <rolling eyes>> by the water and algae (that smelled like rotten salad), So, no, we don’t do our hair like that on purpose !!
We spent the night at the Kingston SE Shore Villas, a hotel by the same windy beach – and took off to Cape Jervis the next morning.
Speaking of South Australia, I have always wanted to know how in hippos they keep their fruit flying from coming and going. Really ? You cannot get into SA with tomatoes or fruits, because you may be brining fruit fly larvae in them, Okay. Now, how is that they don’t simply cross the border… er… flying ?!? 
Anyway, Cape Jervis. Population: 1 lighthouse, 1 ferry boat, 12 cats, 4 stray dogs and about 800 of the most amazing people on Earth ! Seriously, this is just a ferry boat link between Mainland and Kangaroo Island – there is NOTHING there. I can’t even remember if I saw a gas station.
So, for about AU$ 350 bucks, the humongous ferry boat takes you and your car to Kangaroo Island, not before bobbing like a cork for about 40 minutes thus making the said period of time one of the worst in your life.
The kids were both fine. Lance Armstrong, on the other hand, was feeling exactly as his face portrayed. The man did not move the entire trip. Those railings now carry his finger and palm prints.
There you see – on the background: Kangaroo Island and its windmills.
We are now 1793 Kms and 3 days away from home… (to be continued)
