A long lunch in the Barossa, followed by 5 day Abrolhos Islands cruise

[RooFlyer]

And then into Geraldton as the sun was going down. Very happy with this cruise - you can check it out here. Mine was the 5 day boat out and back, WA wine and seafood. March-April would be the best dates to go, they tell me.

Abrolhos Islands & Kimberley Cruises, Tours and Charters | Eco Abrolhos

Eco Abrolohos has unrivalled experience in charters & tours to the Abrolhos & Kimberley Region. Eco Tours, Fishing, Bird Watching, Diving, Whale Watching

www.ecoabrolhos.com.au

EDIT: Crumbs, the prices have gone up ...





Taken back to the hotel, and I'm back in the Ocean Centre Hotel, with a good car-park view.



Much the same as before





Next day, another look at the Museum, now that I've seen the wreck site, all additional info etc. Moored outside is a replica of the boat that the captain etc took from the islands to Jakarta to get rescue.

 

[RooFlyer]

Later, the bird GET-PER, with GET a new airport for me. Notable was security. Three sets of 3 signs saying to respect the workers etc; nothing about what's required in or out of bags etc. I think it was computers yes, iPads no, cameras yes, shoes and belts off ...



Economy only



Into Perth, and an hour or two in the lounge, then my first domestic A330, at least in memory. PER-MEL.









Great views! Anyone know what it is? Not Boddington, Greenbushes or Collie




No PDB, after take-offered a shiraz or a sparkling. No white wine? No. OK, a sparkling and pretzels ...


Beef with black bean sauce. Quite nice. In the meantime, a Semillon had teleported itself into the cart and was offered, but I went Shiraz. Forgot what it was.



Icecream to finish. Not the worst meal I've had transcon, but still not up pre covid.

 

[drron]

I can certainly second this recommendation, It is a fantastic cruise and Jay and his wife are incredible. We were there in April last year and our trip was greatly impacted by the cyclones. We were on the 5th floor of a hotel in Geraldton with no power hence no lifts,no charging phones and computers,no food and only 1 bottle of wine. no restaurants supermarkets or petrol stations open.
We had called in at their office in Geraldton when we first arrived in Geraldton with intentions of driving further north and swimming with the whale sharks. on the second day of our enforced stay post cyclone they rang and said would you like to stay on the boat we have power etc. yes please. No extra charge with lobster and wine for dinner. not only that Jay followed me out to the airport so I could drop back my rental and took me back to the boat.

We went in April and the weather was perfect and always a full catch of lobsters. but I would have loved to see the whales that you saw. none for us and we went both ways on the boat.

 

[RooFlyer]

Overnight at Rydges at MEL, then on a B717 to HBA. That's it, waaaaaay down the end.



Interesting. The chap on the window in row 1 put his laptop at his feet. Not pulled up by FAs either on departure or arriving in HBA.



Lunch looked familiar:



So, that's the end of the fishing trip.

But wait, there's more! A week later I was back in SA for another long lunch - this time Rockford. HBA-SYD-ADL uneventful, thank goodness. Not a single pic! Stayed at Holiday Inn Express in Blyth St, downtown Adelaide. A pretty good, simple place.





Organised a dinner with some Adelaide AFFers including @VPS who couldn't make lunch and the locals suggested the Duke of Brunswick. Looked around and it looks a great venue.



I especially like the Gin Wheel (of Death??)



The day at Rockford arranged as usual by @Buzzard and all arrangements went off flawlessly - thanks Buzz. Also @henleybeach , @Steady @delectableblue and several +1s.

 

[Daver6]

By Rydges, do you mean ParkRoyal at MEL?

Any idea how it compares to the Holiday Inn nearby?

 

[RooFlyer]

By Rydges, do you mean ParkRoyal at MEL?

Any idea how it compares to the Holiday Inn nearby?

Details, details! Yes, ParkRoyal, sorry. I have only stayed at HI once - I think in the mid 1990s so can't say, sorry. But you can't beat the convenience of the location of the ParkRoyal.

 

[RooFlyer]

At Rockford, we were greeted like the old friends were have become. Started off with Sparkling Black Shiraz and canape of turnip cake topped with pork belly with some unctuous stock over it.. Always mega-yum. I learned something new. SBS is 'perfect' with bacon and eggs - cuts the fat, according to the experts. So that will be a nice addition to Sunday breakfasts.

Onto the lunch room - we were 8, others were 4. Max of 12 these days, down from 16, and keeping their gorgeous jarrah and walnut (IIRC) tables.

The menu



Ready to cough 'n roll



The dishes and wines will show in menu order. First, who are you calling a fat cough?













Today's range

 

[Steady]

i could swear there were 5 others….

 

[RooFlyer]

Afterwards, the ritual of further Stonewaller tastings, and getting out the credit card!!



And a look downstairs







I have a minor criticism of today's lunch. Each dish is previewed by our host, as is the wine(s) that are going to accompany it. These each went on a bit long, and the plates and food were pretty cool by the time we tucked in.

Back on the bus and a good run back to the Hilton. A good meal with good friends.

 

[RooFlyer]

i could swear there were 5 others….

You mean the additional wines we had in the tasting room, or second bottles of the lunch ones?

 

[Steady]

You mean the additional wines we had in the tasting room, or second bottles of the lunch ones?

No, 8 of us an 5 other guests Making 13?

 

[RooFlyer]

My flight back home the next day was in the afternoon, so I caught up with a heritage-inclined mate who suggested we look at the old Adelaide gaol, in the parklands.

We first walked past this monstrosity, the 'Festival Tower', which now dominates the Festival buildings and Parliament House. Oh, Adelaide!!



Then past the heritage-listed old police barrack complex adjacent to Port Road.



I was incredulous on learning that there is a proposal - or a plan/intent - to demolish these buildings en masse to make way for a new Women's and Children's hospital. Apparently it will require an act of parliament to circumvent the heritage listing. Which means that NO heritage structure in Sth Australia is safe. Appalling. Yes, the hospital is no doubt needed, and needs to be close to the other new hospital, but there seems to be other sites in the area where you could fit the building in, if you really wanted to. Of course, bulldozing a few old buildings is just easier ...

I read a piece from Alexander Downer in the WE Oz the next weekend, railing against how Adelaide was becoming a 'museum', ruined by the 'park preservationists. What an upper-class twit.

Start the bulldozers!







Onto the gaol. Lovely frontage, although I guess not so appreciated by its 'customers'





Justr a few more



Many executions occurred, and the dead buried between the walls, with names and dates painted on the walls.

 

[Matt_01]

At Rockford, we were greeted like the old friends were have become. Started off with Sparkling Black Shiraz and canape of turnip cake topped with pork belly with some unctuous stock over it.. Always mega-yum. I learned something new. SBS is 'perfect' with bacon and eggs - cuts the fat, according to the experts. So that will be a nice addition to Sunday breakfasts.

Onto the lunch room - we were 8, others were 4. Max of 12 these days, down from 16, and keeping their gorgeous jarrah and walnut (IIRC) tables.

Was this lunch on or around 13 Oct?

 

[Pushka]

I did police training in those barracks. 45 years ago. They were old and decrepit back then.

 

[RooFlyer]

Was this lunch on or around 13 Oct?

Why, yes ....

I did police training in those barracks. 45 years ago. They were old and decrepit back then.

Why yes ... thats what happens when you don't look after heritage buildings

 

[Steady]

Was this lunch on or around 13 Oct?

Yes

 

[Matt_01]

Yes

I was only asking as @Buzzard had sent me a message asking if I would like to come along but had to politely decline as I was in the US.

 

[RooFlyer]

Now, this does look snazzy - although I wonder if the chevrons will start weeping stains at some point





A few more looks at Adelaide heritage on my walk back to the hotel





And whatever this is



ADL-MEL and then MEL-HBA again uneventful, except for something I haven't experienced before. On the B717 MEL-HBA, in 2C in J, after take off the FA came to me, greeted by name and asked if I would like to make my meal selection so I "wouldn't miss out on my preference". Never had that before - no one else was asked. I had put 'Dr' in this booking, wondering if it might get me better service. Who knows - maybe it did. Finally! TKWIA!! As it happens, I didn't want anything, as I had the prosciutto salad on the previous sector, which was pretty nice.



End of story.

 

[Pushka]

Now, this does look snazzy - although I wonder if the chevrons will start weeping stains at some point

View attachment 304178

View attachment 304179
End of story.

It's called the Cheese Grater. In affection. It's where so much medical research is conducted.

 

[VPS]

My flight back home the next day was in the afternoon, so I caught up with a heritage-inclined mate who suggested we look at the old Adelaide gaol, in the parklands.

We first walked past this monstrosity, the 'Festival Tower', which now dominates the Festival buildings and Parliament House. Oh, Adelaide!!

View attachment 304167

Then past the heritage-listed old police barrack complex adjacent to Port Road.

View attachment 304177

I was incredulous on learning that there is a proposal - or a plan/intent - to demolish these buildings en masse to make way for a new Women's and Children's hospital. Apparently it will require an act of parliament to circumvent the heritage listing. Which means that NO heritage structure in Sth Australia is safe. Appalling. Yes, the hospital is no doubt needed, and needs to be close to the other new hospital, but there seems to be other sites in the area where you could fit the building in, if you really wanted to. Of course, bulldozing a few old buildings is just easier ...

I read a piece from Alexander Downer in the WE Oz the next weekend, railing against how Adelaide was becoming a 'museum', ruined by the 'park preservationists. What an upper-class twit.

Start the bulldozers!

View attachment 304168

View attachment 304176

View attachment 304175

Onto the gaol. Lovely frontage, although I guess not so appreciated by its 'customers'

View attachment 304169

View attachment 304170

Justr a few more

View attachment 304171

Many executions occurred, and the dead buried between the walls, with names and dates painted on the walls.

View attachment 304172

View attachment 304173

I'll be sad if they knock it down but I suspect they will