Kangaroo Island

more pictures coming soon....

The trip started out with a bang!    The day started early, with a 6:30 am flight to Adelaide, so,  I caught a cab from my apartment around 5 am and headed to the airport.  As we drove through the quiet streets of New Farm and into Tennerrife, we noticed that the driver in front of us was driving erratically. 



Stopping in the middle of the road, for no apparrent reason, speeding up, slowing down  and then sitting at a green light.  My cabbie tried to pass him, but the car just speed up and then decided to sit at a green light.  The cabbie beeped the horn.  

Nothing happened, so he beeped again.  We are all still sitting at the green light.  Sh*t, I gotta get to the airport!   You know how these early morning flights are - you wait until the last possible minute to leave the house, as to squeeze out just 5 more minutes of precious sleep. 

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Then, we see the car door slowly open and a big black biker boot appear.  Oh sh*t.  A man slowly extracted himself from the car and walked toward the cab, his hands clenched into fits, his hair wild about his face.   "Click" go the cab locks.    As he stalked over to the cab, he raised his fists and then BAM, BAM, BAM.  He slammed his fits into the window of the cab annuncating each word with a pound of his fist.  "I" (pound) "AM" (pound) "LOST" (pound).  "If" (pound) "You" (pound) don't back off (pound) I will (pound) come back (pound) and kick (pound pound) "this" (pound) "window" (pound) "in".   




Sorry, sorry!   the indian cab driver said in his singsong voice.   The derange man glared at us for a few more minutes, and hten stalked back to his car, slammed the door and proceed to weave slowly and erradically down the street.    The cabbie and I exhanged looks of (WTF was that!) and I wiped the sweat which had been gathering on my brow.  

I then explained to the cab driver that, had we been in my home land, he could of just pulled out a shotgun from the back seat and just blasted the guy and then we could of gotten to the airport a bit faster, but, then, rules are rules, and we must follow them and that sort of behavior is frowned upon here.

The rest of the short trip to the airport was uneventful, so, I took a flight to Adelaide, where my friend picked me up from the airport.  We got the rental car and then re-entered the airport.   We decided to go back through security so we could be waiting at the gate for them when they disembarked the plane (in Australia, you don't have to have a ticket to wait at the gate).  I had my bag, and my camera, my steel toed ass kickin' hiking boots (hey, I should of used those this morning) and my belt, all which had to be removed so as not to set off alarms.  This was the rare time that I had my mobile phone in my pocket, and I had forgotten all about it, so, they asked me to put it in the tray and go back through.  Needless to say, with all the excitement and having to get redressed with the ass kickin' boots, the belt, purse, and the excitement of meeting new friends and being new places, I completely forgot about my poor little mobile phone until Tuesday night, when I was headed BACK to the airport and realized that I did not have my phone.   And, dear friends, please note that this was the week AFTER I had lost my mobile phone in the forest during my night time hike.  (see previous blog entry for that fascio.    Luckly they remembered me at the airport, and had set aside my phone for my return flight.

We drove off from the airport in our spiffy rental car for a few hours until we reached the ferry.

The gang - minus me, ofcourse, as I am busy taking the photo! To the left is Cathy, in the middle is Sue's Daughter - Liz and to the right is my friend Sue.

Baby Chicks

After big night out.....

Ok, so, this is really gay....but, who cares....  at the honey bee farm.....

As we travelled down the road, we would see these glorious fields of yellow.....

So, we decided to stop and take some pictures of the fields of gold.....

The Remarkable Rocks.....

The road to the Remarkable rocks....we are on our way....

There are the Remarkable Rocks, off in the distance.........

Nowhere to sit? Not a problem, we made ourselves at home, right in the parking lot..........

Another Mad Bike Riding Trip!

We are off on another crazy bike riding trip! But, this time, I decided to go with a group, instead of on my own, thinking it would keep me out of mischief! ah, but that were not true.....


We are off to Stratbroke Island for a bike ride around, lunch, tea and goo dfun. We were promised wide sholdars, light traffic, just 3 hills, and we hoped for good weather. Here's to wishful thinking.....

We hop on the ferry and away we go....



Here is the view from the top:

Some people are busy cleaning their trucks while the rest of us are busy sipping coffee....me I am just trying not to get seasick...



Here I am, time to get a new shirt, that one is too small.



trouble looms ahead...look at those clouds! what happened to the nice weather?

As far as the wide road shouldars go, they were repairing the roads. And because no one bothered to check if there was a BIG FESTIVAL going on that weekend, well, there were buses whizzing by within inches of us, rain was pelting down.

I suggested that we bag the bike trip and go hang out with all the freaks at the festival! but, no one wanted to go for that suggestion - again, why doesn't anyone listen to me. and, trust me, there were hippies, and freaks everywhere! I am going next year! To heck with that bike riding. As for 3 hills, I don't know where she learned to count. there was only one hill. and it lasted the entire way.

For more about the festival, including a very long video clip, see: http://www.islandvibe.com.au

ah, what lovely beaches on Stratbroke island...

Off go the shoes and the helmet for a well deserved rest...

We took a break to take a walk - look at this fabulous gorge! Ofcourse, we did not have time to actually COMPLETE the walk due to the 3 flat tires that our guide had..... i tried to convince the rest of the group to carry on and wait at the cafe, since our guide already had someone with her, but, no, they all prefered to wait in the pouring rain in the side of the road for about 45 minutes....No one ever listens to me...why, I ask? Why?

Here are some of my fellow riders, who have some how gotten ahead of me on our hike...

Time for tea.....

Oh dear...someone should of told him that a boat needs water....

Here is our return ferry...coming to take us back home...

Our chariot awaits...

Here is a glimpse of Morton Island on our journey back....

Just Another Day at the Office.....

Our mission.......

clear this field.....

We brought in the Dirt Slayer....

Getting there.....

And After much sweat.....

Another mission accomplished...

This lady bought this car with her first paycheck back in teh 1950's! and sstill drives it...

Biker Babes to the Rescue!

Note: these pictures are from the following Sunday – where I want back to the same area for the sole purpose of taking pictures for you guys! Since, unfortunately, I did not have my camera with me the first time.

I have been remiss at adding the story to the blog, so, some of you may wonder why the title? What gives? Well, here is the story….


I am off on another one of my Sunday adventures! As usual, I was off at the “crack of noon” ( as my late father would say) instead of early in the morning as intended. But not to be deterred by a little thing called “time” I made it to my adventure starting point around noon, when the sun is at it’s peaking, waiting to bake you into a crisp and fry your brain so that it no longer functions properly.

My adventure this time - bike riding out in the beautiful countryside! Something I was able to do all the time in North Carolina, as I had a group of riders to go with, but, not so here. So, off I go, by myself, as usual, since no one wants to go with me. Booo hooo. Never mind that I don’t know how to change a tire. Well, I do know how to, kind of, but have never successfully done it.

Wow! What a hot and sunny day! I have “rugged up” to protect myself from the lethal sun. I have got my helmet, my “sunnies”, a scarf pulled up over my face, and a long sleeved shirt! I look just like a bandit! Sweat is just poring off me and I haven’t even started riding yet!

Ah, here comes the clavier! Little did I know I was going to need them later!

Off I go, riding merrily along on a route I found on the internet. So, the road is a little busy, and cars are zooming by me, alarmingly close, but, let’s focus on the positive…I am free! The wind is caressing my check. Ok, well, I am assuming that it is trying to caress my check, but, it is covered with my scarf. And, if we overlook the traffic, it is just me and the open road before me! Ah, this is the life!

Joy, happiness and peace fill my heart! My spirits are soaring! I pedal along, for a bit and then my utopia is shattered by a: WHAM! WHAM! WHAM! WTF? Is someone throwing rocks at my head? I turn to look and see a huge black and white bird getting ready to dive bomb my head again! Oh my god, I have heard of these! They will gouge your eyes out! I am going to be blind! I pedal furiously, faster, as fast as my legs can carry me! But, still, I am attacked! I wave my arms around wildly, and thump on my helmet, screaming at the topping of my lungs, which is not an easy task when you are attempting to ride a bike…up hill! Meanwhile, cars are zipping by – what must they think about this masked mad woman on her bicycle, waving her arms and hitting her own head, I wonder? Somehow I make it out of his zone, and soon am able to turn off on to a side road, as my route indicates.

Once I recover from almost having my eyeballs plucked out of my head, I pedal away at a nice leisurely rate, admiring the scenery around me. I see colts frolicking in the pastures, and majestic volcanic mountains looming in the background. So engrossed am in admiring this beautiful scenery that I missed my turn.

Oblivious to my gaffe, I continued merrily on my way…Ah, the pink galah’s were everywhere! Aren’t they beautiful? (picture - courtest of the web)

I looked up to see this mammoth hill. Oh. My. god. Surely, I don’t have to climb up that??? I was seriously contemplating getting off my bike and walking, but, it was just too long. And besides that, there was a two farmers standing by the side of the road talking. (of course, those were the only people I saw at the side of the road, the entire ride!) Where were they when I needed them, I ask?

Needless to say, my pride won, and I huffed and puffed until I made it to the top! And then, flying down the other side, accelerating so fast, my helmet was shaking, my bike was shaking, the road whizzing by at an alarming rate! I thought for sure I was gonna die! I pumped my brakes a bit, but, that did nothing to slow my rate. The entire time, I was making deals with God – please let me get down this hill in one piece and I promise I will NEVER do this route again. EVER! And somehow, miraculously, I made it to the bottom. I was shaking, sweat was pouring down me forming a river by my shoes. After my heart stopped pounding, I forced myself to get on my bike and carry on….and then, it dawned on me…wasn’t the road I was suppose to turn on, almost immediately after the secondary road that I turned onto? But, there were no other roads, I was sure of it! I pulled out my map, which I had tucked into the front of my riding shorts. Uck, it was all wet and soggy and the paper was all stuck together. I gingerly unfolded it and peered at it, expecting it to magically guide me back to my car. But, alas, the map only showed the roads that I was suppose to turn on. No other roads. I knew I needed to turn around. I turned around and looked at the steep road behind me. No way. Besides, I had made a deal with god. Surely, there must be another way back to the main road. So, I carried on. After travelling for a while, I saw an intersection coming up! I looked at the sign, which informed me that I had now entered in the “Lost world”. Great, like I didn’t already know that? I pulled out the wad of wet paper and desperately looked for the “Lost World” colony. But, silly me, if it was on the map, then it wouldn’t be lost, would it?

I bravely carried on, feeling a bit feverous now that I had sweated out half of my body weight and had drank most of my water…Surely, surely someone must be here in the Lost World with me. I pedal on, now getting quite delirious, wondering what happens to people once they have been sucked into the Lost World? Ah, what was that whining noise in the distance? Aliens coming to land and take me away for experiments? Maybe that is what happens to you once you have been sucked into the vortex. I look behind me toward the noise that was getting progressively louder. As I got off my bike, preparing to wave them down, they zoomed by in blur. I could of wept, if only I had some fluid left in my body. Oh dear god, what was I going to do now? But, luck was back with me! Up ahead the motor cycles were stopped by cattle crossing the road! (oh, I so wish I would have had my camera for this picture!) so, pedalled furiously, racing to beat the cattle! As I pulled up next to them, they turned and looked my way, two women! Biker Babes! I was saved! I would get the mothering that I so desperately needed! I explained my situation, of how I had gotten sucked into the Lost World Colony vortex, and after looking at me rather strangely; they had a brief discussion amongst themselves and decided that I needed water. They bustled around, fetching me water, feeling my forehead, feeding me snacks and providing me with a map! My Lost World angels. After the cattle had crossed they went their way and I went mine.

In proper Renee fashion, I had been riding completely in the wrong direction and did have to tackle my nemesis hill. Yet, somehow I conquered it, and with the strong, heavy head winds that greeted me when I got back on the main road, along with all the traffic and the manic birds which chased me all the way back to my car, dive bombing me the entire way, I made it to my car just before dark. Ah, another successful Renee Adventure!