The Happy Wanderer returns

Referencing the Floosie whose South Australian adventures always excite me.  One day I'll join her in her South Australian discoveries.  I love wandering.  I enjoy the buzz of public transport and sitting in airports with other travellers.  As a child, 'I love to go a wandering...' was one of the songs the family sang as we holidayed in our kitted out Bedford van, and as we walked the lanes and clifftops in Wales.

These days I tend to beat the same path from West Beach to Christies Beach when in South Australia, but there are other adventures to be had.  Shortly after arriving, I received an invitation to an exhibition opening at Carrick Hill, and this one was special.  David, my sister's partner, had a work in the Heysen Sculpture Biennial which was to be held once only at Carrick Hill while The Cedars is under repair / maintenance.  I had been to Carrick Hill once before with Mum so it was a trip down memory lane for me and a revelation to The Pearl.

an amazing house and garden

we both loved this apparently joyous copper sculpture,

though it was inspired by bushfire in the Mallee

There is a point where you can look downhill to the magnificent house

or uphill to this magnificent river gum, spotlighted by yellow thread.  Pearl and I were both stunned by this.

But onwards to the main event - David's sculpture.  It is beautiful up close

and much bigger than you think!  This was such an unexpected and wonderful evening.  The lavishness and generosity of the catering was outstanding and, though it's not obvious here, the 'art crowd' were out in full, fabulous arty uniform.

I spent 3 days visiting Mum, driving Pearl's car and eating her food.  Then it was off to Canberra,

via the efficient Eloise at Marion who cured me of my aversion to Flight Centre and didn't mind me taking this photo.

Canberra was a whirl with

National Gallery of Australia,

lichen on a tree beside The Lake,

more outside sculpture with truncated Carillion beyond,

Lady Jayne and Lucy under the moon at Questacon,

falling water at Tidbinbilla Reserve,

the healthiest lilac tree I have ever seen at Rock Valley Homestead,

offcut art at the botanical gardens

and Lady Jayne's beautifully restored gardens.

'But was there any food?', I hear you ask.  There was

a considered bubbly or two in the curated arbour

(my selfie skills are not improving),

a delicious red Pearl bought at the d'Arenberg Cube at McLaren Vale

and kindly brought along for the red guzzlers,

dazzling desserts at the Arboretum restaurant,

and perfect banh mi in the City.

I loved this restaurant with its Vietnamese accoutrements.  Possibly kitsch, but a joy to remember those long ago trips to Vietnam and Vietnamese friends.  Happy wandering indeed.

And then back to Adelaide

for Pearl had a birthday party to attend as a character from Alice in Wonderland.  We decided she was the Mad Rabbit.  I made my last jaunts to Mum and took the long way home on my final visit to check out Benny Avenue between Christies Beach and Port Noarlunga.  Many years ago I looked at a small shack for sale on Benny Avenue.  Sometimes I wish I'd bought it.

view from the end of the street

same spot looking south to Port Noarlunga

same spot looking north towards Christies Beach

Pearl and I kept to tradition and dined at the Swedish furniture shop that must not be named, 

and then it was on to the airport for an Adelaide farewell

and a pleasant wait to board for Hobart

with the sun setting as I arrived home.