Australia 2025

Day 21 - Adelaide Arrival

Up a bit later today as we needed the sleep - off we trots to The Queen Adelaide for breakfast. Today we paired up with a posh couple from Norfolk, Bill and his wife who has an uncanny resemblance to Judi Dench. Bill is probably the Duke of Norfolk in disguise for all I know but I think he's ex-Army as I overheard him talking about Sandhurst the other night. "Judi" knows only about The Flinders Range and not much else. However, they to tell us about the holiday season on The Broads which is pretty chaotic by all accounts.

We then decamp to the lounge and chat to the people we've got to know and also Neil from Somerset. Neil has a brother who played for the County in the early 90's so he's got a few stories. I must admit, I struggle to recount that side. However, Neil's a nice bloke and knows a lot about cricket.

The most miserable people on the train are the couple of Switzerland. She looks like Frau Blucher and him a watchmaker from Basel. I've been to Switzerland recently and the people there always seemed to smile to me, but they are unsmiling and most unengaging. Oh well.

We partake of our last meal with Grant and Isla. I will miss their company and soft Scottish humour. Grant walks a precarious line with his wife in his subtle but most sarcastic jokes but is hilarious.

The train will divide into two parties soon as those remaining for the onwards journey to Sydney get off to enjoy the Barossa wine tour whilst we carry on towards Parklands. So we make our farewells to Grant, Isla, Greg and The Norfolk's, hoping to see Judi Dench pop up at a theatre in Adelaide real soon.

We continue onwards to Parklands and as the train pulls in to empty out the remaining people, get cleaned and restocked, we bid farewell to Gay Dan (aged 70+). Dan is good company and declares his homosexuality early but curiously hooks up with a woman of his age for most of the trip. Life in the 21st Century eh?

We hitch a ride with Al to our hotel, the Indigo which turns out to be more plush than the Adina; bigger beds, walk in shower rather than climbing in and out of a bath and a bigger TV. Very comfortable.

Adelaide already feels more laid- back and easy than Perth, which is a bit more in your face. There are more low level buildings which are older and more colonial. There is more parkland as well thanks to the layout designed by Wellingtons one time surveyor, Colonel Light. But more of him later.

YJ consults Google and finds a nearby pub - The Duke of Brunswick. This is much more like an English pub and serves a similar menu. I settle for Bangers & Mash which is a bit weird considering its 23 degrees but at least the gravy won't go cold. The beer is a bit of an improvement as well.

Settling into a new place is a little strange having "taken root" in Perth. I got used to the routine there and I appreciated the transport system. Having to start again in Adelaide is going to be an effort I can see.