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On Saturday I took Mum, Dad and my Bro into Adelaide so they could see the city. First stop was the Central Market. I think it was love at first sight with Mum. She quickly decided she would be broke within no time at all if she lived anywhere near. The range of produce is amazing, with stalls dedicated to just mushroom, nuts, salami and all sorts. Then there are the Asian shops where you can buy anything and everything and it's all such great quality. We were limited as to where in the city we could venture to because of Mums bad food but we made a trip to Rundell Mall where we bought Phillip an Aussie hat then to a couple of the museums; Phillip was keen to see some of the aboriginal art to inspire an art project he was doing back home .
Much of the Saturday and early Sunday was spent deliberating what we were to do about the next stage of our family holiday. We had accommodation booked for 4 nights in Western Kangaroo Island. However, there was one slight problem with that - it was on fire. In the two weeks leading up to our due departure to Kangaroo Island the Island had been hit by a huge electrical storm, and as a result the lightning had caused not one, but 12 separate bushfires on the island. The fires hit mainly the Flinders Chase National Park on the West of the island, burning 90,000 acres of woodland and bush. By Sunday morning the fires had been declared contained and were now being left to burn out in their own time. So we decide to take the chance and head over. Unfortunately we would not be able to see some of the sights on the island because they were cordoned off and our original accommodation was a no-go because the fire had burnt right up to the site's boundaries and caused the residents to evacuate. So Sunday morning was spent ringing up places on the Island trying to find somewhere to sleep. Luckily, due to the fires, many people had decided to cancel their holidays and we managed to find two cabins above the beautiful Emu Bay on the North of the Island. The view was stunning and the beds were comfy - what more could you ask for.
We arrived mid afternoon at Emu Bay and settled in quickly. Before too long we were down on the beach playing bowls. The old Aussie Mairs and Welsh Mairs rivalry soon kicked in and it was a full on competition (cheating included) that lasted until it went dark. By then it was a hopeless task and we retreated back to the cabins for a big family meal. The next day didn't amount to much - we were quite happy to just sit back, relax and do nothing for the morning. In the afternoon Mum, Dad, Phillip, U. Nick and I went to a local sheep dairy farm and bought far too much cheese before heading on to Kingscote to meet up with the rest of the crew. In Kingscote we went to watch Pelican feeding. The South coast of Australia is inhabited by millions of pelicans - the largest in the world apparently. And every day this bloke comes along and does a feeding performance for the public. It was hilarious to watch. Pelicans are such odd looking animals, with yellow eyes, huge rubbery legs and feet and not forgetting the bill - as you will see in my pictures. The island also hosts a colony of little penguins, also known as fairy penguins, and after having dinner in an Italian restaurant we went on an organised moonlight walk to find the Penguins. Many of them were still young with all their fluffy feathers - they were adorable. You think of Australia as a very hot country and Penguins was the last thing I expected to see!
The next day was rather grotty - it rained most of the morning so we stayed in our little cabins again for the morning before heading out to a native animal sanctuary an hour away called Paul's Place. It was the most unorthodox place you could imagine - British health and safety would have had a field day there but it was amazing. We arrived and before we knew what was happening we had a bucket of animal food thrust at us followed by a stampeding heard of sheep, emus and kangaroos. The sheep were impossible - if they got anywhere near the bucket they would literally dive in, in an attempt to rip your arm off in the process. The emus would just peck at anywhere there was seed, but the kangaroos were so gentle. If you lowered you hand the Kangaroo would lightly clap your hands with its paws and nibble at the seed. It was adorable; an experience I will never forget. We were then taken through to a pen which was home to wallabies and a koala which we were able to stroke. Then came the embarrassing bit that my brother will cherish forever. Paul called for all children to come forward. At this point, U.Graham gave me a push from behind, encouraging me to go forward. Being a little taller than most of the 7-10 year olds that were there I crouched down so to disguise myself. It didn't work and I was quickly proclaimed the local idiot for which I would receive just punishment. Paul tuned me around and backed me up against the pen wall so everyone was staring at me. Before I knew what was happening it felt like I was being eaten alive! Paul had called "dinner time" and from behind the fence a rather large emu's head popped up and it proceeded to eat the seed that Paul was throwing on my head. The seed went everywhere; entangled in my hair and al down my trousers - NICE! After that he showed us echidnas eating, he chucked a couple of birds on our heads and got the children to trot bare back on little ponies. Then without any warning I had a kangaroo thrust in my arms and was given a beer bottle full of milk to feed it with. Following that I was given a rather large snake and a cockatoo with very sharp claws. Paul's place is amazing - I would recommend it to anyone who doesn't mind being trampled, eaten and clawed to death.
That evening, after visiting Paul's place we went over to a small secluded beach at Stokes Bay, played a good game of French cricket and bowls before I couldn't resist the temptation to go swimming. We had no swimming gear with us but what the heck - I'm on holiday. So I ran in fully clothed. It brought back so many memories of being little. The next day we were a little more prepared for the beach. After sending U.Graham, U.Nick, Nar, Dad and Birthday girl Megan on a fishing charter, A. Josie, Mum, Phillip, Colleen and I went down to Vivonne Bay, to the beach that has been named best beach in Australia. It was incredible. The sand was fine and white and the beach went on forever. The sea was warm, amazingly clear and the waves were huge - made me wish I could surf. We spent hours there and loved every minute. We left around 7pm and met back up with the other half of the family. They had had a good day fishing, had not caught as much as they hoped but Dad was over the moon. He had finally beaten his little brother at something. He had caught 4 fish to U.Graham's 2 and had caught the biggest - which we thoroughly enjoyed for dinner that night.
The next day was going home day - we packed up our bags then had a quick run down to Emu Bay beach and had a paddle in the sea. I did love Kangaroo Island and wish we could have had the chance to see sights like Seal Bay and Remarkable Rocks but bushfires are a part of Australian life, a devastating part and there is not a lot that can be done to prevent them. Parts of the island we drove through, you could see the blackened trees and ground; you could even see where the fire had skipped over the road but melted the plastic bollards either side, and the air smelt of burnt wood.
There is no time for rest though. A quick wash of laundry and then we are off again!
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