Saturday 6th April: Swans Day
It was a glorious morning, and without the breeze from yesterday, which made for pleasant walking conditions. The boys set off for a bike ride and Colleen and I set out to head north along the Promenade to explore around the Marina area. This was a most interesting area for people-watching and sight seeing as there were loads of different restaurants, hotels, businesses and places to explore around the inlet area of the Marina. The most exciting part of the morning for some of our group, however, was spying three very tall young lads at our our coffee stop that happened to be AFL Carlton players and due for a game this afternoon. Colleen even managed to get her photo taken with two of them!
Today marked the first AFL attendance for the boys to see the Swans vs West Coast at Mt Barker and they set off at around 10.30 am for the 1.30 pm game. It ended up being a good result for Mark and his team but, early on, he thought he might need the help of the ‘Prayer Room’. Mark and David both took up the heart check offered by the AFL, in the wake of the tragic death of Shane Warne, and David fared well but Mark’s heart-age was more commensurate with someone of the age of 83! There were some concerned faces around him apparently. Colleen and I were blissfully unaware of this though and we spent the afternoon luxuriating with a massage and some down-time before we all caught up back at the cottage near 5 pm.
We set out again near 6 pm and headed to the Stamford for a pre-dinner drink where Colleen and I enjoyed one of the best margaritas we’d ever had. Our dinner was booked for Terra and Sol but, even though the food was ok, we wouldn’t return. Colleen, a retired senior teacher and school Principal, noted that she felt like she was on duty at a school formal so young were all the other many patrons of this restaurant. I do think she should have sent many of them home for venturing out with insufficient clothing, and inappropriate clothing for many f them given their body shape! It made we wonder where all the folk our age were dining but this will be a mystery that I would not solve. We had to stop off for milk on the way home and Mark noted that we were joined by almost half of the St Kilda football team in the queue at the Ezymart on Jetty Road. The South Asian Ezymart attendant was none the wiser so I enlightened him but his excitement level was just a notch below mine; which wasn’t very high at all. I’m not even sure he knew what AFL was 🙁
It was a most busy night in Glenelg along the Main Street of Jetty Road though and the buzz and excitement around the AFL Gather Round was palpable. Despite this buzz, Mark and I headed home but Colleen and David went back to the Stamford to see what the live music offering was like. Our plan for tomorrow was to visit McLaren Vale in the morning before the boys head off to watch Collingwood in the late afternoon. It had been another full and enjoyable day.
Sunday 7th April: McLaren Vale & Collingwood Day
It was a more leisurely start today as we had the benefit of the daylight saving switch over. The boys went on a ride and Colleen and I took a walk along the same route as yesterday. It was a cloudy day but this only made it a bit warmer than the cooler mornings we’d had thus far.
Our plan for the day was to visit some vineyards in McLaren vale before heading back to Glenelg so the boys can head in to Adelaide for the 4.40 pm Collingwood match. Our first stop was at Shingleback and this proves to be the most disappointing of the tastings on this whole trip. The tasting was $15 per head and not redeemable on any wine purchase. The wines were ordinary anyway so there was no issue with ordering any for delivery.
We hadn’t intended to visit Oliver’s. Taranga but, given the disappointment with Shingleback, we decided to fit this one in and we were pleased to have done so. The tasting experience was so much more superior that this alone made the trip worthwhile. Mark and I ordered some wine and then we set off back to the Main Street of McLaren to find somewhere for lunch. Colleen and David had previously been to a quaint Japanese restaurant tucked away in an old railway car and so we set off in search of this. Hanabi Japanese Kitchen ended up being easy to find so in we went and we all enjoyed a delicious Japanese lunch.
There wasn’t time time to linger though as we had to fit in a visit to David’s preferred McLaren Vale vineyard of Inkwell before having to race home to enable the boys to get off to the Collingwood match. The owners at inkwell had invested in a new tasting room since our last venture sit and this is a place I’d definitely suggest you add to your to do list if you’re ever in the area. The setting is lovely and matched only by the wines so we have another dozen reds on their way to Bondi.
After that it was off back to Glenelg so that David and Mark could head out to Adelaide for the afternoon Collingwood match. Colleen and I had a lovely meal at Luciano’s along the Pier and this is a restaurant I would highly recommend. The service, ambience and view were all top notch. Luckily for all of us, Collingwood won their match so it was a happy last night in Glenelg for all of us.
Monday 8th April
It was probably the best morning of the lot for our departure day from Adelaide; a beautiful blue sky, a mild temperature and no wind. The boys got one last bike ride in and Colleen and I went for a final walk before we all caught up for a coffee around the corner from our Airbnb. After that it was home to get ready pack up the bikes and head to the airport.
We’ve had a wonderful time down here for the AFL Gather Round and we are looking forward to our return next year. We’re going to find different accommodation though as the house, whilst large and comfortable, was just a bit dark and cold. So we’re going to try and find something with a bit more light for our visit next year.
